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Students Rights and Responsibilities

​​​​​The purpose of student financial aid is to provide resources to students who otherwise would be unable to pursue a postsecondary education. The primary responsibility for meeting Community College costs lies with the student and his or her family.

 

Eligibility

To receive financial assistance all students must: be admitted to the Community College, be enrolled in a degree Program of Study, be in good academic standing, and be making satisfactory academic progress.

According to federal regulations, financial aid recipients must:

    1. Be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizen
    2. Not owe a refund on grants previously received under the Federal Pell Grant or the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
    3. Not be in default or be delinquent on any federal student loans borrowed from federal, state, or institutional funding.  
Application Process

The Community College uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA on the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. If a student does not have Internet access, they may complete a paper FAFSA that may be obtained from the Department of Education, or visit our office for assistance.

Students, new and returning are strongly encouraged to submit initial or renewal FAFSA applications as soon as possible after January 1 of each year. Some types of financial aid have limited funding. Students whose FAFSA applications are delayed run an increased risk of receiving reduced awards. Only students who have applied for admission to Santiago Canyon Community College will be issued a financial aid award notice.

 

Financial Need and Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Aid for most federal funding is awarded based on financial need. The EFC is a measure a family’s financial strength and indicates how much of a students’ and students’ families (for Dependent students) financial resources should be available to help pay for educational costs. The EFC is calculated from the information reported on the FAFSA and according to a formula established by law.

Family income and assets are considered in determining the EFC along with family size and number of family members attending a college or career school. The EFC can be found on the Student Aid Report that is based on information reported on the FAFSA. To determine financial need for federal student aid programs (except for an unsubsidized Stafford loan), the EFC is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA is the total amount it will cost to go to school for a year. Costs include tuition and fees, housing, allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses:

COA – EFC = Financial Need


Financial Aid and Enrollment  Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester to be considered full-time students and receive full financial aid benefits. Undergraduate students enrolled part-time may be eligible for a prorated portion of their financial aid. Some undergraduate programs require enrollment of at least six credits per semester.

Federal grants and other financial aid are used to meet financial need. A financial aid award letter will be provided upon receipt of a Student Aid Report which is generated from submitting a FAFSA. Any changes made to original FAFSA answers may result in a change in financial aid award amounts. If your financial aid record is selected for verification, any changes made during the verification process may also change financial aid award amounts.

 

Students who have received any Title IV aid from a prior school or are currently receiving Title IV aid at another institution while attending Santiago Canyon University must also notify the Office of Financial Aid, as this other source of funding may affect students’ eligibility to receive maximum Title IV aid.


All Students Should Do The Following:

  1. Read and understand all documentation and/or agreements that are signed and submitted to any department and/or agency.
  2. Review award letter and all other notices issued regarding the responsibilities and conditions that must be adhered to by students receiving financial aid.
  3. Understand what portion of the financial aid package is grant and scholarships (gift-aid that does not have to be returned) and what portion are student loans (self-help aid that must be repaid or earned). If any portion of the self-help aid is in the form of a student loan, understand the total amount of the loan, the interest rate assessed to the amount borrowed, the repayment schedule, the time-frame of the repayment schedule, and the start date for the repayment schedule.
  4. Notify the lender(s) of any changes to personal name, address, and enrollment status.
  5. Review and understand the amounts pertaining to the cost of attendance and the Refund Policy for Santiago Canyon College.
  6. Review and comply with all rules and regulations pertaining to academic, financial aid, and Santiago Canyon College conduct policies.
  7. Understand that any intentional misrepresentation of information on applications and/or documentations submitted for federal financial aid is a violation of law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.
  8. Be aware of the appeal process and procedures. ​​