Catalog 2010 - 2011

Student Financial Assistance

General Information

We believe that a liberal arts education is one of the wisest investments a student can make. The college further believes that good scholarship performance should be rewarded, regardless of a family's ability to finance an education. No qualified student should be denied the right to pursue this type of post secondary education because of a lack of financial resources.

A college education represents a major financial undertaking. The Student Financial Aid Services Office is eager to work with students to help them develop an educational funding strategy. Working closely with each student, the college seeks to identify and obtain maximum funding from all available sources with a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work.

Students who complete the financial aid process in a timely manner and are pre-registered have an advantage in the awarding process. Information must be provided within the deadline outlined in each student's correspondence or aid may be held or canceled.

The College of Idaho uses a combination of federal aid methodology and institutional policy to provide a uniform method to assess a family's financial strength and to estimate the expected family contribution (EFC) toward the student's cost of education (COE - the student expense budget). The COE includes tuition, fees, books and supplies, room, board, personal expenses and transportation allowance.

All students are encouraged to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for:

• The College of Idaho scholarship and need-based aid programs, as well as campus-based federal aid (Federal Workstudy, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, ACG Grant, and Smart Grant)

• Federal aid through the Federal Pell Grant Program

• Federal Stafford Direct Loan and Plus Loan Programs

• State Student Aid Programs

Per IRS guidelines, scholarships and grants received in excess of the amount used to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment (not including room and board) are considered taxable income for U.S. income tax purposes. It is the student's responsibility to report this income on their tax return.

Students will receive a financial aid letter after acceptance for enrollment and receipt of application materials. Students are asked to accept or decline their financial awards within 21 days of receipt of their award letter. Students must submit a $300 new student fee if they choose to attend. Students are expected to read, sign and return a copy of the Award Letter included in the award package.

• Financial assistance is awarded for one school year or less, depending on the number of terms of intended enrollment.

• Students must file the FAFSA each academic year.

• Assistance continues each year provided the student is still eligible to receive aid. The amount of federal aid granted and components of the financial aid package may vary from year to year.

• The ability to provide aid depends not only on the availability of funds but also on the student maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, i.e., earning 24 credits per academic year. See Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid.

• Satisfactory progress is reviewed on a continuing basis each school year. Part-time students (less than 12 credits) must earn half the required units and maintain academic standing.

• Any student on academic probation may not be awarded institutional financial aid unless otherwise approved through petition to the Financial Aid Committee through the Student Financial Aid Services Office.

• Part-time students (less than 12 credits per term) are not eligible for institutional financial awards. Federal aid is prorated based on the number of credits taken.

• All students receiving federal aid must be working toward a degree or teaching certificate.

• Enrollment in a college study abroad program that is approved for credit by The College of Idaho is considered enrollment at The College of Idaho for the purpose of applying for federal student financial assistance. Federal aid may be used to pay for study abroad provided a consortium agreement between The College of Idaho and the study abroad school has been completed but institutional aid is not available.

Since changes occur regularly in federal regulations concerning financial aid programs, the information in this catalog may change without notice. Additional information about financial aid can be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Services Office.

Application Procedure

Students seeking financial assistance must:

• Complete the application process for admission to the college.

• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — entering our school code, 001617, when completing the FAFSA form.

  • Renewal FAFSA applications-Students who applied for federal aid for the prior academic year will receive a pre-completed Renewal Application form from the federal processor. It will be in the same format as the Student Aid Report, and students simply update information that is no longer accurate on the Renewal Application. Renewal Applications will be prepared each year by the federal processor for applicants who applied before the start of the prior academic year.

• File The College of Idaho Financial Aid Application.

  • Continuing students need to file The College of Idaho Financial Aid renewal application.

To apply online for admission, please see the college web site at: www.collegeofidaho.edu or call the Admission Office at 459-5305 or 1-800-224-3246.

Refund Policy for Withdrawals

Institutional Refund Policy

The refund amount is determined by the total payment on account from all sources, minus the charges for tuition, fees, room and board for the enrollment period, as outlined in the expenses section of this catalog. Funds are returned to the federal programs (according to the federal refund policy), institutional programs, outside scholarships and then to the student.

Federal Refund Policy

If the student is eligible for a refund based on the refund policy of this school, and the student has received any federal monies, part of the refund must be applied to those federal funds. A calculation will be done by the Student Financial Aid Services Office to determine the amount of funds to be returned to the federal programs. Work-study funds, both federal and institutional, are not included in this calculation. The student will receive a copy of the calculation and the assignment of refund amounts to the various fund accounts will be itemized.

The amounts returned to the federal programs must be applied in the following order (no refund can exceed the amount the student received from that fund):

1. The Federal Unsubsidized Loan Program
2. The Federal Subsidized Loan Program
3. The Federal Perkins Program
4. The Federal PLUS Loan Program
5. The Federal Pell Grant Program
6. The Federal SEOG Program
7. ACG Grant/Smart Grant

All scholarships and loans awarded for periods after the withdrawal will be canceled, and any loan funds received will be returned to the lending institution. Any outside scholarships received after withdrawal will be returned to the donor.

Treatment of Special Academic Situation

Incompletes

If completed during the academic year in which they are incurred, incompletes may be counted toward the academic progress standard.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals will reduce the number of credits earned and will affect the academic progress standards.

No Completed Courses

Failure to earn any credits in an enrollment period will result in loss of eligibility for aid in the next period.

Non-Credit Remedial Courses

These classes will count as part of the course load for the purposes of meeting the standards.

Repeated Courses

Courses may be repeated in accordance with the policies in the general catalog and satisfactory progress standard.

Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Undergraduate

To maintain eligibility for financial assistance, both from the institution and the federal and state governments, the student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Progress is defined as completing a required number of credits each academic year with an appropriate Grade Point Average (Qualitative) and a set percentage of completed coursework (Quantitative) within a maximum timeframe.

There are two departments that monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress. The Registrar's Office monitors course work for academic standing and the Student Financial Aid Services Office is responsible for ensuring that all students (including full-time, part-time, and students without aid) are meeting the standards set for Financial Aid. The standards apply for all financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study (FWSP), Federal Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and PLUS), Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), SMART Grants as well as state grants and institutional scholarships and grants.

• Qualitative Requirement
  A student must maintain an acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) in order to continue to receive financial assistance. The criterion is the maintenance of a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Please note – many of our scholarships as well as some state and federal grants are reduced if the student's cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00. Students should refer to their award letter and Financial Aid Handbook or the Student Financial Aid Services Office for additional information.

• Quantitative Requirement
  A sliding scale is used to monitor an undergraduate student's quantitative requirement. The completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of successfully completed credits by the number of attempted credits over the students entire academic career; including all accepted transfer credits and any credits earned during periods of enrollment when the student was not receiving financial aid. If a student changes course of study (major), the hours attempted under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours.

Number of Hours Successfully Completed	Completion Rate Required
0-28 Completed Undergraduate Credits	70% completion rate
29-60 Completed Undergraduate Credits	75% completion rate
61> Completed Undergraduate Credits	80% completion rate

• Maximum Time Limit
  There is a time limit and number of credit limit set for eligibility for financial assistance for undergraduate studies. Any student who begins an academic term with more than 124 credits will receive only half of their institutional scholarship funds. No student may receive financial assistance once they have received 186 undergraduate credits during their academic career or after they have graduated. The exception to this is the fifth year internship through the education department, which occurs after a student graduates.

• Evaluation of Academic Progress
  At the end of the Academic Year (end of spring term) an undergraduate student's academic progress will be measured by comparing the number of attempted credit hours (including accepted transfer credits) with the credit hours earned; and by the student's cumulative GPA. (This includes any course for which the student has remained enrolled past the Add/Drop period.) The following are considered when evaluating a student's satisfactory academic progress:

  • Withdrawals, incompletes, and failures are considered attempted but not earned hours.
  • Incompletes if completed during the academic year in which they are incurred may be counted toward the earned course work.
  • Passing credits received for pass/fail courses are considered attempted and earned credits; failing grades in pass/fail courses are considered attempted but not earned.
  • Repeated courses and courses for which the student has been granted academic reprieve are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.
  • Audited courses are not considered credits attempted or earned.
  • Remedial courses are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.
  • Transfer credits are included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA and in attempted and earned hours.

• Financial Aid Probation Status
  Students falling below the standards for the first time will receive a warning letter and be placed on financial aid probation. A student on financial aid probation is encouraged to work with their advisor and to use the counseling, tutoring, testing, and other services that may be available on campus to assist them with improving their academic standing. A student may continue to receive financial assistance during the probationary period. At the end of the next academic year, progress will be reviewed and the student will:

  • Be removed from probationary status if both the cumulative GPA and cumulative completion rate standards are met
    or
    Be suspended from receiving assistance from federal, state and institutional sources and will receive a Financial Aid Discontinue Letter.

• Financial Aid Discontinue Status
  Students who do not meet both standards (Qualitative and Quantitative) are no longer eligible for financial aid until classes have been taken (using their own funding) and have raised their cumulative GPA and completion rate to meet the above standards. Students will be sent a letter informing them of their aid suspension.

  • Failure to earn any credits in an academic year will result in a student being placed on aid suspension.

Appeal process

A student may appeal the financial aid suspension by submitting to the Financial Aid Services Office, within 30 days of notification, a signed Financial Aid Non-Academic Petition explaining why his or her financial aid should not be suspended. A student may appeal due to an emergency condition (e.g., health, family, catastrophe, etc.). The student must provide documentation verifying the situation, a plan of action, and a statement from an academic advisor in support of the plan. The Financial Aid Services Office will present a student's appeal materials and academic transcripts to the Financial Aid Committee.

• The Financial Aid Committee will review the appeal and academic performance and render a decision, which the Director of Student Financial Aid Services Office will convey in writing to the student.

• If the student finds the Committee's decision unsatisfactory, the student may appeal to the President for further review. The President's decision on the appeal is final.

  • Reinstatement
    This policy does not preclude a student from enrolling in subsequent semesters. The student can raise their GPA and/or satisfy credit deficiencies by taking additional coursework at The College of Idaho without receiving financial aid or by transferring in credits from another institution. Students who have lost eligibility for financial aid will not regain eligibility simply by paying for their own classes for a semester or by sitting out a semester. Students may have their financial aid reinstated by the Student Financial Aid Services Office once all satisfactory academic progress standards (both qualitative and quantitative) are met.

• Students may also submit a copy of their College of Idaho transcript and a petition form to verify grade changes, including the removal of incompletes if this will result in removal of their deficiencies.

Sastisfactory Academic Progress - Graduate Program

To maintain eligibility for financial assistance, both from the institution and the federal and state governments, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Progress is defined as completing a required number of credits each semester with an appropriate Grade Point Average (Qualitative) and a set percentage of completed coursework (Quantitative) within a maximum timeframe.

There are two departments that monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress. The Registrar's Office monitors course work for academic standing and the Student Financial Aid Services Office is responsible for ensuring that all students (including full-time, part-time, and students without financial aid) are meeting these standards. The standards apply for all financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study (FWSP), Federal Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) as well as state grants and institutional scholarships and grants.

• Qualitative Requirement
  A student must maintain an acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) in order to continue to receive financial assistance. To earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) at The College of Idaho, all coursework must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. All class coursework, with the exception of thesis writing, must be completed within 22 months of matriculation into the program. The responsibility rests with students to see that their program of study satisfies all the requirements.

• Quantitative Requirement
  Graduate students must maintain an 85% completion rate of attempted coursework. The completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of completed credits by the number of attempted credits over the students entire graduate career; including all accepted transfer credits and any credits earned during periods of enrollment when the student was not receiving financial aid.

• Maximum Time Limit
  Class coursework, with the exception of thesis writing, must be completed within 22 months of matriculation in the MAT program.

• Evaluation of Academic Progress
  An MAT student's progress will be monitored at the end of the fall term and again at the end of the winter/spring term. A student's academic progress will be measured by comparing the number of attempted credit hours (including accepted transfer credits) with the credit hours earned; and by the student's cumulative graduate GPA. (This includes any course for which the student has remained enrolled past the Add/Drop period.) The following are considered when evaluating a student's satisfactory academic progress:

  • Withdrawals, incompletes, and failures are considered attempted but not earned hours.
  • Incompletes if completed during the following semester in which they are incurred may be counted toward the earned course work.
  • Repeated courses are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.
  • All accepted transfer credits are included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA and in attempted and earned hours.

• Financial Aid Probation Status
  Students falling below the standards for the first time will receive a warning letter and placed be on Financial Aid probation. A student on probation is encouraged to work with their advisor and to use the counseling, tutoring, testing, and other services that may be available on campus to assist them with improving their academic standing. A student may continue to receive financial assistance during the financial aid probationary period. At the end of the next semester, progress will be reviewed and the student will:

  • Be removed from probationary status if both the cumulative GPA and cumulative completion rate standards are met
    or
    Be suspended from receiving assistance from federal, state and institutional sources and will receive a Financial Aid Discontinue Letter.

• Financial Aid Discontinue Status
  Students who do not meet both standards (Qualitative and Quantitative) are no longer eligible for financial aid until classes have been taken (using their own funding) and have raised their cumulative GPA and completion rate to meet the above standards. Students will be sent a letter informing them of their status.

  • Failure to earn any credits in any semester will result in a student being placed on aid suspension.
  • Students who are dismissed from the graduate program for academic or department policy are ineligible for financial assistance.

Appeal Process

A student may appeal the financial aid suspension by submitting to the Financial Aid Services Office, within 30 days of notification, a signed Financial Aid Non-Academic Petition explaining why his or her financial aid should not be suspended. A student may appeal due to an emergency condition (e.g., health, family, catastrophe, etc.). The student must provide documentation verifying the situation, a plan of action, and a statement from an academic advisor in support of the plan. The Financial Aid Services Office will present a student's appeal materials and academic transcripts to the Financial Aid Committee.

• The Financial Aid Committee will review the appeal and academic performance and render a decision, which the Director of Student Financial Aid Services Office will convey in writing to the student.

• If the student finds the Committee's decision unsatisfactory, the student may appeal to the President for further review. The President's decision on the appeal is final.

  • Reinstatement
    This policy does not preclude a student from enrolling in subsequent semesters. The student can raise their GPA and/or satisfy credit deficiencies by taking additional coursework at The College of Idaho without receiving financial aid or by transferring in credits from another institution. Students who have lost eligibility for financial aid will not regain eligibility simply by paying for their own classes for a semester or by sitting out a semester. Students may have their financial aid reinstated by the Student Financial Aid Services Office once all satisfactory academic progress standards (both qualitative and quantitative) are met.

• Students may also submit a copy of their College of Idaho transcript and a petition form to verify grade changes, including the removal of incompletes if this will result in removal of their deficiencies.

The College of Idaho   2112 Cleveland Blvd.   Caldwell, ID 83605   208.459.5011   Fax 208.459.5175   ©2010