Financial Aid

Fletcher provides financial assistance to students from a variety of sources to help meet their educational expenses. Student eligibility for financial aid is considered on a case-by-case basis, and a concerted effort is made to maximize and individualize assistance for each applicant. Any student unable to pay for college using personal or family resources should apply for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and employment opportunities.

Financial aid is based on enrollment status. A student may be enrolled as a full-time student, a three-fourths time student, a half-time student, or a less than half-time student. Financial aid credit hour designations for ALL semesters are as follows:

12+ credit hours = Full-time student
9-11 credit hours = Three-fourth time student
6-8 credit hours = Half-time student
5 or less credit hours = Less than half-time student

Types of Financial Aid Available

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that should be completed online annually by current and prospective students and/or their parents. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student financial aid.

The FAFSA consists of several questions regarding the student’s finances. Questions regarding the parents’ finances may also need to be answered. In addition to questions regarding finances, questions regarding family size, number in college, and other information are used in determining the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

A Student Aid Report (SAR) is forwarded to the student once the FAFSA is completed and processed. A SAR is a summary of the FAFSA responses. Students should review their SAR and make any necessary corrections. An electronic version of the SAR is sent to the colleges that the student lists on the FAFSA.

Title IV Financial Aid Information

Title IV financial aid is a federal financial aid that is authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. In order to be eligible for Title IV financial aid, a student must

• fully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• have a high school diploma from a state-approved high school or an equivalent.
• have completed homeschooling at the secondary level.
• be enrolling in a program of choice to fulfill a goal of certificate or degree.
• (if male) register with the U.S. Selective Service or be exempt.
• not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance during the period covered by financial aid.
• not owe a repayment or an overpayment to Title IV. A student and/or student’s parent(s) must not be in default on Stafford (GSL), SLS, PLUS, or any other educational loan.
• not receive Title IV funds for no more than 150% of the number of credit hours required for the student’s program of choice.
• not receive funds while enrolled for more than 30 credit hours of developmental courses.
• maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

These developmental hours are counted in determining the 150% maximum hours. Students who continue to be enrolled after having pursued 30 credit hours of developmental courses will receive aid based on the number of non-developmental courses in which they are enrolled for that semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

The United States Department of Education mandates that students maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward completion of their degrees within a reasonable period of time to be eligible for Title IV financial aid programs, including Pell, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans. As such, federal guidelines require that each institution establish a satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy that includes a quantitative component, a qualitative component and a time frame; and that such policy be at least as strict as the policy the institution applies to a student who is not receiving Title IV assistance. The policy must also explain how a student can regain financial aid eligibility after having it revoked, through an appeal procedure or otherwise. Students must be made aware of the applicable SAP policy when aid is awarded.

To monitor the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) of students applying for or receiving Title IV funds, all colleges comprising the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) will use the following measures, effective with the SAP evaluations occurring at the end of fall 2017, but no later than the spring 2018 semester:

1. Grade point average- Achieving and maintaining at least a 2.00 grade point average
2. Pace of progression- Passing a required number of hours (67% of all hours attempted)
3. Maximum timeframe- Total overall hours must not exceed 150% of the published length of a student’s degree program.

In addition, effective with the SAP evaluations occurring at the end of fall 2017 (but no later than the spring 2018 semester), all LCTCS colleges will evaluate satisfactory academic progress for all students at the end of each payment period and communicate with students in writing, via email, applying for or receiving Title IV funds. A payment period is the period of enrollment established by a college for which tuition and fees are charged and financial aid is disbursed.

All calculations will be based upon the cumulative academic record as transcribed by the college at the time of SAP evaluation

Qualitative Measure of Progress

The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). The qualitative standard requires that a student achieve no less than a cumulative GPA of 2.00 at the end of each payment period. The cumulative academic record as transcribed by the college (including grades received at the college as well as transfer grades transcribed by the institution for attempted coursework) will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation. A student’s cumulative grade point average will be calculated based upon all courses on the student’s transcript- passed, failed, courses from which the student withdrew (officially or unofficially), repeated, and non-credit remedial/developmental coursework. The cumulative GPA calculation will not be rounded.

Quantitative Measure of Progress

In calculating the quantitative standard, the college will measure the “pace” at which the student is progressing. This is calculated by dividing the cumulative hours completed by the total cumulative hours attempted then rounding, if necessary, to the nearest whole number (e.g. 0.667 would be rounded to 67%). All students not on an academic plan (see below) must pass 67 percent of all overall hours attempted. All courses passed, all courses failed, courses from which the student withdrew (officially or unofficially), repeated courses, course for which the student received an incomplete, and non-credit remedial/developmental coursework will be considered in the calculation, even if the student did not receive financial aid.

Maximum Allowable Attempted Hours

Students may receive financial aid if they have attempted no more than 150% of the hours required to complete their program of study. The maximum timeframe will be calculated by multiplying the total number of hours required for a given program of study by 1.50. For example, if 60 credit hours are required to complete the program, the maximum allowable attempted hours for the degree is 90 (60 hours x 1.50= 90). For both native and transfer students, hours attempted includes all hours pursued, received, withdrawn, and failed. All of these hours are counted as attempted even if the student did not receive federal financial aid. All calculations will be based upon the cumulative academic record as transcribed by the college at the time of SAP evaluation.

Other Factors Which May Impact a SAP Determination

“I” Grades

“I” (incomplete) grades could have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. An “I” grade will be considered “attempted,” but will not be considered to have been “completed.” It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Financial Aid Office if an “I” grade changes during a payment period. If the change of the grade will affect the student’s financial aid eligibility, the Financial Aid Office will perform a recalculation of aid eligibility during the payment period. Otherwise, the change of grade will not be factored into the cumulative pace rate until the next SAP evaluation.

Developmental/Remedial Courses

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.

Withdrawals

“W” (withdrawn) grades could have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. A “W” grade will be considered “attempted,” but will not be considered to have been “completed.”

Academic Renewal

Academic renewal does not affect or alter the student’s financial aid records for purposes of determining financial aid eligibility. All hours attempted, and grades received will continue to be counted for purposes of federal financial aid and satisfactory academic progress.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are required to meet the same standards as native students in order to receive federal financial aid. All transfer students shall initially be coded “TRANS” until the end of the first payment period when they are evaluated for SAP. At the time of the SAP evaluation only transfer credits transcribed by the college will be counted (as both attempted and completed hours) in the cumulative GPA, pace of progression, and maximum allowable hours components of the SAP determination.

First-time Freshmen

All first-time freshmen are considered to be meeting SAP upon enrollment. For SAP purposes, students with no prior post-secondary experience who are enrolling for the first time at the undergraduate level are first-time freshmen. Prior post-secondary experience does NOT include (1) credit received before earning a high school diploma (or equivalent), (2) credit received for completing tests or assessments, or (3) credit for life experience or military service. However, credit received prior to earning a high school diploma (or equivalent), credit received as the result of completing any tests or assessments, or credit for life experience or military service - that is transcribed by the college will be considered starting with the SAP calculation performed at the conclusion of the first payment period following enrollment as a first-time freshman.

Repeated Courses

A student who has received a failing grade in a required course at the college may repeat the course, pursuant to the college’s policy on repeating courses. For the purposes of SAP, required courses that are failed and repeated multiple times will count toward a student’s hours attempted, hours completed, and grades received. Also pursuant to federal regulations, a student may only receive federal financial aid for one repetition (repeat) of any previously passed course. All repeated courses will be included in the total attempted hours for SAP evaluation.

Change of Major

Students who change their major are still expected to complete the coursework for the new major within the maximum allowable hours. All attempted hours from a prior major will be included in the total attempted hours. If a change in major results in a student not meeting SAP, the student may submit a SAP appeal that, if granted, will allow the student to continue receiving aid while under an academic plan.

Second Degree

A student who completes his/her degree then pursues a second degree at the same level (i.e. a student with an Associate’s Degree who begins a new program to earn a second Associate’s Degree) is still expected to complete the coursework for the second degree within the maximum allowable hours. All attempted hours from the previous degree at the same level will be included in the total attempted hours. If pursuing a second degree at the same level results in a student not meeting SAP, the student may submit a SAP appeal that, if granted, will allow the student to continue receiving aid while under an academic plan.

Pass/Non-Pass Grades

Pass/Non-pass grades will not impact the cumulative GPA component of a SAP determination. However, they will be included in the pace of progression and maximum allowable hours components.

Re-Establishing Eligibility

A student who is not making satisfactory academic progress may choose not to submit an appeal. If this is the case, the student will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid until he or she is in compliance with all components of the SAP policy. Not enrolling in college for a period of time then re-enrolling will not bring the student into compliance with the SAP policy. The student will need to attend classes without federal financial aid at his/her own expense until he/she is once again in compliance with the policy. This may take several payment periods to accomplish, but it will be the responsibility of the student to improve his/her academic performance during this time. A student may request his/her academic record be reviewed by the Financial Aid Office. If the student is found to be in compliance, eligibility for federal financial aid can be re-established.

SAP Review Process

Satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each payment period by the college’s Financial Aid Department for all students, and students who received aid the previous semester (payment period) will be notified of their updated status, in writing, via email.

Status Codes

All LCTCS colleges will use the following codes to comply with this policy:

1. NEW - student is attending college for the first time, this includes students who received credit (1) before earning a high school diploma (or equivalent), (2) for completing tests or assessments, or (3) for life experience or military service
2. TRANS- student is enrolling in the college for the first time and has previously attended another postsecondary institution.
3. GOOD - student meets all three standards and is eligible to receive federal financial aid
4. WARN - student failed to meet at least one of the standards at the end of the previous payment period and the student was in “good” or “new” standing during that previous payment period
5. APLAN - student failed to meet SAP, was granted an appeal, is placed on an Academic Plan
6. BAD- student is not meeting SAP and is not eligible to receive federal financial aid for the next payment period of enrollment

Academic Plan

An Academic Plan is specifically designed for a student who does not meet at least one of the standards at the end of the previous payment period and who’s Financial Aid Appeal has been granted. The requirements within the Academic Plan must be met to regain eligibility. Students will need to meet the standards of the Academic Plan each payment period until meeting the SAP standards. Not enrolling in college for a period of time then re-enrolling will not bring the student into compliance with the SAP policy and may require the student’s academic plan to be re-adjusted.

At minimum, the Academic Plan will require that the student do the following:

1. Earn a GPA of 2.00 or greater each payment period
2. Pass 75 percent of all hours attempted each payment period

Appeals

Students who do not meet SAP standards have the right to submit an appeal to the college’s Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Appeals must be submitted by the college’s established deadlines, which are provided in individual communications regarding SAP.

Appeals are typically based upon mitigating circumstances such as prolonged illness, accidents that required hospitalization of the student or a close family member, death of an immediate family member, or other extreme documented incidents. All appeals must include documentation that:

1. substantiates claims being made in the appeal and
2. demonstrates a change in current circumstances, making academic success likely if the appeal is granted.

Appeals can only be made once per payment period. If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an Academic Plan. The student will then be evaluated at the end of each payment period based on that plan.

SAP appeal decisions are final and cannot be overridden. If an appeal is denied, the student is not eligible for federal aid and must attend at their own expense until (1) the student meets the academic standards as outlined in the SAP policy or (2) the student successfully appeals and is approved to be placed on an academic plan in a future payment period.

Enrollment Status

When you register for classes, your enrollment status will be based on the number of credit hours for which you enroll. For financial aid purposes, enrollment status for all semesters is based on the following:

12+ credit hours = Full-time student
9-11 credit hours = Three-fourths time student
6-8 credit hours = Half-time student
5 or less credit hours = Less than half-time student

Your enrollment status is NOT official until after Census Day, which is the 14th class day in the fall/spring semesters and 7th class day for summer semesters. After the Census Day, in a given semester, your enrollment status is set, and this status is used in determining award amounts and minimum number of hours to complete. Because your financial aid is based on your enrollment status as of the Census Day, disbursements begin on or around the 20th semester class day.

Attendance

As a recipient of federal funds, you must attend all courses if you want to keep your financial assistance. Failure to attend class could result in a reduction or cancellation of your aid. You could be required to repay some or all of your financial aid, and you could lose your eligibility for future assistance.

Grants

A student who is eligible for federal financial aid may receive one or more of the following grants:

Pell Grant (Title IV). The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students. Grant amounts depend on the student’s EFC, the cost of attendance (COA), and the student’s enrollment status. Pell grants do not have to be repaid. Applicants may need to submit documentation to Enrollment Services before aid can be awarded. Once a financial aid packet is complete, the student will receive an award notice. Grant disbursements are made on approximately the 20th class day of a semester and thereafter.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FEDERAL AID). A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application that determines eligibility and financial need for the grant. Students who have the most financial need will receive SEOG first. SEOG does not have to be repaid but is not guaranteed. There is limited funding as this is an allocation of campus-based funding from the federal government.

GO Grant. (State Aid). The purpose of the Louisiana Go Grant Program is to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college. Additional information on the GO grant is available at https://mylosfa.la.gov/.

Scholarships

Scholarships that may be available to a student at Fletcher are available at www.fletcher.edu.

Employment Opportunities Federal Work Study (FWS)

The Federal Work Study program is a federally-funded financial aid program that enables students who have financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) to earn money for college costs by working on campus. FWS encourages community service, so off-campus jobs in the community may also be available. Students participating in FWS must also maintain SAP. FWS may be awarded in the fall, spring, and/or summer. Students are paid by the hour, and the amount a student earns cannot exceed the total FWS award.

Applications for FWS employment are available in the Enrollment Services Office and online. Completed applications must be submitted to Enrollment Services.

Additional Aid

A student may be eligible for financial assistance from one of the organizations listed below. The student should contact the individual organization for eligibility requirements.

Career Solutions One Stop Center. At no cost to the student, the Career Solutions One Stop Center may be able to assist in meeting the costs for training. For information on eligibility, call the local One Stop Center in Houma at (985) 876-8990, in Thibodaux at (985) 446-3016, or in Napoleonville at (985) 369-1810.

Strategies to Empower People (STEP). The Strategies to Empower People program is for recipients of the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) and is designed to help parents take charge of their lives through education, training, or job development leading to employment. For more information, contact the Louisiana Workforce Commission at (985) 876-8990 or 1-800-351-4378.

Catholic Social Services (CSS). CSS provides various types of assistance dependent upon the student’s need. Call (985) 876-0490 for additional information.

Inter-Tribal. Registered Native American students who enroll in training conducted in an institutional setting may be eligible to receive funding from Inter-Tribal. Contact the Inter-Tribal Council of LA, Inc. at (985) 851-5408.

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS). LRS is a state agency whose purpose is to assist persons with a disabling condition(s) that may be a barrier to employment or training. Additional information can be obtained by calling (985) 857-3652.

National Guard Tuition Exemption. Contact Enrollment Services at (985) 448-7900 for more information.

United Houma Nations. United Houma Nations provides various types of assistance to Registered Native American students dependent upon the student’s need. Call (985) 223-3093 for additional information.

Veterans Education Benefits (VA). Those eligible for VA Educational Benefits should go online to www.va.gov to complete an application to receive benefits or contact the FAO at Fletcher. Certificates of eligibility should be presented to the FAO. Call 1-800-827-1000 for more information regarding education benefits.

Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. This program helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for and find jobs within their physical, mental, and emotional capabilities. Additional information is available at www.vba.va.gov or by calling (504) 619-4346.

Student Loans (Title IV)

Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education (the Department), though most of the contact will be with your loan servicer. With Direct Loans, a student borrows directly from the federal government and has a single contact-the loan servicer-for everything related to repayment, even if the student receives Direct Loans at different schools. The student has online access to his/her Direct Loan account information via the servicer’s website. The student can choose from several repayment plans, and the repayment plan can be switched if the student’s needs change.

Hardship Waivers of Tuition and Fees

An application process has been established to address cases of financial need to be applied to tuition and fee increases when specified by Legislation, including the Academic Excellence Fee and the Operation Fee. To be eligible for a tuition/fee waiver, the student must

• be a Louisiana resident.
• apply for and accept all Federal and State financial aid for which he/she qualifies.
• have tuition and fees that are not covered, or fully covered by another source of financial assistance such as Pell, TOPS, or other grants in order of greatest need
• submit the application at least one day prior to the payment deadline date as published for the respective semester. The Tuition/Fee Waiver Application detailing the process is available on the website at:
  Hardship Waiver of Tuition and Fees Application

Financial Aid Student Rights and Responsibilities

As a recipient of financial aid, there are certain rights and responsibilities of which students should be aware.

Students have the right to know

• the financial aid programs available at Fletcher.
• the application process that must be followed to be considered for aid.
• the criteria used to select recipients and calculate need.
• Fletcher’s refund and repayment policy.
• the financial aid policies surrounding satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
• special facilities and services available for the handicapped.

Students are responsible for

• completing all forms accurately by the published deadline dates.
• submitting information requested by the FAO staff in a timely manner.
• keeping the FAO informed of any changes in address, name, marital status, financial situation, or student status.
• reporting to the FAO any additional assistance from non-college sources such as scholarships, fellowships, and educational benefits.
• maintaining SAP.
• re-applying for aid each year.

Federal law protects confidentiality of information submitted to the Enrollment Services Office.

Financial Aid Code of Conduct

The primary goal of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) student financial aid professional is to assist students in achieving their educational goals by assisting them in the efforts to access appropriate financial resources. For the most part, the LCTCS institutions, including Fletcher, rely on United States Department of Education Title IV PELL funds to meet these needs. However, clearly, it is the expectation of the LCTCS that all financial aid professionals will adhere to those principles set-forth by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and will abide by the following Financial Aid Code of Conduct as approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Financial Aid Administrators employed by the LCTCS will

• refrain from taking any action for personal benefit. This includes the individual, or a member of the family, ever accepting cash payments, stocks, club memberships, gifts, entertainment, expense-paid trips, or other forms of inappropriate remuneration from any business entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• refrain from taking any action contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents.
• ensure that the information provided to students and parents is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• be objective in making decisions and advising the institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• refrain from soliciting or accepting anything other than nominal value ($10) from a student loan provider. This includes meals, travel, lodging, entertainment, and in-kind services.
• disclose to the institution any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid. It is the obligation of the financial aid professional to abide by the LCTCS conflict of interest policy.