Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress •
Financial Aid Refund Policy •
Code of Conduct
Please understand that Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is also different than NCC’s Academic Standards, and different from the required academic standards that may be set by your specific program.
Federal regulations require Northwest Iowa Community College to establish satisfactory academic progress standards for student financial aid recipients. These standards ensure that only those recipients demonstrating satisfactory progress toward the completion of their educational programs continue to receive financial aid. Your entire NCC record will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress, including terms for which you did not receive financial aid.
Any grade forgiveness granted from the Academic Restart Program does not apply to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. When calculating a student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid, all grades earned from all previous enrollment periods will be considered.
Whether a student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress depends on:
- successful completion of courses (credit hours earned)
- cumulative grade point average (GPA)
- maximum time limits to complete his or her course of study
Students must meet all of these requirements to maintain satisfactory academic progress. To read the complete Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
click here.
The law (Section 485 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998-P.L. 105-244) specifies how NCC must determine the amount of student financial aid assistance that is earned if you cease to attend.
If you receive federal financial assistance and fail to complete your education, your financial aid may be adjusted based on the date of the official or unofficial withdrawal. The amount of financial assistance you have earned is determined on a pro-rated basis using the number of calendar days completed divided by the number of calendar days in the payment period. Once you have completed more than 60 percent of the payment period, you earn all your financial assistance.
In accordance with federal regulations, when Title IV (Federal) Funds
are involved, unearned aid is returned by NCC in the following order:
1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
3. Federal Direct PLUS (Parent) Loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
7. Other Title IV Assistance
The adjustment of aid may cause you to owe money to the U.S. Government and/or NCC. If NCC is required to return Title IV funds, the amount returned will be billed to the student. If the repayment of funds is not made to NCC within the designated deadline, the student will be turned over to the U.S. Department of Education for collection or a collection agency, depending upon the funding source. Anyone in a repayment situation will remain ineligible for federal aid until the repayment is resolved. Students will remain ineligible for federal aid until the College receives notice from the Department of Education or collection agency that the student has reestablished his/her eligibility.
If you need to withdraw from your classes it is important that you contact your Advisor to complete a
“Withdrawal Form.” The
“Official Withdrawal Date” is recorded by the Registrar after the
“Withdrawal Form” is returned to the Student Services Office, or is the date that the student otherwise provides official notification to NCC of his/her intent to withdraw. If, however, documentation is received indicating the student’s last day of attendance is different than the date the student officially withdrew, the student’s last day of attendance may be recorded as the withdrawal date and used to calculate the refund of tuition and fees. Students who stop attending and fail to follow the withdrawal process are considered to have unofficially withdrawn and the student’s last day of attendance may be used to determine the refund calculation.
If you drop below half-time, withdraw, or graduate, you are required to complete an Online Exit Counseling Session. You may complete this Online Exit Counseling Session by going to
www.nslds.ed.gov. If your enrollment status drops below half-time, your future loan disbursements may be cancelled, you will no longer qualify for an in-school deferment of your loan payments, and you will either begin your grace period or your loans may enter into repayment.
An example of a Return of Title IV Aid is available upon request from the
Financial Aid Office.