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Financial Information

FEES FOR NON-CREDIT ACTIVITIES

Fees are established for non-credit courses in keeping with Florida statutes. A complete description of fees set for non-credit activities can be found in the college policy manual.

REFUNDS (Credit Classes)

Students are responsible for all fees for courses not dropped by the student during the published drop/add period. Refunds result from 1) classes dropped by the student by the end of the published scheduled drop/add period for each term; 2) classes not dropped prior to the first day of class for courses that do not begin during the scheduled drop/add period; and 3) for classes that are cancelled by the college. A refund of fees paid will be given if the proper procedures are followed. Refund checks are mailed within two weeks after the end of the published drop/add period each term.

A drop is different from a withdrawal. A drop will result in the elimination of the class(es) from the transcript record. A dropped class does not affect the standards of academic progress; however it may affect the amount of financial aid awarded. A withdrawal will result in a letter grade of "W" in each class from which the student withdraws; withdrawals are included in the calculation of academic progress.

Procedures for Requesting a Refund After the Drop/Add Period

A student who discontinues enrollment after the published drop/add period may be granted a refund if proper procedures are followed. Procedures for requesting a refund are:

• Write a letter requesting a refund to the Vice President of Student Support and Enrollment Management.
• Attach supporting documentation (military orders, physician's letter, etc.).
• Submit the letter within six weeks of the end of the term.

Supporting documentation must include one of the following:

• Written documentation of call to or enlistment in active military duty or change of military station.
• Death of the student or member of student's immediate family (parent, spouse, child, sibling).
• Illness of the student or of a dependent person of such severity or duration, as confirmed in writing by a physician, that completion of the semester is precluded.
• Documented administrative error by college.

Refund requests must have supporting documentation to be considered. Refunds may be approved by the Vice President of Student Support and Enrollment Management after the six week period if there was an administrative error by the college.

REFUND POLICY FOR NON-CREDIT ACTIVITIES

The drop/add period for registration for non-credit activities is course-specific and, therefore, may occur any time during any term. All refunds are calculated by calendar days. When a refund day falls on a calendar day in which the Office of Lifelong Learning is closed (e.g. Saturdays, Sundays, holidays), the refund will be based on the following workday. The refund process is initiated by a drop request by the student through Lifelong Learning. Telephone and/or written requests are accepted; however, the refund is based on the work day the drop request is received by the Office of Lifelong Learning. Refund checks are mailed to the student registered for the non-credit activity.

A refund for an official drop request made before the first day of the activity is 100 percent. Drop requests received on or after the first day of the activity provide no refund. In cases where the first day of the activity is Sunday, drop requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before. In cases where the college must guarantee payments associated with a non-credit activity, a confirmation registration date may be indicated, after which no refund is provided.
A student who submits a written request to the Office of Lifelong Learning will receive a 100 percent refund of the activity fee at any point in the semester if any of the circumstances noted in the section "Refunds (Credit Classes) exist."

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

Gulf Coast offers a variety of financial assistance for students. Students may apply based on financial need or merit. Financial assistance may be awarded from one or any combination of federal and state grants; part-time employment; institutional, state, and private scholarships; and student loans. Information and applications are available on the college website at www.gulfcoast.edu or contact the GCCC financial aid office in the Student Union East.

Financial Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant. Grant funds are designed to assist students with financial need. Eligibility is determined by student and/or family financial status and is based on information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A need analysis determination is performed by the U.S. Department of Education and the results are reported to the school and the student. Interested students may apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Awards are based on student and/or family prior year income from the federal income tax form. Award amounts are based on the number of hours enrolled each semester. Costs of tuition, books, and miscellaneous educational expenses may be covered by the Pell grant. Students must reapply each year when tax forms are filed.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) created this new grant program for full-time students pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree. Students who are United States citizens and eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant may also be eligible to receive the Academic Competitiveness Grant if they have completed a "rigorous" course of study in high school as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information on this new grant, visit http://studentaid.ed.gov or ask the Financial Aid Office.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). A supplement to Pell eligible students who meet the priority consideration deadline of May 15. Stu­dents must have maximum eligibility for Pell (Expected Family Contribution equals zero).

Florida Student Assistance Grant. A Florida grant for students who show exceptional need as determined by information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and who meet the May 15 priority consideration deadline. Other eligibility criteria include:

• Florida resident as determined by Admissions and Records.
• Enrolled in at least six (6) semester hours in an associate's degree program each semester.
• Prior recipients must have successfully completed the number of semester hours for which they were awarded and maintained a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Federal Work-Study. Federal funds provided to students for part-time jobs on and off campus. Students must apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Participants must show some financial need and meet the priority deadline of May 15, to be considered for the work-study program. Contact the financial aid office for more information.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
A Florida scholarship program awarded to high school students who meet the academic requirements. Bright Futures recipients should consult the GCCC website at www.gulfcoast.edu, click on Prospective Students and Financial Aid and Bright Futures. Current information on Bright Futures scholarship requirements, student eligibility, and renewal requirements is available at www.myfloridaeducation.com.

Gulf Coast Community College Foundation Scholarships. The GCCC Foundation encourages full-time and part-time students to apply for the Foundation Scholarships. Applications are available in the Foundation and Financial Aid offices on campus. Filing deadline is March 1 for the upcoming academic year. Awards are based on academic merit; however, some applications are considered based on financial need. Preference is given to students in Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties.

Federal Stafford Loans. Need-based funds available to eligible students to borrow for educational expenses. Students may use the funds now and delay repayment until they leave school or attend less than half-time. Interested students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine need and complete entrance counseling, the promissory note, and loan request form.

To qualify applicants must have a 2.0 overall GPA and a 67% completion rate for any post-secondary courses attempted. The loan application is located on the GCCC website at www.gulfcoast.edu. Click on Prospective Student, Financial Aid, Loans. All steps must be complete before processing can begin.

Parent Loan Program (PLUS). Loan funds are available only to parents of dependent undergraduate students and are based on the credit worthiness of the parent. Dependent undergraduate students may apply for unsubsidized funds only after the PLUS loan is denied.

Short Term Emergency Loans. GCCC loans are administered by the GCCC financial aid office and are avail­able up to the maximum of $300 during registration for tuition and fees only. Loans must be repaid within 60 days in a 16 week semester. In a semester that lasts 10 weeks or less, loans are due within 30 days. Late fees will be assessed and holds will be placed on the transcript and registration for failure to repay the loan by the due date. Contact the financial aid office for more information.

Loan funds are borrowed and must be repaid.

Applying for Financial Aid

Applications for financial aid should be filed as early as possible for the following academic year. Applicants should apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov as early as possible after completion of 2007 income tax forms.

Failure to provide accurate information will cause unnecessary delays in the evaluation of the student's need.

Students planning to use financial aid to pay tuition must have complete files by:

July 11 for fall 2008
November 14 for spring 2009
(FAFSA Application)
(Entrance Counseling, Promissory Note, and Loan Request Form)

General Eligibility Requirements

All financial aid is dependent upon the availability of federal, state, and institutional resources. To be eligible for aid at GCCC, a student must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• Declare an eligible major.
• Federal financial aid will only be used for classes required in an eligible major.
• Enroll at least half-time. (Some Pell students may qualify at less than 6 hours.)
• Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Not owe a refund or repayment on a federal grant at any institution.
• Not be in default on a federal student loan.
• Maintain the standards of academic progress for financial aid as follows:
• Satisfactory grade point average on all college work (minimum 2.0).
• A 67% completion rate on all hours attempted (including transfer hours).
• Maximum time frame limit in which the student must complete a degree or certificate (150 percent of total hours in program equals 90 hours for an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree and 60 hours for a certificate program). Total hours attempted/completed include all transfer credit.

Students who do not meet these standards will be suspended from receiving federal and state aid until they have regained eligibility. The aid office will notify the student concerning the suspension of aid.

Return to Title IV

Students receiving financial aid who withdraw from all classes before completing 60% of the semester will be required to repay the "unearned" portion of the aid they received. This is a federal regulation for which there is no forgiveness!

Appeals Process and Reinstatement

A student who loses eligibility for financial aid has an opportunity to appeal. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the financial aid office with supporting documentation. The student may file the appeal based on mitigating circumstances as defined below:

1. Death of a close relative affecting the student's academic performance.
2. Illness of the student or close family member having direct effect upon the academic record.
3. Special mitigating circumstances of a unique kind as determined by the director or designee.

If mitigating circumstances are found to exist, the student may be restored to satisfactory academic standing for one semester only. Further eligibility will occur only if the student clearly shows sound, documented evidence of progress after the first appeal.

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