Financial Aid
Financial Aid
The purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance to students who, without such aid, would find it difficult or impossible to attend the Center. The Center adheres to a nationally established policy and philosophy of financial aid for education. The basis of this policy is that students and parents have the primary responsibility for financing an education. Financial aid programs are intended to supplement the efforts of the family. It is the belief of the Tennessee Technology Center at Whiteville/Brownsville Ext. Campus that no qualified student should be denied the opportunity of an education because of financial need, provided that the need is determined to be real and the student is willing to work with the Financial Aid Office. To demonstrate financial need, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information reported on the FAFSA is used in a formula, established by the US Congress, to calculate a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an amount the student and student’s family is expected to pay toward the student’s education. The EFC is used by the Financial Aid Office to determine a student’s financial need.
Financial Aid Awards are calculated on an academic year basis. An academic year is for a 12 month period beginning each September 1 and ending each August 31. Renewal of financial aid is not automatic; students must file a FAFSA each year.
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR RECEVING FINANCIAL AID
All interested student are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To qualify, the individual must meet the eligibility requirements specified by the particular program desired. In general, you are eligible for Federal and/or State aid if you meet the following requirements:
1. You are enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
2. You are a U.S. citizen/national or an eligible non-citizen.
3. You are making satisfactory academic progress in your course of study and meeting attendance standards.
4. You are not in default on a Federal Perkins/ National Direct Student Loan, Federal Family Education Loan, Federal Plus Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan, Income Contingent Loan or a Consolidation Loan, and you do not owe a refund or repayment on a Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award, Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant and/or a Byrd Scholarship or have documented satisfactory repayment arrangements if in default or owe a refund/repayment.
5. You are registered with the Selective Service if you are required to register.
6. Have not been convicted of any offense involving possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid; unless successfully completed an approved drug rehab program or completed the time of ineligibility.
7. Have a signed state of education purpose saying that the student will use the money only for expensed related to attending the Center (Usually collected on the FAFSA)
8. Have a high school diploma, GED, approved home school certification or be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Tennessee (18 or older), and able to benefit from education according to guidelines established by the Department of Education. (See Ability to Benefit)
Ability to Benefit
Students without a high school diploma, GED, or approved Home School must establish the ability to benefit from training in a way set forth by the Department of Education. Section 48(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, requires students who are admitted to eligible institutions on the basis of their ability to benefit from the education or training offered to have passed independently and properly administered examinations that have been approved by the Secretary of Education in order to be eligible for any grant, loan, or work assistance under the Title IV of HEA.
(NEW) Students may also demonstrate the ability to benefit by successfully completing 225 clock hours within a given program. If a student establishes eligibility by successfully completing 225 clock hours, Title IV eligibility will begin at clock hour 226 with payment periods adjusted accordingly.
Financial Aid Available
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant is an award to help undergraduates pay for their education after high school. For the Federal Pell Grant Program, an undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. The amount of Pell Grant received is calculated based on the student’s expected family contribution.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
A Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need, as determined by the Center. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients with a zero EFC. The amount of the FSEOG award is usually $100 per term based on funding.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
The FWS program provides part-time jobs for students who have financial need. Students will generally work on-campus after class.
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
The Tennessee Student Assistance Award is a state grant program that awards financially needy, undergraduate students that are Tennessee residents and have an EFC of 2100 or less.
Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant (WNTSG)
The Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant is a part of the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program. The WNTSG is a grant that is available only to Tennessee residents that attend a Tennessee Technology Center.
Applying for Assistance
General Procedures for applying
· Complete and submit the FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for financial assistance. Students should complete the FASFA via the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need to include our Federal School Code #014304 on the FAFSA. If you do not have access to the internet you can call the US Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243 and request that a paper application be mailed to you; or you may come to the Financial Aid Office for a paper application and assistance in completing the FAFSA application on-line.
Deadlines: Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA application as soon after January 1st as possible.
Pell Grant - The FAFSA must be received by the processor no earlier than January 1st and no later than June 30th of the following year. All required forms must be received by the Financial Aid Office by June 30th or your last day of enrollment, whichever comes first.
Wilder Naifeh Technical Skills Grant - Students must have a processed FAFSA on or before the following deadline dates to be eligible for the award. Students whose applications are processed after the deadline date may be eligible for the WNTSG for subsequent terms.
Fall term deadline- November 1st
Spring term deadline – March 1st
Summer term deadline- June 1st
Tennessee Student Assistant Award – Students apply for the state program by completing the FAFSA. Students must reapply each year. The application date for this program will be accepted until funds are expended.
Additional Rules and Requirements for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
Eligibility
· Must be a Tennessee resident
· Must meet all general edibility requirements for Title IV Aid
· Must attend an approved Tennessee post-secondary institution
· Must be enrolled at least half time
· Must have an EFC within the specified eligible range
Retention
· Must continue to meet all eligible requirements as stated above
· Must reapply each year using the FAFSA
· Must maintain satisfactory progress according to standards used for Title IV purposes.
The maximum number of TSAA payments a student may receive is limited by THEIR PROGRAM type length as follows:
6months – 11 month program 2 TSAA payments
12 month – 17 month program 3 TSAA Payments
18 month – 24 month program 6 TSAA payments
NOTE: A student must be currently enrolled at the time the financial aid administrator completes the certification roster. If a student withdraws from school prior to the certification roster being completed, the student is not eligible to receive the TSAA award for the term.
Additional Rules and Requirements for the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant
Eligibility: To be eligible to receive funds from the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant (WNTSG) a student must meet the following eligibility requirements in addition in to those listed above.
· Must be a Tennessee resident for one year prior to the application deadline date. State residency is determined using TBR promulgated rules; TBR Rules 02402-2
· Must not be incarcerated
· Must meet the enrollment requirements for both the school and the program (Do not have to have a high school diploma or GED if not required for enrollment in the school or program. Also, a student that possesses a bachelor’s degree or higher may be eligible for the WNTSG)
· Must be enrolled in a program leading to a certificate or diploma. Continuing education and supplemental certificate programs are not eligible.
· Must have never received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship or have completed a certificate or diploma program with Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant funding.
Note: Students may enroll as full-time or part-time. There is no income limit for eligibility. Students may receive the WNTSG for all coursework required for completion of the certificate or diploma.
Calculation of WNTSG Award: The maximum WNTSG award may vary from year to year. This amount is subject to availability of funds from the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program. The WNTSG funds will be paid each term in the academic year. The amount of the award will be prorated based on the number of scheduled hours for each term. The amount of the award will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
Receipt of student financial aid from other sources will not reduce the WNTSG award as long as the student’s total aid does not exceed the total cost of attendance. In the event that a student’s total aid exceeds the cost of attendance, the school shall, to the extent it does not violate applicable federal regulations, reduce the excess by reducing the student’s WNTSG.
Retention of WNTSG Award: To continue to be eligible for WNTSG funds a student must meet the following requirements.
· Continue to meet all eligibility requirements as stated above
· Reapply each year using the FAFSA by the application deadline date
· Maintain continuous enrollment (unless a leave of absence or military mobilization leave is granted)
· Maintain enrollment status during the term (unless a change in status is granted)
· Maintain satisfactory progress according to standards used for financial aid purposes. Students must meet grade and attendance requirements as well as the 150% timeframe requirement.
Note: Once the student becomes ineligible for WNTSG for any reason, the student shall not be eligible to regain the WNTSG.
WILDER-NAIFEH TECHNICAL SKILLS GRANT LEAVE OF ABSENCE
For rare and unusual circumstances, a student may request a leave of absence (LOA). A leave of absence may be approved for documented medical or personal reasons, such as serious extended illness of the student, serious extended illness or death of an immediate family member, extreme financial hardship of the student or the student's immediate family, or other extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the student's control where continued enrollment creates a substantial hardship.
A student must submit a written request in advance for a leave of absence unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so. The student's signed and dated request must include the reason for the request, beginning and ending dates of the leave, and supporting documentation.
Upon the student's return, he/she will be re-admitted as space is available. The student resumes or continues the enrollment period for TELS purposes. No more TELS funds should be disbursed until the student completes the original term of enrollment.
For Title IV purposes, approved LOA will be treated as a withdrawal. Awards should be recalculated and, in some cases, Return of title IV calculations may be necessary.
If a requested leave of absence is denied, the student may appeal to the Institutional Review Panel (please see Wilder-Naifeh Appeals and Exception Process).
A leave of absence will normally not be granted for less than 9.7% of the student’s scheduled hour or longer than the scheduled hours remaining in the term at the time of the leave.
TELS WILDER-NAIFEH TECHNICAL SKILLS GRANT APPEAL AND EXCEPTION PROCESS
The Institutional Review Panel (IRP) is established for the purpose of hearing appeals from decisions denying or revoking applicant's Wilder-Naifeh awards.
Appeal and Exception Process for Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant
The Institutional Review Panel (IRP) is established for the purpose of hearing appeals from decisions denying or revoking an applicant's Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant. The following items are allowed for appeals:
- Denial of a Change in Status request.
- Denial of a Leave of Absence request.
- Denial of Re-instatement of Eligibility after a Change in Grade.
- Denial of Re-instatement of Eligibility after the Grade for an Incomplete Course is reported.
The IRP will be designated by the institution administrator and may be composed, but not limited to, the following: Two faculty members, two students, one administrator, and one support staff. An alternate will be designated for any IRP member who is personally involved in a particular case or is otherwise unable to attend. No eligible institution official rendering a decision to deny or revoke a Wilder-Naifeh award shall participate in the appeal process.
IRP Appeals Process and Timeline
Any student wishing to appeal to the IRP must provide a written appeal within five days of notification of denial.
The IRP may award or re-instate the student's Wilder-Naifeh award with or without a hearing and shall make a determination no later than 14 calendar days after the student properly files an appeal. The IRP shall render a written decision no later than seven calendar days after considering an appeal, except for exigent circumstances.
Appeals of IRP's Decision
A student seeking an appeal of a decision rendered by the IRP shall request in writing an appeal outlining the basis for the appeal with the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation within 14 calendar days from the date the decision was delivered to the student.
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
TELS Award Appeals Panel
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1950
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Financial Aid Disbursement
Awards will be disbursed at least once each trimester. In some instances there may be multiple disbursements in a trimester as determined by the student’s enrollment date. Awards will normally be credited to a student’s account or disbursed by check to the student at least by the third month of each trimester or by the end of the trimester, whichever comes first. Students’ checks are disbursed by TTC Whiteville/Brownsville Business Office. Each student must have valid picture identification (government issued and not expired).
Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid
A. To make satisfactory progress a student must:
1. Complete 77% of cumulative scheduled hours (pace of completion)
2. Must maintain a minimum passing grade of “C” as published by the institution.
B. Satisfactory progress will be evaluated at the expected end of a student’s payment period. If the student fails to make satisfactory progress, the student will be place on financial aid warning for the next payment period. If the student fails to make satisfactory progress for the next payment period, financial aid will be suspended. There is no appeals process for financial aid satisfactory progress. In order to reestablish financial aid, a student must make satisfactory academic progress in the next evaluation date.
C. Transfer Credits – Students who receive credit for hours completed for previous education (other institutions, life experience, work credit, dual enrollment, etc.) will have their program length reduced. These transfer hours will not be included in cumulative grade average or pace of completion.
D. Repeats (Repeating after program completion) – Any student who completes an entire clock hour program and later re-enrolls to take that same program again or to take another program may be paid for repeating coursework regardless of the amount time between completion of the first program and beginning the same program or another program.
E. Withdrawals will not impact a student’s satisfactory academic progress unless they return after 180 days.
Benefit Programs
TTC Whiteville/Brownsville Ext Campus is approved to provide training to students who have been determined eligible for the following benefit programs: Veterans Administration programs, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program, and others.
Eligibility determination must be established by agencies outside the Center. Eligible students are normally referred to the Center by the appropriate program agency.
Veterans Assistance
This program assists eligible veterans and dependents of veterans by providing educational benefits through the Veterans Administration. Appropriate forms to be completed should be obtained from the Student Service Records Clerk/VA Certifying Official prior to enrollment.
Veterans must submit transcripts/certificates of previous education/training from colleges, technical or vocational schools, military, etc., in order to apply for benefits.
Upon enrollment, veterans should present their DD214 form and/or their Notice of Eligibility, to the Student Service Records Clerk, where paperwork will be processed and forwarded to the Veterans Administration. Veterans will receive their benefit checks directly from the Veterans Administration approximately six to eight weeks from their enrollment date.
If you are receiving benefits based on your status as a service person, veteran, or reservist you must verify your enrollment at the end of each month in order to receive benefits. Benefits are paid after each month of school is completed.
Verification can be done beginning the last day of the month by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave or by calling toll free at 1-877-823-2378 and using your touch tone phone. Both of these systems are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
If you are receiving VEAP or dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35), benefits are sent automatically at the end of each month.
Service-members, Veterans, and dependents of veterans who are eligible beneficiaries of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits or other governmentally funded educational assistance, subject to the conditions and guidelines set forth in the Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-104 as amended, may elect, upon formal application, to defer payment of required tuition and fees until the final day of the term for which the deferment has been requested. Application for the deferment must be made no later than 14 days after the beginning of the term, and the amount of the deferment shall not exceed the total monetary benefits to be received for the term. Students who have been granted deferments are expected to make timely payments on their outstanding tuition and fees balance once education benefits are being delivered, and eligibility for such deferment shall terminate if the student fails to abide by any applicable rule or regulation, or to act in good faith in making timely payments. This notice is published pursuant to Public Chapter 279, Acts of 2003, effective July 1, 2003.
Note: Whenever VA student is absent for more than 7 consecutive days, other than school breaks, student's enrollment certification with VA must be terminated. Once the student returns, the student's enrollment certification will be resubmitted with the new start date and new projected end date.
Vocational Rehabilitation Department of Human Services
The Tennessee Department of Vocational Rehabilitation provides funds for students who are physically or mentally impaired and can demonstrate that they may benefit from training. Eligibility should be established prior to enrollment.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Eligible students may receive federal assistance for books and supplies. Students should be assessed and certified by the WIA office prior to their enrollment.
Loss of Aid Eligibility Due to a Drug Conviction
The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study).
If you have a conviction(s) for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or go to the http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ FAFSA on the Web site, click on "Before Beginning A FAFSA" in the left column, and then click on "Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet" to find out how this law applies to you.
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Students have the right to ask an institution:
ü About its programs; it's instructional, laboratory, and other physical facilities, and its faculty.
ü The names of its accrediting and licensing organizations. We are accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, 41 Perimeter Center East NE, Suite 640, Atlanta, Georgia, 30346, 1-800-917-3898.
ü If the school advertises its job placement rates as a means of attracting students information it has to back up its claims. (TTC-Whiteville/Brownsville Ext. job placement rates are available on-line
ü The cost of attending, and its policy on refunds to students who drop out.
ü Financial assistance available, including information on all federal, state, local, private, and institutional financial aid programs.
ü Procedures and deadlines for submitting applications for each available financial aid program.
ü Procedures for selecting financial aid recipients.
ü Procedures for determining financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal and miscellaneous expenses are considered in cost of attendance. It also includes resources considered in calculating student need (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, assets, etc.).
ü How much financial need, as determined by the school, has been met.
ü How and when student will receive financial aid.
ü To explain each type and amount of assistance in student's financial aid package.
ü To reconsider your aid package, if you believe a mistake has been made, or if your enrollment or financial circumstances have changed.
ü How the school determines whether you are making satisfactory progress and what happens if you are not.
ü Special facilities and services are available to the handicapped.
ü Student Right-to-Know Information and Campus Security Report are compiled yearly and available in Student Services.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
It is your responsibility to:
ü Review and consider all information about a school's program before enrollment.
ü Pay special attention to your application for student financial aid, complete it accurately, and submit it on time to the right place. Errors can delay or prevent your receiving aid.
ü Know and comply with all deadlines for applying or re-applying for aid.
ü Provide all documentation, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the financial aid office or the agency to which you submitted your application.
ü Notify your school of any information that has changed since you applied for financial aid.
ü Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you are asked to sign.
ü Notify your school of a change.
ü Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you are asked to sign.
ü Notify your school of a change in your name, address, or attendance status (full-time to part-time, etc.).
ü Understand your school's refund policy.
ü Satisfactorily perform the work agreed upon in a Federal Work-Study job.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
Since the formula used to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is basically the same for all applicants, students who have experienced extenuating circumstances beyond their control may require "Special Conditions" or "Professional Judgment."
There must be rare and unusual reasons for the financial aid administrator to consider such a request. In addition, the student must provide adequate documentation to support any adjustments before the administrator will consider the request.
Possible extenuating circumstances meriting Professional Judgment could include the following:
- Divorce or separation of student, spouse or parent
- Death of a spouse or parent
- Loss of untaxed income of student, spouse or parent
- Disability of student, spouse or a parent
- Unusual medical expenses of student, spouse, or parent
- Tuition expenses of student, spouse, or parent
- Loss of a job by either the student, spouse, or the parent
The Financial Aid Administrator's decision regarding special circumstances is final and cannot be appealed. A Financial Aid "Request for Special Conditions" form can be obtained in the Financial Aid Office.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR AWARDING FINANCIAL AID TO FAMILY MEMBERS/RELATIVES
Determining Eligibility:
To preclude any impropriety in administering financial aid, the following statement reflects the current position of the Tennessee Technology Center at Whiteville/Brownsville Ext. Campus as related to awarding financial aid to family members/relatives:
In regard to the formal review of financial aid application materials and otherwise in determining financial aid eligibility for federal/state/institutional programs, it is the responsibility of the Financial Aid Supervisor to notify his/her supervisor (Assistant Director /Financial Aid Administrator) in the event he or she will be unable to formally review or determine financial aid eligibility for a specified student due to his or her relationship to the student. In such cases, the Financial Aid Administrator will contact the Financial Aid Director at the Lead Institution. The Financial Aid Director at the Lead Institution will formally review or determine financial aid eligibility in conjunction with the TTC-Whiteville/Brownsville Ext. Campus Financial Aid Administrator. The Lead Institution Financial Aid Director will sign off on the student's file.
Failure of the TTC-Whiteville/Brownsville Ext. Campus, Financial Aid Supervisor to notify the Assistant Director/Financial Aid Administrator and the Lead Institution Financial Aid Director may be grounds for disciplinary actions up to and including termination.
Information on the website will be made available to student in hard copy upon request.
Questions?
Additional information and application requirements may be obtained from our Financial Aid Office by calling Owetha Hunter at (731) 254-8521 ext. 115 or by contacting her by Email at owetha.hunter@ttcwhiteville.edu
Copyright © 1997 Tennessee Technology Center at Whiteville
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