Financial Aid Policies

Overview of Financial Aid Programs

Introduction

Cerro Coso Community College Financial Aid programs stem from a belief that student aid services should facilitate and foster the successful academic participation of students with financial need. As part of its commitment to help students have a positive college experience, the Financial Aid Office provides this information to help better understand financial aid. Deadlines and other important changes that may occur are listed on the Financial Aid webpage.

State and federal regulations allow community colleges participating in financial aid programs discretion when establishing college specific policies and procedures. This policy represents Cerro Coso Community College's current practices whenever state and federal regulations determine that policy decision-making is the responsibility of the college. We provide this information for students, prospective students, and parents to help make informed choices about financial aid options. This information is subject to change due to changes in federal or state regulations, college policy, or budgeting by any agency supplying financial aid funding.

Cerro Coso Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges,10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949 (415) 506-0234 an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education

Academic Year

Academic programs offered at Cerro Coso Community College are calculated in units and measured by semesters. Cerro Coso Community College establishes two 16 week semesters (fall and spring) and one summer semester (typically 8 weeks but may vary) per academic year. This meets the federal minimum academic year definition (30 weeks of instruction minimum).

For financial aid purposes, this definition is important because it affects how payment periods are calculated. Cerro Coso Community College makes financial aid payments based on the college's semester. A student's financial aid is calculated by semester.

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) refers to the average amount a full-time student enrolled in classes at Cerro Coso Community College can expect to spend during the semester. It is different for students living independently or at home, or who are residents of California or from another state.

The cost of attendance covers:

• Tuition and Fees
• Books and Supplies
• Room and Board
• Personal Expenses
• Transportation

 

Determination of COA

Every year, Kern Community College Districts Financial Aid Directors review the California Student Aid Commission's most current Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS). It is a broad survey of students' budgets and expenses from UCs, CSUs, community colleges, independent, and private career institutions. If the survey is not from the current year, it is adjusted for inflation.

Each year California legislators establish the cost for tuition per unit. The full-time enrollment units are used along with information about transportation fees. This sets the amount for tuition and fees while information from the SEARS is used to establish amounts for books and supplies and personal expenses.

The current Cost of Attendance can be found on Financial Aid page.

The cost of attendance is subject to change depending on legislative activity.

Financial aid is intended to assist with these costs, but rarely will cover the full amount. For this reason, it is important to be prepared and have a realistic expectation of what you will need to pay ‘out-of-pocket'.

Overview of Financial Aid Programs

Our freeze date is determined once a semester, on the main census date for the term. Units freeze for any financial aid student, defined as someone with a FAFSA on file for that term. Beginning Fall 2020, the process was modified that if a student did not have a FAFSA at their home college upon the freeze date, then their freeze date would occur the night after the FAFSA is received. This change also allows late start students to not be tied to the earlier freeze date, which might have been before they applied to the college or completed their FAFSA. Thus, the student's freeze date is either the main census date, or the date their FAFSA is received, whichever is later.

The Financial Aid Office has multiple programs available to students. Below is a brief description of the various sources of financial aid available:

• California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver)—State-funded program designed to assist students who are California residents in meeting the cost of the enrollment fee charged at California community colleges. The California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) is available to any California resident or AB 540 classified student who meets the financial eligibility requirements or qualifies through another program.
  
  NOTE: Beginning Fall 2016, students will be required to meet academic standing to receive the grant. Students not meeting academic standing will have one semester of warning before loss of grant eligibility.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA)—provides financial assistance to Native American students who enroll in full-time college programs. In order to qualify, a student must be at least one-fourth American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut. Those who believe that they qualify should contact the appropriate BIA area or agency office maintaining tribal records.
• CAL Grants—the State of California sponsors the following awards under the Cal Grant Program: Cal Grants are disbursed in once per semester. Cal grant payments are disbursed according to the current enrollment status of the student at that time for the term. Disbursements from Cal Grant payments to student accounts are sent within 3 to 7 days of crediting the student account and verifying enrollment status.
  
  Students on the schools Cal Grant Roster are awarded once their Pell is complete and packaged. At that time, students eligibility for the Cal Grant is determined. For example, if a student is enrolled in less than half time they would be ineligible to receive the Cal Grant . New and Renewal Cal Grant recipients are notified of their Cal Grants on their award notification on their student account InsideCC.
  • Cal Grant A—provides tuition for students from low- and middle-income families with financial need and academic ability attending a 4 year university. Cal Grant A recipients attending a California community college will have their awards reserved until they transfer to a 4-year college or university.
  • Cal Grant B—is intended to aid high potential students from low-income families. The student must be enrolled in a course of study which lasts at least nine months and be taking at least six units of course work. At Cerro Coso Community College, these programs are AA, AS and certificates that meet the nine month requirement.
  • Cal Grant C—is to help students from low- and middle-income families to attend vocational programs and schools. Students may apply if enrolled in vocational programs or designated manpower shortage occupations if such programs last between four months and two years. At Cerro Coso Community College , these programs are most AS degrees and certificates.
    
    

  A student can receive only one Cal Grant award. If you need further information on your program and qualifications, please call the financial aid office.

  If you missed the March 2nd filing deadline, you may still qualify by meeting a September 2nd competitive Cal Grant deadline for California Community College students only. Manage your Cal Grant, at Web Grants 4 Students.

  Your Cal Grant is automatically set up to first be applied to any balances or fees owed for the current academic year. Any remaining funds will then be disbursed to you. If your entire disbursement is used to cover your current balance, you will not receive a refund. Also, keep in mind that no more than $200 will be applied to a balance caused by a previous academic year.

• California Chafee Grant—Cerro CosoCC participates in the Chafee Grant Program. The California Chafee Grant is awarded to current or former California foster youth to help pay for college or career and technical training. A Chafee Grant is a federal and state funded grant subject to yearly availability of funds. To qualify, the student must:
  • Be a current or former foster youth
  • Have reached your 26^th birthday as of July 1 of the award year
  • Have financial need
• CARE Grants—Grant funded through the State of California and available to students meeting a specific academic and economic need. See Access Programs for more information.
• The Federal Pell Grant—is a federal program designed to provide financial assistance to U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution. Award amounts are based on Cost of Attendance, Student Aid Index (SAI), enrollment and total percentage of Pell already received.
• Scholarships—Community individuals and organizations have contributed monies to develop various college scholarships. Please visit the Cerro Coso Community College Financial Aid scholarships page for more information on applying for scholarships.
• Federal Direct Student Loans—The U.S. Department of Education's federal student loan program is the  William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. There are three types of Direct Loans available:
  • Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.
  • Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)—The SEOG is awarded to a limited number of students who have exceptional financial need with priority given to Pell Grant recipients. Grants are awarded to students with the lowest EFC and highest remaining unmet need. SEOG is awarded fall and spring semesters to ensure late applicants have an opportunity to receive SEOG. NOTE: SEOG funds are limited and there is no guarantee that all students with 0 EFC will receive SEOG.
• Federal Work Study (FWS)—is a federally-funded program that provides part-time employment for students from low-income families. To be eligible, the student must complete the FAFSA and submit a Cerro Coso Community College Work-study application packet. Students must complete all verification and be eligible for Pell Grant to work under Federal Work Study.
• Cerro Coso Community College Work Study—is an institutionally funded program that provides part-time employment for students. To be eligible, the student must complete the FAFSA and submit a Cerro Coso Community College Work-study application packet. Funds under College Work Study are limited and available pending annual college budgets.
  
  Note: All forms of student employment are subject to the following eligibility requirements:
  • Enrolled in at least one course
  • Maintenance of a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Completion of less than 90 units
  
  For more information, see the Student Worker Handbook.

Need Based and Non Need Based Federal and State Financial Aid

Cerro Coso has a full array of aid programs. Some are need based and some are non need based as determined by the information provided and verified on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Cerro Coso Scholarship Application.

Eligibility and Distribution of Need Based Aid

A student's need is the difference between the student's budget and the Student Aid Index. If a student has need, all attempts should be made to meet need with available funds. Need should be first met with any outside grant or scholarship funds, student qualified for (i.e., Pell, BOGG, CAL Grant). Exception: Policy on BIA for eligible Native Americans is to award all other possible aid before sending funding request to BIA. After all possible outside sources of aid have been considered and the student still has remaining need campus based aid (if available) should be awarded in the following order until full need is met or allowable maximums on each program has been met:

1. SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT (SEOG)
2. COLLEGE WORK STUDY (CWS)
3. CARE GRANT (If eligible per CARE regulations)

How to Apply for Financial Aid

This information can be found online at Applying Financial Aid.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

To be eligible, you must:

• be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
• have registered with Selective Services (males)
• be attending a participating school
• be working towards a degree or eligible certificate
• be making satisfactory academic progress
• not owe a refund on a Federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan
• have a financial need
• have a Social Security Number (SSN) for Federal Aid
• have been determined AB540 eligible by Admissions and Records for California funded aid. ( Board of Governors waiver and Cal Grants)

In addition:

• Students enrolled in school less than half time may be eligible for Federal Pell Grants.
• Conviction of drug distribution or possession may make a student ineligible.

Distribution of Financial Aid

Pell Grant: Disbursements are made twice per semester.

Disbursements for summer semester Pell are made in one lump sum.

• SEOG Grant: Once per semester.
• CARE Grant: Once per semester.
• CWS: Monthly on or about the 10th.
• CAL GRANT: Once per semester.
• BIA Grant: Once per semester.

The disbursement schedule is available at the top of the Financial Aid page.

Student Workers

Cerro Coso Community College has many opportunities for students to gain work experience while obtaining their educational goals. For a list of opportunities, and to apply, please visit the Career Center webpage

Requirements for student workers are outlined in the Student Worker Handbook.

Student Loan Information

Direct Loans are low-interest loans for you and/or your parents to help pay for educational expenses. The lender for Direct Loans is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest. Visit the Direct Loans page for more details.

Rights and Responsibilities of Aid Recipients

Student Responsibilities

It is YOUR responsibility to:

• Review and consider all information about the school's program before you enroll
• Complete all application forms accurately, including your application for student financial aid.
• Accurately report all information on your documents. Errors can result in delayed receipt of your financial aid. Intentional misreported information on your application forms for Federal Financial Aid is a violation of the law, and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.
• Return all documentation, verification, corrections, and /or new information requested by the Financial Aid Office.
• Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign.
• Perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a Federal Work Study award.
• Know and comply with the deadlines for application or renewal.
• Know and comply with the school's refund procedure.
• Make satisfactory academic progress.

Student Rights

You have the right to:

• Know what financial assistance is available, including information on all Federal, State, and institutional financial aid programs.
• Know the deadlines for submitting applications.

Return to Title IV

Return to Title IV Funds Policy for Kern Community College District (Bakersfield, Porterville, and Cerro Coso Colleges):

The College will determine the amount of federal financial aid a student has earned in accordance with federal law. Federal financial aid (“Title IV funds”) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student originally received. Recipients of federal programs are subject to the Return of Title IV funds requirements. Students who receive federal financial aid and do not attend any classes will be required to repay all of the funds they have received to the college. Students who withdraw from all classes prior to completing more than 60% of the semester will have their financial aid eligibility recalculated based on the percentage of the semester completed and will be required to repay any unearned financial aid they have received. Failure to repay unearned funds could result in a hold on students account and loss of federal aid eligibility nationwide.

The Financial Aid Offices will run a report (RWRTIL4) every weekly to identify students who were paid Title IV funds and have completely withdrawn from school prior to the 60% enrollment period. This will ensure the college is in compliance of notifying the student within 30 days of official withdrawal. Official withdrawal is the date the student officially withdraws from class OR the last day of participation the instructor submits when dropping or assigning an F grade.

• If a student drops courses or withdraws from all courses prior to the 60% date, the "Amount of Aid already disbursed" and the "Amount of Aid earned” according to the drop date will be determined. Aid award will be adjusted at the second disbursement to award student the remainder of award earned. If the student was determined to have been paid an overaward that cannot be reconciled in another disbursement, the student will be required to return funds to the school and/or the Department of Education. Students that owe the college or Department of Education will be sent a letter of notification. Failure to return funds by the due date stated on the letter will result in ineligibility to receive financial aid nationwide and/or a hold on student accounts preventing further registration.
• This is the order that funds are returned:
  1. Unsubsidized Direct Loans
  2. Subsidized Direct Loans
  3. Direct PLUS Loans
  4. Federal Pell Grants
  5. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
  6. FSEOG
• If a student receives a withdrawal and/or Fs in all classes during a semester, it is assumed that the student did not actively participate in classes and the student may owe a repayment of aid based on the last day of attendance/participation submitted by the Instructor. Last day of attendance in online classes is submission of assignments, taking test or participating in discussions. Logging in does not qualify as active participation. Active participation in on ground classes is attendance in class. The college will notify the student of the overpayment and the student must repay the Financial Aid Office within the allowable 45 days to maintain eligibility for aid.
• If the student overpayment is not paid within 45 days, the Financial Aid Office will forward a Student Overpayment Referral to the U.S. Department of Education and/or charge the student account.
• If the R2T4 calculation results in a credit balance on the student's account, it shall be disbursed as soon as possible on the next disbursement period, typically within a week, no later than 14 days after the calculation.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursements

When the total amount of the Title IV grant and/or loan assistance earned as of the withdrawal date is more than the amount that was disbursed to the student, the difference between the two amounts will be treated as a post-withdrawal disbursement. If a post-withdrawal disbursement includes Loan funds, the school must get student permission before it can disburse them. If a post-withdrawal disbursement includes Grant funds, the school may automatically use all or a portion of them for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with the school). The school needs student permission to use the post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other school charges. If a student does not give permission, the funds will be offered. In both cases, it may be in the student's best interest to allow the school to keep the funds in order to reduce any debt owed to the school.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement of Grant Funds

A post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds will be applied towards outstanding semester charges on the student's account and may pay up to the amount of the allowable charges (i.e., tuition and fees). Any remainder of grant aid will be paid to the student. The student will be notified within 30 days of the date of determination of withdrawal of the post-withdrawal disbursement. Student has 14 days from the date of notification to respond to college. A refund will be sent within 45 days of the date that the college determined that the student withdrew.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement of Loan Funds

A post-withdrawal disbursement of loan funds may be paid if the student is eligible to receive the funds. The student (or parent if a PLUS loan) will be notified within 30 days of the date of determination of withdrawal of the opportunity to accept all or a part of the post-withdrawal disbursement. Upon receipt of a timely response from the student (or parent) (14 days from date of notification), the Cerro Coso Community College will disburse the loan funds within 180 days of the date of determination of the student's withdrawal date. Loan funds will be applied towards the outstanding semester charges on the student's account and may pay up to the amount of the allowable charges (i.e., tuition and fees). Any remainder will be paid directly to the student (or parent).

The Cerro Coso Community College maintains the right to decide whether or not to make a post-withdrawal disbursement in the event that the student responds after 14 days of the date that the notification was sent. If the Cerro Coso Community College decides not to make this post-withdrawal disbursement, it will inform the student in writing.

Ability to Benefit

Students enrolling for the first time after July 1, 2012 must have a High School Diploma, GED or state equivalent, including recognized home schools, to be eligible for any federal financial aid. Students will no longer have the option to pass an ATB test or to successfully complete 6 degree applicable units to gain eligibility for federal financial aid. Students who were enrolled in a higher education institution prior to this date and passed an approved ATB test may be eligible.

Financial Aid Fraud

Every year, millions of prospective college students seek creative ways to finance the markedly rising costs of a college education. In the process, they sometimes fall prey to scholarship and financial aid scams. On November 5, 2000, Congress passed the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000 (CSFPA). The CSFPA enhances protection against fraud in student financial assistance by establishing stricter sentencing guidelines for criminal financial aid fraud. It also charged the Department, working in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with implementing national awareness activities, including a scholarship fraud awareness site on the ED Web site.

According to the FTC, perpetrators of financial aid fraud often use these telltale lines:

• The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.
• You can't get this information anywhere else.
• I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.
• We'll do all the work.
• The scholarship will cost some money.
• "You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.

To file a complaint, or for free information, students or parents should call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or visit http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

Contact Information for Obtaining Financial Aid Assistance

This information can be found on the Financial Aid page.