Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid

http://mysupport.pvcc.edu
PVCC website: www.pvcc.edu/finaid
Phone number: 1.855.877.3941
Fax number: 434.961.6557

Piedmont Virginia Community College believes students should have the opportunity to attend college, regardless of their financial situation. The college has many sources of financial aid, including programs funded by the federal government, the Commonwealth of Virginia and PVCC Educational Foundation Scholarships.

The Key to Financial Aid is the FAFSA
How and When to Apply

The best time for students to apply for financial aid are the months of October or November preceding the academic year in which students plan to enroll. A FAFSA must be completed for all aid programs, including loans and work study. Completed FAFSAs received by March 1 for Fall, October 1 for Spring, and April 1 for Summer, will receive priority consideration. Since many aid programs have limited funding, it is critical that students file as early as possible. The FAFSA form may be submitted by completing the on-line form on the Web at www.fafsa.gov.

Assistance with completing the FAFSA is available in PVCC’s financial aid office (room M136 in the main building). Dedicated computers are available for completing the FAFSA during office hours. Office hours can be found on the College’s website, https://www.pvcc.edu/about-us/hoursoperation.

Note: A new financial aid application must be submitted for each academic year of enrollment

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible to receive federal or state financial aid, a student must:

• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
• Be in a degree or certificate program (also known as a curriculum).
• Be a U. S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have a Social Security Number.
• Maintain compliance with satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards.
• Cannot be in default on a student loan or owe a grant overpayment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

www.pvcc.edu/pay-for-pvcc/financialaid/responsibilities.

GPA Requirements (GPA Rule) :

In order to remain eligible for financial aid, students must meet minimum cumulative grade point average requirements. Only non-developmental courses with grades of A, B, C, D, and F are included in this calculation. Transfer credits are excluded. In order to graduate, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required.

Completion Rate (67% Rule)

Students must receive satisfactory grades in 67% of cumulative credits attempted. This evaluation is made prior to financial aid being awarded and after grades are posted at the end of each semester a student is enrolled at the College. Credits with satisfactory grades are those for which a grade of A, B, C, D, S or P is earned. Developmental and ESL coursework are included in this calculation. Accepted transfer credits will be counted as both attempted and completed.

Maximum Hours (150% Rule)

In order to continue to receive financial aid, a student must complete his or her program of study before 150% of the credits required have been attempted. Developmental and ESL course work are excluded in this calculation. Attempted credits from all enrollment periods plus all accepted transfer credits are counted. All terms of enrollment are included whether or not the student received financial aid and regardless of the age of the coursework.

Program of Study Change

Generally, all periods of the student’s enrollment count when assessing progress, even periods in which the student did not receive FSA funds. However, for students who change their program of study, credits and grades that do not count toward the new major will not be included in the satisfactory progress determination. Attempted credits plus all accepted transfer credits that count toward the student’s new program of study are counted. Financial Aid will only recognize and “reset” academic progress for one program of study change during a student’s enrollment at PVCC.

Developmental and ESL Courses

Students may receive financial aid for a maximum of 30 semester hours of developmental studies courses as long as the courses are required as a result of placement testing, the student is in an eligible program of study, and satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements continue to be met. Students may receive financial aid for an unlimited number of ESL credits as long as they are taken as part of an eligible program and SAP requirements continue to be met.

Financial Aid Warning Status (WS)

Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the first time will be automatically placed in a Warning Status for one (1) term and are expected to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements by the end of that term. Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the warning status term will lose their eligibility for financial aid.

Financial Aid Probation Status (PS)

Students who have successfully appealed the loss of their financial aid are placed on probation. Students on probation are eligible to receive financial aid for one (1) semester, after which they MUST meet all of the satisfactory academic progress standards OR the requirements of an academic progress plan that was pre-approved by the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Aid Suspension Status (SS)

Students who do not meet the credit progress schedule and/or the cumulative grade point average standard, or who fail to meet the requirements of their pre-approved academic progress plan will be placed in suspension status and are not eligible for financial aid.

Repeated Coursework

Students can repeat courses using financial aid until successfully completed. There is no limit assuming all other SAP requirements are met. Students may only repeat a passed course once as long as it is in order to meet an academic standard (i.e., a higher grade is required for their program of study). Repeated coursework will be included in the evaluation of completion rate and maximum timeframe. Only the latest grade will count towards the cumulative grade point average.

Appeals

Under certain circumstances, students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards and lose eligibility for financial aid can appeal the financial aid suspension (SS). Appeals will be evaluated by the Financial Aid Office and all decisions are final.

Complete Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy may be found on our website at: Https://www.pvcc.edu/files/policy/student/su mmary of sap.pdf

Financial Aid Programs

Students may be eligible for the following programs when they submit the FAFSA:

Federal Pell Grant

This is the largest federal grant program. The amount awarded is based on the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) generated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Pell Grants are now available year-round (including the summer term), but if you attend full-time in both the fall and spring terms, you must take at least six required credits to potentially receive a summer Pell Grant. A lifetime Pell Grant limit that equates to 12 full-time semester applies. Before the term census (i.e. the 16-week census for the fall and spring terms and the 10-week census for the summer term), Pell Grants are offered based upon anticipated full-time enrollment. After census, Pell Grant amounts are adjusted according to enrollment level.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG is available to a limited number of students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. A student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to be eligible to receive this grant.

Federal Work Study

Students who need a job to help with college expenses may be eligible for employment under the federally supported work-study program. Students may work a maximum of 20 hours weekly while attending classes (must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours). On-campus jobs may include work in offices, science and computer laboratories, and the library.

Commonwealth Grant (COMA)

The COMA Grant is available for students enrolled at least half time, are residents of Virginia, and demonstrate financial need.

Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)

The VGAP is available for first time freshmen who graduated from a Virginia high school with at least a 2.5 GPA. Students must be enrolled full time and be classified as dependent students. Awards may be renewed for a second year for students who have maintained full-time enrollment, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and continue to demonstrate financial need. Students must submit an official high school transcript to the financial aid office so that we may determine eligibility. Maximum award is tuition, fees, and books.

Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (PTAP)

PTAP grants are available for students who enroll for 1 to 8 credits, are Virginia residents, and demonstrate financial need. The maximum award can be up to the cost of tuition. Maximum award is tuition, fees, and books.

Virginia Foster Care Grant

This grant provides tuition and fees at any Virginia community college for high school graduates or General Education Development (GED) completers who were in foster care, in the custody of a social services agency, or considered a special needs adoption at the time of graduation or completion of their GED. You must be enrolled in at least six required credits.

Scholarships from the PVCC Educational Foundation

Each year, generous individuals, businesses, and organizations give scholarships to PVCC students. More than 100 scholarships are awarded each year through the PVCC Educational Foundation. The value of these scholarships exceeds $175,000. Current students as well as graduating high school seniors are invited to apply for these scholarships in the spring each year. The application form and full descriptions of the scholarships available are posted in the financial aid section of the college’s website at www.pvcc.edu/scholarships.

Loans for Students and Parents

Piedmont Virginia Community College offers borrowing options for students and families. Students must first complete the FAFSA to determine what, if any, grant aid is available before choosing to borrow loans. Students are also encouraged to apply for scholarships from the PVCC Educational Foundation before applying for loans. However, when college costs are not met with other types of aid and the student is unable to pay their education costs out-of-pocket, student and/or parent loans are a helpful resource in financing educational expenses.

Students MUST be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credit hours) to be eligible for Federal Loans.

Federal Direct Loans

These loans provide students with the option to receive long-term, low-interest educational loans. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be considered. Direct Stafford Loans may be either subsidized (the government pays the interest while the student is in school) or unsubsidized (interest accrues while the student in in school). To receive a subsidized Stafford Loan, financial need must be demonstrated. Unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need. Almost all students are eligible for unsubsidized loans. All Direct Stafford loans are deferred until the student graduates of stops attending at least half-time.

Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

This loan enables parents of dependent undergraduate students to borrow funds to supplement their children’s aid packages. Repayment normally begins 60 days from the date of disbursement and can continue over a ten-year period. Students must be enrolled at least half-time.

Visit the link below for more information about the availability of Federal Direct Loans and Federal Direct PLUS loans, as well as directions to apply.

https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.a ction

Student Loans for Nursing Students

This program is designed to encourage and assist students in pursuing nursing training by providing long-term, low-interest loans to help defray educational expenses. Repayment on the loan begins nine months after the student ceases to be a half-time nursing student, with the total amount due within a 10-year period.

Other Sources of Aid

Certain disabled or handicapped persons may qualify for educational assistance through the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services. The department requires potential recipients to apply for financial aid through the college.

Scholarship searches:
https://www.collegeboard.org
https://www.goodcall.com
https://www.scholarships.com
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships
www.finaid.org
www.fastweb.com
www.pvcc.edu/scholarships

Some terms used in financial aid:

Cost of Attendance (COA). Determined by the school. Includes tuition/fees, books & supplies, living expenses, personal expenses.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Determined by information student provides on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Need = COA minus EFC. Need determines the type and amount of aid student may receive.

Students may view their financial aid online through the Student Information System.

Return of Title IV Funds

Under a regulation known as Return of Title IV funds, students who withdraw from college or stop attending all classes before completing the first 60 percent of the semester have not earned all of their financial aid. Title IV aid (Pell, FSEOG, ACG, Stafford and PLUS Loans), as well as state aid, must be prorated to the date of withdrawal. Students will be required to repay the unearned portion of aid received. This will include books charged to financial aid and any refund received. For an example of this calculation and for additional information, please click on link: www.pvcc.edu/pay-for-pvcc/financialaid/frequently-asked-questions#faq40