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Office of Financial Aid - Types of Financial Aid

By completing required financial aid applications, students will be considered for available federal, state, and institutional aid. This aid includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Grant, Federal Work Study, HOPE Scholarship and Grant, HOPE for Students who complete a GED, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Grant, and institutional scholarships administered by the Office of Financial Aid.

Federal Student Aid

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

The Academic Competitiveness Grant is available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for the first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's PELL Grant award.

Eligibility requirements are:

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (evaluated by the STC Admission Office using Department of Education regulations). First year students must have completed the rigorous program after January 1, 2006 and second-year students after January 1, 2005;
• Be a U.S. Citizen;
• Be enrolled full-time in an associate degree program;
• If a first-year student, must not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program;
• If a second-year student, must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA for the first academic year (48 earned quarter hours).

Federal PELL Grant Program (PELL)

The Federal PELL Grant (PELL) is a federally funded Title IV Grant Program available to students who meet certain income guidelines of postsecondary education. The PELL Grant does not require repayment. It is not available to anyone who has received a bachelor's degree, owes a refund to any Title IV Aid Program, or is in default on a student loan.

The amount of the Pell Grant award will depend on the family contribution amount shown on the Student Aid Report, whether the student is full or part time, the number of federal credit hours enrolled, the cost of attendance, and the size of federal appropriations. Students must reapply each fiscal year (July 1st – June 30th) by completing the renewal application or the FAFSA for the new year. Pell is not available to students who are in 095 and 096 learning support classes or institutional accepted.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are based on financial need. Students must be undergraduates enrolled in an eligible program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate at an eligible College. Students must be enrolled at least one quarter to receive FSEOG. Students must meet citizenship requirements as required for all Title IV Programs, as well as all other eligibility listed in the Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook. Priority for supplemental grants will be given to students with the lowest EFC, the greatest need, and the highest cumulative grade point average. These students must also receive Pell and HOPE in the same quarter.

The Office of Financial Aid will use the SAR/ISIR to consider all eligible students for FSEOG. Checks will be cut and disbursed by the Business Office to eligible students during the ninth week of the quarter.

Maximum FSEOG Award - The maximum FSEOG a student may receive per academic year at the College will depend on the availability of funds, but will not exceed $200 per quarter or $800 per year.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The federal work-study program gives employment to students who need the income to help meet the costs of post-secondary education. Work-study awards are made on a quarterly basis.

To be eligible for a FWS job, a student must have a "financial/unmet need." His/her cost of attendance must be greater than the expected family contribution (EFC). FWS may not be awarded to a student if that award, when combined with all other resources, would exceed the student's financial unmet need for that award year.

The resources available in the federal work-study program, when combined with the College's 25% matching funds, may not be sufficient to hire all eligible and interested students. Those students determined to be eligible by the Office of Financial Aid will go through an interview process for available positions before being hired.

Students will be paid $6.00 per hour, monthly for duties performed at their assigned job location. Time sheets are to be signed by both the student and their supervisor after hours have been totaled. Questions in relation to hours and days worked should be discussed at this time. If the student feels there is a problem with their time, they should discuss this with their supervisor. The student has the right to appeal any decision or problem. In an appeal, the first step is to contact the Director of Job Placement. If the problem is not resolved, the student should then contact the Vice President of Student Affairs. The decision of the Vice President is the final decision at the College.

Time sheets are to be submitted to the departmental secretary by l0 a.m. on pre-assigned days. Checks are disbursed on the last day of a pay period unless on a weekend or holiday. If this occurs, they will be disbursed on the preceding Friday.

In assigning a FWS job, the College will consider the student's financial need, the number of hours per week the student can work, the period of employment, the anticipated wage rate, and the amount of other assistance available to the student. While there is no minimum or maximum award, the amount for each student should be determined based on these factors. Of course, a FWS award, when combined with other sources of financial aid, may not exceed the student's need. To the maximum extent practicable, the College will provide FWS jobs that will complement and reinforce each recipient's educational program or career goals.

The fact that a student may receive academic credit for the work performed does not disqualify the job under FWS. However, there are certain restrictions: If a student must complete an internship or practicum as part of his/her diploma or degree requirement and would not normally be paid for doing so, the internship or practicum does not qualify under FWS. If a position is considered as a regular FWS position, a student may be paid during his/her internship or practicum. A student may not be paid for receiving instruction in a classroom, laboratory, or other academic setting.

The College may oppose any garnishment order they receive for repayment of debt. Paying FWS funds in such cases could mean that funds would not be used "solely for educational purposes," which is a requirement for awarding the Title IV aid funds.

No FWS position will involve construction, operating, or maintaining any part of a building used for religious worship or sectarian instruction.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of l938, as amended, prohibits employers (including Colleges) from accepting voluntary services from any paid employee. Any student employed under FWS must be paid for all hours worked.

Determining Maximum FWS Eligibility

In determining the maximum FWS award a student is eligible to receive, the Director of Financial Aid must take into account the following resources:

• Those resources the aid administrator can reasonably anticipate at the time aid is awarded to the student such as Federal Pell Grant awards, HOPE Grant awards, Veterans educational benefits, scholarships, WIA benefits, Department of Labor benefits, and FSEOG awards,
• Those the College makes available to its students, or
• Those the Director of Financial Aid knows about.

The sum of a student's FWS award plus other resources may not exceed his/her financial need.

Non-need-based earnings, such as earnings from a job a student locates on his/her own with a private employer, are not considered to be a resource for the current award year. The earnings will be reported on the application for federal student aid for the subsequent award year and will be used to determine the Expected Family Contribution for the subsequent award year. Only net income from need-based employment may now be considered as resource.

If the student receives additional resources at any time during the award period that were not considered in calculating the student's FWS award, and these resources including the expected FWS wages will exceed the student's need, the over-award is the amount in excess of the student's need. If this amount does not exceed $300, the College may use FWS funds to pay the student until the FWS award has been earned or until the student's increased need has been met. In addition, the College may continue employing the student under FWS after the full amount of FWS award has been earned and the student's financial need has been met; however, the College may pay the student with FWS funds only up to the time the income from need-based employment exceeds the student's financial need by more than $300. At that point, FWS funds may no longer be used to pay the student. The College may continue to employ the student, but funds other than FWS funds must be used to pay the wages.

State Student Aid Programs

The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) provides student financial aid services through the Scholarships and Grants Division, the Georgia Student Finance Authority, and the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation.

The Scholarships and Grants Division is the agency that administers the Georgia HOPE Scholarship/Grant Program, HOPE for Students Who Complete a GED, and the Georgia LEAP Grant Program.

Student Eligibility Requirements

• The student must be a legal resident of Georgia. The general requirement is that a student establish Georgia residency a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the date of registration at the College for the school term in which a grant is being sought. The definition of a resident can be found in the State Board of Technical and Adult Education Policies and Procedures Manual.
• The student must be a U.S. Citizen or a permanent resident alien who meets the definition of a eligible non-citizen under Federal Title IV requirements.
• They must not have been convicted for committing certain felony offences involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs, as specified in the Drug-Free Post-Secondary Act of 1990. If the student has been convicted of any of these offenses, they will be ineligible to receive state aid from the date of conviction to the completion of the next academic term.
• The student must not be in default on a Federal Title IV or Georgia Student Finance Authority educational loan, nor owe a refund on a Federal Title IV or Authority student financial aid program.
• The student must be registered with the Selective Service if required. This includes males born on or after 1/1/1960, at least 18, and not currently on active duty with the armed forces.
• Students who are in a degree program will receive the HOPE Scholarship, as long as they meet the cumulative grade point average requirements at high school graduation and/or at each 45 credit hour checkpoint. Students who are ineligible at one checkpoint must wait until the next 45 hour checkpoint to be reevaluated.
• The student must be enrolled or accepted for admission in an approved post-secondary educational institution located in the State of Georgia.
• The student must be fully admitted, classified, and enrolled as a undergraduate student and fully matriculated in an organized program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate approved for that award. The student is considered matriculated when he/she is fully accepted by the College and enrolled in courses fully recognized at that time as contributing toward requirements for completion of the program. The student may be required to complete certain courses to make up deficiencies in background or training, yet still be eligible. The student is not fully matriculated; however, if credit toward the diploma/degree is conditional, depending upon satisfactory completion of certain special requirements. Retroactive matriculation will not establish retroactive eligibility for a State Grant.
• A student is academically qualified to receive any award during a given term for which he/she is matriculated in an approved organized program of study. The student must maintain satisfactory progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices of the College at which he/she is enrolled. To determine student eligibility for state grant programs, the College must apply the same Satisfactory Academic Progress policy as used for Federal Title IV programs.
• A student meeting all eligibility requirements of these regulations who is permitted to enroll in an eligible post-secondary educational institution on a joint enrollment basis with a secondary educational institution or on an early admission basis is eligible to receive a grant award provided he/she meets the matriculated status criterion of these regulations.

HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant

The HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant were established to pay tuition, mandatory fees required of all students, and give a book allowance, for Georgia residents. HOPE is awarded according to the Georgia Student Finance Commission guidelines. There is no minimum number of hours of enrollment required. Students must meet all requirements set forth above for State Student Aid Programs.

Students enrolled in a Title IV eligible program have the option of applying for federal aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and/or applying for HOPE by completing the HOPE Grant/Scholarship Application. HOPE will pay for all tuition and fees not covered by WIA or DOL. The student must then complete their financial aid file as determined by the College.

HOPE will allow a book allowance payment of $100 per quarter if the student is at least half time (six or more hours) and students who are enrolled less than half time will receive $50 per quarter.

HOPE funds cannot be applied to coursework exempted by examination.

A transient student is eligible to receive a HOPE payment if all other eligibility requirements have been met. Both the home and the host institution must be eligible Georgia institutions participating in the HOPE program. The host institution awards HOPE funds to the transient student based on certification of eligibility from the home institution. See the HOPE regulations for more details.

HOPE for Students Who Complete a GED

Students who earn a GED on or after July 1, 1993 that are Georgia Residents are eligible for a state grant of $500. After passing the GED test, residents will receive a voucher by mail. Student must sign and turn their voucher into the Office of Financial Aid during the quarter of enrollment in which they wish to redeem their voucher.

Georgia Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Grant Program

Georgia's LEAP Grant Program was created by Governor Roy E. Barnes to provide educational grant assistance to residents of Georgia who demonstrate substantial financial need to attend eligible postsecondary institutions in Georgia. LEAP is funded by state appropriations. Students must be undergraduates enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate at an eligible College. Students must apply for and be eligible for the Pell Grant, as well as meet HOPE regulations. Students must be enrolled at least one quarter to receive LEAP. Financial need must be equal to or greater than $2,000 based on a student's cost of attendance, minus the Pell grant, minus any other scholarships and grants. Award amounts range from a minimum of $300 to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year. Priority will be given to students with the lowest EFC, the greatest need, and the highest cumulative grade point average. Awards may be available during Fall, Winter, or Spring Quarters.

The Office of Financial Aid at the College will use the SAR/ISIR to consider all eligible students for LEAP along with the HOPE Scholarship/Grant Application. Checks will be cut and disbursed by the Business Office during the ninth week of the quarter.

Fund availability will determine the number of students eligible for LEAP.