Financial Aid Links
>	Home
>	How to Apply
>	Scholarships
>	FATV
>	Grants
>	Federal Work Study
>	HigherOne OwlCard
>	Loans
>	GI Bill Education Benefits
>	Forms
>	Policies & Information
>	Financial Literacy
>	Contact Us!

Policies & Information

Book Credits

Cancelled Classes

Cost of Attendance

Limited Pell Eligibility (LEU)

Repeat Coursework Policy

Revised Awards

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Student Responsibilities

Tuition Refund Policy/Return of Title IV Aid

Twelve Semester- Pell Policy

Unusual Enrollment History

Withdrawal from Classes

Student Consumer Information for Financial Aid Recipients

• Student Consumer Information for 2012-2013
• Student Consumer Information for 2013-2014

Book Credits

Electronic book credits will be available to students to have aid awarded that exceeds their tuition and fees costs.  The amount of aid available for books equals the amount of aid awarded for the semester or term minus the cost of the tuition and fees for that term.  Book credits are available for two weeks prior to the start of the fall, spring and summer semesters and will end approximately two weeks after the start of the semester.

Book credits are electronic and available to use at the College Book Store in the Student Center and can be retrieved by displaying your HCC Photo ID Card.  If a student chooses to use the credit, the amount of books charged will be deducted from the students’ total aid for the semester.  By using the electronic book credit, the student has indicated his or her intent to use the credit to purchase books, and gives the College permission to deduct the charged expenses from his or her aid.

Electronic book credits are not available for the winter term or any late starting terms within the normal semester.

BACK TO TOP

Cancelled Classes

Financial aid awards are based on the number of enrolled credits.  If a class is cancelled by the College or if you drop the class during the 100% refund period, your aid may be adjusted.

BACK TO TOP

Cost of Attendance at HCC

(Budgets based on in-county residence)

              2012-2013

Students with no dependents $10,123

Direct Cost:                               Indirect Cost:

Tuition & Fees         $1,784        Room & Board   $5,000

Books & Supplies    $1,300        Transportation    $1,039

Pers/Misc Costs      $1,000

All Other Students $15,473

Direct Cost:                             Indirect Cost:

Tuition & Fees        $1,784       Room & Board    $10,350

Books & Supplies   $1,300       Transportation     $1,039

Pers/Misc Costs     $1,000

Financial Aid Budgets are determined by the student’s residency and dependency status as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

BACK TO TOP

Repeat Coursework Policy

Effective July 1, 2011, due to changes in federal regulations the Financial Aid Office is required to monitor and adjust a student's enrollment level for Title IV aid if, or when, they repeat course work for credit that they have already earned.  Students can retake courses and receive federal aid if they had previously failed a course, but can only receive financial aid twice for a course that has been previously passed.  A passing grade is defined as a D- or better.  Please note that the repeat course policy for financial aid is separate from institutional academic policies regarding repeat courses.

The policy allows a student to receive financial aid under the following situations:

• To repeat any failed or withdrawn course until a passing grade is received.

• To repeat one time any course in which they originally received a passing grade.

BACK TO TOP

Revised Awards

• because they dropped a class during the 100% refund period or a class was cancelled before the semester started.

• because they  never attended a class or classes.  Students are not eligible for federal aid, state aid and certain scholarships for any class they never attended.  When the Financial Aid Office receives information that they’ve never attended a classes, the award is reduced to reflect the number of credits that they are attending.  Students do, however, owe the tuition and fees for the classes) and will receive a bill from the Finance and Accounting Office.  Should you have documental mitigating circumstances that prevented you from attending the class, you may contact the Office of Records and Registration for a Refund Exception Request.

• because they  totally withdrew from your classes or stopped attending all of their classes. The College is required to calculate the Return of Title IV Aid for those federal aid students who withdraw from all classes or stop attending all classes. Students may incur an outstanding obligation to the college for institutional charges and to the federal government for unearned Title IV Aid.
• because they no longer meet the eligibility requirements to receive the award.  Eligibility requirements include Satisfactory Academic Progress, credit load, financial eligibility or loan default status.  If you have a question regarding the criteria for receiving specific aid, check the College Catalog or the Scholarship Brochure or call the Financial Aid Office at 443-412-2257 for information.

• because they are attending an additional term, such as summer. 
• because they have received additional grants, scholarships, or other types of aid.
• because they added credits which affected enrollment sensitive aid, such as the Pell Grant or some state grants.

BACK TO TOP

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Background

Effective May 15, 2011, Harford Community College implemented a new Satisfactory Academic Progress plan designed to provide intervention to students who have been approved for an appeal of their Title IV eligibility termination.

To receive financial aid at HCC, a student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in his or her course of study.  Federal regulations require that a student’s progress be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively.  In addition to a minimum grade point average, a student must complete a minimum percentage of course work each semester and must complete the degree or certificate requirements within a maximum timeframe of 150% of the normal time. HCC also applies the federal SAP guidelines to state, foundation and institutional aid.

Requirements

Minimum Grade Point Average:  Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.  Transitional course grades are calculated into this GPA for financial aid purposes

Minimum Completion Rate:  Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all cumulative attempted credit hours at HCC.  A successful completion is defined as the earned grades of A, B, C or D.  The grades of F, M, N, W, I or K are not considered as successful completion of the attempted credits.  If a student receives an I (Incomplete) grade for a course and later successfully completes the course requirements, the student must notify the Financial Aid Office and request a review of his or her completion rate.

Maximum Time Frame:  A student pursuing an Associate degree may attempt up to 99 credits (150% of the required credits) to obtain the degree.   Transitional course credits are included in this total.   Should a student repeat a course previously taken, both the original and the repeated course are counted as attempted credits toward the maximum allowed number of credits.  Students who have earned credits at another institution MUST transfer those credits to HCC and they are counted in the total attempted credits.  A student pursuing a certificate has up to 150% of the required number of credits to complete the certificate.

Procedures

Financial Aid Warning:  Harford Community College measures the progress of each student after each semester or payment period.  Students who do not complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credits or do not maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher depending on major (including the grade point calculation of Transitional Studies courses) will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next period of enrollment.  A student on Warning can receive all awarded aid during the Warning period.

Stafford Direct Loan Borrowers who are placed on Financial Aid Warning must complete a Loan Warning Counseling Session before their next loan disbursement.  Students will be notified of the Loan Warning Counseling Sessions by letter and campus email.

At the end of the Financial Aid Warning period, the student must meet SAP requirements to continue to be eligible for financial aid. Students who do not meet the requirements will be terminated from all financial aid. To regain eligibility a student must meet SAP requirements after enrolling and paying for classes without financial aid.   If the student had mitigating circumstances, the student may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal (completion and GPA):  Students who have been terminated from financial aid due to the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy have the right to appeal this decision.  Students seeking to appeal the termination must complete a written appeal request and submit appropriate documentation of mitigating circumstances.  Financial Aid SAP appeals will only be accepted for the following documented mitigating circumstances:

        Death in immediate family;

        Involuntary transfer or change in work hours by employer;

        Serious illness/Accident/Medical Condition;

        Other extenuating circumstances that affected the student’s ability to attend classes or be successful in their classes.

If the appeal is approved, the student is required to meet with an Academic Advisor to develop an academic plan.  This plan can be no longer than 3 semesters to regain good SAP standing  Once the Academic Plan is submitted to the Financial Aid Office, the Committee will review the plan and place the student on Financial Aid Probation for the period of attendance required to meet SAP requirements (1 to 3 semesters).  Students on Probation must follow their academic plan and comply with all requirements in the plan.  At the end of every enrollment period covered by the plan, the student’s compliance with the academic plan is reviewed. A student not following their plan will be terminated until thy can meet SAP requirements by enrolling and paying for classes without financial aid.  Students can not appeal termination more than one time. 

Maximum Time Frame Appeal:  A student is terminated from financial aid for Maximum Time Frame when they attempt or transfer in 99 credits or more.   There is no warning period for Maximum Time Frame, although students are informed by campus email  or mail when they attempt 85 or more credits. Students may appeal the termination by submitting an academic plan and curriculum planning sheet that outlines only the courses needed to complete their degree(s).  The following guidelines apply to Maximum Time Frame appeals:

• Only courses needed to complete the degree(s) are eligible for aid.

• Only courses student is receiving aid for can count toward the 6 credit (half-time) requirement for loan eligibility.

• If student has already taken all classes required for graduation, the appeal will not be approved.  Student should apply for graduation.   HCC will not approve an appeal to complete courses needed for transfer, but not a requirement of a degree.

• If student already has a degree they cannot repeat already completed courses in their program.

• Students at Maximum Time Frame attempting to get into nursing program must be accepted by nursing program before the Maximum Time Frame appeal is approved.

Reinstatement of Aid:  A student’s financial aid may be reinstated through the appeal process or by meeting  SAP guidelines after enrolling  and paying for classes without financial aid.

BACK TO TOP

Student Responsibilities

• A student who is withdrawing from one or all classes must complete the appropriate withdrawal process at the Registration and Records Office or online via their OwlNet account.

• A student who withdraws from all classes or stops attending all classes is responsible for the repayment of all Unearned Title IV aid, as calculated by the Financial Aid office using the formula mandated by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Students must repay the Unearned Title IV aid to the College and will not be permitted to register for additional classes until the debt is resolved.

• Students who owe funds to the U.S. Department of Education are not eligible for additional federal aid of any type until the funds are repaid.

• Students who never attend any classes are not eligible for Title IV aid and will be responsible for the payment of all tuition and fees.

BACK TO TOP

Tuition Refund Policy/Return of Unearned Title IV Aid

Complete information regarding the HCC Tuition Refund Policy and the semester or term refund deadlines is found in the Credit Class Schedule and the College Catalog.

Students who withdraw from a class or classes are advised to contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawal to determine the impact that a total withdrawal will have on their financial aid.

Students awarded Title IV financial aid are entitled to the funds if they attend classes.  If a student completely withdraws from all classes or stops attending all classes during an enrollment period, Harford Community College must calculate the portion of federal aid that the student “earned” according to the federal guidelines.  If the student is enrolled and attending classes past eh 60% date of the semester or term, the student is entitled to all aid and does not have to repay any portion of the aid.

If the student withdraws past the official add-drop (refund) period but before the 60% point of the enrollment period, a prorated schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal.   The amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance earned by the student must be calculated based on the number of days that the student was enrolled.  If the amount disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, unearned funds must be returned to the Department of Education and a debt to the college and possibly to the Department of Education will be incurred.  Examples of the Return of Unearned Title IV Refunds are available at the Financial Aid Office.

Students who never attend any classes during the payment period are not eligible for any refunds and must repay all Title IV funds received.

BACK TO TOP

Twelve Semester Pell Policy

Effective July 1, 2012, students have a maximum of 12 full time equivalent semesters to receive the Federal Pell Grant.

BACK TO TOP

Withdrawal from Classes

Students should contact the Financial Aid Office to have their award reviewed before withdrawing from class.  Students who withdraw from classes may affect their continued eligibility for financial aid funds.  Students should be completely familiar with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid, described in the College Catalog.  Students who withdraw may owe a repayment to the U.S. Department of Education on aid that was disbursed. Students should consult the college catalogue for complete information regarding the return of unearned Title IV funds.  Students who owe a repayment to the U. S. Department of Education will not be eligible for federal student aid until the debt is paid.

BACK TO TOP