The academic period for awarding is the fall/spring/summer semesters. Students will normally be awarded for fall/spring unless the student requests the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan to cover the summer semester. Federal Pell Grants will be awarded for the fall/spring semesters, with any remaining eligibility awarded for summer. Other available funds will be awarded to eligible students planning to enroll for the summer semester.

Initially, awards will be based on full-time enrollment. Adjustments will be made if actual enrollment is less than full-time. Adjustments to awards will be made at the end of the 100% refund period for each semester. If late starting classes are added or dropped prior to the start date of the class, adjustments will be made as necessary to awards. Financial aid will not be adjusted for enrollment beyond the drop/add period for each course. Adjustments for dropped classes may result in charges to the student's account.

The federal processor selects some student financial aid applications (FAFSA) for verification. Students selected are required to submit a copy of student and/or spouse/parent federal tax return information (2006 tax returns for the 2007-2008 award year), a verification worksheet, documentation of untaxed income and income exclusion and a Financial Aid Certification & Loan Application form. Other documentation may be required depending on database match results the federal processor conducts. The Financial Aid office will send notification to students of all required documentation. Processing of a student financial aid file and awarding will take place once all required documentation is received.

All students receiving financial aid awards are notified via email to KCC student account. The email contains the following information:

• Student's annual cost of attendance.
• Total expected family contribution.
• Student's unmet financial need.
• Name of award program.
• Amount of award for each semester.
• Total amount of award for the academic year.
• Annual Federal Pell Grant entitlement figures for full-time enrollment. Remember that Pell amounts are adjusted based on enrollment levels.
  

A student's total award package may not exceed the individual student's financial need. Financial need is calculated as follows:

Student's Annual Cost of Attendance
-Total Expected Family Contribution
Student's Financial Need

Award letters should be reviewed carefully by the student. To decline an award or reduce a loan amount, email our office at finaid@kellogg.edu.

To receive disbursements for a William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan, a first-time borrower must complete and submit an online master promissory note to the Department of Education.

To accept the award as listed on the award letter, it is not required to return the award letter to the Financial Aid office. Unless the office is notified to reduce or cancel awards, it is assumed that all awards are accepted by the student.

These enrollment levels apply to all semesters, including summer semester.

Full-time	12 or more credit hours
3/4-time	9 - 11 credit hours
1/2-time	6 - 8 credit hours
Less than 1/2-time	Less than 6 credit hours

Any courses for which there is an "I" grade on your transcript for a previous enrollment period will not be counted toward your level of enrollment for a current semester for financial aid. An "I" grade means you agreed to complete the course by a specified date without re-enrolling.

Financial aid program disbursements are applied to tuition and fee charges on student accounts within the first few weeks of each semester. Dates for disbursement will be posted on the Fianacial Aid website. If students check "Yes" on the Title IV Cash Management statement section of the Financial Aid Certification and Loan Application form, disbursements may be used to cover bookstore purchases, late fees, etc. Students answering "No" on the Title IV Cash Management statement section of the Financial Aid certification and Loan Application form may only used federal financial aid to cover tuition and fees. Other charges on the student account are the responsibility of the student. For applications received after the semester begins, disbursements will be made upon file completion; verification, if required; and eligibility of the student for disbursement. Eligibility of the student depends on enrollment status, Students receiving the William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans who drop to an enrollment level below half-time (below six credits) or completely withdraw in any semester are subject to the following: Satisfactory Academic Progress, eligible program of study, high school diploma or equivalent, etc.

Remaining funds will be issued to students within 14 days of the disbursement from the Student Accounts department to cover other education related expenses.

Students borrowing from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program follow different guidelines. First-time borrowers of William D. Ford Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans are required to complete "Entrance Counseling" prior to disbursement of funds. In addition, students who are first-time borrowers with less than 24 completed credit hours must wait for 30 days after the first day of the semester to receive the first disbursement of the loan. Two disbursements are required for each loan period. Disbursements are made as follows:

FALL/SPRING LOAN PERIOD
(1/2)	1st Disbursement - 30 days after the fall semester begins for first-time borrowers.
	All other borrowers, officially at the end of the 100% institutional tuition refund period for fall.
(1/2)	2nd Disbursement - For all borrowers, officially at the end of the 100% institutional tuition refund period for spring.
ONE SEMESTER ONLY LOAN - Including Summer Semester
(1/2)	1st Disbursement - 30 days after the semester begins for first-time borrowers.
	All other borrowers, officially at the end of the 100% institutional tuition refund period for that semester.
(1/2)	2nd Disbursement - At the half-way point of that semester.

1. The change of enrollment is reported to the National Student Loan Data System
   
   
2. All remaining disbursements for the loan period are cancelled
   
   
3. Exit interview notifications are emailed to the student
   
   
4. All or part of the loan may have to be repaid.

Program funding may limit but not guarantee awarding to students who meet established deadlines and awarding criteria. See Kellogg Community College Financial Aid Packaging Policy for more information.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) at Kellogg Community College is comprised of several components and based on residency status, enrollment status and weighted average.

For 2007-2008, estimated financial aid budgets for a full-time student are computed for a full year, based on an average of 32 credits/year.

Additional components may be included in the total budget (ex. William D. Ford Direct Loan fees and/or additional program costs). The added costs will depend on the individual student's circumstances.

Students enrolled as "guest students" at Kellogg Community College are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. Students must be pursuing a degree or certificate or be enrolled in a transfer program at Kellogg Community College to qualify for funding.

Students are responsible to formally drop classes for which they do not wish to attend. Failure to drop may result in charges to the student account. Contact the Customer Service department for drop-add dates for each semester.

Students who completely withdraw from a semester and receive federal financial aid may have to repay some or all of the aid received (see Return of Title IV Funds). Withdrawals may also affect availability of future financial aid (see Satisfactory Academic Progress). Contact the Counseling department and the Financial Aid office before withdrawing to determine the effects of the withdrawal. See Title IV Return of Funds for more information.

Students receiving Title IV funding (Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans) who completely withdraw from classes are required to have earned aid evaluated through the federal formula established in the 1999 federal financial aid reauthorization. Unearned aid is returned to the federal financial aid programs. Students not receiving Title IV federal financial aid who paid for all expenses out-of-pocket, will receive a refund based on institutional policy. The amount of federal funds returned to the federal programs will be determined based on the date the withdrawal process begins or the last date of attendance. If the date the withdrawal process begins or last date of attendance is not available or known, the federal refund will be based on the 50% point of the semester. Return of federal Title IV funds will not be computed after the 60% point of the semester. All complete withdrawals from the College are processed in the Customer Service Center. Examples of this policy are available in the Financial Aid office upon request.

Students are required by federal regulations to report all sources of financial assistance to the Financial Aid office. All resources of aid must be included in the student's financial aid award package to ensure an overaward has not occurred. Examples of this type of assistance may include but are not limited to:

Example 1: A student receives a scholarship check directly from a donor or organization. The check is made out to the student only. The student is required to notify the Financial Aid office of the amount and semester covered. The award is included in the total award package and coordinated with federal, state, institutional and other private financial aid programs.

Example 2: A student's employer participates in a tuition reimbursement program. This means a student may be responsible to pay for tuition and fees at the time of registration; however, once a final grade is turned into the employer, the student is reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs. This benefit must be reported to the Financial Aid office and coordinated with federal, state, institutional and other private financial aid programs.

Failure to report additional sources of financial assistance may result in repayment of part or all aid received for the payment period for the academic year.

Awards made by the Financial Aid office or notification of additional aid by the student or an outside source after the initial award letter is mailed may result in the adjustment of awards. Adjustments are made to ensure compliance with individual program requirements and to avoid overawards in the total award package. Revised award letters are mailed as adjustments are made.

Students attending two institutions simultaneously may only receive federal and state financial aid at one institution for the same payment period. Generally, the school granting the degree is the school providing the financial assistance.

All paperwork submitted to the Financial Aid office is held in strict confidence under the guidelines of the Privacy Act. Required personal documentation must be maintained in the student files due to federal regulations. Students should retain a copy of all documents for their records. If the student requests a copy of documentation from their file, a signed request by the student is required for student information, and a signed request by the parent is required for parent information.

A student who lives outside of the parent’s home is not automatically independent for financial aid purposes. Where a student lives does not have an impact on how a student applies for financial aid. A student may be independent for financial aid purposes and still be living in the parent’s home.

Students are automatically determined independent if he/she meets any one of the following criteria for the 2007/2008 academic year:

1. the student was born before January 1, 1984
   
   
2. the student is working on a Master’s or Doctorate program
   
   
3. the student is married
   
   
4. the student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student
   
   
5. the student has dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with the student and who receive more than half of their support from the student now through June 30, 2008
   
   
6. the student is an orphan or ward of the court until the age of 18
   
   
7. the student is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
   
   

Students who answer no to all of the above questions are considered dependent for financial aid purposes. Sometimes a student who is dependent has unusual circumstances regarding their family situation. The financial aid office may review these circumstances and override a dependent student’s status to independent. A review of the dependency status will be considered if an irrevocable severance of family ties due to extremely difficult/life-threatening situation exists.

The following reasons do not constitute a change in dependency status:

1. the student chooses not to live with the parents
   
   
2. the student chooses to live with other relatives
   
   
3. the student has no communication with the parents
   
   
4. the parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education
   
   
5. the student will not qualify for aid if the parent’s income is used
   
   
6. the parents refuse to provide required information
   
   
7. the parents live out of state