Financial Aid Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress
All students who receive federal or state financial aid must be enrolled in a program leading to a degree, an eligible non-degree program, or an eligible certificate program. Students must meet federal and institutional standards for academic progress in order to establish and retain aid eligibility. Students receiving athletic or other university administered awards must also meet the satisfactory academic progress standards that have been established by the awarding entity. 

Academic progress for federal and state financial aid programs is based on three measures: Cumulative Grade Point Average, Pace of Progression based on credit hours completed compared to attempted, and a Maximum Time frame for degree completion. While the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is a minimum requirement to maintain financial aid eligibility, students are encouraged to work closely with academic advisers and college personnel to achieve their educational goals. Good financial planning includes selecting meaningful coursework, completing all registered classes with satisfactory grades, and seeking your degree in a timely manner.

To monitor the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) of students applying for or receiving Title IV funds, Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) will evaluate SAP for all students at the end of each payment period and communicate with students in writing, via email. All calculations will be based upon the cumulative academic record as transcribed by the college at the time of SAP evaluation. The following measures will be used:

 (1) Grade point average- Achieving and maintaining at least a 2.00 grade point average

(2) Pace of progression- Passing a required number of hours (67% of all hours attempted)

(3) Maximum time frame- Total overall hours must not exceed 150% of the published length of a student’s degree program.

Determining Financial Need
When applying for federal student aid, the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used in a formula, established by the U.S. Congress, that calculates an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used in an equation to determine financial need.

Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance (COA) is the maximum amount of financial aid and scholarships a student can receive during an academic year.  The Cost of attendance is not the amount owed to the college. COA is estimate of expenses for education such as tuition, fees, room board, books, supplies and other related expenses. Students with an unusual expense that might affect their COA can contact Finacnial Aid to determine if an increase is appropriate. Students can view their personalized Cost of Attendance in LoLA when a FAFSA is received for the academic/aid year.

** Based on 12 Undergraduate hours.

** Based on 12 Undergraduate hours.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The amount expected to be available for your educational expenses. The EFC is calculated from income, assess information, household size, and number in college. If you are dependent, the EFC is a student and parent contribution. If you are independent, the EFC is a student (and/or spouse) contribution.

Repeated Coursework
Effective July 1, 2011, there is a rule change regarding federal financial aid and payment of repeated coursework. If you have taken and passed a course (with a grade of D or higher), federal financial aid will now only pay for you to repeat this course one time. Should you decide to repeat a course for a second time (or more), federal financial aid will not cover the cost of that course.

If you are currently enrolled in a repeated course for the second time, and you passed the course the first time you enrolled in it, your financial aid may be revised. You should consider dropping the course and adding another course you have not taken before.

Verification
Verification is a federally mandated review process. The Office of Financial Aid has partnered with Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process. required to obtain and compare information submitted on tax documents, the verification form, and the FAFSA.

Students selected for verification must complete the Baton Rouge Community College verification form and submit all required documents. Verification can be a lengthy process; therefore, we strongly recommend that students and their families submit the form and all verification documents as soon as they are requested. Students should check their LOLA account OFTEN for missing requirements. 

Any differences between information entered on the verification form or other requested documents and the FAFSA will result in a new determination of financial need. This new determination of financial need may alter the student's financial aid eligibility. 
 
Students who will be completing verification for the 2021-2022 academic year should submit copies of 2019 federal tax return transcript when available.

Aid Adjustments
Your financial aid award will be adjusted for the following reasons:

• Enrollment status is verified on the last day of the drop/add period for each semester. If you drop or add classes by this date, your Pell Grant/TOPS/GO Grant awards will be adjusted accordingly.
• Professors report non-attendance for any classes. Your aid, including student loans, will be adjusted if you do not attend any one of your classes (assuming the credit hours adjustment actually changes your aid eligibility).
• Receiving Pell Grant or Loans at two different colleges during the same academic year, which exceeds the total maximum limit for that year.
• Any aid may be adjusted, if you totally withdraw before the federal deadline to withdraw and you may have to repay the aid you did not earn. See more detailed information under "Title IV Policies."
• Direct Student loans and/or other student financial aid awards may be adjusted to prevent over-award situations due to the receipt of either a fee discount, tuition aid, outside scholarship, change in residency classification, or similar assistance.
• Direct Student Loans will also be be adjusted or canceled based on a check of half-time status at the beginning of the loan period.

Loan Proration
Loan proration impacts undergraduate students applying for graduation who are receiving federal student loans. When a student will complete their degree in the middle of an academic year, federal student aid regulations require that BRCC prorates the loan based on the student's enrollment level for that final semester.

Attendance Policies

Failure to Begin Attendance
Federal regulations require that students earn their financial aid funds by attending and actively participating in courses. Attendance information is collected from faculty to verify financial aid eligibility. If a student fails to begin attendance in a course, the institution is required to reduce the student’s financial aid enrollment level and eligibility.

Last Date of Attendance Determination
Students who have been paid federal financial aid funds are required to earn these funds by participating in classes. Students who quit participating in all courses prior to the 60% point in the semester, but have already received their federal financial aid disbursement, may have been overpaid. The repayment amount for an overpayment is based upon the number of days in the semester the student has completed and the student’s last date of an academically-related activity. A federally mandated formula is used to calculate the amount of the overpayment.

Return to Title IV Policy
Return of Title IV Aid - The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 established the concept that financial aid must be earned through class attendance. 

1. When you totally withdraw from all classes, The Student Financial Aid Office must calculate the amount of financial aid you have earned prior to withdrawing. Any Title IV aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. Unearned aid must be returned to the respective Federal Aid program(s).
2. Return of Aid Programs - Unearned aid amounts are to be returned to Title IV financial aid programs: Federal Direct Student Loan Programs (unsubsidized then subsidized); Federal Perkins Loan Program; Federal Direct PLUS loans; Federal Pell Grant Program; Federal SEOG Program; any other programs funded by Title IV; other federal, state, private, or institutional aid programs. Any amount remaining after the applicable programs have been fully repaid is returned to the student. A 100% credit for the term affected will be given in the event of the student's death. The Return of Title IV Aid calculation will be based on the official notification of the date of death.
3. Earned Aid - A student has not earned 100% of their financial aid until s/he has attended more than 60% of the term. If a financial aid recipient totally withdraws on or before the 60% point of the term, there is a portion of the aid that has not been earned. The percentage of earned aid is determined by taking the number of days attended divided by the total number of days in the term. For example:
    

   Days Student Attended Prior to Withdrawing	37
   Divided by Total Days in the Semester	100
   Equals Percentage of Earned Aid	37%

   
   
   
4. Unearned Aid - The percentage of unearned aid is calculated by subtracting the earned percentage from 100%. The unearned aid in the previous example is determined by the following formula:
    

   100% Aid Percentage	100%
   Minus Percentage of Earned Aid	37%
   Equals Percentage of Unearned Aid	63%

   
    
5. Return of Unearned Aid Amount - Once the earned and unearned aid percentages are determined, the next step is to calculate the dollar amount of total unearned aid that must be returned. The Return of Unearned Aid Amount is determined by multiplying the unearned aid percentage by the total of all Title IV aid disbursed or eligible to be disbursed. The unearned aid percentage of 63% would be multiplied by the student's total aid disbursed:

    

   Percentage of Unearned Aid	63%
   Multiplied by Total Aid Received(*example)	*$2,345.00
   Equals Unearned Aid Amount	$1,477.35

   
   
   

6. Return of Fees - The unearned aid portion is repaid by both the student and the school. The school returns the Unearned Aid Amount to the U. S. Department of Education. Depending on the time of withdrawal, the student may also be responsible for repaying a portion of his/her fees that had been previously paid by the financial aid. The student is responsible for paying the balance on his/her account due to the Unearned Aid amount being returned to the U. S. Department of Education. 

   Unearned Aid Amount

   $1477.35

   
   
   
7. Post-Withdrawal Disbursements - If a student totally withdraws from a semester and receives less federal aid than the amount earned, then the student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. The student must have met all of the conditions for a late disbursement prior to withdrawing. Grant funds will automatically be applied towards outstanding charges created by the withdrawal. Loan funds will not be applied until written confirmation is received from the borrower. If no confirmation is received, the loan is canceled. 
8. Non-Title IV Aid - Refunds applicable to non-Title IV funds will be distributed to the respective aid accounts in the same proportion as the aid awarded. 
9. Dropping All Classes - To avoid financial penalties and aid adjustments, make sure you drop all classes prior to the beginning of the semester. If you drop all classes prior to the start of the semester, you will not be considered a student for that semester and, thus, not entitled to receive any form of financial aid. Your aid will be canceled and returned to the appropriate program(s). If you drop all your classes close to the beginning of the semester, and you have already received financial aid, you will be required to repay the entire amount of aid disbursed to you. Once the semester starts on the first day, you have begun to earn aid and a Return of Title IV Aid calculation must be completed.
10. Failing ALL Classes - If you fail all of your classes in a semester, you may be subject to a Return of Title IV Aid calculation. If you have "earned" at least one of your "F"s (i.e., attended class for at least one course until the end of the term and received an F for poor performance), then no calculation is required. However, if you received all Fs because you stopped attending or never attended courses prior to the 60% point in the semester, then a Return of Title IV Aid calculation is required. This is considered an unofficial withdrawal and the latest last date of attendance for the semester will be used as the withdrawal date. An account balance will be created if the calculation results in the return of financial aid.
11. Future Aid Eligibility - Withdrawing may affect your eligibility to receive financial aid in subsequent terms. Upon withdrawal, you should notify the Student Financial Aid Office when you plan to return so we can make necessary adjustments to your financial aid award. Students should also review the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.  

Refund/Disbursement Policy

• Refunds for the semester for the Federal Pell grant, Federal SEOG grant, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans, unless the 30 day delay applies, will begin after the 14th class day.  
• Refunds for the semester for other funds such as TOPS, GO grant, and Veteran's Benefits will begin once the funding has been received.

Note: "Disbursement" does not mean "Refund." "Disbursement" means the financial aid awards have been applied to your BRCC student account. "Refund" means the credit balance owed to you will be sent to BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution,  powered by BMTX, Inc..

Baton Rouge Community College does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies and procedures with regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.