Financial Aid
The primary purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance to students who, without such aid, would find it difficult to attend school. All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. The purpose of this section is to inform prospective students and currently enrolled students of the financial aid assistance, which may be available to them upon enrolling at the Tennessee Technology Center at Covington (TTCC). This section also includes some of the policy and procedure students will need to know to maintain eligibility once they are receiving Financial Aid. If you have any questions, please see the Student Services Office.
Quick Links:
Responsibilities of the Student
Responsibilities of the Financial Aid Counselor
Rights of the Student
Financial Aid Checklist
YEARLY APPLICATION PROCESS
Students who wish to receive financial aid should submit an application and have a Student Aid Report (SAR) on file in the Financial Aid Office. All aid recipients must be enrolled in a regular eligible program and have all eligibility requirements for aid completed prior to disbursement. Please note that some students applying for financial aid may be required to verify the information submitted on the aid application. Students must be prepared to submit income documents to the Financial Aid Office. All requested documents must be turned in within 90 days or a student may forfeit eligibility to receive federal aid.
APPLICATION
Before filling out a financial aid application, the student must fill out an application for admission with TTCC. The TTCC uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid.
DEADLINE DATES
The federal student financial aid form has its own priority deadline date for application printed on the form. All students turning in a valid Student Aid Report to the school must be currently enrolled at that time or payments cannot be made. All Student Aid Reports turned in to the Financial Aid Office of the school must be turned in before the last day of classes for students during that school year.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID
In order to receive financial assistance from Federal or State financial aid programs, a student must:
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Tennessee and have the ability to benefit from the education or training offered. Students without an approved high school diploma or GED must establish the Ability to Benefit from training by taking and passing an independently administered examination approved by the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Education.
- Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
- Be a U. S. citizen/national or an eligible non-citizen.
- Show that he/she has a financial need.
- Must make satisfactory progress in accordance with policy.
- Must not be in default on a Federal Perkins National Direct Student Loan, any Federal Family Education Loan program, income contingent loan, or a consolidated loan, and must sign a statement to that effect.
- Must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award Grant, Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship, or a Byrd Scholarship and sign a statement to that effect.
- Must have a signed statement or Federal confirmation statement including that he/she has registered with the Selective Service or that he/she is not required to register.
- Must have signed a statement of educational purpose (saying that the student will use the money only for expenses related to attending the center).
- Must have a signed statement of updated information (Student Aid Report).
- Present the school with a current picture I.D. (driver license, under 21 identification card, or state identification card).
- List any former post-secondary institutions you have attended.
- Supply the Tennessee Technology Center with all verification documentation, if requested, within three months of the request by the school.
- Must be in compliance with federal drug-free rules and laws for receiving financial aid.
- Refile a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year.
NEEDS ANALYSIS
Students must apply for all financial aid programs utilizing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This service allows students to apply for all types of state (TSAA & WNTSG) and Federal (Pell and FSEOG) Programs. The information received provides the necessary documentation to establish the financial need of the student. Need is determined by subtracting the amount the needs analysis figures you or your parents can contribute from the cost of the school. (School cost - Expected Family Contribution = Need)
STUDENT AID REPORT
The Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) indicates the eligibility of the student for a Pell Grant and provides information for analyzing need so the aid package of the student can be determined.
VERIFICATION
Some students will be selected for verification by the Title IV processor or by the school if discrepancies appear in the paperwork. Students being selected for verification may be asked to verify income, federal income tax paid, household size, independent or dependent status, number of family members enrolled at least part-time in post-secondary education, and certain untaxed income and benefits received. Other information and documents might also be required if deemed necessary by the Financial Aid Office.
APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITY
- Applicants selected for verification by the Secretary are required to provide requested information or documentation in order to be eligible to receive Title IV student aid funds.
- If a Federal Pell Grant or campus-based program applicant's dependency status changes during the award year, or the original application was filed incorrectly, the applicant must make a correction reflecting the changed status unless the change results from a change in marital status.
- Selected applicants must certify and/or update the household size and number in postsecondary education to reflect accurate data as of the date of verification.
NOTE: Students not selected for verification cannot update household size or number in college. - The applicant must return to Title IV any overpayment discovered during verification.
TIME PERIOD
- Applicants selected for verification either by the Secretary or the institution must provide the requested information or documentation no later than three (3) months from the date of the verification letter.
- If the institution will grant an extension of time, the extension will be on individual basis, and based on documented extenuating circumstances.
CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION
- The institution will not disburse any Federal Pell, Federal Perkins (NDSL), FSEOG funds, or FWS employment, or certify a FFELP application for applicants who fail to provide requested documentation within the time frame.
- The institution will withhold the proceeds of a FFELP check and will return the check to the lender for applicants who are selected for verification after the FFELP is certified and who fail to provide the requested documentation within the specified time period.
NOTIFICATION
- The institution will inform the applicant of verification procedures and requirements through written and/or verbal communications.
- The institution will notify the applicant of the results of verification through written and/or verbal communications.
- Corrections will be made for all errors found during the verification process.
AWARD LETTERS
The Financial Aid Office at the TTCC will process students who apply for financial aid through FAFSA and receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows the student eligible for financial aid. Once TTCC has received all of the student's financial aid information, the student will receive an award letter listing all of the financial aid programs available to the student. The student is asked to accept or decline each of the available programs, sign the letter, and return it to the Center within ten (10) working days.
SATISFACTORY ATTENDANCE AND PROGRESS FOR FINANCIAL AID
The following regulations apply to all students receiving Federal
or State financial aid:
- To make satisfactory progress a student must:
- Maintain at least a “C” average for each term (term = payment period) (qualitative measurement)
- Complete 90.3% of the scheduled hours enrolled.
- Satisfactory progress will be evaluated each term. (Attendance, however, is to be checked prior to the check disbursement.)
- If a student fails to meet the satisfactory attendance policy prior to check disbursement and the student is allowed to remain in school, the student will automatically have their disbursement date moved to the last day of the term. On the last day of the term, the student's attendance will be evaluated. If the student has not missed any additional hours, the student will receive their check for the current disbursement period (minus the hours missed over 42 hours). However, the student will not be eligible for aid the next academic term. If a student makes satisfactory progress during the next academic term of attendance, financial aid will be reestablished for the subsequent disbursement period (term).
If the financial aid check has already been disbursed and the student fails to make satisfactory progress at the end of the academic term, the student will not be eligible for financial assistance for the next disbursement period (term). If a student makes satisfactory progress during the next academic term of attendance, financial aid will be reestablished for the subsequent disbursement period (term).
Students may appeal Financial Aid Probation (see Appeals of Satisfactory Progress)
WITHDRAWALS
If the withdrawal results in the students not completing 90.3% of the scheduled hours for the term, the student will not receive financial aid the subsequent term of enrollment and the Return of Title IV Policy will go into effect (see below).
RETURN OF TITLE IV
This policy will be used to determine what percentage of financial aid a student has earned if he/she terminates prior to completing their scheduled hours. There are worksheets that will be completed when a termination is given to the financial aid office. Copies of these worksheets will be given to a student ONLY at his/her request. After the calculation has been completed, the school will determine whether the student is due a post-withdrawal disbursement or if the student owes money back to TTCC and/or Title IV.
Post-Withdrawal- TTCC has 90 days from the date of withdrawal determination to make a post-withdrawal disbursement. TTCC will inform the student within 30 days of withdrawal in writing of funds in excess of tuition and fees. The student must respond to the institution what he/she wishes TTCC to do with the excess funds within 14 school days of notification being sent out. The student may call within the 14 school days, but written notification may also be required.
If no response is made within 14 school days, TTCC will NOT disburse the excess funds. If a terminated student is due a check, the check will be issued on the next disbursement date and NOT before that time.
Overpayment- If TTCC determines that the student was issued more funds than were earned, TTCC will notify the student that he/she was issued too much financial aid and he/she is required to pay it back. The student has 45 days from notification to either (1) repay the overpayment in full to the institution, (2) sign a repayment agreement with the institution, or (3) sign a repayment agreement with the Department of Education. If the student does not take one of the above actions during the 45-day period, the student becomes ineligible for Title IV funds on the 46th day. TTCC will notify NSLDS of any overpayments at the appropriate time.
Books will be considered an institutional charge when doing the Return of Title IV Calculation. TTCC does not refund bookstore charges. TTCC does not buy back or sell used books. FSEOG will be included in the calculation, including both the Federal Government amount and the amount that TTCC matches (government and TTCC money are commingled into one account).
APPEAL OF SATISFACTORY PROGRESS
Any student who wishes to appeal the satisfactory progress standards due to mitigating circumstances encountered during the term must submit his/her appeal request in writing to the Financial Aid Office within five days of notification of the failure to make satisfactory progress. Federal regulations require that all financial aid appeals be in the form of a written request from the student. Students appealing the satisfactory progress standards due to mitigating circumstances are responsible for all hours missed during the term. Any supporting documentation requested for the appeal is to be supplied by the student making the appeal. The documentation will be presented to a Financial Aid Committee. The committee will consist of faculty, staff, and students. The committee will review all the documentation and make a recommendation. The student will learn of the committee's decision as soon as possible. Financial Aid Committee hearings will not held until the last week of the term (exceptions may be made by the Financial Aid Counselor). If the student is not satisfied with the appeal decision of the Aid Administrator, the student may appeal the decision to the Director of the school. Any supporting documentation requested for the appeal is to be supplied by the student making the appeal.
TIME FRAMES FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION
In order to assure that a student completes his/her diploma within a reasonable period of time, time frames for completion are established. Students may receive financial aid beyond the length of the program enrolled in (up to 150%) with approval from the financial aid counselor. A request for a program extension must be in written form.
CHANGE OF PROGRAM
A student may make two program changes and still be eligible to receive financial aid. At each program change, the student will establish a new time frame for completion of the program.
FINANCIAL AID FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
If you transfer from one school to another, your financial aid DOES NOT automatically go with you. You must follow the procedures necessary to continue receiving aid at the new school. If you are a transfer student, please see the Financial Aid Counselor to find out what programs are available and what steps you must take.
FINANCIAL AID TRANSCRIPTS (FAT)
Effective July 2001, FATs are no longer be requested on students wishing to enroll at TTCC. The financial aid office will rely on the NSLDS web site for previous financial aid history and information. If a student has attended another institution in the current award year, the financial aid office will check the NSLDS web site prior to enrollment and also no earlier than 30 days of the student's check disbursement date (the recommended time to check would be right before the Expenditure Report was sent to our Lead Institution).
CHARGING
Students will be able to charge books and tuition against their financial aid (TELS, Pell, scholarships or agency) on their first day of enrollment, if there is an eligible SAR on file and his/her financial aid folder is complete. TTCC would prefer they use their WNTSG for book purchases first, but realizes there will be certain situations where it will be more feasible to charge fees first. The decision of what to charge first will be made on an individual basis. Students will be encouraged to charge to TELS before charging to Pell.
RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL AID
Students only receive one Pell check per term. Students must be enrolled at least 35 days before any money disbursements can be made to them. Federal Pell Grant payments correspond with the hours for which the student has enrolled. The TTCC Financial Aid Office will disburse checks at 60% of the student's enrollment for that term. The Financial Aid Office will announce the disbursement dates for the award year on the award letter or through a memo (these dates are contingent on everything going smoothly here at TTCC and JSCC). Students MUST be present the day checks are disbursed and have a current picture ID with them. Checks will not be disbursed until after lunch. Check disbursement dates will NOT be changed. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements if his/her class is not scheduled to be on campus on check disbursement date (ex. field trips & clinical). State grants (TSAA and TELS) may not be awarded at the same time as federal financial aid.
SUSPENSION
Students who are suspended from the TTCC will not be eligible for any student financial assistance during the time of suspension. Suspended students who are re-admitted to the TTCC will not be eligible for Federal student financial aid for the returning term and until such time as satisfactory academic progress/attendance progress has been established.
BUDGETS
The school must establish new budgets of expenses each year. Please see the Financial Aid Office of the school for current school costs. School costs include tuition and fees, books, transportation, and living allowances. Adjustments will be made to tuition and books for less than full-time enrollment. Costs for child care, dependent care and cost related to a handicap may be added on an individual basis with documentation.
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT STUDENTS
For financial aid purposes, whether a student is independent or dependent depends on how he/she answers the questions in Step Three of the FAFSA. If a student answers “No” to all the questions, then he/she is dependent. If the student answers “Yes” to at least one question, then he/she is independent.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT
Please see the Financial Aid Office for more information.
This section concerning financial aid is designed to be supplemented by the most current Federal Student Guide from the U. S. Department of Education. A copy of this guide may be obtained in the Financial Aid Office.
For further information on applying electronically, contact Amanda Heath at: or call (901) 475-2526.
Grants
Federal Pell
Grant
FSEOG
Tennessee
Student Assistance Award
Wilder-Naifeh
Technical Skills Grant
Other Funds
Scholarships
Veterans’ Benefits
Vocational Rehab
Workforce Investment Act
Immediate Openings
