Applying for Financial Aid
The purpose of financial aid at TCCC is to help remove the financial barriers that stand in the way of a student’s education. We are committed to the philosophy that a high-quality education should be affordable and accessible to everyone in our community.
Financial Aid News
In order for your financial aid to be approved for Fall Registration 2010, the Financial Aid Office must receive your 2010-2011 processed FAFSA by July 19, 2010.
FAFSA applications are available online.
Contact the Financial Aid Office
The TCCC Financial Aid Office is located in the Harper Building on the Main Campus. The Financial Aid Director or the Financial Aid Technician will be glad to assist you with your financial aid needs. Appointments are not required during normal working hours. Evening appointments are available upon request. Call Diane Owl at 828-835-4220 or Krystal Hernandez at 828-835-4260.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive aid from any of the federal and state student aid programs, students must meet all of the following criteria:
- Have financial need (financial need is determined through the submission of the FAFSA)
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be accepted for enrollment in an eligible program at TCCC
- Be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards set by TCCC
- Certify that he/she will use financial aid for educational purposes only
- Certify that he/she is not in default on any federal student loans and does not owe money on a federal student grant
- Register with Selective Service, if required
- Meet federal eligibility requirements regarding drug-related convictions
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
TCCC's School Code is 009430
Types of Financial Aid
Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid unless the student withdraws from his or her classes. Pell Grants are classified as Title IV Federal aid and awarded only to undergraduate students who show they have financial need through completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Therefore, students who have earned a bachelor’s degree or beyond would not qualify for this grant. Pell Grants may be used to pay a student’s direct educational costs, such as tuition, fees, and books, and to pay for indirect educational costs, such as transportation expenses and childcare. Students applying for financial aid should apply as soon as possible, but well in advance of the semester they plan to attend. The federal processor must receive your FAFSA by June 30 to be considered for the current academic year. There are no exceptions to this deadline.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The FSEOG is designed to supplement existing financial aid for undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional financial need. It is classified as Title IV federal aid. This grant is awarded at the 60% point of Fall and Spring Semester. While no deadline exists, students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA as soon as they file their taxes, as the application date is one criterion for the award.
Federal Work-Study Program
This program is designed to assist students who need extra income to continue their education at TCCC and provides valuable work experience. To be eligible for this program you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). On the two official days of registration applicants interested in applying for the work-study program should report to the Harper Building on the Main Campus to view the positon announcements which will be displayed on the bulletin board. Graham County positions will be posted at the Graham County Center. Job advertisements are posted periodically throughout the year as positions become available. Deadlines for applying are posted on each advertisement. Students are required to re-apply annually, as with other financial aid. Students do not have to be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant to be eligible for the Work-Study program.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
This program awards grants to eligible financially needy students who complete a rigorous secondary school program of study. An ACG is available during a student’s first and second academic years of undergraduate education in an eligible undergraduate program. The first year award is $750 and the second year is $1,300, based on high school graduation date.
North Carolina Community College Grant
The NCCCG is a need-based grant established by the NC Legislature to provide funds to help meet the educational costs of NC residents attending community colleges. Eligibility is determined from the completed FAFSA form. The availability of this funding depends on allocation from the North Carolina State Legislature.
North Carolina Student Incentive Grant (NCSIG)
The NCSIG is awarded to students who completed a FAFSA by March 15 based on criteria set by the North Carolina College Foundation. The criteria are as follows: 1) Student’s must be a US citizen as well as a North Carolina resident. 2) Student’s must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours). 3) Male students must be registered for selective services unless exempt. 4) Students must not be enrolled in excess of 6 credit hours of remedial or noncredit work. 5) Students must be in a certificate, diploma or degree-seeking program of at least 9 months in length. 6) Students must be maintaining the satisfactory academic progress standards as set by the institution. 7) Any student who owes a refund on any Title IV aid will be ineligible until the debt is paid. Students must indicate financial need according to the standards set by the Department of Education.
North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship
North Carolina residents who enroll for at least six credit hours as an undergraduate at an eligible NC institution are eligible for this scholarship. The award is based on the same criteria as the Federal Pell Grant.
Targeted Assistance
This program is designed to assist students in particular programs of study that enroll substantially less than class capacity but for which there is a high demand for employees in the service area labor force. Once these programs have been determined, all students enrolled in the identified program(s) will be notified by letter informing them of this available funding. The Targeted Assistance is generally awarded at the 60% of the semester.
TCCC Scholarships
TCCC offers a variety of scholarships to students ranging from $250 to $1000. Many of these scholarships are made possible by the generous donations of local individuals and businesses. A student’s scholarship file must be complete by April 15 to be considered for any and all scholarships sponsored by TCCC.
To apply for TCCC’s scholarships, interested applicants must submit:
- Scholarship Application Form
- Processed FAFSA application
- Two scholarship recommendation forms (preferably from instructors, counselors, or other professionals)
- Copy of the most recent transcript (high school or college)
- A 500-word essay
These items must be turned in to the financial aid office by the April 15 deadline to be considered.
The following is a partial list of recent scholarships and donors.
- Carringer Scholarship Fund
- College Bookstores of America Scholarship
- Dorothy Davidson Scholarship, sponsored by the American Association of University Women
- Duke Power Scholarship
- First Citizens Bank Scholarship
- Gayle West Scholarship, sponsored by
West Contracting, Inc.
- Macon Savings Bank
- MOOG Components Group Scholarship
- Murphy Rotary Club Scholarship
- Ruth Star Pullium Scholarship, sponsored by the Konnaheeta Women’s Club
- Sarah Easley Harper Scholarship
- SGA Summit Scholarship
- Tri-County Community College Foundation Excellence Award
- United Community Bank Scholarship (Cherokee, Clay or Graham Counties)
- Vincent Crisp Memorial Scholarship
- Wachovia Technical Scholarship
Loans
TCCC does not participate in any student loan programs.
Other Programs
Other sources of financial assistance is available through the following organizations to those who qualify. Interested students should contact these organizations directly to apply.
- The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 provides financial assistance to income-eligible persons enrolled in an approved curriculum. This program is administered through the Employment Security Commission.
- The North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to persons with disabilities in order to help them obtain employment.
- The Cherokee Education and Training Adult Education Program administers educational assistance programs for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Veteran’s Benefits - The Department of Veterans Affairs provides assistance to eligible members of the National Guard, Selected Reservists, eligible veterans, and certain veteran dependents. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the final authority for determining eligibility.
Other Scholarship Applications
Golden Leaf Scholars Program - up to $750 - For degree-seeking students for tuition, fees, and related expenses. Scholarships are need and merit based and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to read more information please download by clicking Golden Leaf Scholars Program. In order to download and print the full application, click here. Please complete and return the five (5) page application to the TCCC Financial Aid Office by August 19, 2010.
AES Engineers - A $500 scholarship from AES Engineering, which will be given to a motivated student. The scholarship will not be awarded based only on a high grade point average, but also on the basis of character as determined by evaluating the required essays. Applicants are not required to be taking engineering classes to be eligible. The deadline for entry is October 8, 2010.
Art and Design - A $500 Associate Degree Scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees related to Art, Computer Aided Design, Fashion Design, Visual Communications, Interior Design, Computer Graphics and others. Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2011.
Computer Technology and Information Systems - A $500 Associate Degree Scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees and certificates related to Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Networking, Computer Software, Database Technology, Information Security and others. Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2011.
Nursing and Medical Assisting - A $500 Associate Degree Scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees and certificates related to Nursing, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Physical Therapy, Veterinary Technology, Radiologic Technology and others. Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2011.
Online Associate Degree Scholarship - A $500 scholarship for full-time or part-time students who are interested in pursuing any online associate level degree. Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2011.
BrainTrack.com offers scholarships to students in four different majors. These include Business Administration, Computer Science, Elementary Education and Nursing. Listed is some more information and links to the scholarship pages. Submission deadlines are November 1 and March 1.
Search for Other Scholarships
Need Analysis for Financial Aid
When applying for federal student aid, the information reported on the application is used to calculate each student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate the EFC is established by law and is used to measure the financial strength of a student’s family on the basis of the family’s income and assets. The EFC is used to determine a student’s eligibility for student aid. Below is the need analysis equation.
Cost of Attendance
-Expected Family Contribution
= Financial Need
TCCC’s Financial Aid Office will calculate students’ cost of attendance and subtract their EFC. If there is any amount remaining, that student is considered to have financial need. The Financial Aid Office will work with students toward meeting their need. Because funds are limited, the amount awarded to an individual student may not meet his/her total need.
How to Pay for College
- Students should find out as much as possible about the TCCC program that interests them and the current costs to attend.
- Students should discuss options for paying for school with their families. If a student is in high school, they should talk to a counselor about applying for local or private scholarships. Many scholarship deadlines are in the spring of the year.
- Students need to apply for financial aid as soon as possible, but well in advance of the semester they plan to attend.
- To apply for aid at TCCC, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it either by mail or by electronically filing at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students filing electronically will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) 2-3 weeks faster than those who file by mail. Students will need current tax returns and W2s to complete the FAFSA application. If the student is dependent, he/she will need his parents tax returns and W2s as well.
- Students who apply for financial aid will receive a PIN number either electronically through email or by mail. Students should retain this number to ease the process for applying for aid in the following years.
- Other financial aid at TCCC is awarded with priority given to early applicants, so do not delay.
- Once students complete their FAFSA application, they will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail or email (usually within 2 weeks). In addition, the financial aid office will notify the students by mail regarding any requested information needed to complete the student’s financial aid file. It is then the student’s responsibility to complete his/her financial aid file by submitting the required documentation to the Financial Aid Office at TCCC.
- Upon receiving an award letter from TCCC, students should read it thoroughly to determine if they are receiving grants and to understand the rules and guidelines they agree to follow. Students must sign and return their award letter to the financial aid office before their file is complete.
- Students should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss other aid programs such as scholarships, veteran benefits, and the federal work-study program. The deadline to apply for all institutional scholarships is April 15.
- In addition to applying for financial aid, students must ensure that they complete an Admissions application and provide the Admissions Office with all documentation, including official high school and other college transcripts. Students must also take TCCC’s college placement test before they will be accepted at the college. Note: Students must be accepted through admissions before any financial aid can be awarded.
- Each student should re-apply for financial aid each year when tax returns are completed if he/she is planning to attend college the upcoming fall semester.
Financial Aid Policies
Enrollment Status for Financial Aid
Students receive financial aid for only those courses that are listed in the TCCC catalog as required for their program of study. Financial aid may be paid for developmental courses if required based on the student’s placement test scores. The amount of financial aid a student receives will be dependent on enrollment. For financial aid purposes, enrollment is defined before for fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Full-Time..................................... 12 or more credit hours
Three-quarter Time....................... 9-11 credit hours
Half Time.................................... 6-8 credit hours
Less than Half Time..................... 1-5 credit hours
Financial Aid Disbursement Dates
Financial Aid funds are disbursed to currently enrolled students (after attendance is monitored) at the Business Office in the McSwain Building at TCCC or in the Shoppe Building at the Graham County Campus (for Graham County students). In general, checks are released approximately four weeks after the first day of classes each semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require students receiving federal student aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution. These regulations require that a school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy must include both 1) a qualitative measure and 2) a quantitative measure. All students should be aware of the possibility of running out of financial aid eligibility before completing their program of study.
Qualitative Measure
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) based on the number of credit hours attempted. The college will monitor qualitative SAP using the chart below. The chart has been designed to accommodate eligible programs of study offered by the college and the variable enrollment status of students (e.g. full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, and less than 1/2 time).
Credit Hours Degree Diploma
Attempted Programs (GPA) Programs (GPA)
8-15 1.25 1.25
16-23 1.50 1.50
24-29 1.75 1.75
30-above 2.00 2.00
Any student who fails to make the GPA according to the chart above shall be placed on financial aid probation. Students will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office notifying them of this probation. Students on financial aid probation will be required to earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 and complete all classes attempted. A student will remain on extended probation until his/her cumulative completion rate meets or exceeds 67%, and the cumulative GPA is consistent with the standards listed above.
If a student does not earn a 2.0 GPA during the probation semester or drops any classes attempted, all financial aid will be suspended (see suspension policy). Please note that these qualitative standards are cumulative and include all periods of the student’s academic record including those for which the student did not receive any financial aid.
Quantitative Measure
Students receiving financial aid must successfully complete their program of study within its maximum time frame. Federal regulations specify that the time frame may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program. For example, the Computer Information Technology curriculum requires 72 credit hours to complete the diploma. The time frame is calculated (72 x 150% = 108). This means you have 100 hours of attempted time to complete the 72 credit hours required for the program.
Credit hours attempted will be cumulative and will include all hours for which the student was enrolled as of the census date of each academic term or for which the student received a grade. The census date is defined as the day following the last day for registration and payment as outlined in the college catalog.
Credit hours completed with grades of an A, B, C, and D only will fulfill this requirement. Grades of an WP, WF, F, I, W, X, Y, NG, and R will not fulfill this requirement.
In order to complete a program in the 150% time frame, the student must be completing at least 67% of his/her classes. Failure to adhere to this completion rate will place the student on financial aid probation. As with qualitative measure, if a student is placed on financial aid probation, he/she must complete all classes attempted, and maintain a satisfactory GPA to ensure future financial aid awards. If the student does not complete all classes he/she attempts, he/she will be placed on financial aid suspension and will not receive any aid until he/she has satisfactorily completed the condition listed below.
Financial Aid Suspension Policy
Once a student has been suspended from financial aid, he/she will remain on suspension until the following condition is met: Enroll in a subsequent semester at his/her own expense and successfully complete all hours attempted. A minimum of six credit hours may be attempted to satisfy this requirement.
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Director of Financial Aid when he/she feels that eligibility has been regained.
Students who exceed the maximum time frame for their program of study will have their financial aid terminated. Once financial aid has been terminated, a student will no longer be eligible for financial aid at TCCC until they have earned a degree in their current program of study. Exception: Students may appeal their termination for the possibility of one additional semester of aid.
Appeal Procedures
Although a student may have his/her financial aid eligibility suspended or terminated, the student will have the right to appeal and possibly have his/her eligibility reinstated due to mitigating circumstances* that can be documented. The procedure for appeal is as follows:
- A student must indicate in writing to the Director of Financial Aid the reasons why he/she did not make satisfactory academic progress and why his/her financial aid should not be suspended or terminated. The appeal must be accompanied by appropriate documentation and received in the Financial Aid office by the deadline on the suspension/termination notice.
- The Director of Financial Aid will arrange a hearing with the Financial Aid Committee. The student may have to appear before the committee to state his/her case and answer any questions the committee may have. All decisions made by the Financial Aid committee are final.
- *Mitigating circumstances are defined as injury or illness of the student, death of a relative, change in employment situations, and/or undue hardship caused by special circumstances.
Return of Title IV Funds Due to Withdrawal
Students receiving the Pell Grant who withdraw from all of their classes before the 60% of the semester has been reached will be required to return all or a portion of the grant. The amount a student must return will be determined by the percentage of the semester that the student completes. For example, if a student only completes 30% of the semester, he or she has earned 30% of the grant, and must return at least one half of the unearned 70% to the federal Pell Grant program. A student’s completion percentage is determined by the total number of days completed divided by the total number of days in the semester. Students who withdraw from all of their classes after 60% of the semester has passed will owe no refund, however any institutional charges that must be repaid will be billed to the student. Students who owe money but do not repay or make arrangements to pay will be sent to the North Carolina Department of Revenue and Department of Justice for debt set off in which the student’s taxes will be garnished. Finally, if debt is not recovered, the student will be turned into a collection agency.
Special Circumstances
Students should contact the Financial Aid Office if they feel they have special circumstances that might affect their dependency status or the amount they and their family are expected to contribute toward their education. These circumstances could include a family’s unusual medical expenses, or recent unemployment due to an involuntary layoff, plant closure, etc.
Their must be very good reasons to make any adjustments, and students will be required to provide documentation to adequately prove their request. The Financial Aid Director’s decision is final and it cannot be appealed to the US Department of Education.
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