Once you receive Financial Aid, there are conditions that must be met to maintain your eligibility for future semesters. If you drop classes or do not earn good grades, you risk maintaining you financial aid.

Attendance
All students receiving financial assistance must attend classes regularly. Attendance is monitored on the second week, fifth week, and ninth week of classes.

Federal Regulations on Satisfactory Academic Performance and Progress
To remain eligible for financial aid, students must demonstrate satisfactory academic performance and progress. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as the ratio of credits completed compared to the number of credits attempted. Satisfactory academic performance is defined as maintaining a satisfactory cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA):

Satisfactory Academic Performance

• First semester, a cumulative GPA of 1.4 or higher is required.
• Second semester, a cumulative GPA of 1.6 or higher is required.
• Third semester, a cumulative GPA of 1.8 or higher is required.
• Fourth semester, or more, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Credits attempted	Percentage completed
0 - 24	50%
25 - 48	60%
49 – 72	70%
73 – 96	80%
97 +	90

“D” grades do not count as completed courses.

Students are allowed to use the summer session (with financial assistance, if eligible) to earn the required cumulative GPA to meet academic standing requirements.

If you do not meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress due to your GPA or completion ratio, you will need to appeal for Financial Aid Probation for one session.

If you do not meet the requirements by the end of your session on Probation, you will be placed on Suspension and will be ineligible for further financial aid until you have brought your progress up to the minimum requirements. You will need to pay for the courses you take while under Suspension.

Remember, you Must Appeal for reinstatement of aid once you are back in good standing. If you have attempted 150% of the hours needed for your PCCC degree program (for most students this is 96 credit hours), you will no longer be eligible for financial aid.

Please Note: The Federal programs will only pay for 30 attempted credits of Remediation. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses do not count against the 30 remedial credit limit.  Students taking remedial and/or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses must follow the rules of   Satisfactory Academic Performance.   Even though students do not earn college credit toward graduation for remedial and/or ESL courses, students receive passing or failing grades for these courses which affect their grade point average.

 

Example: 64 credits = A.A. Degree
                96 credits attempted = Maximum Credits for
                Financial Aid Eligibility

State of New Jersey Regulations
To receive funds from the State of New Jersey, students must register for a minimum of 12 credits each semester. Academic progress regulations are the same as the federal regulations. Progress is monitored at the end of each spring semester.

Note: Currently there is a part-time pilot grant program.

Note: State funds are adjusted according to the College’s Refund Policy when the student completely withdraws from all courses, or drops below 12 credits.

EOF Program
Normally, EOF students must complete 12 credits within a semester. With written approval from the EOF campus director, students may, for academic reasons, complete no fewer than six credits within a semester. EOF students are required to complete all remedial courses within the first four semesters.

Upon formal request and approval by the Director of EOF, students attending PCCC are eligible to receive up to six semesters of EOF funding with additional awards up to a maximum of eight semesters.

If state financial aid is denied, students and institutions have the right to appeal. Contact the Financial Aid Office or the EOF Office for procedures.

Withdrawals
All withdrawals are monitored by the Financial Aid Office. Students who withdraw from courses and reduce their course loads after registration will have their financial aid reduced accordingly.

Charges and credits are adjusted according to the College Refund Policy. Federal aid is adjusted according to the Return of Title IV regulations.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy
The Return of Title IV Funds policy applies to students who are awarded Title IV funds who withdraw from all classes before completing more than 60% of the term (in days).

If a student has received a refund, this policy also applies. The amount of Title IV funds earned is determined according to the following:

1. The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the Federal Financial Aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs: unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, and Federal SEOG.

2. A student’s withdrawal date is:

• the date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process at the Registrar’s Office;
• the student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically-related activity; or,
• the midpoint of the semester for a student who leaves without notifying the institution.

Title IV aid is earned in a prorated manner on days attended up to greater than the 60% point in the semester. Title IV aid is viewed as 100% earned after that point in time. A copy of the worksheet used for this calculation can be requested from the Financial Aid Office.

Students withdrawing before the last day to add/drop for a given term will receive a 100% refund. Notices of possible refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student’s home address following withdrawal.

In accordance with federal regulations, when financial aid is involved, refunds are allocated in the following order:unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG, other Title IV assistance, other federal sources of aid.

Institutional responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV Funds are:

• Providing each student with the information given in this policy.
• Identifying students who are affected by this policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds calculation for those students.
• Returning any Title IV Funds that are due the Title IV programs.

The student’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV Funds include:
Returning to the Title IV programs any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and which the student was determined to be ineligible for via the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.

1. The fees, procedures, and policies listed above supersede those published previously and are subject to change at any time. Any notification of a withdrawal or cancellation should be in writing and addressed to the Registrar.