Financial Aid

News You Can Use

1.	Enrollment Fees
2.	2010-2011 Processing Update
3.	New Financial Aid Disbursement System
4.	Change of Enrollment Status
5.	Return to Title Regulations
6.	SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy)
7.	Have You Got Your PIN Yet?
8.	Photocopy Policy
9.
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	​Enrollment Fees - Enrollment fees are $26 per unit. California residents, who complete and submit a FAFSA and qualify for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGW), will continue to have their enrollment fees waived.  Please note that Health Fees are not waived by the Board of Governors Grant Program. We urge all students to apply for federal and state financial aid funds each year, if they have not already done so.
	​2010-2011 Processing Update It is not too late to renew or apply for financial aid for the 2010-2011 academic year.  Do not wait, apply now.  You need to follow the key dates of the financial aid process to take advantage of the financial aid programs that are limited in funding.  Please note that if you provided your email address on the FAFSA, we will communicate to you via email; otherwise, we will use the address listed on your FAFSA.  If you have changed your email address, you need to submit a correction to your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov If you list Pierce College (Federal School Code 001226) on their FAFSA will receive a Document Tracking Letter which will list the documents needed to complete your financial aid file.  Document Tracking Letters will not be sent to you with rejected (invalid) Student aid Reports (SAR's).  Invalid SAR's result when key information and/or signatures are missing.  Eligibility for federal and state financial aid depends (among other factors) on making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  Students are notified of their SAP via email, if an email address has been provided, or by mail of their SAP status after filing the FAFSA.  Students who are disqualified should contact the Financial Aid Office regarding the procedure for appeal.
	​New Financial Aid Disbursement System The Los Angeles Community College District partnered with HigherOne to deliver financial aid disbursements to students effective Fall 2010.  With this new disbursement process, students will be sent a myLACCDcard Debit MasterCard.  With this card, students will have to choose an option to either activate the myLACCDcard or choose an account of their choice via ACH Transfer to a banking institution they are currently working with.  Therefore, it is important that students confirm their mailing address with Admissions & Records Office to ensure receipt of the myLACCDcard.  For additional information, click HERE or visit www.myLACCDcard.com for additional information.
	​Change of Enrollment Status- Colleges must review payments of funds to students each enrollment period to determine if students have received an overpayment.  If you are paid at one level of enrollment and then drop units, you may be subject to repayment of some of the funds you received.  It is your responsibility to drop your classes through the Admissions Office if you do not attend.  Failure to drop classes may reuslt in a financial aid overpayment, which may require repayment of the financial aid you received.  No further award adjustments will be made after the second disbursement run date of the semester.  If it is determined that you owe a repayment, and you DO NOT repay the funds, a hold will be placed on your academic record, your debt will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education for collection, and you will not be eligible for further financial aid at any postsecondary institution until the debt is paid in full.
	​Return to Title IV Funds Policy- Students who receive federal financial aid and then withdraw from ALL classes may have to repay some of the federal funds they received.  All students receiving federal aid, who withdraw from the institution in the first 60% of the term, are subject to Return Regulations.  The Financial Aid Office will calculate the amount of federal funds earned by the student up to the point of withdrawal and students will be billed and must repay any federal funds received but not earned.  Failure to repay these funds will result in the denial of future federal financial aid at all colleges.  Nonpayment of the unearned amount will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education for collection.  It is advised that you contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from all of your classes so you understand the results of your actions.   For refund policy on enrollment fees and non-resident tuition, please see the College Catalog or Schedule of Classes.
	​ SAP (STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS) Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be eligible for federal and state aid at Pierce College. Your academic records will be evaluated after the Spring semester. The SAP Policy can be summarized briefly as follows: At the end of the Spring semester all aid applicants must have: 1.      A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher 2.      Completed at least 67% of all (cumulative) units attempted 3.      Attempted less than 90 total units (or 150% of required units if enrolled in a certificate program), excluding remedial and ESL coursework. 4.      Not yet obtained an A.A. /A.S. or higher degree at any other upper division school or college. These standards apply to all coursework attempted in the Los Angeles Community College District and apply to all financial aid applicants, whether or not financial aid was received in prior terms.
	​Have You Got Your PIN Yet? - Students can apply for a U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow access to their information in several Student Financial Aid (SFA) on-line systems. The most valuable application of the PIN is to allow the student (and his/her parent, using their own separate PIN) to electronically sign the FAFSA, Renewal FAFSA, Corrections on the Web forms. Anyone interested in obtaining a: PIN should go to www.pin.ed.gov and choose "Apply for a PIN".
	​Photocopy Policy - The Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Office can no longer make photocopies of your required documents. Applicants must bring or mail in complete, readable, signed copies of any documents (for example: tax returns) requested on Document Tracking or Pending Letters. Copy machines are available in the Library, the new Copy Center (located on the south side of the College Services Building), and at various local merchants.
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