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Financial Aid Degree Audit Policy

Financial Aid Degree Audit Policy

Purpose

The Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Financial Aid Office utilizes the Financial Aid Degree Audit to ensure that financial aid funds are disbursed only for coursework that applies toward a student’s declared eligible degree or academic program(s), offered at Santiago Canyon College. This policy is aligned with federal and state compliance requirements.

The Financial Aid Degree Audit is designed to confirm that a student’s enrollment aligns with program requirements. By limiting financial aid eligibility to degree-applicable coursework, SCC promotes timely degree completion, responsible stewardship of financial aid funds, and equitable administration of student aid programs.

Scope

This policy applies to all students who receiving federal or state financial aid and who are enrolled in an eligible academic program. The Financial Aid Degree Audit process applies to all federal and state financial aid programs, including but not limited to the Pell Grant, Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, Cal Grant, and Student Success Completion Grant.

Non-degree-seeking students, students enrolled solely in ineligible programs, and coursework taken for personal enrichment that does not apply toward an eligible degree or academic program are not eligible for financial aid disbursement.

Eligibility and Program Requirements

Financial aid may only be disbursed for coursework that applies toward a student’s declared eligible SCC academic program. Enrollment in courses that do not satisfy program requirements may result in reduced or canceled financial aid for the affected term.

Students must have active SCC programs to be eligible for aid. Furthermore, SCC students may not have concurrent active programs at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. SCC will pay for coursework taken at Santa Ana College as long as they are required for the students’ SCC program of study.

It is recommended that students only have two declared academic programs on file. This ensures that students may complete their academic program within the Maximum Time Frame.

Students receiving financial aid should not change their declared academic program mid-term. Doing so could affect eligibility and may result in a financial aid overpayment. Changes to the academic program should be made at the conclusion of a semester or pay period.

Note: Students can view their eligible units in Self-Service while classes are actively in session. Students are responsible for reviewing their eligible units and ensuring that their course enrollment aligns with their declared program of study.

 

Withdrawing from eligible coursework:

Students may enroll in both eligible and ineligible coursework; however, financial aid disbursements are based only on units from eligible courses. The California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver continues to waive enrollment fees for both eligible and ineligible coursework.

Students who partially withdraw from eligible courses prior to the Pell Recalculation Date (PRD) after receiving a disbursement may be required to repay a portion or all of the funds received. This includes cases in which an instructor reports a Last Date of Attendance (LDA) prior to the PRD. Refer to the Disbursement Schedule and Policy for additional information. Students who decide to discontinue their enrollment should officially drop their courses themselves and should not rely on faculty to drop them from class, as failing to withdraw may result in Pell Grant disbursements that they are not eligible to keep and may later be required to repay. (SCC’s Disbursement Schedule & Policy)

Students who enroll in both eligible and ineligible coursework and subsequently withdraw from or fail all eligible courses, resulting in unearned grades, will be subject to a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation. For more information, please review the SCC’s Withdrawal and R2T4 Policy.

Definitions:

  • Eligible Academic Program - A degree or certificate program that qualifies for federal or state financial aid. All SCC associate degrees, including Associate Degree for Transfer programs, are eligible for financial aid. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility for certificate programs.
  • Eligible Coursework - Courses that apply toward the requirements of a declared eligible academic program at SCC.
  • Ineligible Coursework - Courses that do not apply toward the requirements of a student’s declared eligible academic program, including but not limited to:
    • Personal enrichment courses
    • Excess electives
    • Coursework taken outside of SCC’s program requirements. (Example: Enrolling in courses that are required for admission to or graduation from a four-year university but are not required to complete the student's SCC program or transfer requirements.)