Financial Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are federal funds, available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. These funds do not have to be repaid, unless the student withdraws or drops out of school. The amount will vary each term based on the student’s enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter time, half time or less than half time). Any Pell funds not used in the fall and spring terms will be carried over into the summer term. Students must reapply for Federal Pell Grants each academic year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This grant is awarded to Pell Grant students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and does not have to be repaid unless the student withdraws or drops out of college. Federal funds are allotted to the College to award to students with exceptional financial need. The funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis. If the student fails to attend classes and the award drops off his/her account, the grant will be redistributed to other eligible students.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

This is a program that allows students to earn funds for their education. The current pay for federal work study positions is published on the Drake State website (pay rates are subject to change) and is limited to a maximum of 19 hours per week. All eligible students indicating an interest in FWS will be considered for these limited funds by completing a work-study application located in the Financial Aid Office. Most job placements are on campus and work hours are usually after classes each day. Hiring is competitive and all interested students may not be able to be accommodated.

Other Types of Assistance

Institutional Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants. Most scholarships are used to recruit students from local high schools but are also available to returning students. The two types of institutional scholarships awarded by the college are academic and leadership. The PRIORITY DEADLINE is MARCH 15TH OF EACH YEAR. Scholarships will be awarded annually and placed on student accounts beginning the fall semester.
Academic scholarship recipients must have and maintain a 3.0 or better GPA on a 4.0 scale and maintain a full-time enrollment status. These scholarships cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees and are renewed for each enrollment status, whether the student is enrolled in a certificate or associate degree program. Scholarship recipients are required to sign a contract outlining the requirements for maintaining eligibility.

Leadership scholarship recipients must have and maintain a 2.5 or better GPA on a 4.0 scale and maintain a full-time enrollment status. These scholarships cover 50% of tuition and mandatory fees and renewed each enrollment status, whether the student is enrolled in a certificate or associate degree program. Scholarship recipients are required to sign a contract outlining the requirements for maintaining eligibility.

Vocational Rehabilitation students with documented disabilities who have been awarded funds for training by the state may see a Financial Aid Counselor to have their award entered into the system for processing.

Employer Educational Assistance students whose employers provide educational benefits must provide documentation of this benefit from his/her company to a Financial Aid Counselor to be entered into the system for processing.

Verification Policy

Students may be selected on a random basis by the federal government or the Financial Aid Office to verify the following items: (1) family income, (2) taxes paid, (3) family size, (4) number of family members other than parents attending a postsecondary institution, and (5) any other item identified by the Office of Financial Aid. Failure to submit the requested documentation will cause the student to forfeit entitlement to financial aid. Students needing to correct their Student Aid Reports (SAR) as a result of verification will be notified at the time of verification or shortly thereafter by mail, email, or phone.

Awarding Policy

Students must have completed all required financial aid forms prior to the first day of the semester to avoid having to pay the initial cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies themselves. Financial aid forms and materials submitted after the beginning of the semester will be processed as quickly as possible. Because FSEOG funds are limited, these funds are awarded on a need basis until funds are exhausted. Federal Work Study is awarded on an ongoing basis to eligible students with interest in, and the skills required for the job assignment.

Please Note: If a student’s schedule includes a mini-term course that begins midterm, the amount of the Pell Grant award may change when the mini-term begins. The Office of Financial Aid may be contacted to determine if there will be an adjustment to the Pell Grant award.

Dependent/Independent Policy

The Federal Government has identified, for student financial assistance programs, certain categories of students who must be considered Independent financial aid applicants. A student is considered an independent financial aid applicant if s/he meets one of the following criteria:
A. Must be 24 years of age prior to January 1 of the application year;
B. Is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
C. Is on active duty in the U.S. Armed forces;
D. Is an orphan or ward of the court;
E. Is/was emancipated minor;
F. Is/was in legal guardianship;
G. Has a legal dependent other than a spouse;
H. Is a married student;
I. Is a homeless child/youth;
J. Is determined homeless by HUD;
K. At risk for homelessness;
L. Is working on a masters/doctoral program;
M. Has a child/children who receive more than half of their support from you.

An independent financial aid applicant is not required to submit parental information in the application process. However, if the independent applicant is married, spousal information must be reported. A student who cannot meet at least one of the criteria is considered a dependent applicant and must provide parental information in the application process.

Special Circumstances

Eligibility is normally based upon the prior year’s income. Under certain circumstances, aid administrators may modify data used to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC), perform dependency overrides, resolve conflicting information, report fraud, or determine a student to be an unaccompanied homeless youth. There are two categories of professional judgment: 1) Special Circumstances refer to financial situations (loss of a job, housing status, medical expenses, child or dependent care expenses, etc.) whereas data elements will be adjusted in the COA or the EFC calculation, 2) Unusual Circumstances refer to conditions for making adjustment to a student’s dependency status (dependency override) based on a unique situation (human trafficking, refugee, or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment, incarceration, etc.) A student with one of these conditions should contact the Director of Financial Aid and request a professional judgment.

Disbursement Information

Federal Pell Grant: Pell Grant awards are based on the federal methodology from the information listed on your FAFSA application. Awards are subject to change if a student is selected for verification, enrolled in a program that does not lead to an associate degree, enrolled less than full-time, or fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to institutional policies. Recipients may charge tuition and fees to their Federal Pell Grant account. Students with small entitlements will be required to pay the difference. Remaining balance checks will be disbursed 14 days after the published disbursement date. To expedite the refund, students should sign up for direct deposit or refund checks will be mailed to the address listed on student account. Students enrolled in mini-session courses or courses with a late start date may not be eligible to receive a check or may receive miscellaneous balance checks based on actual enrollment hours for the first mini-session with additional funds being released after the second session begins. Students may call or come by the Financial Aid Office to inquire about their eligibility. Students who make a change in their course schedule (See Return of Title IV Funds Policy for additional information) or whose financial aid file is completed during the first two weeks of the semester will be refunded the credit balance through direct deposit or mailed a check approximately two weeks after the first disbursement of checks. After the initial disbursement, refunds will be processed every other week.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG checks will be processed, and credit balance will be refunded to students through direct deposit or mailed to students approximately four (4) weeks after the official Drop/Add period ends.

Alabama State Grant (ASAP)

The ASAP (Alabama Student Assistance Program) checks will be processed through direct deposit or mailed upon receipt of funds from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in Montgomery.

Federal College Work Study

Time sheets are due in the Financial Aid Office on the 1st day of each month unless otherwise notified. Timesheets turned in after this date will receive payment the following month. Payroll disbursements are made on the 15th day of each month through direct deposit.

Scholarships: Recipients may charge tuition and mandatory fees to their scholarship account. Scholarships do not pay for repeated courses or books.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must declare a major and be working toward the completion of that major to receive financial aid. To receive aid, a student must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) regardless of whether he or she has previously received aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured at the end of each semester of enrollment after grades have been posted at Drake State Community and Technical College. Students are required under federal regulations to maintain certain standards of progress depending on the number of hours they have attempted in college. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand all policies associated with financial aid funding.

SAP includes three basic components: qualitative Grade Point Average (GPA), quantitative Hours Completed (completion rate), and timeframe.

The GPA is computed based on a 4.0 scale, with a 2.0 or higher GPA required for graduation.

GPA requirements for long-term certificate and degree seeking students:

If student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
If student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 1.75 GPA.
If student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA

GPA requirement for short-term certificate (24 – 29 credit hours):

If student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
If student has attempted 13 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

The completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has completed by the cumulative number of credit hours they attempted.

Completion rate (attempted hours) required by long-term certificates and degree seeking students:

If student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
If student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 62% completion rate.
If student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Completion rate (attempted hours) required by short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours):

• If student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.

• If student has attempted 13 or more hours, they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Federal regulations require that students must complete their educational objective within a maximum time frame of one and one-half times the length of the program in which they are enrolled, since the purpose of the Federal Title IV financial aid programs is to assist students in meeting their educational expenses while they progress toward timely completion of their educational objectives.

A student is only allowed 150% of the respective program length to complete the degree or certificate.
For example, a degree-seeking student can attend Drake State three years, which is 150% of a two-year major.
Failure to complete within the allotted timeframe will result in loss of eligibility.
All hours attempted, as well as transfer hours accepted, will be included in the maximum timeframe calculation. (ex: course forgiveness, academic bankruptcy, developmental, and incompletes).
A change in major or academic program does not reset the 150%.

Additional regulations relating to SAP include the following:

If a student does not meet any of the requirements listed, he/she will be given one warning semester to attempt to get back in good standing in which he/she will be eligible to receive aid.

After attending one warning semester, the student must have the required GPA and completion rate to continue receiving financial aid assistance.
If a student loses eligibility, he/she may appeal----given student has mitigating circumstances that caused unsuccessful coursework. If the appeal is approved by the appeals committee, then the student will be granted one additional probation semester to establish satisfactory academic progress. If a student is not granted a probationary semester, then the student must be a cash paying student until satisfactory academic progress is achieved. At that point, the student could re-establish eligibility.
Additional information as to the treatment of repeated, incompletes, withdrawals, transfer credit, academic bankruptcy, course forgiveness, and transitional (remedial) classes is as follows:
- Repeat classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations. In addition, a student can only repeat a successfully passed class utilizing federal aid once.
- Students may receive financial aid for up to 30 attempted remedial credit hours. If this number is exceeded, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. If the student enrolls in the same remedial course more than three (3) times, financial aid will not apply for any subsequent enrollment(s) in this course.
- Incompletes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations. Incomplete (I grade) coursework must be completed by the end of the next term. At the end of the next term, all unfinished coursework will be calculated as an F.
- Withdrawals will not be factored into the GPA calculations but will be included in the completion rate and maximum timeframe calculations.
- Transfer credits will not be factored into the GPA calculation but will be included in the completion rate and maximum timeframe calculations. Only passed classes designated as a “C” or higher will be transferred in from other accredited institutions.
- Bankrupted (Academic Bankruptcy) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculation.
- Forgiven (Course Forgiveness) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations.
- Transitional (remedial) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations.

After a grade change (except an Incomplete) has been instituted for a prior term, SAP will be recalculated at that time. When an Incomplete grade is updated to a final grade, it will be factored into the SAP calculation at the time of the next formal evaluation.
Dropped courses during the add/drop period will not be factored into GPA, completion rate, or maximum timeframe calculations.
In some cases, a student who is not meeting SAP may regain eligibility for Title IV aid. Options may include a) paying for classes or b) successfully appealing.
The lifetime eligibility for receiving federal financial aid is 12 full-time semesters which equals 600%. A student’s percentage used can be viewed on NSLDS and compared to the Banner form RNASLXX. (If a student has less than full-time enrollment, the percentage will be prorated).

Information regarding financial aid appeals includes the following:

A student may submit a Financial Aid Appeal if he/she can provide documented proof of mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances are those that are beyond the student’s control. If student files an appeal due to exceeding the MAX timeframe, he/she must be meeting the other two components of the SAP calculation (GPA and pace).
A student must submit the appeal and all documentation pertaining to the appeal, by the published appeal deadline. Submitting a Financial Aid Appeal is NOT an automatic approval.
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will meet each semester to consider completed appeals. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. Only one appeal per academic year will be considered.
A student will be notified of the decision made by the Committee by email. Students may check Self Service Banner for academic progress status.
A student must follow the terms of his/her appeal if approved or lose financial aid eligibility.
An academic plan may be instituted for a student as an opportunity to restore the student to proper Satisfactory Academic Progress at a specified future point in time. The plan can be voided if the student changes majors or does not follow the prescribed academic plan. This plan is used specifically for students that exceeded MAX time frame and granted an appeal.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Students Utilizing Veteran Educational Benefits

Public Law 114-315 Section 404: Academic Progress and Outcome Measures
In accordance with 38 CFR 668.34, Service Members, Veterans, and/or eligible dependents meeting the eligibility criteria and receiving Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefits are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Academic progress is based on the quantitative and qualitative requirements of degree, certificate, and learning programs of the educational institutions of which Service Members, Veterans, and/or eligible dependents are enrolled.

Return of Title IV Funds When a Student Withdraws

Withdrawal - Federal Policy

A student is not entitled to 100 percent of his/her federal grant(s) until s/he has completed 60% of the semester. In most cases, the student would have received 100 percent of his/her grant before that time. Therefore, if a student receives a federal grant and withdraws before 60 percent of the term has passed, s/he will likely owe a portion of the grant back to the Pell grant program.

Complete Withdrawal

A student who withdraws completely before completing 60% percent of any given term may be required to return a portion of the Title IV financial aid grants he/she received (excluding Federal Work-Study wages).

The amount to be returned is based on the concept of “earned” and “unearned” federal financial aid. The percentage of time enrolled determines the percentage of earned aid. For example: If a student attends through the first 25 days of a 100-day term, the percentage of earned aid is 25 percent. The remaining 75 percent of the aid received is therefore unearned and must be returned to the federal financial aid programs.

In some circumstances, a student may be required to repay a portion of the unearned aid received. Each student who owes a repayment will be notified in writing of the requirement to repay Title IV funds. If a student owes a prior balance for the previous year, s/he may use up to $200 of the new year’s award to pay the past balance.

If s/he fails to repay unearned Title IV funds, his/her eligibility for federal financial aid will be terminated.

The requirements to return federal financial aid are separate from the College’s refund policy. Therefore, a student may still owe funds to the College to cover unpaid institutional charges. The College may also charge you for any federal financial aid program funds that were required to be returned.

If a student completely withdraws after completing 60 percent of the term, no repayment is required as s/he is considered to have earned 100 percent of his/her award for the term.

Any grant money a student must repay is considered a federal overpayment. The student must either repay that amount in full or make satisfactory arrangements with either Drake State or the Department of Education to repay the amount.

The repayment or arrangements for the repayment must be made within 45 days of the date the student is notified of the overpayment or the student will lose further eligibility for all federal aid for attendance at any college until the debt is paid in full.

The withdrawal may cause him/her to be placed on financial aid probation because he/she has not met the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of completing 2/3 of all classes attempted.

Unofficial Withdrawal

A student who stops attending all of his/her classes before 60% of the term is completed without completing a withdrawal form or notifying his instructors of his intent to return to classes will automatically be classified as a failure to pass due to attendance and will be reported to the Department of Education. S/He may then be required to repay a portion of the aid s/he has received based on a midpoint date used as the date of determination. This will also cause him/her to be placed on financial aid probation because s/he has not met the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of completing 2/3 of all classes attempted.