Financial Aid Information Session

Welcome to the Financial Aid Information Session at American River College(ARC). As you go through this presentation, you will gain a greater understanding offinancial aid policies, procedures, and timelines. Financial Aid Information Session S T A R T Exit

“Financial Aid is Directly Connected to Academic Success”   

Financial Aid Timeline Apply Online at www.fafsa.gov Electronic File is transferred to ARC E-mail is sent to you and additional documents may be requested File review and award process takes approximately 4-6 weeks from the date you submit the last required document (all documents must be submitted) Possible delays: File clarification or later selected for verification Award Notification sent when file has been completely processed 4 2 1 3 5 6   

Your College Connection • All college emails will be sent to your Los Rios Gmail account. • You can access your Gmail account at: • apps.losrios.edu • For questions concerning your Gmail account please visit: • apps.losrios.edu/faq.html Continue

Check Financial Aid Status • There are three ways to check your financial aid status: My ARC Aid (online) Financial Aid Lab in PB-605 Financial Aid Office Go Go Go   

Check Your Financial Aid Status Online Return  • Have the following available: • Your ARC Student ID # • Your Financial Aid PIN • Obtain your financial aid PIN on-line by clicking • “First Time User” or “Forgot your PIN?” • Note:This PIN is different from your FAFSA PIN Click for Example • www.arc.losrios.edu/financialaid • Click on “My ARC Aid”

Your 7 digit ID without W May be numbers and/or characters Click here to obtain your PIN if you are a returning student Click here to obtain your PIN if you are a new student Return 

Visit the Financial Aid Lab • Location: Portable Building Room 605 • Hours: Monday – Thursday • 9:00 am – 4:30 pm • Friday • 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Please note: the lab stops accepting students 30 minutes prior to closing. Return 

Visit the Financial Aid Office Location: Student Services Building Hours: Mon 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Tue 7:30 am to 7:00 pm Wed 7:30 am to 7:00 pm Thu 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Fri 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Return  Note: Be prepared to show a picture ID and provide copies of documents requested. We do not makes copies.

High School Requirement • Students are required to have completed • one of the following: • High School Diploma • High School Proficiency Exam • GED • Home School or the equivalent • Note: Students who enrolled in college before July 1, 2012 and received a grade in a class may be eligible for an alternative method to meet the high school requirement. Please visit the financial aid website for more information.   

Transfer Students • Students must submit Official Transcripts for all colleges attended to ARC Enrollment Services, including: • Skills Center • Foreign College • Business Schools • Vocational Technical Schools Note: Transcripts must be submitted whether or not units were completed   

Eligible Educational GoalAs easy as A, B, C, D, & E • Declare an eligible Educational Goal with the Enrollment Services • An Undecided Educational Goal is not eligible for financial aid   

Matching Information • Your name, date of birth, and social security number must match documents with the Financial Aid Office and Enrollment Services • Driver’s License/ID • Social Security Card • Immigration Cards/Papers (DHS / INS)   

Contact Information • Keep a current mailing and e-mail address with Enrollment Services and the Financial Aid Office • Change in mailing or e-mail address must be updated with the following:Enrollment Services, Financial Aid Office and Higher One • Activate your Gmail account Click Here   

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is: • Maintaining a minimum of 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) • Complete 75% of units attempted • Have Not completed a degree, attempted 72 or more units , or attempted more than 150% of the units required for a certificate program Note: Units from other colleges count towards the 72 unit limit • Depending on your academic performance, you will fall into one of three academic standings: • Good Standing: Maintaining SAP =You are eligible to receive financial aid. • Dismissed: Not maintaining SAP = You are not eligible to receive financial aid • Denied: Appeal denied = You are not eligible to receive financial aid • Note: Dismissed students can choose to submit an SAP appeal   

Dismissal Process: Grade Point Average or Passing Percentage • Students who are dismissed from financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress can submit one SAP appeal per award year • Appeals for extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control, must be substantiated with documentation to be considered for financial aid reinstatement • If the appeal is approved, students’ will be eligible to receive financial aid and placed on probation status • If the appeal is denied, students’ will not be eligible to receive grants and loans until SAP is restored. Students’ can re-appeal the following academic year if below 120 units attempted   

Dismissal Process: 72+ Units Attempted or Degree/Certificate Earned • Students who have completed a degree (including a foreign degree), attempted 72 or more units, or have attempted more than 150% of the units required for a certificate program will be dismissed from Financial Aid • Your Appeal should address the following: • Your goal at ARC • Why you have not met graduation/transfer requirements • What actions you have taken to make sure you will graduate in the near future • Provide any documentation available to support your reasons • Meet with a ARC counselor to complete an Academic Plan • If you have completed a degree you must also: • Explain why you are not currently using your completed degree and why you are returning to a community college • Students who enter a program after already having attempted 120 units or have completed a BA program are not eligible for financial aid(BOG Fee Waiver is still available)   

Verification Selection • Files may be selected for verification at any time • The U.S. Department of Education selects files for verification • ARC Financial Aid Office may select a file for verification if there is conflicting information • Repayment is required for any over award or ineligible portion of financial aid received as a result of the verification process • All Financial Aid documents must be authentic   

Receive Aid at One Institution • You cannot receive financial aid from two or more schools during the same academic time period • If you have listed multiple schools on your FAFSA, contact each school you will not be attending and close your file to prevent them from claiming the funds you will need at ARC • If you are paid at multiple schools, you will be billed and your account will be forwarded to the US Department of Education or a State Agency for collection   

Consortium Request Form If you are taking classes at another Los Rios Community College you must complete a Consortium Request Form in order to receive aid for units taken at other LRCCD campuses. You may be funded for courses taken at other LRCCD colleges if the following consortium requirements are met: • Enroll in at least one course at ARC • The classes must be required for your educational program of study at ARC • The Consortium form must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the deadline listed for each term   

Federal Pell Grant Limits • Duration of eligibility has been reduced for all students to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters • For more information please visit www.studentaid.ed.gov • You can check your used and remaining Pell Grant amounts at www.nslds.ed.gov   

Cal Grants • Cal Grant is a State grant that students may be eligible to receive in addition to other grants • Students must complete the FAFSA and submit the GPA verification form to the California Student Aid Commission • There are two deadlines to apply for the Cal Grant March 2nd • and September 2nd (Community Colleges Only) • For more information about Cal Grants go to: http://www.calgrants.org/ • If you are awarded a Cal Grant, our office will download your information from the California Student Aid Commission • We will verify your eligibility and award Cal Grant once your financial aid file is completed and when the state budget is approved/passed   

Federal Work Study (FWS) FWS is a program that allows you to work on campus, gain experience, and get paid for it! • Follow the steps below to be considered for the program: • File your FAFSA by the Priority Deadline • Answer “Yes” on the FAFSA federal work-study question • Complete your file by the ARC priority deadline • Meet and maintain SAP requirements • Have financial need • Be enrolled and maintain at least six units at ARC • Return the Confirmation Letter • Awards are disbursed on a first come, first serve basis   

Federal Student Loans A federal student loan is financial aid that must be repaid! • Federal Student Loans will be considered only after the FAFSA application has been processed and all grant eligibility has been determined • You must remain enrolled in 6 units at all time to receive student loans • To apply for a Direct Student Loan, you must complete the three step process: • Entrance Counseling • Sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN) • Note: You will receive an award notification before you can complete the final step • Loan Request Form (My ARC Aid) • See the ARC Website for more information: • www.arc.losrios.edu/financialaid   

CHAFEE Grant Program • California Chafee Grant Program is available for youth “aging out” of foster care or emancipated from foster care • Chafee Grant is both federal and state funded • Awards are up to $5000 per academic year • Administered by the California Student Aid Commission • It is extremely important that you inform the commission of any school change by: • Calling 1-888-224-7268 • AND contacting the ARC Financial Aid Office • Click logo for more basic requirements   

Application Components: • Complete FAFSA every year • Complete a one time Chafee Application at www.chafee.csac.ca.gov • School will submit a “need analysis” every year • California Department of Social Services must confirm court dependent foster youth eligibility Eligibility Components: • As of July 1st, New applicants must not be over 22 years old • Enrolled in an eligible public or private college • Enrolled in at least half time status (6 or more units) • Attend class regularly and maintain satisfactory academic progress CHAFEE Grant: Basic Requirements Continue

Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG Fee Waiver) • The BOG Waiver permits enrollment fees to be waived for the entire academic year • Summer, Fall, and Spring • The BOG application is available online • If you need assistance with your application, please visit the Financial Aid Lab in P-604 • You can locate the Bog Fee Waiver • Application at: www.losrios.edu/lrc/bog_steps.php Click Here For BOG Facts   

Important BOG Facts • BOG Fee Waiver must be completed every year during registration for the following academic year • BOG Fee Waivers are for California residents only • There are three ways to qualify for the BOG Fee Waiver • Click the icon to learn more: • If you have paid your enrollment fees and now qualify for a BOG, you must complete a Fee Refund Application with Business Services before the last day of instruction for the semester in which you are requesting a refund Continue

California Dream Act of 2011 became law with the passage of two Assembly Bills, AB 130 and AB131. Students who meet AB 540 criteria will be eligible to apply for a BOG Fee Waiver beginning January 1, 2013 by completing a BOG Fee Waiver Application or the California Dream Act Application. Beginning January 1 through March 2, 2013 the 2013-14 California Dream Act will be available for students to apply for Cal Grants. California Dream Act Click the ARC Icon for more information   

You will receive your Higher One card once you have submit all outstanding documents to the ARC Financial Aid Office and become enrolled in classes • When you receive your card in the mail, DO NOT throw it away! • There is a fee to re-order your card • You must activate your Higher One Card before you can receive a disbursement • You can choose from the following disbursement methods: • Open a Higher One account – Easy Refund • Transfer funds to your existing bank account – ACH Transfer • Request a paper check • Remember to keep your address information up to date with both Financial Aid and Enrollment Services, otherwise, you will not receive your card and may have to pay a replacement fee Activate Your Higher One Card   

Awards ENROLLMENT STATUS: Full-time status (FX) = 12.00 or more units Three -quarter time status (3/4X) = 9.00 — 11.99 units Half-time status (1/2X) = 6.00 — 8.99 units Less than half-time status (<1/2X) = 0.50 — 5.99 units Example below: Award disbursement based on enrollment status for a semester   

Award Recalculation • On the scheduled Recalculation Date for each term, your financial aid eligibility will be re-determined based on units you are enrolled as of that date • If you have reduced your enrollment, you may be required to pay back some of the money you were previously awarded • If you increased your enrollment, likewise, you may have increase eligibility • Recalculation Dates for each term are posted on the ARC Financial Aid Webpage: www.arc.losrios.edu/financialaid • Attention: Any units added after the recalculation date • will not be considered towards your award determination! Click Here For Example   

Award Recalculation • Example:If you received a 1/2X award and you dropped below 6 units as of the Recalculation Date. You will be required to repay an amount based on the following calculation: • Pell Grant (1/2X award received) $1000.00 • Pell Grant (less than 1/2X award) - 350.00 • Repayment owed to Pell Grant $ 650.00 Continue

Non-Passing Grades • The following are considered unsuccessful grades for Financial Aid: • “F”, “NP”, “I”, “IP”, “W”, “NC” • (Fail, No Pass, Incomplete, In Progress, Withdraw, No Credit) • If you earn all unsuccessful grades, or withdraw from classes you may be required to repay your financial aid award   

Do not withdraw excessively from classes • Earn passing grades • Make progress toward your degree • Meet with your counselor regularly • Do not overwhelm yourself with classes you do not have time for • Only register for classes that are consistent with your educational goal • Avoid changing major repeatedly • Check your My ARC Aid account regularly • Be aware of Financial Aid dates & deadlines Tips for Success   

Education Pays   

To inform the ARC Financial Aid Office that you have completed the Financial Aid Info Session, go to My ARC Aid and click the Apply Online tab. Follow the instructions on the bottom of the page. Congratulations, you have completed the Financial Aid Info Session   Exit

Financial Aid Information Session