Other Forms of Financial Assistance

Direct Loans

You may be eligible for a Direct loan if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; and
• Plan to attend an eligible postsecondary school at least half time.

There are two kinds of Direct loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized.

You are required to begin repaying Direct loans six months after you leave school or drop below half-time status.

Subsidized Direct Loans

Loans that are available to students who meet certain financial need criteria. If you qualify for this type of loan, the federal government will pay the interest on the loan while you are in school, during a six-month grace period, and during times when you qualify for an authorized deferment, which is one way of postponing loan payments. The maximum amount a student may borrow is $3,500 per year for the first year of study and $4,500 per year for the second year, given financial need.

Unsubsidized Direct Loans

Loans that are available to students who meet certain financial need criteria for a subsidized Stafford loan or who do not qualify for the full annual limit of a subsidized Stafford loan. You are responsible for paying the interest that accumulates on an unsubsidized loan during school or you may defer payments. If you defer, the interest will be added to your principle balance.

Direct PLUS Loans for Parents

Your parent may be eligible for Federal PLUS loans if:

• You are an undergraduate and dependent on your parent;
• You are enrolled in school at least halftime; and
• You and the parent borrower are U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

The parent applying for the loan is responsible for repaying the loan. In this case, parent means your parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent.

A PLUS loan is available without regard to financial need and may include the full cost of education minus other forms of financial aid. The lender is required, however, to verify that the parent borrower does not have an adverse credit history. Your parent is required to begin repaying within 60 days after the loan if fully disbursed.

Mandatory Exit Interview

Each loan recipient is required by federal regulations to participate in an exit interview at the time the student ceases to attend Delgado Community College at least half-time. Students should go to the Financial Assistance office at their respective campus for this exit interview before the student withdraws, graduates, drops to less than half-time, or completes his/her last semester at Delgado. Students can also complete an exit interview on the internet at www.mapping-your-future.org.

Veterans’ Benefits

Discharged servicemen, reservists, those currently in the armed forces, or qualified dependents who plan to attend Delgado must apply for certification to the regional Veterans Administration through Delgado’s Veterans Affairs Office. Services which are provided to qualified recipients include:

1. Counseling—academic
2. Tutoring
3. Liaison with personnel from the Veterans Administration

Students eligible to receive veterans benefits enrolled at the Slidell Learning Center should contact the City Park Campus.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Credit-Hour Recipients of Title IV, Student Financial Assistance (SFA)

In order to remain eligible to receive Title IV, Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program funds while attending Delgado Community College, a student must make steady progress toward the student’s chosen academic goal. The Satisfactory Academic Progress standards apply to the following Title IV, federal financial aid programs:

 Federal Pell Grant

·       Federal College Work Study (FWS)

·       Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

·       Federal Direct Loan Program

·       Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP), formerly known as SSIG

      The requirement that a student continue moving toward the student’s goal is known as the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement. It appears here and in the college catalog for the academic year. DCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) is separate from DCC’s Academic Progress Policy and is monitored by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The following requirements are in compliance with Federal guidelines pertaining to Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Standards: The SAP policy has three standards that a student must meet in order to remain eligible to receive Title IV, SFA—a qualitative standard, a quantitative standard, and a time standard. Delgado’s qualitative standard is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA). The qualitative standard requires that as the number of hours attempted increases, the students CGPA increases. Delgado’s qualitative standard is as follows:

Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted    1-29    30-59     60 & above

Minimum CGPA required                    1.50      1.75         2.00

Federal Regulations require that a college monitors a student’s pace progression towards their academic goal. Delgado’s pace progress standard requires that a student completes a cumulative number of hours earned /a cumulative number of hours attempted. Delgado’s pace progression is as follows:

Delgado’s time standard specifies the maximum time frame during which a student is permitted to reach the student’s chosen academic goal. The maximum time frame is measured in credit hours attempted (not weeks, months, or years). A student receiving SFA program funds is expected to reach the student’s chosen academic goal by the time the student has attempted 150% of the number of semester hours required for the student’s degree or certificate. Moreover, a student may receive SFA program funds while enrolled for no more than 30 semester hours of developmental or remedial courses. A student enrolled in a limited enrollment program must be admitted to the program before the student’s appeal for exceeding the maximum time frame will be considered. A student, whose appeal for relief from the maximum time frame requirement is granted, must satisfactorily complete all additional hours attempted in order to remain eligible to receive aid. All courses attempted, including hours for remedial course work and hours in different majors, are counted in the maximum time frame. Since most certificate programs require 33 semester hours, a student whose chosen academic goal is a certificate will be limited to attempting 50 semester hours while receiving Title IV, SFA program funds. Most degree programs require 66 semester hours, therefore a degree seeking student will be limited to attempting 99 semester hours while receiving Title IV, SFA program funds. Hours attempted will include all hours earned, dropped with a grade of “W”, hours for which a student receives an incomplete (I), and failed hours. All courses attempted count toward the maximum time frame even for those hours attempted when the student was not receiving Title IV, SFA program funds.

Loss of Eligibility: Once a student had received Title IV, SFA program funds at Delgado Community College, the student’s satisfactory academic progress will be monitored during all semesters of enrollment (even those during which the student receives no financial aid). As a student whose eligibility to receive SFA program funds is suspended because of the student’s failure to meet the qualitative or pace progression standard, may be reinstated by the student attending at his/her own expense and earning the appropriate cumulative GPA (grade point average) and meeting pace progression standards for SAP or being granted a successful appeal through the Financial Aid appeals process.

Appeals: A student may appeal the loss of eligibility for Title IV, SFA program funds if the student believes the loss of eligibility occurred because of mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances include—personal illness, injury, undue hardship, and death in the student’s immediate family. Mitigating circumstances do not include—a change of major, change in job assignment, or similar changes. An appeal of the loss of eligibility for Title IV, SFA program funds must be made in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Appeals must be submitted on an Appeal Form that can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Along with the appeal form, the student must submit documentation of the extenuating circumstance(s) that are the grounds for the appeal. Each appeal will be considered on its own merits. A student whose appeal is granted, might be required to sign an Academic Contract that specifies the conditions a student must meet in order to continue receiving aid.

In order to receive Title IV, SFA program funds during a fall or spring semester for which a student has lost eligibility, an appeal must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance within 30 days after classes begin. In order to receive Title IV, SFA programs funds during a summer for which a student has lost eligibility, an appeal must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance within 10 days after classes begin.

Important: If a student submits an appeal later than ten days before the start of regular registration, financial aid cannot be used to secure the student’s classes. The student must make individual arrangements to guarantee the payment of school charges or the student will be dropped from classes.

Transfer Students: A transfer student’s eligibility for Title IV, SFA program funds will be evaluated according to the same standards as other Delgado students.

A transfer student’s hours attempted will include all transfer hours accepted towards certificate degree, credit hours earned, and grade point average at Delgado Community College. A student who has received financial aid benefits while attending a non-accredited school will be treated as a new student because Delgado Community College does not accept credit hours earned from a non-accredited school. A transfer student who wishes to receive aid for their second semester at Delgado in time for that aid to hold the student’s classes must ensure that the Office of Admissions receives official transcripts of all previous postsecondary work by the deadline established by the Admissions office.

Withdrawals, Non-Credit, Remedial Courses and Incomplete Grades: A grade of “W” will not be used in calculating a student’s grade point average. However, in measuring a student’s adherence to the SAP standards, all credit hours for courses in which a student receives a “W” will be included in the number of semester hours attempted.

A student will be allowed to repeat a course according to the policies stated in the College Catalog. However, in measuring a student’s adherence to the SAP standards, all credit hours for repeated courses will be included in the total hours attempted.

Non-credit courses or audited courses will not be counted in hours attempted. However, in measuring a student’s adherence to the SAP standards, semester hours for developmental or remedial courses will be counted as hours attempted.

An incomplete (I) grade will not be used in calculating a student’s grade point average. However, the semester hours for courses in which a student receives an “I” will be included in the number of semester hours attempted.

Procedures for Implementing the Warning and Suspension Policies: SAP is reviewed after each period of enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer).  Students will be notified if their academic standing does not comply with DCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Warning: If a student fails to meet the Delgado’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards the student will be allowed one semester of warning.  While on warning status, the student will be eligible to receive financial aid.  However, if after the warning period the student is not meeting SAP standards, the student will be placed on a financial aid suspension.  At this point the student will be considered ineligible for federal financial aid.

Suspension: Students on financial aid suspension are considered ineligible for federal financial aid (grants, student loans, student employment).  However, financial aid eligibility may be reinstated by the student attending at his/her own expense and earning the appropriate cumulative GPA (grade point average) and meeting pace progression standards for SAP or being granted a successful appeal through the Financial Aid appeals process.

Probation and Suspension Policy

Procedures for Implementing the Probationary and Suspension Policies: At the end of each fall and spring semester, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will notify each student who fails to meet the minimum standards set forth in this policy. If this is a student’s first time at Delgado, he or she will be placed on probation.

A student who is on Federal Financial Assistance and is not a first-time student at Delgado will be suspended from financial aid if he or she fails to meet the minimum SAP standards and will be informed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance at the end of the appropriate enrollment period.

A student may regain eligibility to receive Title IV, SFA program funds by earning the appropriate cumulative grade point average and semester hours for the hours attempted while attending the college with no assistance from the Title IV, SFA programs.

Important: The Office of Student Financial Assistance does not monitor the progress of students not eligible to receive Title IV, SFA program funds. Therefore, students who believe they have reestablished their eligibility to receive Title IV, SFA program funds must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will then re-evaluate and restore eligibility where appropriate.

Financial Assistance Credits

The Office of Student Financial Assistance will post appropriate credits to your student account. Students whose financial assistance credits satisfy the minimum payment will be considered registered by the payment due date. If you decide not to attend, you must cancel your schedule. If you fail to follow this procedure, you may receive grades of “F” for the semester, possible financial obligations to the College, and the loss of future financial aid.

If your financial assistance is reduced or eliminated after the semester’s bills are mailed, you are responsible for paying the adjusted balance by the fee payment deadline or your classes may be cancelled.

Financial Aid Payments in Excess of Tuition/Fees/Books

At the time financial aid is credited to your account, applicable outstanding charges will be deducted and any excess credit balance will be refunded electronically via Higher One within 14 days after classes have begun.

 Return of Federal Title IV Funds

When a student completely withdraws from the College during an academic period for which he or she is a recipient of Title IV funds, the College is required to determine whether the return of Title IV funds must be made according to statutory and regulatory requirements. The rules that govern the return of Title IV funds assume that a student earns his or her aid based upon the period of time that the student remains enrolled.

During the first sixty percent (60%) of an enrollment period, a student “earns” Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time that he or she remains enrolled. The percentage of time during an academic period that a student remained enrolled is the percentage of disbursable aid for that period that the student earned.

Aid is “disbursable” if a student could have received it at that point of an academic period when the student withdrew from the College. Total disbursable aid includes aid that was disbursed and aid that could have been, but was not, disbursed as of the student’s date of withdrawal.

A student who remains enrolled at the College beyond the sixty percent (60%) point of an academic period is presumed to have earned all aid for that period. Unearned Title IV funds, other than Federal Work Study, must be returned.

Unearned aid is the amount of disbursed Title IV funds that exceeds the amount of Title IV funds earned under statutory and regulatory guidelines.

The responsibility to repay unearned Title IV funds is shared by the College and the student in proportion to the Title IV funds each is assumed to possess.

The College will notify, in writing, a student who is required to repay and return unearned Title IV funds prior to the end of the enrollment period.

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