Financial Aid

Application for Financial Aid

MCC constructs a package of grants, loans, scholarships and employment opportunities to assists students with their college expenses. Funding available depends greatly upon an analysis of the applicant’s financial situation. For this reason, students wishing to participate are required to complete a Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.

Information about all types of financial aid is available in the Financial Aid Office or online at www.montcalm.edu/financial-aid. Students are encouraged to complete and submit the FAFSA in January prior to their first semester at MCC. For maximum award consideration, the FAFSA should be submitted by March 1 and all required documentation should be submitted by the priority processing date noted on the Financial Aid section on MyMontcalm.

Documentation Required

Prior to Payment of Financial Aid

Students are not eligible to receive financial aid until the following documents are on file in the Financial Aid Office.

• Application for Admission to MCC
• Proof of high school graduation or equivalent
• Student Aid Report and necessary documentation to complete verification (if requested)
• Verified attendance through electronic process
• Financial aid award notification

Loan Default Policy

Students found in default of Title IV loans, or owing a Title IV refund to any college, will not be eligible to receive financial aid. Additionally, academic transcripts will not be released to students who are found in default on Title IV federal loans or who owe any Title IV refund to MCC.

Enrollment Status

To participate in financial aid programs, students must enroll in a minimum of six semester hours in an eligible degree program. Exception to this requirement is the Pell Grant.

• Full time: 12 credit hours and greater
• ¾ time: 9 credit hours to 11 credit hours
• ½ time: 6 credit hours to 8 credit hours
• Less than ½ time: 1 credit hour to 5 credit hours

Method and Frequency of Financial Aid Payments

Grant, scholarship and loan money is transferred to student accounts no earlier than one week after the drop/add period.

Financial Aid will be disbursed to the student accounts once attendance has been verified. Faculty will electronically indicate if a student is attending class two times during the semester. For late start classes, grant funds will not be disbursed until all classes have started and attendance has been verified. Loan funds may be paid to student accounts with only six (6) credits of attendance verified. For more information, visit the Financial Aid section at my.montcalm.edu.

Grant, scholarship and loan refunds will be issued by check when there is a credit balance on your account. These refund checks will be available for pick up in the Business Office with picture ID. The Business Office will notify students via their MCC student email when they have a refund available for pick up.

MCC Title IV Refund Distribution Policy

MCC refunds Title IV funds first to the Federal Stafford Loan Program, then to the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and then to the Pell Grant program.

Student Budget and Award Packaging

The following sample budget includes the major expenditures that may be incurred by MCC students using the rates in effect at the time of publication. These budgets are used by the Financial Aid Office to calculate a student’s financial need The following budget is based on the 2014-15 academic year.

Dependent Students

(This is also used for determining need for Michigan Competitive Scholarship recipients.)

Tuition

Independent Students

Tuition

Change of Address or Financial Circumstance

Financial aid recipients must inform the Financial Aid Office of changes in address or financial circumstances.

Citizenship and Residency Requirements

Federal financial aid is restricted to U.S. citizens and qualified aliens. State of Michigan aid is restricted to those having continuous residency in the state for 12 months prior to enrollment.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Scholarships are non-repayable funds, usually based on academic performance and/or demonstrated need.

Grants are non-repayable funds, usually based on demonstrated need.

Loans are funds that must be repaid after students leave college or enroll less than half time.

Employment is part-time work on and off campus, based on demonstrated need. The total hours a student may work is determined by financial need. Student workers are paid every two weeks.

Sources of Financial Aid

Federal Programs

Federal Pell Grant: This program offers grants up to $5,730 to students meeting specified need requirements. It is paid in proportion to the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. Students are eligible until completion of the first baccalaureate degree, but not to exceed the equivalent of 12 semesters at full time enrollment, or 600%.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): This program offers students with need grants up to $600. Students must be Pell eligible to be considered for SEOG. It is awarded on a first-come basis until funds are fully awarded.

Federal College Work Study (CWS): This program offers work, on or off campus, to students with financial need to help meet their educational expenses. Jobs are arranged after considering the amount of the award and the student’s class schedule. Students are paid bi-weekly.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan: A student may obtain a federally insured loan through the Department of Education. The federal government subsidizes interest on the subsidized Stafford Loan, based on financial need, while the student is enrolled at least half time. Subsidized loans are limited to 150% of the amount of time it takes to complete a certificate or degree.  The federal government does not subsidize interest on the unsubsidized Stafford Loan that is not based on need. First-year students may borrow up to $3,500 per academic year in subsidized loans. Second-year students may borrow up to $4,500 per academic year in subsidized loans.

The interest rate on both subsidized and unsubsidized loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2013, is 3.8 percent. Previous borrowers should review their promissory notes for repayment terms.

Students must be enrolled at least half time and attending classes to be eligible to receive a loan disbursement. Students must be in attendance and making satisfactory academic progress at the time the refund is disbursed.

To receive a subsidized Stafford Loan, the loan plus other financial aid being received from MCC may not exceed the student’s total need for the academic year. To receive an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the loan cannot exceed the student’s total budget for the academic year.

State Programs

Michigan Competitive Scholarships: Scholarships of up to $630 are awarded annually to state resident college freshmen whose American College Testing (ACT) Program scores qualify them and whose Financial Aid Applications show need. Undergraduate students may renew this scholarship for up to the equivalent of 10 semesters by maintaining eligibility.

Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP): This program pays tuition and fees at the in-district rate. Students younger than age 20 who graduate from high school or obtain a GED and who are from lower-income families are eligible.

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver: This program provides free tuition for North American Indians in public colleges or universities. Applicants must be certified by their tribal association and verified by the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan to be not less than one-fourth quantum blood Indian.

MCC Foundation Scholarship Programs

Annually, scholarships are awarded to students pursuing education at MCC. Further information, applications and a complete list of available scholarships are available on the web at www.montcalm.edu/scholarships or by contacting the Financial Aid Office.

Other Programs

The Perkins Attendance Cost Assistance Program may provide direct cost assistance and support services to single parents, displaced homemakers or single, pregnant women, nontraditional job trainees, economically disadvantaged students or individuals with a disability or limited English proficiency who are enrolled in an eligible occupational program. This program is federally funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act and is subject to provisions of the Act. Contact the Student Services Office for more information.

The Department of Human Services provides public assistance and training programs that can be used by students under certain circumstances.

As part of staff development plans and benefit packages, many employers reimburse their employees and their dependents for successful completion of college courses.

A variety of programs and organizations provide scholarships and financial assistance to those meeting specific qualification criteria. Contact local organizations offering scholarships, a high school guidance counselor, the Financial Aid Office or the Counseling Office for information.

State and federal funding is tentative at the time awards are made. MCC cannot guarantee substitute awards if anticipated sources of assistance do not materialize. The amount of financial aid is contingent upon full-time enrollment for each semester awarded on the award notice. If enrollment changes, the award is adjusted accordingly.

Financial Aid Repeat Policy

Financial aid awards can include aid for courses attempted up to two times.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students receiving financial aid at Montcalm Community College (MCC) must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the guidelines listed below.  The federal and state governments mandate the establishment and enforcement of a SAP policy for all institutions disbursing financial aid funds to students.  A student is in good standing for financial aid if he/she meets the follow standards and is accepted for continued enrollment under the academic policy.  All withdrawals, incompletes, repetitions, academic amnesty, and E or U grades are evaluated into the percentage completion section of the SAP policy.

This policy will be applied after a student has been enrolled at Montcalm Community College.  Each spring, a review of all financial aid recipients’ will be conducted.  Transfer credits from other institutions will be evaluated toward the Maximum Time Frame allowed.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

When measuring SAP, all credit hours for which the student has incurred a financial obligation are considered including the hours for which the student has personally paid for educational costs.  Accountability starts with the student’s entry date at MCC.  Your academic G.P.A. (grade point average) may differ from your financial aid G.P.A.

In order to continue receiving financial aid funding, a student must:

1.  Maintain a minimum required grade point average

        Credit Hours Attempted        Grade Point Average

         1 - 12                                      1.70

         13 or above                             2.00

2.  Successfully complete a percentage of all credit hours attempted:

     Credit Hours Attempted          Must Successfully Complete

     1 - 12                                         50%

     13 or above                                70%

3.  Be progressing at a rate that would allow completion of the certificate or associate degree which the student is pursuing within the Maximum Time Frame which, by Federal regulation, is 150% of the published credit hour requirements of the program.  For example, if an associate degree program requires 60 credits, the degree must be completed in a maximum of 150% of 60 credits which is 90 credits, including both attempted and completed credits.  (Consult the MCC catalog to find the number of credits required in each certificate or associate degree program, and then multiply that number by 1.5 to determine the maximum number of credits.)

4.  A student may earn no more than two certificates or degrees regardless of total accumulated credit hours.  If a student has already earned two degrees or certificates and wishes to pursue another program of study, they may complete a Satisfactory Academic Appeal.  The student will need to explain any extenuating circumstances warranting another degree or certificate.

5.  A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree must complete a Satisfactory Academic Appeal indicating their educational intent at Montcalm Community College.

FREQUENCY OF REVIEW

This policy will be applied after a student has been enrolled at Montcalm Community College.  After completion of the spring semester each academic year, the Financial Aid Office will run a list of all students enrolled and receiving aid during the current academic year.  The list will show the number of hours attempted/completed and percentage of completion, the grade point average, and the course progression rate.  Students enrolled in certificate programs will be reviewed at the end of each semester.  Those not making SAP at that time will be sent a letter through their student email that they are no longer eligible for financial aid.  Transfer credits from other institutions will be evaluated toward the Maximum Time Frame allowed.

APPEAL PROCESS

Students denied financial aid because of failure to make SAP may appeal the denial in writing to the Financial Aid Office, if there are mitigating circumstances.  The appeal must describe in detail all circumstances, which the student believes relevant to his or her inability to meet the SAP requirements.  It must also include steps the student will take to correct the policy violation.  Students must submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form plus any other supporting documents to the Financial Aid office.

A SAP Review Committee will assess the appeal and supporting documentation to determine if the appeal will be approved.  The student will be advised in writing of the committee’s decision via email.  A student who appeals and is reinstated on a probationary status must be able to meet the SAP guidelines within one semester of enrollment.  If one semester’s enrollment will not be long enough for the student to meet the SAP policy, they will be placed on an academic plan.  An academic plan is an individualized plan designed to allow the student to meet the SAP policy in a reasonable timeframe.  At the end of the probationary or academic plan semester, grades and other requirements will be reviewed to determine if the student has met the SAP guidelines.  If a student becomes ineligible for financial aid due to a lack of meeting SAP guidelines and no appeal is submitted or the appeal is denied, he or she may regain eligibility by meeting the SAP policy without the benefit of financial aid at MCC.  To do this, the student must enroll and complete the courses that are applicable to his or her program of study using their own finances.  The student must achieve the necessary completion rate along with the necessary grade point average to meet the SAP policy.

Veterans’ Information

To receive educational funding from the Veteran’s administration (VA), a student must complete the Veteran’s Online Application available at the VONAPP website. After the application is completed online, the student must submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility (COE), discharge papers (DD214), and copy of current class schedule to the MCC VA Office. It will be certified on the VA Once website by the MCC Certifying Official after the drop period.

All failing, incomplete, or unsatisfactory grades will be reported by the Certifying Official at the end of the semester. The Veteran will be notified by MCC’s VA Department of this action via United States Postal Service.

Any changes in class schedules during the semester will be reported to the VA by the Certifying Official at that time.

Standards of Academic Progress

Satisfactory pursuit of study or training toward completion of an educational or vocational goal must be maintained. Students receiving VA benefits will be certified only for classes that are required for their declared program of study. Elective courses in the program will be certified. No more than 60 required credits will be authorized.

Unsatisfactory progress can stop VA benefits. See the MCC Academic Probation and Dismissal . Students receiving VA benefits who are placed on academic probation for two consecutive semesters or dismissed for unsatisfactory progress, will not be recertified for benefits until a minimum accumulated 2.0 GPA has been achieved at the student’s expense. An appeal may be made to the Director of Financial Aid for special circumstances. The VA will be notified when a student remains on academic probation for two consecutive semesters or is dismissed for unsatisfactory progress. Students receiving VA benefits who receive incomplete or unsatisfactory grades are allowed one year from the end of the semester to complete the course and receive a grade. If the class is not completed in the year allowed, the VA may require repayment of funds received for the course.

The Student Services Office is located in the upper level of the Donald C. Burns Administration/Library Building on MCC’s Sidney campus.