FINANCIAL AID

The Financial Aid Office at QVCC is committed to reducing economic barriers to higher education. Financial assistance is provided primarily through federal grants, state grants, scholarships, and work-study. Most aid is awarded based upon the student’s financial need as assessed by the federal formula.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for financial aid:

Eligible programs include all associate degrees and certificates of 24 credits or more.

Financial Aid Programs

Programs of Financial Aid are described below. These programs are subject to change due to Federal, State and local regulations or funding fluctuations.

Federal Pell Grant Program

These grants, based upon financial need, are intended to be the foundation of a financial aid package, and may be combined with other forms of aid to meet the direct cost of education. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This program provides grants to eligible students demonstrating financial need. Preference is given to students with exceptional need.

Connecticut Aid for Public College Students (CAPS)

State of Connecticut grants are awarded to Connecticut resident students who have serious financial need. Grants range up to the direct cost of education (tuition, fees, books) per academic year and are based on satisfactory academic progress, financial need and the availability of funds.

Community College Grant Program

This State program allows for the remission of tax-supported tuition, fees, and cost of books for resident students who demonstrate substantial financial need.

Federal College Work-Study Program (FCWS)

This program provides college jobs for students with financial need. Students must be enrolled with a minimum of 6 credits each semester. Hours may be arranged to suit a student’s academic schedule. (Note: State Work-Study funds are also available.) Any student seeking work-study campus employment should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Family Education Loan Program (Stafford Loan)

Lending institutions and the federal government jointly sponsor this loan program. Interest rates are variable for new borrowers. Repayment begins six months after the recipient stops attending or graduates from college. Students must apply for grants before pursuing this option. Loan entrance interviews and pre-certification exams are mandatory requirements for borrowing a loan.

Competitive Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships and awards are presented in May each year to continuing and graduating students whose academic achievement and/or service to the College merit special recognition. Several scholarships are also available for new students who have or will be recently graduating from high school and plan on enrolling at QVCC in the fall. Consult the Financial Aid Office for specific information since availability and eligibility criteria may change from year to year.

There are approximately thirty competitive scholarships to which eligible students may apply for award consideration. Applications are available after March 1 each spring semester. Community members and organizations, student organizations, and the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation provide funding for these scholarships. A College Scholarship Committee or the individual scholarship sponsor review submitted applications in April and select the scholarship recipients. For more information contact the Director of Financial Aid.

Emergency Scholarships

Quinebaug Valley has three sources of emergency scholarships to aid current students who are experiencing a crisis situation. These scholarships require a written letter outlining the situation from a college faculty or staff member who is aware of the circumstances. Letters should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. All letters and circumstances will remain confidential. Funding is limited for these awards. Current emergency scholarships include

Financial Aid Application Procedure

All applications are available in the Learning and Student Development Office. The financial aid application process must be completed each academic year. The application will remain in effect for both the fall and spring semesters. Students who did not apply for the fall semester may still apply for the spring.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

  1. Students’ academic files will be reviewed upon completion of each semester. All students receiving or planning to receive financial aid must meet the following criteria to be considered in good academic standing:
    Cumulative GPA must be a 2.0 or higher.
    67% or 2/3 of all coursework started must be completed.
    Completed grades are A, B, C, D, and P.
    The duration of study towards a certificate or degree cannot exceed 150% of the required coursework. Therefore, a 60 credit associates degree program cannot exceed 90 credits of attempted study.
  2. Students taking time off from classes and later returning will have their academic files reviewed in the same fashion to determine their eligibility for financial aid.
  3. Students who do not meet the above criteria will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. While in this probationary status, students continue to have financial aid eligibility for one semester. After completion of that semester, grades are reviewed to determine if the student has re-established “good academic standing”.
  4. Students who show academic progress while in this probationary status, but are not yet in good academic standing may be placed on Financial Aid Probation for an additional semester at the discretion of the Financial Aid Director.
  5. Students who do not improve their academic progress after their probationary semester will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students who have been suspended from receiving financial aid are eligible to receive financial aid in the future once they re-establish their good academic standing.
  6. Students receiving financial aid and withdrawing from all classes will automatically be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. These students will be eligible for future financial aid only after they re-establish their good academic standing. (In this instance, completion of 67% of all coursework started)
  7. Students being placed on Financial Aid Probation or Suspension will be notified in writing.
  8. Students may appeal any decision made under this policy within ten days of notification by writing to the Director of Financial Aid. Appeals regarding extenuating circumstances such as illness, death of a family member, or other unusual circumstances will be considered with utmost regard. All students will be expected to provide clear evidence in their appeal letter of the following issues: state the reason for the appeal 2) what has since changed from that time in which unsatisfactory academic progress occurred and 3) how (s)he will be capable of overcoming past academic difficulties.

Exceptions may be made to any of these provisions by the Director of Financial Aid when warranted by unusual circumstances.

Return of Title IV Funds

Students who receive federal financial aid and withdraw or stop attending all classes are subject to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Those students who have completely withdrawn prior to the 60% point in the semester and have received federal funds from loans, Pell grant or FSEOG are subject to a recalculation of their federal awards.

QVCC will calculate the earned portion of such awards based upon the number of calendar days completed vs. the number of calendar days in the semester. Any unearned portion will be returned to the Department of Education.

In addition, the student must repay the difference, if any, between the amount of unearned assistance and the amount that the school must return. In most cases, when a student receives Title IV assistance greater than the amount of institutional charges, (s)he will most likely be subject to return some of those funds. However, students who must return grant funds are given an additional consideration: the student’s grant repayment is reduced by half.

Students are urged to work closely with an advisor in selecting courses and should consider the demands of work and family when deciding how many credits to take. Regular attendance is required of all financial aid recipients. Students who never attend their classes will not receive financial aid, even if their application is complete and eligibility was determined.

Senior citizens who are Connecticut residents and 62 years of age or older may be eligible to register without paying application, general fees, or tuition charges for courses supported by the General Fund. This applies to all credit courses on a space available basis and is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees for Community Colleges.

last update: 10/03/2006