STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

Financial aid is available to qualified students. To apply: complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may apply on line at:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

The Title IV code number for South Branch is: 033275.

 

To qualify, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or other eligible non-citizen.
• Be a high school graduate or have earned a GED. If a student has received a Bachelor's degree, he or she is not eligible for a Pell Grant.
• Be enrolled in an eligible program of at least 600-clock hours in length that leads to a certificate or other educational credential.
• Not be in default on any prior Title IV loans or owe a repayment on any grant.
• Show financial need as determined by the Department of Education.
• Must maintain satisfactory academic progress

 

(SEE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY).

 

PELL DISBURSEMENT

• Federal Pell Grant payments are made according to blocks of attendance called "payment periods." A student's first Pell Grant payment will be made as soon as possible after the student begins classes and has all required documents and signatures submitted. The school will deduct the period of enrollment tuition and any lab fees from the student's Pell Grant disbursement. Should the student wish to have books, supplies, and any other charges deducted from the remaining Pell Grant student refund check, the student must notify the administrator in writing. Any remaining student refund check will be issued to the student within 14 days of the school's receipt of the Pell Grant funds.
• Students should keep in mind that while the school will process disbursement requests as soon as possible. The student will receive a refund within 14 days of the school receiving the funds from the federal government.
• Subsequent Pell grant disbursements will be made after the student completes the hours for which they have already been paid.

 

 

 

HIGHER EDUCATION POST SECONDARY PART-TIME STUDENT (HEAPS) GRANT

HEAPS money varies from year to year. Updates will be published on SBCTC's website as they become   available.

 

 

VETERANS EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

SBCTC is approved for Veterans' Educational Benefits. Persons eligible for veterans' benefits should contact their nearest Veterans' Administration (VA) representative. SBCTC staff can assist in providing information and assist in locating the nearest VA representative. VA monthly benefits and regulations are subject to change. Please consult with a VA representative for current information.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION APPLICANTS

Students wanting to attend SBCTC under a Veteran or Vocational Rehabilitation Program must apply for benefits with the appropriate agency.  SBCTC will assist in completing the rehabilitation application.  When the student is approved by the rehabilitation agency, he or she should take the necessary forms to SBCTC.  The Center will bill the appropriate agency for the amount approved.

RETURN OF THE TITLE IV FUNDS

The Financial Aid Representative is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed prior to completing 60% of a payment period.  The federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations.  If a student leaves the institution prior to completing 60% of a payment period, the financial aid office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds.  Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following federal return of Title IV funds formula:  Percentage of payment period completed = the scheduled hours up to the last date of attendance divided by the total hours in the payment period.  This percentage is the percentage of earned aid.  Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:  Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student's withdrawal.

SBCTC only participates in the Federal Pell Grant Program so all refunds required by the return of the Title IV Funds Policy will be returned to the Pell Grant Program.

VERIFICATION POLICY

It will be the policy of the Center to verify financial aid applications selected for this process by the federal processor.  Pell Grant funds will not be disbursed until verification documents and signatures have been received and processed by the School.

PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT

The Higher Education Act provides authority for the financial aid administrator to exercise discretion in a number of areas.  This authority, known as professional judgment, allows the financial aid administrator to treat a student individually when the student has unique or extraordinary circumstances or conditions that differentiate an individual student from a class of students rather than conditions that exist across a class of students.  Contact the financial aid office for details.

 

POST SECONDARY SUB-SECTION

 

ADMISSION POLICY

          Admission into Post Secondary programs is open to anyone age 18 or older without prior approval regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, handicap or disability. A high school diploma or GED is required for admission.

 If an individual lacks a GED he/she may enroll in the ABE program, which is offered by Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, to work toward testing for the GED, and apply for admission to SBCTC upon receipt of their GED.

 No student will be admitted if they have prior outstanding financial obligations to the SBCTC. ALL ADULT STUDENTS SHALL CONFIRM FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH APPOINTED SCHOOL OFFICIALS BEFORE BEING   ADMITTED INTO ANY CLASS.

GED

 The tentative schedule of GED testing at SBCTC during the 2011-2012 school year is the second Thursday and Friday of August, October, December, February, April, and June.

 

Additional testing will be conducted every other month through Eastern WVCTC.

 

ATTENDANCE—POST SECONDARY STUDENTS

 Regular Post Secondary programs: maximum 10 absences/ year unless enrolled in open-entry open-exit program.

 Post Secondary in High School Programs: maximum 10 absences/ year

 Post Secondary students exceeding the maximum number of absences will be terminated. Students have the right to appear before the Attendance Review Committee, which will consist of Director, Counselor and one other faculty designee to appeal their termination. Students who are subpoenaed or who serve on jury duty will not be counted absent if written verification is given. Any student exceeding 15 absences will be terminated from the program.

 Students will receive a warning letter upon the accumulation of five (5) absences and again at 10 reminding them of the attendance policy in the regular programs and the possibility of being terminated from the program. Students exceeding 15 days, absences have the right to appear before the Attendance Review Committee to ask to be allowed to remain in the program. Grants, like the PELL and HEAPS grants, are awarded on a semester basis and are contingent upon satisfactory attendance.

 

Adult students will be counted absent if more than 24% of a class period is missed. Time missed will not be made up in a regular full curriculum adult program unless extenuating circumstances have been established by the Attendance Review Committee.

Attendance in open entry/open exit programs will be dealt with by the Instructor and Director/designee on a case-by-case basis.

 

Secondary seniors and graduating adults enrolled under the secondary formula will conclude class participation upon SBCTC’ s certificate of completion date.

 

Adult students receiving assistance through programs such as PELL, HEAPS, Workers Compensation, etc. are required to attend to the last scheduled day of the school year as are secondary students still enrolled in high school.

 

POLICY FOR POST SECONDARY ON SNOW DELAYS AND DELAYS FOR WEATHER

 

 

 

All Post Secondary students on weather delay dates are to follow the Grant County schedule of attendance for a two-hour delay or dismissal.

 

 

 

SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS AND CREDITS FOR POST SECONDARY STUDENTS

 AND SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

 

          The following letter grades are to be used in reporting student progress for adult preparatory students:

 

 A          Excellent                93 – 100 %                                                                                 

 B          Above Average       85 -  92 %                                                                                     

 C          Average                  75 -  84 %                                                                              

 D          Below Average        65 -  74 %                                                      

 F           Not Satisfactory        0 -  64 %

 

Student grades and progress will be reviewed at the end of each payment period (300 hours for 600 hour courses, 450 hours for longer courses). If a student does not receive a minimum grade of “C” he or she will be given a Financial Aid Warning. If a student does not receive a grade of at least a “C” in the deficient area by the end of the next payment period, the student will be terminated. A “C” average must be maintained in order for the student to receive a certificate.

 Students must complete their course of study within 150% of the normally scheduled hours of their program, exclusive of vacations or approved leaves of absence.

A student who is withdrawn from their program of study due to failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress may appeal the decision. The student should submit their appeal in writing within 10 days of their notification to the School Director. The School Director will respond with an appointment date; the School Director, student, and instructor shall meet to discuss the student’s academic progress deficiencies and suggested remedies. The School Director shall, within 7 days, render a written decision to the student as to whether the student shall be allowed to continue their course of study.  The School Director's decision shall be final. 

 

REFUND POLICY

 Students who officially withdraw during any enrollment period (1/2 course hours) will receive a refund of any unused fees and a portion of tuition in accordance with the following schedule:

During the first and second week                          90% refund

During the third and fourth week                           70% refund

During the fifth and sixth week                              50% refund

Beginning the seventh week                                 NO REFUND

 

Students receiving federal or state aid should understand that refunds will be directed to financial aid sources before any refund is made to a student. Most Pell refunds are returned to the Pell Grant Program in accordance with the return of funds requirements and any West Virginia HEAPS Funding will be returned to the West Virginia HEAPS program.

 This does not apply to individuals under Senate Bill 14. Seat holding fees are only refunded if a student completes all requirements of a program and maintains a “C” or better average.

 Short-Term courses (10 weeks or less) will require full tuition and any additional mandatory fees paid in full prior to the start of the course(s). There will be no refund if a student withdraws from a short-term course after the course(s) have begun.