Financial Aid Policies

Your financial aid award will be adjusted for the following reasons:

• Enrollment status is verified on the last day of the drop/add period for each semester. If you drop or add classes by this date, your Pell Grant/TOPS/GO Grant awards will be adjusted accordingly.
• Instructors report non-attendance for any classes. Your aid will be adjusted if you do not attend any one of your classes (assuming the credit hours adjustment actually changes your aid eligibility).
• Receiving Pell Grant or Loans at two different colleges during the same academic year, which exceeds the total maximum limit for that year.

Any aid may be adjusted, if you totally withdraw before the federal deadline to withdraw and you may have to repay the aid you did not earn. 

Students have a right to appeal most financial aid decisions, including financial aid suspension.

A student may appeal decisions made concerning initial or continuing eligibility for financial aid assistance.  This letter is an opportunity to explain the situation to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.  Please be specific as possible, because the student will not have an opportunity to meet with the committee in person or by telephone.  The Financial Aid Appeal Committee will remain anonymous.  In the appeal letter, please state reasons for not meeting satisfactory academic progress.  Appeals will be considered for the following reasons (not an inclusive list):

• Working full-time
• Illness of student or family member
• Unforeseen complications with birth of a baby
• Separation or divorce
• Involved in an accident or natural disaster
• Death in immediate family
• Personal problems that affected attendance and/or grades
• Change of major or have declared double majors
• Other – determined case by case basis due to the student’s situation

Proof may be required when an appeal letter is submitted..  If working full-time, send pay stub for the time period in question showing the number of hours worked.  If there was an illness, birth of a baby or an injury from an accident, send a doctor’s bill or hospital statement.  If there was a separation or divorce, send a letter from someone who is familiar with the situation or a copy of the filing or divorce decree.  In the case of an accident or natural disaster (such as car wreck or flood), please send a newspaper/news report clipping or police report.  If there was a death, please send a copy of the obituary, a program from the funeral, or a death certificate.  For personal problems, the committee may have specific questions that require additional information for the documentation submitted.  The Appeal Committee will NOT consider the appeal until a letter with proof of each condition is submitted.

The Campus’ Financial Aid Officer will notify the student by writing the Committee’s decision within 10 working days from the time the appeal letter and necessary proof is received.  During peak periods, a delay can be expected.  If faxed appeals and documents are not clearly legible, expect a delay.  If the appeal is denied, a letter will be sent to explain how to regain financial aid eligibility.  A second appeal in the same semester will be considered if additional information or documentation is submitted to the committee.  If the appeal is approved, a letter will be sent explaining what must be done to keep financial aid and avoid suspension in the future.

The campus’ financial aid officer will respond by letter to each appellant. Approvals will require students to follow an Academic plan designated by the NLTCC’s SAP Policy.

For questions or assistance, the student should contact the campus’ financial aid officer.

A student can choose to audit a course. The audited course will not count toward his/her enrollment status for financial aid purposes.

Failure to Begin Attendance
Federal regulations require that students earn their financial aid funds by attending and actively participating in courses. Attendance information is collected from faculty to verify financial aid eligibility. If a student fails to begin attendance in a course, the institution is required to reduce the student’s financial aid enrollment level and eligibility.

Last Date of Attendance Determination
Students who have been paid federal financial aid funds are required to earn these funds by participating in classes. Students who quit participating in all courses prior to the 60% point in the semester, but have already received their federal financial aid disbursement, may have been overpaid. The repayment amount for an overpayment is based upon the number of days in the semester the student has completed and the student’s last date of an academically-related activity. A federally mandated formula is used to calculate the amount of the overpayment.

Acceptance of your financial aid award indicates that you agree to comply with the rules and regulations that govern the programs for aid as well as the policies of this institution. Your award is subject to change if corrections or revisions are made to the information you provided on your applications for aid. Funds are awarded based on anticipated hours for the upcoming semester. The initial award amounts are based on full time enrollment and subject to change due to change in enrollment status. Please note this award is based on enrollment in an approved Title IV eligible program. It is your responsibility to read and understand all “Terms”, “Terms and Conditions”, and “Rights and Responsibilities” prior to accepting federal financial aid awards.

Determining Financial Need

When applying for federal student aid, the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used in a formula, established by the U.S. Congress, that calculates an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used in an equation to determine financial need.

Cost of Attendance
Minus Expected Family Contribution
Minus Other Financial Assistance
Equals Financial Need

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance for a student is an estimate of that student’s educational expenses for full-time attendance for a full academic year. Average tuition expenses are used for full-time students rather than actual expenses.

View the current Tuition Schedule chart. Please note that the figures listed on this website are estimates for the current aid year and subject to change.

For more information about budgets and cost of attendance, please contact your campus’ financial aid officer.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits conflicts of interest for financial aid personnel [HEOA § 487(a) (25)].The NLTCC financial aid officer is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his/her responsibilities, specifically including all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in student financial aid, regardless of whether such entities are involved in a government sponsored, or regulated activity. The following provisions bring NLTCC into compliance with the federal law [HEOA § 487(e)].  In doing so, a financial aid officer should:

Refrain from taking any action for his/her personal benefit.

• Employees within the College’s Financial Aid Office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest – usually another Campus FAO.
• Refrain from taking any action he/she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents he/she serves.
• Ensure that the information he/she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• Be objective in making decisions and advising his/her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minims amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
• Disclose to his/her institution, in such manner as his/her institution may prescribe any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.

Explanation: A consortium agreement may be established between Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (known as the Home Institution) and another college (known as the Host Institution) in order to include courses taken at a Host Institution when financial aid enrollment status is calculated.

Interested students should inquire with the Student Services office and contact campus’ financial aid officer for more information.

Eligibility: The student must be admitted to a degree or certificate program at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College. The courses taken at the Host Institution must be approved by the Department Head/Instructor/Registrar at NLTCC as applying to the student’s degree plan at NLTCC. Assuming financial aid criteria are met, the student is then eligible to receive financial aid through NLTCC; the Financial Aid office will count all courses taken (as long as it/they are part of the current degree program) toward enrollment status – both at the Home and the Host Institutions.

Procedures: The student should contact their  campus’ student services office for the Consortium Agreement Form. Once this form is completed and approved, then this form allows the Financial Aid officer to obtain enrollment and financial information from the Host Institution. The student should inform the Host Institution that he or she is enrolling as a consortium student and follow the enrollment procedures and tuition payment guidelines specified at that institution. NLTCC will not pay the tuition at the Host Institution. It is the responsibility of the student to make payment arrangements and to pay the Host Institution, if required.

The student should apply for financial aid at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College and should not apply for financial aid nor accept financial aid at the Host Institution. Financial aid award amounts are based on many factors, including the student’s intended enrollment.

Disbursements will be authorized after individual enrollment verification has been received by the NLTCC Financial Aid Office and logged in the system. Each institution will assess regular tuition and fee charges for their own courses.

Official academic transcripts must be forwarded to the NLTCC Registrar after every semester. The successfully completed hours from the Host Institution will appear in the NLTCC system as transfer credit for the appropriate semester. This will enable NWLTC to monitor satisfactory academic progress.

Concurrently enrolled students who receive financial aid from NLTCC will be subject to all NLTCC Financial Aid policies, which include but are not limited to: Refund/repayment, packaging, disbursement, and satisfactory progress. NLTCC is the final authority in determining student eligibility for financial aid and compliance with applicable policies, rules, and regulations.

• Apply for financial aid 
• Contact your campus’ student services to complete the required Consortium Agreement Form.
• Declare a degree-seeking program at NLTCC.
• Ask your Department Head/Instructor/Registrar to review and approve any and all courses that you want to take that are offered by Host Institutions.
• Register for all courses you plan to take at the beginning of each semester. Identify yourself as a concurrent student to the Host Institution and follow their registration procedures.
• Meet with your campus’ financial aid officer.
• Make arrangements to pay your tuition at Host Institution, if required. It is your responsibility to make payment arrangements and to pay tuition at the Host Institution.
• If financial aid at NLTCC is sufficient to pay all of the NLTCC student account, no further arrangements are needed at NLTCC. If financial aid at NLTCC is not sufficient to pay the student account, will need to make arrangement to pay outstanding balance.
• Complete courses.
• Contact your campus’ financial aid officer each semester if enrolling at a Host Institution.
• Send official transcripts to NLTCC at the end of the semester.

You must only enroll in courses that will lead to a degree or certification and it must be your intent and purpose to obtain a degree or certification at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College. It is important to note that federal financial aid can only pay for coursework fully acceptable to the eligible degree program in which you are enrolled.

Financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and waivers will first be applied toward your outstanding semester balance owed to the college.

It is important to note that federal financial aid can only pay for coursework fully acceptable to the eligible degree program in which you are enrolled. If you do not begin attendance in any class, your financial aid may be reduced. This may happen before or after disbursement.

If financial aid is reduced after disbursement for non-attendance, you may owe a repayment back to the federal student aid programs. Failure to repay can lead to ineligibility for federal student aid nation-wide.

Refunds for the semester for the Federal Pell grant will begin after the census class day. Refunds for the semester for other funds such as TOPS, GO Grant, Veteran’s Benefits will begin once the funding has been received. NOTE: “Disbursement” does not mean “Refund.” “Disbursement” means the financial aid awards have been applied to your NLTCC student account. “Refund” means the credit balance owed to you will be sent to BankMobile. Refunds are available to students whose financial aid has been processed by the NLTCC Financial Aid Office and who have awards posted and accepted on LOLA.

Refund Timelines

We will begin applying financial aid to student accounts after the 14th/7th class day. All admissions checklist items MUST be submitted in order for funds to be applied to your student account. Refunds for Federal Pell grant will begin 21 business days after the 14th/7th class day or within 14 calendar days after the scheduled disbursement date. Refunds for other funds such as TOPS, GO GRANT, and Veteran’s Benefits will begin once the funding has been received, if applicable. Once the funds have been applied to your student account, and it is determined that you are due a refund, NLTCC will electronically submit the refund information to BankMobile. BankMobile will disburse your refund to the student account according to the refund preference the student chose.  For more information about BankMobile, click here.

EXCEPTION:  Aid funds will not be disbursed until you have started class. If you are enrolled in “late start” classes, your disbursement will be delayed or reduced until you have begun attendance in all classes.  Note, per Dept of Education:”…must confirm that: if the disbursement occurs on or after the first day of classes, that the student has begun attendance.”

General Title IV Student Eligibility Requirements (not an inclusive list)

In order to participate in the federal Title IV financial aid programs, a student must meet the definition of an eligible student as found in the FSA Handbook for the appropriate award year.

To be eligible for federal funded financial aid programs at NLTCC, the student must:

• Demonstrate financial need according to Federal
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Developmnet (GED) certification or its equivalent; or have completed homeschooling.  All high schools must be accredited by an agency recognized as an accrediting body by the Department of Education, or the state government in which the schoold is located.
• Ability to Benefit:
• Be enrolled as a regular student and a degree seeking student
• Be enrolled in an eligible program of study.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Initially and continually meet the qualitative and quantitative requirements for satisfactory academic progress (SAP) established by the College/LCTCS
• Be registered for the Selective Service Registration (if required).
• Not be  in  default  of  any  loan,  if  so  satisfactory  repayment arrangements must have been made
• Not owe a repayment on Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, ACG, Federal Perkins Loan, or state grant
• Meet Federal Regulations regarding any drug conviction

For additional information regarding federal student aid eligibility, click here. 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The US Department of Education uses information from your FAFSA to perform a need analysis and determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). NLTCC then subtracts the EFC from your Cost of Attendance (COA) to calculate the amount of need-based financial aid you are eligible to receive.

To get an early estimate of your EFC and aid eligibility prior to the official need analysis process, take advantage of the Department of Education’s FAFSA4caster. Using information you provide about the type of school you plan to attend, FAFSA4caster can even estimate award amounts for specific kinds of aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study. When the time comes to fill out the FAFSA, you can use your answers on the FAFSA4caster to prefill many of the FAFSA questions.

You may also want to check out FinAid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid, which provides an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator. The website also offers a detailed analysis calculator, in addition to a Quick EFC Calculator.

For additional information or resources on how to prepare for college, different types of aid, or who gets aid, how to apply for FAFSA, check out this website.

You’re automatically considered INDEPENDENT if you:

• Age 24 or will be turning 24 before January 1st in following year.
• Are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Since turning 13, both parents are deceased
• Are a dependent or ward of the court since turning age 13
• Are married as of the date of your application
• Are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Were in foster care since turning age 13
• Are currently or have been an emancipated minor
• Have children and provide more than half of their support
• Will be working on a master’s or doctorate program
• Have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and you provide more than half of their support
• Are currently or have been in legal guardianship
• Are homeless or at risk of being homeless

The range of personal situations is extensive. If you feel your dependency status is not accurately reflected by these definitions, discuss your personal situation with campus’ financial aid officer. If your dependency status changes at any time during the year, you must notify the campus’ financial aid officer immediately. Independent students do not include their parents’ financial information on the FAFSA.

Federal Financial Aid enrollment requires:

1. You must be enrolled in an eligible degree program and
2. You must be enrolled in eligible courses that apply to your degree program

Grants are prorated based upon the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA and eligible hours enrolled.

• Students who are admitted provisionally are not eligible for federal financial aid. Check with Student Services at your campus to about your admissions/enrollment status.
• Students many not receive federal financial aid at NLTCC and another school at the same time (semester).

Enrollment status refers to the level at which a student is enrolled each semester. NLTCC uses the enrollment statuses of full time, three quarter time, half time and less than half time for the awarding of financial aid.  Enrollment statuses are defined in the college handbook/catalog.

Undergraduate students are typically awarded initially based on full time enrollment so that students can see the maximum amount of financial aid that they would be eligible to receive.

Students are informed in their award letter of the enrollment status that their financial aid package is based on, and they are instructed to contact the Campus FAO if they know that the enrollment status on the award letter is incorrect. In addition, when students finalize their registration (approve their bill) in the LoLA, they are informed of the enrollment status that their pending aid is based off of and instructed to contact the Campus FAO if they are registering for a different number of hours than indicated there.

Within 3-5 business days after the official census date, students ‘schedule will be evaluated by Chief Financial Aid Officer by running the Freeze process in Banner which locks in all financial aid awards based on the student’s enrollment status as of that date. Students that added hours after approving their bill are repackaged and awards are adjusted/increased as needed based on their new enrollment status. Students that dropped hours after approving their bill are repackaged and awards are adjusted/decreased as needed based on their new enrollment status.

In addition, faculty members enter SH (show) in LoLA to confirm that students have begun attendance in the course.

Generally, federal financial aid awards are not adjusted if a student drops a course after the census date. There is an exception to this:

• When a student withdrawals from all courses (including an unofficial withdrawal) or when they are administratively withdrawn, students can lose financial aid based upon several factors. The amount of aid they are allowed to keep and the amount that must be returned is calculated through the R2T4 (Return to Title IV) process via FAA Access.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a Title IV federally subsidized program that offers part-time employment to eligible students through authorized employers so that they may reduce their reliance on loans. Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College administers this program in accordance with state law, federal regulations (34CFR 675), and guidelines set forth by the Department of Education, in addition to the university’s institutional standards.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

To participate in the FWS program, students must matriculate and meet general federal eligibility requirements, including:

1. Citizenship Requirements:

• U.S. citizen or national, or
• Permanent resident/eligible noncitizen (refugee, asylum granted, indefinite parole, humanitarian parole, or Cuban-Haitian entrant).

2. Academic Requirements:

• Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• SAP is defined as a student’s successful completion of coursework so that he or she is on track towards completing his or her degree on time.

3. Financial Need:

• Students must have Financial Need as demonstrated by the current year’s FAFSA.
• Financial Need is defined as the difference between a school’s Cost of Attendance and the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

4. FWS Award Allocation (See Award Allocation Section) 5. Completion of all Required Employment Authorization Forms (See Hiring Forms Section)

FWS funds are awarded to eligible students based on financial need without regard to sex, age, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, national or ethnic origin

ELIGIBLE WORKING HOURS:

As outlined by the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Handbook, “students are not permitted to work in FWS positions during scheduled class times.”  Exception may be made for courses that are offered as hybrid and/or virtual (web-based) upon written consent by the Instructor.

In compliance with the disclosure requirements under the HEA and HEOA, we are advising all currently enrolled students of the federal student financial aid penalties for drug law violations.  If you are convicted of any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while you are enrolled at NLTCC and receiving financial aid under Title IV, HEA program funds, such a conviction will result in the loss of your eligibility for Title IV (Pell Grant) and work-study assistance (FWS).  If the offense occurred outside of an enrollment period, the student is eligible to receive funding.

When completing the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Free Application, students self-certify and respond to questions regarding drug convictions. Should a conviction occur after a student has submitted the FAFSA, the student must immediately notify Student Financial Services. A conviction denotes a conviction that is on a student’s record. A conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record is not relevant for these purposes. In addition, it is not a determination or adjudication arising out of a juvenile proceeding.

An illegal drug is a controlled substance as defined by section 102(6) of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) (Title 21 of the United States Code section 802), and does not include alcohol or tobacco.

Possession of Illegal Drugs	Period of Ineligibility
First Offense	Ineligible for one year after date of conviction
Second Offense	Ineligible for two years after date of conviction
Third Offense	Ineligible indefinitely after date of conviction

 

Sale of Illegal Drugs	Period of Ineligibility
First Offense	Ineligible for two years after date of conviction
Second Offense	Ineligible indefinitely after date of conviction

To learn more about how violation of drug laws might affect your ability to receive federal financial aid, should contact the Campus’ Financial Aid Officer or online at: More information about drug convictions and federal aid eligibility.

Approval of the financial aid appeal will place students on financial aid probation. The student will be placed on an academic plan as defined in the approved letter.  Once placed on an academic plan, the student remains on probation & must fully comply with the academic plan each term. Compliance is checked at the end of each enrollment period; failure to fully comply with all aspects of the plan will result in termination.  For more information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, please refer to the NLTCC’s SAP Policy.

Failure to comply with satisfactory academic progress policy and/or not meeting academic standards of the college will terminate a student’s eligibility to receive financial aid.  For more information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, please refer to the NLTCC’s SAP Policy.

Students can submit an appeal.  Refer to the appeals section above for more details.

Failure to meet the cumulative 2.0 GPA or 67% cumulative completion rate may place students on warning for the following semester of their enrollment.  Students will remain eligible to receive financial aid during the warning term.  Students must make satisfactory academic progress during the warning term to continue to receive financial aid; failure to do so will result in financial aid termination.  For more information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, please refer to the NLTCC’s SAP Policy.

A student in good standing is meeting all three requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress as well as the NLTCC academic standards.

Students are eligible to receive financial aid.

A student is considered to be incarcerated if he/she is serving a criminal sentence in a federal, state or local penitentiary, prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, or similar correctional institution. A student is not considered to be incarcerated if he/she is in a halfway house or home detention or is sentenced to serve only weekends.

Students incarcerated in federal and state penal institutions are not eligible for Pell Grants. However, students incarcerated in local penal institutions can still receive Pell Grants.  The costs of attendance for incarcerated students are limited to tuition and fees and those books and supplies specifically related to the student’s course of study.

For more information:  https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions

NLTCC will measure students’ eligibility for financial aid at the end of every semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer), and will measure for all Satisfactory Academic Progress components. The updated status will be effective for the following semester. For more information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, please refer to the NLTCC's SAP Policy.

In accordance with federal regulations, all institutions that participate in Title IV Programs must arrange to report student enrollment data to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). As specified in the Federal Regulations CFR 682.610 and 685.309, enrollment status compliance reporting is met by reporting the student who ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis within a 30- or 60-day window. Because Clearinghouse participating institutions expect to complete a Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR) to NSLDS at least every two months, institutions have 60 days to report enrollment status changes to NSLDS and NOT 30 days. When a status change is discovered after it has occurred, compliance is determined based on the date the institution identifies the status change (“date of determination”). Accordingly, the applicable regulatory references are CFR 682.605 and CFR 668.22 (b) or (c).

A. The National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) is the agent in accordance with federal regulations for reporting the enrollment status of all students’ financial aid recipients for Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) to NSLDS.

B. The NSC identifies borrowers who withdraw from school and need to begin repayment; transfer from one school to another; and return to school and may be eligible for a deferment.

C. Changes in enrollment status to less than half time, graduated or withdrawn will be reported within 30 days unless a student status confirmation report is expected within 60 days from NLTCC

D. It is recommended by NSC that a report be generated at least four times during the term, which include census date, every 30-45 days (subsequent of term), and end of term.

E. NSC develops a planned transmission schedule tailored to the needs of the school, which is used as the framework to complete timely compliance reporting.

F. The college will submit the report as scheduled and correct all errors within 72 hours of notification from NSC to expedite the transmission of information to NSLDS. The reporting frequency enables the institution to communicate enrollment status changes in a timely manner.

G. After a report transmission has been reviewed by NSC system edits, and the institution has corrected any errors within the file, the enrollment information is then loaded into the NSC database.

H. NSC then forwards the institution’s enrollment information to NSLDS.

I. Information is verified via the NSC website that enrollment data has been processed. Secure electronic data exchanges occur for automatic processing of all NSLDS Student Status Confirmation Reports (SSCRs).

Northwest Louisiana Technical College Faculty and staff want you to be successful with reaching your educational goals. It starts with attending all of your classes. For credit courses that start at the beginning of the semester, faculty must report “Never Attended” (no shows). For late starting classes, faculty must report by the 4th day after the course start date.

NOTE: A no-show for a face-to-face class is defined as lack of “attendance” where attendance is defined as one of the following:

• Physical class attendance where there is direct interaction between instructor and student (not simply signing in or clocking in and leaving shortly thereafter)
• Submission of an academic assignment
• Examination, interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction
• Service Learning projects assigned by school
• Participation in on-line discussion about academic matters
• Documented initiation of contact with instructor to ask a question about academic subject

NOTE: A no-show for an online class is a student who has not: Completed the introductory assignment(s) by the deadline.

“No-Show” Reporting: If the student has not “attended” (per language above), the instructor will report the student as a no-show. Class reinstatement cannot occur after this point without significant documented extenuating circumstances.

“No-Show” Reporting and Financial Aid: If a student is dropped from a course (or courses) for non-attendance, the resultant loss in credit hours may cause a reduction and/or cancellation of his/her financial aid award. Like class reinstatement, financial aid awards can only be reinstated with documented extreme extenuating circumstances.

Reinstatement in class DOES NOT guarantee financial aid reinstatement.

NLTCC has a contracted, official online bookstore, TBCOnCourse, a division of Texas Book Company.   For your convenience, NLTCC offers you the ability to purchase textbooks using your pending financial aid.

In order to qualify you must meet the following criteria:

• Register for the semester in an undergraduate  degree program
• Complete the Title IV authorization form
• Satisfy ALL financial aid requirements
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards
• Receives financial aid with an estimated credit balance or refund of $100.00 or more for the semester
• Students who have a balance from a previous term, either current or in collections, will not be eligible to participate

Over-awards can occur when NLTCC receives additional information not accounted for when the student was awarded originally.  NLTCC is required to resolve any over-award on a student’s account.  Common examples of changes that cause over-awards include, but are not limited to:

• Receipt of internal or external scholarships
• Notification of exemptions/tuition and fee waivers
• Enrollment changes
• FAFSA corrections

Over-awards can result in balance due to the College which is the responsibility of the student.

You will owe money if:

• You do not begin attendance in ALL classes. (Instructors notify the campus’ financial aid officer of all students who NEVER begin attendance or students who STOP attending classes).  You must repay awards that were paid for that class.
• You resign or stop attending classes BEFORE completing more than 60% of the semester. Students must be in attendance in ALL classes.  Financial Aid will be adjusted if student does not begin attendance in all classes.
• If you receive a financial aid award and NEVER attend to any classes, then you will be responsible for immediate repayment of the FULL amount of the financial aid.
• If you resign or stops attending classes BEFORE completing more than 60% of the semester, then you will owe money to the aid program and to NLTCC.

In the event that a student receives additional funds not listed on his/her financial aid award (including but not limited to: employer reimbursement or assistance, tuition waivers, private scholarships, veteran benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, etc.), he/she is required to report these awards to their campus’ financial aid officer.

Should additional funds result a change to student’s financial aid award, he/she will receive a notification of the change of status as well as the reasons for the change. It should be noted that whenever a student receives additional assistance, his/her aid awards maybe adjusted or reduced, even if their financial aid has already been disbursed.

These courses may be required because a student has basic skill deficiencies. Such courses are allowable for financial aid provided that the student is enrolled in an eligible major. The maximum number of hours that a student may receive Title IV federal aid for developmental/remedial courses is 30 hours. For SAP purposes, development courses will count as attempted hours, completed hours, and grades received, even if federal financial aid is not received for these courses.

A student who resigns from the College may be entitled to some refund of tuition, and certain fees.  The amount of the refund, if any, will depend upon the amounts paid by the student and the date of withdrawal.  Refunds are automatically generated by the college; therefore, the student is not required to request a refund.  NLTCC Policy 5.022

1. Refunds may be subject to an administrative fee of $15 per refund transaction (regardless of the number of credit hours dropped or upon withdrawal from the college).
2. Refunds, when due, will be made within 30 days of (1) the withdrawal date as documented on the Drop/Add/Reinstatement form or (2) the date the institution determines the student has withdrawn.
3. If the College cancels a class, then 100% of all tuition and fees paid will be refunded and an administrative fee will not be assessed.

Some fees are non-refundable.

 

Refund of tuition and fees for the fall, spring, and summer semesters is made on the following basis upon a reduction in credit hours or official withdrawal from the College:

 

• Up to the 1st 5 days of each part of term: 100% of tuition and fees.
• On or beyond the 6th day after the part of term begins, no refund will be given.

 

Tuition, fees, and other charges relating to Continuing Education and Business and Industry Training are not refundable unless the training course is canceled by the College.

 

Pursuant to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Policy #5.007, a formal appeals process shall be in place for hearing complaints due to denial of all or part of a student’s refund.

NOTE: In accordance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act Amendments, refunds of tuition and fees for Pell Grant recipients shall be made to the Pell Grant program and not to the student.

Effective July 1, 2011, there is a rule change regarding federal financial aid and payment of repeated coursework. Federal financial aid funds may be paid for repeated coursework previously taken in the program but may not include more than one repetition of a previously passed course. This means courses for which you have passed with a grade of D or better can only be repeated once in your enrollment status to count for Federal Financial Aid funding. Should you decide to repeat a course for a second time (or more), federal financial aid will not cover the cost of that course.

It is the student’s responsibility to contact his/her campus’ financial aid officer to determine how dropping courses, resigning from college, or non attendance may affect his/her financial aid eligibility.  The Return of Title IV funds Policy applies to all federal financial aid recipients who resign before completing more than 60% of the semester for which they receive federal aid.  Financial aid recipients who resign/withdraw, officially or unofficially, before completing more than 60% of the semester will be required to pay back all or part of the aid received.  In most cases, students will owe money to the federal aid program(s) and to NLTCC.  Students who stop attending all classes will be considered unofficial withdrawals.  Students who resign after completing more than 60% d of the semester do not owe money to federal aid programs.  (Not owing money does not mean that the student will meet eligibility requirements for future semesters.)

For more information regarding this and how it affects Title IV return (potentially having to owe money), please refer to Return Title IV Funds section below.

For more information regarding this and how it affects Satisfactory Academic Progress, please refer to the NLTCC’s SAP Policy below.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the measure of a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require schools to monitor cumulative grade point average and the percentage of coursework completed at least once a year. Students who fail to achieve minimum standards may lose their eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid programs.

Academic progress for federal and state financial aid programs is based on three measures: Cumulative Grade Point Average, Pace of Progression based on credit hours completed compared to hours attempted, and a Maximum Timeframe for degree completion. While the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is a minimum requirement to maintain financial aid eligibility, students are encouraged to work closely with academic advisors and college personnel to achieve their educational goals. Good financial planning includes selecting meaningful coursework, completing all registered classes with satisfactory grades, and seeking your degree in a timely manner.

You must read and understand the NLTCC’s SAP Policy. To file an appeal, complete the Appeal Form. For more information about filing an appeal, refer to the APPEAL section above.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW

• What financial aid programs are available such as Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, State Aid, and Scholarships.
• How to apply for aid and how eligibility is determined.
• The deadline for submitting applications for each of the programs.
• How financial aid is determined in general.
• Be informed of financial aid policies and procedures
• The requirements for continued eligibility (See the SAP policy)
• The cost of attending at NLTCC. See the Cost of Attendance and Net Price Calculator.
• The resources considered in calculating the individual financial need.
• NLTCC’s Return and Repayment of Title IV aid policy.
• The financial aid disbursement procedures.
• The satisfactory academic progress requirements (SAP policy) and procedures for aid recipients.
• The general conditions and terms under the federal work-study program.
• Appeal procedures for financial aid decision. (See the SAP policy and SAP Appeal Form)
• Information about the student’s rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

 

• IT IS YOUR REPONSIBLITY TO: 
  • Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if you withdraw from school or reduce enrollment status.
  • Be aware of the consequences of withdrawing or stop attending.
  • Meet and maintain satisfactory academic progress requirements.
  • Complete all application and requested forms accurately and submit them on time.
  • Provide correct information (misreporting information on financial aid forms is a violation of the law and may be considered a criminal offense).
  • Use financial aid funds solely for educational purposes.
  • Promptly return all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and new information requested by the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application
  • Inform the Financial Aid Office and Student Service Office of any name, address, or Social Security number change.
  • Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms that you are asked to sign.
  • Accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign.
  • Inform the Financial Aid Office of any income change, including earnings, scholarships, waivers, private loans, etc.
  • Declare a degree seeking program approved for Pell and to only enroll in classes that are part of this program. Financial aid cannot pay for classes that do not count towards that degree at NWLTC.
  • Read the NLTCC Financial Aid Polices.

Acceptance of your financial aid award indicates that you agree to comply with the rules and regulations that govern the programs for aid as well as the policies of this institution.  Your award is subject to change if corrections or revisions are made to the information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Additional Assistance

If you receive additional funds not listed on your Award Letter (scholarships, departmental awards, etc.) report them immediately to the Financial Aid Office.  Your aid may be adjusted as a result of these funds.  You will be notified in writing of any resulting changes in your eligibility for aid.

• Previously Received Title IV Aid

You must not be in default on any federal educational loans or owe any refunds on federal grants received at any post-secondary institution to receive the Federal Pell grant.

• Use of Funds

Funds received through financial assistance programs may only be used for educationally related expenses incurred for the academic year.  All federal aid will be applied directly to your institutional charges which may include tuition, fees and other allowable charges.  Funds in excess of these charges will be paid to you within 21 days after the 14th day of the semester (or 7th day of summer semester).

• Enrollment Requirements

Generally you must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program to receive the Federal Pell Grant.  Students who are admitted provisionally are not eligible for federal financial aid.  Check with Student Services at your campus to about your admissions/enrollment status.

• Withdrawal

Withdrawal from coursework may jeopardize your current and future financial aid eligibility. If you withdraw or are asked to withdraw, you must inform the Financial Aid Office immediately.  Depending on the length of your enrollment for the academic period, you may be required to repay all or part of the aid you received to the U.S. Department of Education and/or Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College.

• Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the measure of a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree.  The Financial Aid office evaluates student academic progress at the beginning of each semester. Students are evaluated on the basis of cumulative grade point average (CGPA), credit hour completion and maximum time frame limitations.  Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, pass 67% of all courses attempted, and not attempt more than 150% of program length. New students (first semester at NLTCC), and transfer students (any other college or university) are awarded aid initially. SAP is checked following the student’s first semester and every semester thereafter.

• Rights and Responsibilities

Education after high school involves your time, money, and effort. It is a big investment that carries with it many rights and responsibilities.

As a student you have the right to know from Financial Aid:

• Financial Aid Programs available at Northwest Louisiana Technical College
• How students apply for aid and how eligibility is determined
• How and when aid is disbursed
• Return and repayment of Title IV aid policy
• Policies regarding satisfactory academic progress
• Terms and conditions regarding Title IV Aid

As a student, you are responsible for:

• Completing all forms required by Financial Aid accurately and by the published deadlines.
• Notifying the Financial Aid Office (FAO) if any changes are made in your name, address, marital status, financial situation, or enrollment status.
• Reporting to the FAO any additional assistance from other sources, such as scholarships, waivers, and education benefits.
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
• Reapplying for aid each year by completing the FAFSA

Please note: Financial aid awards are tentative awards and are not finalized until enrollment status is final. Any changes in enrollment status should be reported to the Financial Aid Office immediately so that any necessary adjustments may be made.

Transfer students must report all colleges and universities previously attended. Any transfer student who does not disclose this information is subject to adjustment or cancellation of their financial aid. If you were enrolled at another school during the current award period, you must contact that school(s) to request they cancel any aid awarded for the current semester and any future aid that was awarded to you.

The U.S. Department of Education has established regulations to prevent cases of fraud and abuse in the Federal Pell Grant by identifying students with unusual enrollment histories.

Upon reviewing completed FAFSA applications, the U.S. Department of Education will select students who have unusual enrollment history over the past four academic/award years. If selected, before a student can receive financial aid, the Office of Student Financial Assistance is required to review the student’s file in order to determine future financial aid eligibility.

What does Unusual Enrollment History mean?

Unusual Enrollment History (UEH) is defined as the specific pattern the U.S. Department of Education uses to select students who have received a Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans at multiple institutions over the past four academic/award years.

The U.S. Department of Education is concerned with this pattern.

Regulation requires the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine whether students attend an institution long enough to receive the Federal Pell Grant, leave without completing the enrollment period, enroll at another institution and then repeat this pattern of remaining just long enough to collect another Federal Pell Grant without having earned any academic credit.

Students must be aware that there are federal limitations for receiving Federal Pell Grant. Students who are receiving these funds but are not successfully moving toward degree completion are in jeopardy of losing eligibility to receive these funds.

What happens next?

When selected for Unusual Enrollment, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will place an item on the student’s LOLA’s account notifying them of an outstanding requirment. At that time, the office will first review the student’s academic records already on file with the college. In addition, the office will review the student’s Federal Pell Grant disbursements at multiple institutions over the past four award years. For example, For the 2019-2020 aid year, the office will review the student’s enrollment history during the 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 aid years. By reviewing all of the student’s academic records, the office will determine if for each of the previously attended institutions, whether academic credit was earned during the award year in which the student received Pell Grant. Academic credit is considered to have been earned if the academic records show that the student completed any credit hours or clock hours.

During the initial review period, a selected student is not required to submit any documents to the office. If, however, the Office of Student Financial Assistance cannot accurately determine a student’s enrollment history with the information on file, the office will place a second item on the student’s LOLA Account notifying that student that the office will need additional documentation. At this time, the student will be required to provide proof of academic credit at any institution the student received Federal Pell Grant while in attendance during the relevant academic/award years.

What will the office need?

If requested, students must submit either an official or unofficial transcript, or grade report, to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Once all transcripts have been received, our office will verify whether or not academic credit was received at each institution during the relevant years.

If the student provides all of the required documentation and it is evidenced that the student did not earn credit at an institution he/she received Federal Pell Grant disbursement, that student will need to provide a written statement explaining personal/academic reasons why he/she failed to earn academic credit and present documentation to support this explanation as well.

Eligibility Approved

If the UEH review and/or documentation supports that the student did not enroll in multiple schools solely to obtain Federal Pell Grant disbursements, then the item/s in the student’s LOLA Account will clear. At that time, the student will be eligible to receive Title IV funds (financial aid).

Eligibility Denied

If after reviewing a student’s records and any supporting documentation that student is denied eligibility for financial aid due to unusual enrollment history, that student can submit an Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form. Once the office receives the appeal form, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will review the appeal along with any additional supporting documentation. If after review, the office determines that the student is eligible for reinstatement, the student will be notified accordingly.

If a student chooses not to appeal based on extenuating circumstances, that student also has the option to regain financial aid eligibility after he/she has completed one academic term consisting of a minimum of six credit hours without financial aid assistance at NLTCC or at another institution. The coursework must be completed with passing grades (successful completion is defined as earning a grade of A, B, C, D or P). Once the term has been completed, the student can submit an appeal after final grades for that semester have posted. The student can select the option on the appeal indicating that he/she has successfully completed one academic semester without financial aid assistance.

Funds listed on financial aid award letters may only be used for educationally related expenses for the respective academic year.

NLTCC applies all financial aid awards directly to institutional charges on a student’s student account (charges may include but are not limited to: tuition, fees, book voucher, etc.). Following deduction of these charges, any remaining financial aid funds will be released to the student in the form of a refund. If subsequent charges occur on the student’s account after a refund is processed in a given term, the student will be responsible for these new charges.

Students may electronically provide authorization to apply federal financial aid to non-institutional charges by completing the ‘Title IV Authorization Form’ and submitting the completed/signed/dated form to their Campus’ Financial Aid Officer under Financial Information/Requirements tab on their LoLA account.

Students and parents have the right to cancel or modify the authorization at any time. A cancellation or revision is not retroactive as it will take effect on the date that NLTCC receives the update.

Verification is a federally mandated review process. The U.S. Department of Education selects approximately 1/3 of all financial aid applicants for verification. The NLTCC Financial Aid Office is required to obtain and compare information submitted on tax documents, the verification form, and the FAFSA in accordance to federal regulations and to LCTCS Financial Aid Verification Policy #2.016

Office of Financial Aid also reserves the right to request verification of any data submitted by applicants or the parents of applicants (if applicable).  Campus Financial Aid Officers must resolve conflicting information regardless of whether or not the student was selected for verification.

Students selected for verification must complete the NLTCC verification form and submit all required documents. Verification can be a lengthy process; therefore, we strongly recommend that students and their families submit the form and all verification documents as soon as they are requested via tracking email notification. Students should check their LoLA account OFTEN for missing requirements.

Verification requires that the college review additional documents to verify the information reported on the FAFSA for the student, parent(s), and spouse. Information that must be verified includes income information, high school completion, the number of family members in the household and the number of children in the household who are enrolled at least half-time in college. Document requirements include:

1. Verification Worksheet – based off of dependency status; and
2. Federal tax information – NLTCC encourages all students and/or parents who filed a taxes to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool as this is the preferred method for FAFSA filers to report federal tax information.
3. Other requirements may include: Non-tax filer information, evidence of high school completion, statement of educational purpose, and any other documentation deemed required to validate the FAFSA.

Again, if your account is missing information or was selected for verification, NLTCC will send an e-mail to you outlining missing information/requirements that may be preventing financial aid from being awarded or disbursed. Please respond in a timely manner to allow for the awarding and release of any financial aid that you may be eligible to receive. Financial aid awards will not be created until this process is complete.

Any differences between information entered on the verification form or other requested documents and the FAFSA will result in a new determination of financial need. This new determination of financial need may alter the student’s financial aid eligibility.

If a student is found to have knowingly submitted falsified or intentionally misleading information, NLTCC shall reserve the right to (1) refuse to award financial aid, (2) to cancel all aid that has previously been awarded, and/or (3) to dismiss the offending student from the College. Additionally, at NLTCC’s discretion, all fraudulent information shall be forwarded to the Office of Inspector General for further investigation.

Verification Deadline:  Verification for Pell eligible students must be completed no later than 30 days after student’s last date of attendance at NLTCC or August 31 of the current award year, whichever is earlier. Verification documents must be submitted no later than 30 days after the last date attended.

Withdrawal from coursework may jeopardize your current and future financial aid eligibility. If you withdraw or are asked to withdraw, you must inform the Financial Aid Office immediately. Depending on the length of your enrollment for the academic period, you may be required to repay all or part of the aid you received to the U.S. Department of Education and/or Northwest Louisiana Technical College. Make certain that you read and following excerpts from NLTCC Withdrawal Policy.

Scope

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the College.  Students, who stop attending but do not complete and submit a Withdrawal Form to the Student Services Office, may remain on the class roll, and may be assigned a grade of “F” by the instructor.

Students, who officially withdraw from NLTCC on or before the last date to withdraw will receive a grade of (“W”) in each enrolled course. The course and grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s permanent record, but will not be included in the calculation of the semester/session or cumulative grade point average. Withdrawal from the College may impact their financial aid and other (e.g. insurance coverage) status.

Procedures

A student, who finds it necessary to withdraw from the college, should begin the process by securing the proper forms from the Student Services Office. Please note the refund policy and deadline date as listed in the Academic Calendar.

To withdraw from the College, a student must:

• Print and complete a copy of the College Withdrawal Form
• Sign and date the form
• Have the form signed by the Department Head or Instructor
• Have the form signed by Financial Aid Officer
• Submit the completed form to the Student Services Office

A student is not officially withdrawn from the college until the request is received in the Student Services Office. Administrative withdrawals are allowed in emergency situations.

For more information regarding this and how it affects Title IV return (potentially having to owe money), please refer to the Returning Title IV Funds section of this page. 

For more information regarding this and how it affects Satisfactory Academic Progress, please refer to the NWLTC’s SAP Policy.

Questions pertaining to withdrawal and financial aid, please contact your campus’ financial aid officer.

The US Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2018, allows a student to receive Federal Pell Grant funds up to 150 percent of the student’s Pell Grant Scheduled Award for an award year. This provision is effective immediately for the 2017-2018 award year.  To be eligible for the Pell Grant Funds, the student MUST have utilized 100% of their Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring and is enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours), in the Summer. Below is a scenario that will hopefully provide you with a better understanding.

The available amount will be calculated based on student’s Pell Grant usage and remaining eligibility at the 100% scheduled award plus the additional 50%.

How much may I receive in Year-Round Pell?

Scenario:  Student’s Pell Grant Scheduled Award* is $5920 and EFC is 0
Fall 2017 Full-Time (12 credit hours) Award Amount $2960 50% of the Pell Grant Scheduled Award	Spring 2018 Full-Time (12 credit hours) Award Amount $2960 50% of the Pell Grant Scheduled Award	Summer 2018 Half-Time (6 credit hours) Award Amount $1480 25% of the Pell Grant Scheduled Award**
100% of the Pell Grant Scheduled Award Received (50% + 50%)
*Pell Grant Scheduled Award is the amount that a full-time student would receive under the Pell Grant Payment Schedule, for a full academic year based on the student’s EFC and COA. **The additional Pell Grant award cannot exceed 50% of a student’s Pell Grant Scheduled Award.  In this example, 100% of the scheduled Pell Grant has been utilized and the student is now eligible to receive additional Pell Grant award based on enrollment of at least half-time level.

If you should have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to email or speak with your campus’ financial aid officer.