Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to begin the application procedure. The FAFSA link is available on the HCC website at www. howardcc.edu.

Students seeking any type of fi nancial aid are strongly urged to apply by the March 1 priority filing date. Applications submitted by this date will be given first priority for limited grant funds. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to apply early to ensure the timely receipt of financial aid funds.

Transfer students interested in receiving financial aid at HCC must:

• List HCC’s federal school code (008175) with the federal processor by going online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or calling 1-800-4fed-aid. You must have a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) available when calling.
• Cancel any remaining loan disbursements at your previous college (if a loan borrower).
• Complete the HCC loan packet available online at www. howardcc.edu/fi nancialaid if you plan to borrow a loan at HCC.
• Contact the Maryland State Scholarship Administration (if applicable) to have your scholarship transferred to HCC. (Please note: This may cause an adjustment to your scholarship amount.)

You are eligible to apply for financial aid if:

• You have a high school diploma, or GED. If you are no longer in high school and did not earn a high school diploma or GED, you my still be eligible to receive fi nancial aid by taking the Ability to Benefit Test administered by HCC’s Test Center. Please note: if you are no longer in high school and earned a Certificate of Attendance, you must take the Ability to Benefit Test to be considered for fi nancial aid.

• You are a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• You are making satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree or certifi cate.
• You are not in default on a Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan or Federal PLUS Loan.
• You do not owe a balance or a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant at any postsecondary institution.
• You are enrolled in an eligible certifi cate or a degree program at HCC.*
• You are in compliance with Selective Service registration.
• You have a valid Social Security Number.

*Students enrolled in programs not leading to a degree or certificate awarded by Howard Community College, such as CPA Preparation, are not eligible for fi nancial aid through HCC.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) selects certain financial aid applicants for review in a process called verification. HCC also reserves the right to select applicants. Students whose files are selected for verification must submit all required documents in order to complete their files; no financial aid will be awarded or disbursed until all required documentation has been received and reviewed.

Students should submit documents as soon as possible, but no later than their last date of attendance for that term. If documents are received by Financial Aid Services after a student’s last date of attendance, the documents will not be reviewed and the student will not be entitled to any financial aid for that semester.

As HCC reviews verifi cation documents, corrections to a student’s ISIR may be necessary. These corrections will be electronically submitted by the college, and the student will be notified of the corrections via the corrected SAR sent from the U.S. Department of Education.

Sometimes students are selected for verifi cation after their awards have been made and funds have been disbursed for the semester. In such an event, no further financial aid will be awarded or disbursed until verifi cation is complete. If verification causes a change to the student’s awards for the academic year, he or she may be required to repay aid. HCC will notify students who owe overpayments of aid. If the funds are not repaid to the college within the timeframe specified in the notice of overpayment, the student’s debt will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education for collection. The student will not be eligible for financial aid at any institution until that debt is repaid in full.

Need for financial aid is determined by the following calculation:

Cost of Attendance Budget (COA) Less Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Equals Financial Aid Eligibility (Need)

To determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the calculation formula used is the Federal Needs Analysis mandated by the U.S. Congress. By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the student’s family contribution is calculated and reported on the Student Aid Report (SAR) which is emailed or mailed to the student’s home by the federal processor.

For a Howard County student living at home with parents, the following Cost of Attendance budget represents the estimated student cost for nine months. (Based on 12 credit hours and $114 per credit tuition cost without individual course lab fees).

Tuition and Fees* ..................$3,194

Books and Supplies.................1,000

Room and Board ...................... 6,464

Personal .................................... 1,000

Transportation .......................... 1,282

Total Budget.....................$12,940

Budgets for other categories of students may be obtained from Financial Aid Services.

*Tuition figures are based on FY 2007 fee schedule. All tuition and fees are subject to change.

All financial aid awards are made in accordance with two criteria: demonstrated financial need and the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Completed files are processed on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. A financial aid file is complete only after the following documents or information have been received:

• Completed FAFSA on file with the U.S. Department of Education. The processed FAFSA must be valid and have the Howard Community College school code (008175) listed so that Financial Aid Services can obtain the results electronically.
• Submission of all other information requested by Financial Aid Services (required prior to disbursement of federal aid), including verification documents if necessary.

Once a student’s financial aid file has been reviewed and deemed complete by a fi nancial aid counselor, a financial aid package will be processed and an award notification will be mailed to the student. The initial financial aid package will be based on assumed full-time status for the fall and spring semesters. Awards will be adjusted to actual enrollment prior to disbursement. Financial aid awards can be viewed on HCC Express.

Summer and winter classes will be considered as separate sessions when determining financial aid eligibility. Pell is the only fund that will be awarded for the summer and winter terms. Students who wish to be considered for summer or winter financial aid must be registered in order for their eligibility to be determined. Financial Aid Services will automatically review eligibility for students who register prior to the two business day payment period. Students who register during the 2 business day payment period must meet with Financial Aid Services to determine eligibility.

Students awarded financial aid will have their financial aid applied directly to their tuition bill beginning the fourth week of the fall and spring semester. If the financial aid disbursed (paid) exceeds the tuition bill, the student gives permission for the excess aid to be used for purchasing books and supplies in the HCC bookstore unless a written statement declining to do so is submitted to Financial Aid Services before charging books and supplies. Any fi nancial aid funds, including Federal Stafford Loans, over and above tuition, fees, and bookstore charges are mailed directly to the student by HCC check within 14 days after the credit balance is created each semester. Any Federal PLUS Loan, over and above tuition, fees, and bookstore charges are mailed directly to the parent by HCC check within 14 days after the credit balance is created each semester.

Federal Stafford Loan and Federal PLUS Loan funds are applied directly against the tuition bill. Loan disbursements received by Electronic Fund Transfer do not require additional signature/endorsement. The student/parent will be notified in writing of the receipt of EFT loan funds and may cancel the disbursement in writing within 14 days of receipt. Loan disbursements received by check require the borrower’s endorsement at the Cashier’s Offi ce.

Students participating in the work-study program will receive checks semi-monthly from the Cashier’s Office based on the number of hours worked.

Student aid awards are normally for one academic year. Continuation is dependent upon meeting application priority deadline dates each year, re-establishing financial need, making satisfactory academic progress, and continuing to enroll for at least one (1) credit per semester (six credits for loan applicants).

Eligibility for financial aid is limited to a maximum of 30 attempted credits for Developmental Education courses. This is in addition to the satisfactory academic progress maximum timeframe based on the student’s program length.

Students may receive aid only for classes in which they are registered as of the last date to drop for the regular semester. Students may not receive aid for late start classes such as Offi ce Technology or mini-session classes such as Microsoft, unless they registered for these courses during the official drop period. The Schedule of Classes contains the specific date each term.

Students who wish to have their fi nancial aid processed under a consortium agreement with another institution must notify HCC in advance of the respective term. A written agreement is required between HCC and the other institution. HCC serves as the “host” institution in these situations, meaning that the student must be enrolled in an eligible certificate or degree program at the other college. Financial aid must be processed through that institution. Students who are interested in a consortium arrangement should contact both HCC and the other institution well in advance of the planned semester. HCC will cancel all aid for any students who are found to be receiving financial aid concurrently at HCC and another institution, unless an approved consortium agreement is on fi le.

Howard Community College maintains and/or coordinates the following fi nancial aid programs for students. Financial aid awards are normally for one academic year and it is the student’s responsibility to reapply each year.

Counseling services are available in Financial Aid Services to assist students with application procedures and to discuss program eligibility.

Grade level progression for student loan eligibility is defined as follows:

1–29 completed credits = Grade 1

30 or more completed credits = Grade 2

For all other financial aid purposes, the HCC academic year is defined as 24 credits.

GRANTS

Federal Pell Grant—Pell Grant is a Title IV program offering need-based grants ranging up to $4,731, dependent upon appropriations by Congress, student eligibility and level of enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)—FSEOG is a Title IV program offering grant funds for students demonstrating exceptional financial need. Grants can range from $100 to $4,000 per year, based on the student’s need and funds available from the U.S. Department of Education. Typical full-time grants at HCC range from $200 to $1000 per year. Priority for FSEOG is given to those students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA and those who apply by the college’s priority filing date of March 1.

Students who receive financial aid must not only demonstrate financial need, but must also make satisfactory academic progress as determined by Howard Community College in accordance with federal regulations.

Financial aid recipients are required to be in good standing and to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree/certifi cate requirements for each semester in which they are enrolled. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester will result in cancellation of financial aid awards. All students who enroll at HCC will be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress each semester, regardless of aid awarded. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated based on the student’s cumulative academic record, from the date of entry to the college, regardless of whether or not fi nancial aid was received.

Students must meet the following requirements:

Cumulative Completion Rate

For example, a student who has attempted 24 credits must have a cumulative completion rate of at least 50% (credits completed divided by credits attempted). For students enrolled in certificate programs less than two years in length, quantitative progress is defined as a 67% completion rate at all times.

Counseling services and academic support (tutoring) are available for HCC students who are disabled, first generation college students or students from low income families. Academic support services and other services that contribute to student success are available to all students through the Admissions and Advising, Counseling and Career Services and Learning Assistance Center. Further information regarding these services is available on pages 43-44 and on the college’s website.

Financial Aid Services also provides workshops during the year, both on campus and in the community. The office’s Spotlight Program, conducted early in the Spring term, is designed to help current and prospective students complete the financial aid application process.

Section 493.A of the Higher Education Act requires post-secondary educational institutions to disseminate relevant, candid information on student financial aid programs available at the college. These rights and responsibilities may be found in the the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) publication entitled The Student Guide. This guide is available online at http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_ guide/index.html.

Any change in a student’s fi nancial situation, address, or school enrollment must be reported to Financial Aid Services. Students have the right to request a review of their fi nancial aid package when a change in family or personal circumstances occurs. Students also have a right to review their financial aid records and may do so during our walk-in counseling hours.

The U.S. Department of Education requires HCC to disseminate information and disclose certain information to students. This information includes, but is not limited t Voter Registration, Equity in Athletics, Campus Crime and Security, Completion and Transfer Out Rates, and Drug and Alcohol-Free Campus policies. For further information on the listed topics, please refer to the HCC website at www.howardcc.edu.

Students receiving financial aid have the responsibility to follow the college’s withdrawal procedures as outlined in the Howard Community College catalogue (page 37).

The Higher Education Act requires the college calculate a Return of Title IV Funds on all federal financial aid students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60% attendance point in the semester. A schedule is used to determine the percentage of the semester the student attended based on the withdrawal date/last date of attendance.

The percentage of the semester the student attended is calculated as follows:

Number of days in attendance Number of days in semester

The number of days counted includes all calendar days in the semester including weekends and holidays, but excludes college breaks of five or more days.

The percentage of the semester the student attended is used to calculate the amount of the student’s earned versus unearned federal aid funds. The unearned portion of federal aid funds received must be returned to the appropriate aid program in accordance with the order of return as mandated by law. The order of return is: Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan, Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal ACG Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Other Title IV Aid.

The college is responsible for returning the lesser of unearned Title IV Aid or unearned institutional charges. Unearned institutional charges are based on the percentage of the semester the student did not attend. The college is responsible for its return of funds fi rst, followed by the student’s return of funds.

The student is responsible for returning:

Amount of unearned Title IV Aid

-Amount of aid school returns Amount Student Returns

The college must return its portion of unearned Title IV aid (loan and grant) to the appropriate federal program within 45 days from the student’s withdrawal date as determined by Financial Aid Services. If the amount the student returns includes a federal loan program, the student is responsible for repayment of the loan in accordance with the terms of the loan program.

If the amount the student returns includes grant aid, the student must repay 50% of the grant money received, rather than 100%.

The student must return unearned grant aid to the college within 45 days from date of notification. Failure by the student to return or make arrangements to return unearned grant aid to the College within 45 days will result in the student being reported to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The student will be considered in an Overpayment Status, and will not be eligible for additional aid at any post-secondary institution participating in Title IV Aid programs. Students who are reported to USDOE in an Overpayment Status should contact the USDOE to make payment arrangements to repay the necessary grant funds.

Students who stop attending Howard Community College may not receive further fi nancial aid disbursements, may lose some or all of the aid that has already been disbursed to their account, may be responsible for repayment of unpaid charges, and may be considered in overpayment status with USDOE.

Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing from the college will be subject to a Return of Funds calculation at the end of the semester, based on their last date of attendance as determined by Financial Aid Services.

• A student must apply by the March 1 priority filing date to be considered for limited grant funds.
• It takes six to eight weeks to process an application for any type of fi nancial aid.