Financial Aid Policies

1. New students must apply for admission to Belmont.
2. New students completing the FAFSA need to obtain a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Parents of dependent students will also need to obtain a FSA ID to process the FAFSA.
3. Complete the FAFSA. Belmont College’s School Code is 009941. Students are strongly advised to complete the FAFSA as early as possible for the upcoming academic year not only to allow for the verification process, but also to ensure that they will receive all eligible financial assistance available. Students may begin filing their FAFSA on October 1 prior to the start of the next academic year.
4. Review your SAR (Student Aid Report). Once you complete the FAFSA, the U.S.Department of Education will e-mail your SAR results. Read this carefully as it contains messages and possible errors you will need to correct. If you find any errors, correct them by going to https://fafsa.gov.
5. Submit any missing documents to the Financial Aid Office. Check your financial aid status online through your MyFAO account to see if you have missing documents such as Verification Worksheets or tax documents.
6. Once all forms are complete, the Financial Aid Office will process your Financial Aid award and mail or email you a Financial Aid Award notification showing any estimated grants or scholarships you may be eligible to receive. Students who wish to borrow Federal Direct Student Loans will be required to complete a Federal Direct Student Loan Request Form each semester even if you have had a loan in the past.
7. If you apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan, new borrowers must complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. Returning borrowers need to complete the ASLA (Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement).These can be done online at https://studentaid.gov.
8. Make sure your bill is covered. If you receive a balance due, do not assume your financial aid will cover it. If your file is incomplete, you are not eligible for any Financial Aid awards. Check your Financial Aid status on MyFAO or by contacting the Financial Aid Office at 740.695.8510 or email financialaid@belmontcollege.edu.

The U.S. Department of Education may purposely or randomly select a financial aid application for verification. This is much like an audit of the information you provided on your FAFSA. Belmont is required to verify or confirm the information reported on all of the selected applications. The College may also require verification or correction of any application that may be in question. In these cases, certain information will be requested to help determine the accuracy of the information and to determine the student’s eligibility for financial aid.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Financial Aid Office will notify all aid applicants who are selected for verification. You may be asked to provide tax information, identifying information, and to complete a federally required worksheet. Please respond promptly to the Financial Aid Office’s request for these required documents.

The Financial Aid Office has established the following policies and procedures stated to fulfill the requirements expressed in the Higher Education Act (HEA). The Satisfactory Academic Progress process and policy of Belmont College are reviewed when changes at the federal or institutional level require review to ensure compliance with Federal Regulations. All Belmont College students applying for Title IV federal assistance must meet the criteria stated hereafter regardless of whether or not they previously received aid. SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester and those not meeting SAP are sent a letter or email with appeal instructions.

The programs governed by these regulations are:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Work-Study (FWS)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Direct Parent Loan (PLUS)

Satisfactory Academic Progress standards include these elements:

1. Qualitative Progress – Students are evaluated at the end of each semester and must meet a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).
2. Quantitative Progress – Students must successfully complete a percentage of cumulative credit hours attempted
3. Time Frame – Students must complete their degree or certificate program within a 150% maximum time frame of credit hours attempted for their program of study. *See Time Frame for more information.
4. Graduation – Students who apply for graduation are considered to be ineligible for continuation of financial aid after graduation unless they pursue another degree and are granted approval.

Qualitative Progress – The minimum GPA a student must have earned at the end of the evaluation period. Students are evaluated at the end of each semester by the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) standards:

• 1.6 or above cumulative GPA in 0-29 attempted hours
• 2.0 or above cumulative GPA in 30+ attempted hours

Quantitative Progress – Students must successfully complete 2/3 of attempted credit hours with a letter grade of “D” or better after each semester. Grades that are considered successfully complete are A-, B+-, C+-, D+-, P. Grades that are not considered successfully completed are F, I, W, NR, FZ, DZ, D+Z, X.

Time Frame – The required length of time it will take a student to complete a degree program or certificate based on the appropriate enrollment status. Federal regulations allow a student to be eligible to receive aid up to 150% of the time that it would normally take to complete a degree. All credit hours in which a student enrolls or transfers to Belmont College are included in the maximum time frame calculation, regardless of the number of degrees a student chooses to obtain. Belmont College evaluates this per program of study. For example, if your major is Computer Applications Certificate which requires 33 semester credit hours to graduate, you may not exceed 49.5 attempted semester credit hours to obtain that degree without submitting an appeal for Financial Aid. If you are an accounting major which requires 63 credits, you may not exceed 94.5 attempted credit hours.

Graduation – Students who complete the coursework for graduation are considered to be ineligible for continuation of financial aid after unless they apply for a second degree and are granted approval. Students must complete the SAP Appeal form indicating they want a second degree. If granted, a Degree Completion Plan must be obtained from a Belmont College academic advisor and aid will only be awarded and calculated on courses required to complete the new degree. Students may be approved for a maximum of 2 degrees.

Financial Aid Warning / Suspension – In the event that a student fails to meet any of the Elements of Satisfactory Progress for the first time, the student is placed on SAP Warning (see definition below). Students will receive a letter or an email indicating they have not met SAP and are being placed on SAP Warning. Students can still receive Federal Aid while on SAP Warning. Failure to meet any of the elements of Satisfactory Progress for a second consecutive semester will cause the student to be placed on SAP Suspension (see definition below). SAP Suspension will result in the termination of Federal Financial Aid which includes the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, Federal Work Study and Direct Loans. Students placed on SAP Suspension will receive a letter or email indicating they are being placed on SAP Suspension. Students placed on suspension will have a financial aid hold placed on their account until they appeal this status and it is approved. Students placed on SAP Suspension can appeal the decision – see SAP Appeal for more details.

SAP Warning – SAP Warning is for qualitative and quantitative measures only. Students not meeting time frame or graduation are automatically placed on SAP Suspension. Belmont College students are evaluated at the end of each semester based on the elements of SAP. Students who do not meet one or more of the elements for one semester will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. Financial Aid Warning means that you CAN receive federal financial aid for the next semester, but you must meet all of the SAP elements by the end of the next semester or you will be placed on SAP Suspension and will be eligible to appeal for future Federal Aid funding.

SAP Suspension – Belmont College students are evaluated at the end of each semester based on the elements of SAP. Students who do not meet one or more of the elements for two semesters in a row will be placed on SAP Suspension. SAP Suspension means that you are NOT eligible for Federal financial aid for the next semester. You do have an option to appeal this decision.

SAP Appeal – The process by which a student who is not meeting the institution’s standards and is placed on SAP suspension may petition for reconsideration of the student’s eligibility. Students are evaluated at the end of each semester. At this time, any student not meeting SAP elements will be placed on SAP Suspension and are ineligible for any further financial aid. Students can complete the SAP appeal form. Students must indicate the reason for not meeting the SAP elements and must provide documentation. Students may submit an appeal to be considered for reinstatement on a probationary status to resolve all deficiencies. Appeals must provide documentation of circumstances on which the appeal is based. Appeals must also specify why the student failed to satisfy SAP requirements and what has changed in the student’s situation to prevent future deficiencies.

SAP Approval – For Qualitative and/or Quantitative. If a student appeals a SAP Suspension and the appeal is approved, the student will be allowed to receive Federal aid for the next semester under a SAP Probation term. The student must complete all courses with no grades of F, W and/or I and return in good standing with regards to SAP. If a student does not meet the terms as outlined in the approvalnotice the student will lose Federal financial aid permanently at Belmont College until the student can again meet the SAP terms without the use of any Federal financial aid which includes Direct Loans. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on SAP Probation.

SAP Approval – For Time Frame and/or Graduation. When the student is placed on SAP Suspension because of not completing their degree within 150% or have graduated and have requested a second degree. If the appeal is approved the student is required to provide a signed degree completion plan and only the courses needed to complete the degree will be approved for Federal financial aid. Students may not take courses that are not on the degree completion plan. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on SAP Probation.

SAP Denial – If a student appeals SAP Suspension and the appeal is denied, they will not be eligible to receive any federal aid until the student can again meet the SAP terms without the use of any Federal financial aid which includes Direct loans. Therefore, this status is SAP Termination.

SAP Notifications – Students who are placed on SAP Warning, SAP Suspension or SAP Termination will receive a letter or email after each semester.

Developmental Courses – Developmental courses carry credit. However the credits do not apply directly toward earning a degree or diploma. A student receiving financial aid is allowed a maximum of 30 attempted credits in transitional courses while receiving Federal Aid. Once a student has attempted 30+ credit hours they are not eligible to receive Federal aid for any additional developmental courses. Developmental courses are included in the SAP calculation.

According to Federal guidelines, financial aid can pay for a repeat of a previously passed course only once as long as a better grade can be attained. An example would be if a student received an A, they could not receive aid for that repeated course because they cannot get a grade above an A*.

*Consideration may be given for courses taken 5 years ago or more and changes in the field of study applicable to the class.

Attendance is monitored for the receipt of federal and state aid. Students not in attendance are subject to adjustments of their financial aid award amount. Students who register and never attend class(s) are ineligible to receive federal and/or state aid for the class(s) in question. This includes online courses where a student has failed to submit assignments and/or tests to the instructor. Students must demonstrate a pattern of attendance at the time of disbursement to be eligible for financial aid.

Student financial aid is packaged to meet individual financial need. A combination of grants, employment, and loans may be included. Financial aid awards are disbursed once per semester, with the exception of Federal Direct Loans that are disbursed twice per semester. All aid is disbursed based on attendance in class.

Flex Courses – A student registered in flex courses will not receive their full financial aid award until all flex classes and refund periods are complete

Federal Aid Programs

Current Federal guidelines require schools to monitor students who are recipients of Federal Title IV aid who may officially or unofficially withdraw or cease attendance while enrolled. The institution is required to re-calculate any unearned Title IV funds that must be returned to Title IV programs. This recalculation is applicable until 60 percent of the term is completed. In some cases, a student may have a balance due to the College or to the U.S. Department of Education as a result of this recalculation.

The student is responsible for all outstanding debts created as a result of recalculation. Students who register and NEVER attend class(s) are ineligible to receive Federal and/or state aid for the class(s) in question. This includes online courses where a student has failed to submit assignments and/or tests to the instructor. Title IV aid includes Pell Grant, FSEOG, and Direct Loans.

Some courses, although for credit, may not be eligible for federal aid. Only courses that are required for your degree completion are eligible for Federal Aid. Courses such as the mining courses (MIN1100, MIN1200 & MIN2200), CDL truck driving and energy courses (GIS1100 & NGT1100) are generally not covered under financial aid unless it can be used as an elective for programs such as Industrial Electronics; prior approval and course substitutions by the Faculty Lead are required. Pre-Admit courses are only eligible to be counted for student loan credit hours. They are not Pell eligible.

In addition, AHT1100 does not qualify for Pell Grant for students enrolled in the Associate of General Science degree or any of the nursing programs. However, if the student is taking at least 3 more qualifying credit hours, a student may be eligible to use Federal Direct Loan funds to assist with the cost of these courses. Ineligible programs Students who are transient (TRN), College Credit Plus (ADP), fire classes (FND), nurse aide (CNS) or non-degree seeking (NDS) are not eligible for federal financial aid at Belmont College.

Education requires the investment of money and effort on behalf of the student. In return for this investment, productive employment, social development, intellectual enrichment, or personal satisfaction is expected. A college education is one of the greatest investments students make. As a consumer, the student should understand the school’s policies and procedures, financial aid, and any other information necessary to help make the final decision to attend. It is the student’s responsibility to carefully evaluate the product (education and training) and fully understand what they will be purchasing.

Students have the right to know the following:

1. Financial assistance available, including information on all Federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
2. Deadlines for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available.
3. Cost of attending the institution and the College’s refund policy.
4. Criteria used by the institution to select financial aid recipients.
5. How the College determines individual financial need. This process includes identification of minimum costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books, supplies, personal, and miscellaneous expenses, etc.
6. Resources (such as family contributions, other financial aid, personal assets, etc.) considered in the calculation of individual financial need.
7. Whether the individual financial need determined by the institution has been appropriately met.
8. An explanation from the Financial Aid Office about the various programs in the student aid package. If a student believes he/she has been treated unfairly, he/she may appeal the decision.
9. The portion of the financial aid received that is considered to be a loan (must be repaid), and the portion that is considered to be a grant (does not need to be repaid). If the financial aid is in the form of a loan, the student has the right to know the interest rate, the total amount to be repaid, repayment procedures, the length of time in which to repay the loan, and when the repayment schedule will begin.
10. How the College determines whether satisfactory academic progress is being made (see “SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS”), and the consequences of unsatisfactory progress (see “Financial Aid Warning / Suspension”).

Students have the responsibility to:

1. Review and consider all information about the College’s programs before enrollment.
2. Complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the appropriate office/ agency.
3. Pay close attention to and accurately complete the application for student financial aid. Errors can result in delays in receiving financial assistance. Intentional reporting of erroneous information on application forms for Federal financial aid is a violation of law and is considered to be a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.
4. Return all supplemental documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which the application was submitted.
5. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms that have been signed by the student. Ask questions if you need further clarification.
6. Accept responsibility for all signed agreements (see #5).
7. Notify loan servicer of any changes in student name, address, or school status.
8. Perform the agreed-upon job duties for Federal Work Study awards.
9. Know and comply with the deadlines for application (and re-application) for assistance.
10. Know and comply with the College’s refund policies and procedures.