The Financial Aid Office would like to take this opportunity to wish you success in your endeavors while enrolled at CACC.  It is our policy and mission to offer you financial counseling and assistance to help you pursue your educational goals.

Central Alabama Community College is approved to participate in the following programs:

      Federal Pell Grants

      Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

      FFELP Stafford Loans

   Federal College Work Study (FCWS)

   Federal Community Service Work Study

   Alabama Student Assistance Program Grant (ASAP)

   Vocational Rehabilitation

   The Alabama Workforce Investment Act

   Trade Adjustment Act

 In addition to the above listed programs, Central Alabama Community College also participates in institutional scholarships, privately sponsored scholarships, and benefits for veterans and dependants of veterans.  (Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.)

Our offices would appreciate the opportunity to assist you in applying for financial aid.  Even though we cannot assure you that you will qualify for assistance, we would like to encourage you to take the first step by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

If we can be of assistance to you while enrolled at CACC, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,

Cindy Entrekin

Financial Aid Director

The Financial Aid Office administers the student financial aid programs which provide financial assistance for students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend Central Alabama Community College. Financial Aid is designed to assist in the financing of the student’s educational expenses. Eligibility for assistance is based primarily on financial need. Need may be defined as the difference between the total cost of education (expenses such as tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, etc.) and the amount which the student and the student’s family can afford to pay as determined by the Federal Methodology Calculations. Financial Aid Office staff  provide Financial Aid workshops at area schools in January and February of each year to assist students and parents in understanding their financial aid options.

Central Alabama Community College is approved to participate in the following programs: Federal Pell Grants; Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG); FFELP Stafford Loans; FFELP PLUS Loans; Federal College Work Study (FCWS); Federal Community Service College Work Study; Alabama Student Assistance Program Grant (ASAP); Vocational Rehabilitation; Workforce Investment Act; and Trade Adjustment Act.

In addition to the above listed programs, CACC also participates in institutional scholarships, privately sponsored scholarships, and benefits for veterans and dependents of veterans.

A brief overview of the basic programs administered by the Financial Aid Offices are as follows:

Federal Pell Grants:

Pell Grants are awarded to students who need money to pay for their education after high school. A Pell Grant is not a loan, so it does not have to be paid back. The award of a Pell Grant is calculated using a Federal Methodology Calculation. The award is dependent upon the student’s and/or family of the student’s financial circumstances. To get a Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate who does not already have a bachelor’s degree. Application is made directly to the Federal Government through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A Pell Grant is awarded for the Fall Semester and Spring Semester. Pell Grant eligibility for the summer term will be determined by the Financial Aid Office at the end of Spring Semester. All Pell Grant recipients must reapply each year after completion of Federal Income Tax Returns. For more information about Pell Grants, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

FSEOG is a grant awarded to students with exceptional financial need; it does not have to be repaid. To receive a FSEOG, a student must be an undergraduate who does not already have a bachelor’s degree. Also, the student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester. Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students need only to complete the FAFSA to be considered. Since funds are limited, all eligible students will not receive this grant.

FFELP Stafford Loans:

Subsidized loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. Interest is deferred prior to repayment beginning and during authorized periods of deferment. Unsubsidized loans are not awarded on the basis of need. Interest is charged from the date the loan is disbursed until the loan is paid. Interested students must submitted the FAFSA before receiving consideration. An interview is conducted with a financial aid counselor and the entrance counseling is completed on the KHEAA web site, ww2.kheaa.com/entintro.html . Upon approval, the loan is certified and a promissory note is mailed to the student. The student should complete, sign and mail the promissory note to the lender. Funds are sent directly to the college and posted to the student’s account. Balances due to the student will be disbursed by check. Students will receive written notification by the Financial Aid Office when funds will be available.

Federal College Work Study (FCWS):

A FCWS job allows students to earn part of their school expenses. Financial need is determined by means of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and application is made directly to the Financial Aid Office on a College Work Study Application.

Federal Community Service College Work Study Program:

This program is designed to give students an opportunity to earn money and work with a non-profit organization while allowing them the opportunity to have firsthand experience with the needs of the community. Students usually work 10 to 20 hours per week. Eligibility is based on financial need as determined by the student’s Financial Aid application. Application is made directly to the Financial Aid Office on a College Work Study Application.

Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP):

This is a state/federal aid program to provide financial assistance to Alabama residents for postsecondary education at participating colleges within the State of Alabama. Students apply through completion of the FAFSA. To be eligible students must have demonstrated financial need. The student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester to receive consideration for this grant. Since funds are limited, all eligible students will not receive this grant.

 The State of Alabama provides certain benefits for students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services.  Information is available from the Department of Rehabilitation Services in your area.

The purpose of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is to establish programs to prepare youth and unskilled adults for entry into the labor force.  WIA offers job training to those economically disadvantaged individuals and other individuals facing serious barriers to employment who are in special need of such training to obtain productive employment.  Information is available from the local Career Link Office in your area.  Eligibility for this program is determined through the Career Link Office. 

The Trade Act of 1974, as amended, created a program to assist individuals who became unemployed as a result of increased imports, return to suitable employment.  Information is available from the Employment Securities Office in your area.  Eligibility for this program is determined through the Employment Securities Office.

The Federal Government and the State of Alabama have programs that provide financial assistance to veterans and their dependents.  Veterans or their dependents seeking assistance under the various Federal and State programs should, if possible, make initial application for such programs several weeks prior to enrollment. CACC has application forms for most veteran programs and will offer assistance to the student in completing these forms and forwarding them to the proper V.A. Office.  Since most Federal V.A. programs make monthly payments directly to the veteran, veterans must be prepared to pay tuition and fees and meet all the payment deadlines before receiving the initial monthly allowance.

The Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP) is designed to provide financial assistance to Alabama National Guard members.  Limited funding is provided by the Alabama Legislature and priority is given to those who apply early.  Applications for ANGEAP are available from the member’s Alabama National Guard Unit.  For more information concerning ANGEAP, members should contact their National Guard benefits administrator at their unit.

The Alabama GI and Department of Education Benefits Act provides tuition and books to certain categories of children, wives, and widows of veterans who are deceased or disabled.

For additional information about the full range of veterans programs available through the Veterans Administration, contact Veterans Administration, contact Veterans Administration Regional Office, 474 South Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 (1-800-827-1000).

For additional information about benefits available under the Alabama GI and Departments Educational Benefits Act, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs, P.O Box 1509, Montgomery, AL 36102 or the local county Veterans Affairs Officer listed in the yellow pages under Alabama State Government.

All Veterans should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to registration in order to complete proper certification with the Veterans Administration.

Policies, which govern student eligibility, are established by both the U. S. Department of Education and post secondary institutions. The federal policies are the same regardless of the institution one attends, but institutional policies vary and are not always the same. However to be eligible for most financial aid programs you must:

  demonstrate financial need.

  have a high school diploma or a GED certificate, or pass an independently administered test approved by the

      U.S. Department of Education.

  be enrolled as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.

  be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.

  maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the institutional policy.

  not be in default on a Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Family Education Loan (FFELP).

  not owe a repayment on any federal financial aid program.

Students applying for financial aid (grants, loans and work study) must complete the following steps:

1.    Students must apply for admissions to Central Alabama Community College. All admissions requirements will need to be completed before the financial aid award can be made.

2.    Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for any federally sponsored financial aid. The application may be mailed to the federal processing center, transmitted by the Financial Aid Office at Central Alabama Community College or sent by accessing FAFSA Express at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/express.html.

3.    If selected for verification, students will be required to complete additional forms. Approximately one-third of all financial aid applications are selected by the Federal Government for verification. Students who are selected for verification will be notified of the documentation requirements by the Financial Aid Office.

4.    Once all required paperwork has been received and verified, the Financial Aid Office will deliver to the student, by mail or in person, an official award packet. This award packet will consist of a Financial Aid Award Letter and a Financial Aid Information Packet that will explain how these funds will be disbursed to the student.

5.    Students wishing to apply for a federal student loan must contact the Financial Aid Office to request required paperwork.

Please allow six weeks for processing of Financial Aid Awards

To apply for scholarships, you must complete a Scholarship Application no later than March 1. The application with all required documents must be forwarded to the Financial Aid Office for scholarship consideration. Scholarship applications received that have not been postmarked by March 1 cannot receive consideration.

Downloadable Scholarship Application

Disbursement of Financial Aid Grants

When the student receives a financial aid award letter, it is his/her indication that the financial aid award has been established in the College’s computer system. The Student then may register for the semester and charge tuition, fees, books and supplies up to the total amount of the financial aid awarded. Balances remaining after the student’s charges have been deducted will be disbursed in the form of a check to the student. The student will receive notification in his/her Financial Aid Information Packet of the time and place to pick up any remaining balance. A student completely withdrawing from school prior to disbursement of funds will have his/her aid adjusted to cover direct costs only. If a student receiving federal financial aid stops attending school prior to 60% of the length of the term, financial aid monies will be due back o the government based on the formula calculated by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with the Title IV Refund calculation.

  ALABAMA STUDENT ASSISTANCE GRANT: Students will be notified by mail when these checks are available.

PELL GRANT AND SUPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT (FSEOG): Disbursement dates will be posted on the student’s Financial Aid Award Letter and included in the student’s Financial Aid Information Packet.

FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS: Disbursement dates will be posted on the student’s Financial Aid Award Letter and included in the student’s Financial Aid Information Packet.

COLLEGE/COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK STUDY: Students may pick up their work-study check on the last working day of the month in room A104 on the Alexander City Campus or in Student Services on the Childersburg Campus.

The College reserves the right to modify the disbursement dates, if necessary. Students will be required to sign for all refund checks at time of receipt.

Policies Governing Financial Aid Awards

REPLY: Due to the demand for financial aid, replies not received within 7 days of the receipt date of the Award Letter are subject to cancellation.

REVIEW: The Financial Aid Offices reserves the right to review and revise or cancel the award at any time due to changes in financial or academic status, discovery of incorrect or falsified information, or errors in determination of eligibility and need for assistance.

COURSE LOAD FOR PELL GRANTS: Students receiving Pell Grants must enroll for at least 12 semester hours to receive their full Pell award. However, please note that students are not required to have full-time enrollment. Students enrolled for less than 12 hours are eligible for a prorated portion of their full entitlement as determined by the Pell Grant Payment Schedule.

COURSE LOAD FOR STUDENT LOANS AND WORK STUDY: Students applying for student loans or employed under the work study program must be enrolled for at least 6 semester hours each semester to receive funding.

 SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS: Students who meet all other eligibility requirements must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to receive financial aid. These Standards of Progress are printed in the College’s Catalog and are also included in the students Financial Aid Information Packet.

  RENEWAL: Financial aid awards are not automatically renewed from year to year. A student must reapply by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year. These forms cannot be completed prior to January 1. For quick processing, the forms should be filled out only after the federal tax returns are completed. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available in the Financial Aid Office.

  TUITION DEFERMENT AND BOOKSTORE CHARGES: Upon a student’s request, tuition and books can be charged to the Pell Grant account or student loan account, and the balance of the award will be paid to the student by refund check. Students should present their class schedule to the bookstore personnel when requesting that books be charged to their Pell Grant. (IMPORTANT: BOOKS CANNOT BE CHARGED TO PELL GRANTS OR STUDENT LOANS  UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. BOOKSTORE CHARGES WILL BE ALLOWED ONLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES.)

 REFUNDS: Any student whose tuition has been paid by Federal Financial aid will not be entitled to a refund of tuition and fees. The student’s refund will be deposited back into the federal financial aid accounts.

Standards of Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid Recipients

CACC students receiving financial aid from a Pell grant, Federal Student Loan, Federal College Work Study Programs, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or any other Title IV Program must comply with the following standards of satisfactory progress:

1. Program of study:

Students receiving financial aid must be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate at this institution.

2. Time Frame:

Students receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid may receive financial aid for a period of time not to exceed 1.5 times the normal length of a specific program. (The “normal length” of a specific program will vary depending upon whether the student is halftime, three-quarters time, or full-time. Example: a one-year program should be completed in one and one-half years; a two-year program should be completed in three years.) The total maximum time includes all semester and terms of enrollment at CACC whether receiving financial aid or not. This includes semesters in which the student withdraws from all courses.

3. Minimum Hours Required to Pass:

Students receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid must earn two-thirds of the minimum number of hours required for each academic year to complete a program in the normal length of time allowed. For programs of one academic year or less, student’s progress will be measured prior to the end of the program. The normal length of time allowed for specific program completion is determined by CACC.

4. Grade Point Average

Students receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid must comply with the grade point averages and Standards of Progress applicable to all students enrolled at CACC.

Academic Probation and Academic Suspension are determined by the Registrar’s Office.

5. Suspension:

When a student receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid is suspended, whether the student serves the suspension or is readmitted upon appeal, the student IS NOT eligible to receive financial aid for the duration of the suspension. The student may have his/her financial aid reinstated if they attend college at their own expense and make the cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above (based on at least 12 semester credit hours or above attempted at CACC during that semester).

A transfer student admitted upon appeal to the college Admissions and Academic Standards Committee is not eligible for student financial aid in the first semester of enrollment. Eligibility of any subsequent semester must be based on at least 12 cumulative semester credit hours completed at CACC and the same eligibility for a student readmitted upon appeal to the College Admissions and Academic Standards Committee.

6. Change of Program:

One change in the student’s program of study will be allowed; however, aid will be granted only for additionally required hours as determined by comparison of the two programs of study. After the first change of program, the student must follow guidelines, which are available upon request in the Financial Aid Office.

7. Transitional/Developmental/Remedial Courses:

A student receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid may not enroll in the same transitional/developmental (remedial) course more then three times and continue to receive financial assistance. A Title IV Federal Financial Aid recipient may not be paid for more than 45 semester credit hours of transitional/developmental (remedial) work. Financial aid paid for these courses is based on the institutional (nontransferable) credits assigned to the course. Non-credit transitional/developmental (remedial) course grades are not included in the student’s grade point average.

8. Repeated Courses:

Students will be paid financial aid only one time for courses in which a grade of “A”, “B”, “C,” or “D” is assigned. A course assigned a grade of “F” may be repeated with financial aid eligibility one additional time.

9. Incompletes:

For financial aid purposes, a grade of “I” (Incomplete) is calculated the same as a grade of “F” (Failure) in determining grade point averages and in determining the minimum number of hours earned for completion of the program. A student will not be paid financial aid again for a course in which an Incomplete (“I”) grade was assigned. When the course is completed, a student may request that the Financial Aid Office review and update his/her financial aid status.

10. Audit Courses:

A student WILL NOT be paid financial aid for an audit course.

11. Transfer Credit:

Grades accrued at other regionally accredited post secondary institutions are not included in grade point average calculation, but courses passed ARE counted in completion of the program requirements. (See the Transfer Student section under Academic Policies and Regulations for additional information applicable to all students enrolled at CACC.)

12. Extenuation Circumstances:

Students withdrawing from all classes must make a written request for extenuating circumstances to the Associate Dean of Students for consideration of reinstatement of financial aid. The written request should explain in detail the reason for the withdrawal and plans for the prevention of future withdrawals. Please note that students who withdraw may be required to repay all or part of any financial aid awarded for that term regardless of being granted extenuating circumstances.

13. Withdrawals:

Students who withdraw or are administratively withdrawn for nonattendance are required to notify the Financial Aid Office and may be required to repay all or part of any financial aid awarded for that term. A financial aid recipient who withdraws from all classes WITH extenuating circumstances approved by the Associate Dean of Students will be continued on financial aid for the next semester of enrollment. A financial aid recipient who officially withdraws form all classes WITHOUT extenuating circumstances approved by the Associate Dean of Students will be required to appear before the Financial Aid Appeals Committee or Sub-Committee for consideration of reinstatement of financial aid.

14. Title IV Refunds:

If a student receiving federal aid stops attending school prior to 60% of the length of the term, financial aid monies will be due back to the government based on the formula calculated by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with the Title IV Refund calculation.

15. Appeal Process:

Students who believe that they have received unfair suspension of financial aid may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee or Sub-Committee for a hearing. The request for an appeal should be made in writing and submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

NOTE: Specific information about eligibility and current procedures for applying for financial aid can be obtained from the Financial Aid Offices located on either campus.