FINANCIAL AID

As a student financial aid consumer, you have the right to:
1. Be informed about financial aid application procedures, cost of attendance, aid available and renewal requirements.
2. Confidential protection of your financial aid records. The contents of your financial aid file are maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
3. Appeal decisions made by the Passaic County Community College financial aid staff. Appeals should be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid in writing.
 
You have the responsibility to: 
1. Complete applications correctly and on time.
2. Read and understand all materials sent to you from Financial Aid and other financial aid agencies; keep copies of all forms and materials submitted.
3. Know and comply with the rules governing your aid programs.
4. Comply with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign.
5. Register for the number of credits required and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
 
Request personal assistance if you have questions or don’t understand the information provided to you.

According to federal regulations, students must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Eligibility (Federal regulation 34 CFR 668.34). Requirements for academic progress for financial aid recipients are applied differently than PCCC’s Academic Standards.

Federal regulation states that SAP standards must include a review of all attempted credits for all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not aid was received.  This includes transfer credits, repeated credits, credits by exam and academic bankruptcy credits regardless of program changes.  The student must meet all minimum standards in order to continue receiving financial aid. This includes Pell, FSEOG, Federal Work-study Federal Direct Loans and New Jersey state aid program (TAG, CCOG, EOF, etc.). 

View Full SAP Policy

Academic progress regulations are the same as the federal regulations. Progress is monitored at the end of each spring semester.

Note: State funds are adjusted according to the College’s Refund Policy when the student completely withdraws from all courses, or drops below 12 credits.

Normally, EOF students must complete 12 credits within a semester. With written approval from the EOF campus director, students may, for academic reasons, complete no fewer than six credits within a semester. EOF students are required to complete all remedial courses within the first four semesters.rnrnUpon formal request and approval by the Director of EOF, students attending PCCC are eligible to receive up to six semesters of EOF funding with additional awards up to a maximum of eight semesters.rnrnIf state financial aid is denied, students and institutions have the right to appeal. Contact the Financial Aid Office or the EOF Office for procedures.

All withdrawals are monitored by the Financial Aid Office. Students who withdraw from courses and reduce their course loads after registration will have their financial aid reduced accordingly. Charges and credits are adjusted according to the College Refund Policy. Federal aid is adjusted according to the Return of Title IV regulations.

The Return of Title IV Funds policy applies to students who are awarded Title IV funds who withdraw from all classes before completing more than 60% of the term (in days).

If a student has received a refund, this policy also applies. The amount of Title IV funds earned is determined according to the following:

The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the Federal Financial Aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs:
1. unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans,
2. subsidized Federal Stafford Loans,
3. Federal Perkins Loans,
4. Federal PLUS Loans,
5. Federal Pell Grants, and
6. Federal SEOG.

A student’s withdrawal date is:
1. the date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process at the Registrar’s Office;
2. the student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically-related activity; or,
3. the midpoint of the semester for a student who leaves without notifying the institution.

Title IV aid is earned in a prorated manner on days attended up to greater than the 60% point in the semester. Title IV aid is viewed as 100% earned after that point in time. A copy of the worksheet used for this calculation can be requested from the Financial Aid Office.

Students withdrawing before the last day to add/drop for a given term will receive a 100% refund. Notices of possible refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student’s home address following withdrawal.

In accordance with federal regulations, when financial aid is involved, refunds are allocated in the following order:unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG, other Title IV assistance, other federal sources of aid.

Institutional responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV Funds are:

1. Providing each student with the information given in this policy.
2. Identifying students who are affected by this policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds calculation for those students.
3. Returning any Title IV Funds that are due the Title IV programs.

The student’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV Funds include:
Returning to the Title IV programs any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and which the student was determined to be ineligible for via the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.

1. The fees, procedures, and policies listed above supersede those published previously and are subject to change at any time. Any notification of a withdrawal or cancellation should be in writing and addressed to the Registrar.