Getting Help with Expenses

Financial Aid Office Locations:
Mount Laurel Campus - Laurel Hall
Pemberton Campus - Lewis Parker Student Center
Willingboro Campus

Introduction
All too often students will choose not to seek a college education because they feel it is too expensive and they cannot afford the costs of tuition, textbooks, and transportation.

In answer to these concerns Burlington County College has developed a comprehensive financial aid program that includes grants, scholarships, loans and work-study opportunities. Funds come from many sources, including the state and federal governments, local business and industry, and civic organizations. Funds are available not only to those in dire financial need, but also to hard-pressed middle income families who are caught in limbo between having the resources to pay for a college education and barely being able to make ends meet.

Applications for aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), are available at most high schools, at the college Financial Aid Office, and on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov . Regulations for all programs are subject to change.

The Financial Aid Office at Burlington County College (BCC) is committed to providing quality financial aid services to all eligible students.

We will deliver Federal Title IV aid, New Jersey state aid, veterans’ benefits, BCC Foundation assistance, and outside scholarship assistance to students who are eligible for educational funding via these resources.

We will act as a resource to county residents, providing information about the financial aid application process.

We will serve our students in a timely, equitable, accurate, courteous, and fiscally responsible manner adhering to all federal, state, and college regulations.

The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This allows you to apply for federal and state grants. There is no charge for filing the FAFSA. Filing online at www.fafsa.ed.gov is the fastest, most efficient way to apply for financial aid.

Deadline
Your FASFA must be complete by July 15 for the Fall semester and November 15 for the Spring semester to be processed as a priority application. For a file to be complete, you must have your FAFSA processed by the Department of Education and the results received by BCC. If you are selected for verification, you also must submit all required documentation by these dates.

Priority applications will be processed prior to the start of the semester. However, as long as we have received your processed financial aid application before the end of the semester for which you are applying for aid, we will review your eligibility.

Completing the FAFSA
You should complete the FAFSA with your accurate tax information from the prior calendar year. If you are dependent, then you must list both your information and your parents'. If you are married, then you must list information for yourself and your spouse. The application must also be signed and dated. A parent signature is required for dependent students. We encourage you to electronically file your FAFSA with the Department of Education at www.fafsa.ed.gov . Filing online is by far the fastest, most efficient method.

Before filing online, you (and your parent if you are dependent) should go to www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a PIN (an electronic access code number). Having a PIN allows you and your parents to sign your FAFSA electronically, thereby completing the entire process online. If you do not have a PIN, then you must have a printer available to print out and then mail the signature page. In Step Six of the FAFSA, you must tell the Federal Processor which school(s) should receive your information. Enter Burlington County College's Federal School Code: 007730

How do I get help?
For your convenience, you can apply for a PIN and /or file online using one of the 'Student Use' computers available on all campuses.

Online help with the filing process is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov and at www.studentaid.ed.gov . You can also obtain help over the telephone at 1-800-433-3243.

What happens next?
Approximately 10 working days after you complete your FAFSA, you will receive your Student Aid Report from the Department of Education. BCC receives the same information electronically. We will inform you of the status of your application and tell you if we need any additional documentation. Once your file is complete, you will receive an award letter within approximately 10 working days.

Tuition Aid Grants (TAG)
TAG is a state program, and is based on a student’s family income, number of persons in the family, the number of persons in the family who are attending college, the cost of tuition and fees at Burlington County College, and other expenses faced by the student’s family. Grants in 2004-05 ranged from $200 to $1,572 per year, do not have to be repaid and may be used during the fall and spring semester only. To be eligible, a person must have resided in New Jersey for at least 12 months prior to the application date for the grant; be a degree-seeking student, and file the FAFSA.

Part-Time Tuition Aid Grants (PTTAG)
The Part-Time Tuition Aid Grant Program for County College Students began as a pilot program with the 2003-04 academic year. Within the limits of available funding, this program provides pro-rated awards eligible students taking 6 - 11 credits per term, who are otherwise eligible for the Tuition Aid Grant Program. The maximum 2004-05 award for students enrolled half-time (6-8 credits) was $381 per term. Students enrolled three-quarter time (9-11 credits) received a maximum of $571 per term.

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are one of the most widely used financial aid programs. It is a federally-funded program open to all degree-seeking BCC students who have need and who are U.S. citizens, or permanent residents. The amount of the grants awarded is based on the number of degree-seeking credits during a semester, the cost of attending Burlington County College and the student’s financial resources (a formula used by the Federal Pell Grant program). Federal Pell Grants at BCC range from $400 to approximately $4,000 maximum per year, and do not have to be repaid.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
FSEOG is also a federal grant. It is designed for students with exceptional financial need. FSEOG grants at BCC average $200 per year and do not have to be repaid. Eligible degree-seeking students must register for at least six credits for each semester during which they receive FSEOG funds. FSEOG funds are awarded to the neediest eligible on-time Federal Pell Grant applicants first, and if funds remain, to other students on the basis of need.

Educational Opportunity Fund Grant (EOF)
Students enrolled in the EOF program are entitled to receive an EOF grant. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
The FFELP program is available to students enrolled for at least six credits. To receive priority consideration, submit applications approximately 60 days before the semester starts. Applicants must first file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), complete a loan entrance interview and a FFEL application. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Some of the loans are repayable after graduation or upon the student’s enrolling less than half time. For more information contact the Financial Aid Office.

Academic Level	Dependent Student	Independent Student	Independent Student
	Annual Limit Combined Sub And Unsub	Annual Subsidized Limit	Annual Limit Combined Sub And Unsub
1st year (less than 29 credits earned)	$3,500	$3,500	$7,500
2nd year (29 or more credits earned)	$4,500	$4,500	$8,500

Parent Loans (PLUS)
Annual loan limit is the dependent student’s cost of education minus the student’s financial aid. Repayment begins within sixty days of disbursement, with up to ten years to repay. Interest rate for new borrowers is variable with a 9% cap.

NJ CLASS Student Loans
Annual loan limit is the cost of education minus any estimated financial aid received. Three repayment options: 1) defer all payments until after graduation; 2) pay interest only; 3) pay interest and principal. Students must take full Stafford eligibility first. Visit www.hesaa.org

BCC Short-Term Loans
These short-term loans are available on a limited basis, and are provided by the college to assist students in making purchases of textbooks and other educational materials in emergency situations. These loans are available to financial aid recipients who have pending financial aid. Others are considered for loans on a first-come, first-served basis. A fee is charged for processing this loan. Maximum loans are $100 and are repayable within 30 days. A late fee will be charged subsequent to this date. Applications are available only at the Pemberton Campus Business Office.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP)
Work-study is a federal employment program in which the government allocates funds to the institution to award students employment on campus. FWS is available to degree seeking students enrolled for at least six credits and who show financial need. Students generally work an average of 15 hours per week. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be making satisfactory academic progress. In order to receive consideration for the FWS students must file the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) each year.

140 Employment Program
This is an institutional employment program in which the college provides employment for full or part-time students. Students generally work an average of 15 hours per week. Applicants must also submit a student employment application. Students who apply for the institutional employment program must first have been found to be ineligible for the FWSP program.

Unless otherwise noted, financial aid is awarded to students solely on the basis of financial need. Financial need is the difference between your Cost of Attendance and your resources.

Your Cost of Attendance includes allowances for such items as tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, personal expenses and transportation for one year. The estimated budget for a typical BCC student would be based on the following:

Resources family contribution
Your family contribution (FC) includes parental contribution (PC) and student contribution (SC). The family contribution is computed from the FAFSA, which you must be completed each school year.

Other resources
Other resources may include Social Security benefits, V.A. benefits, Public Assistance (welfare), child support, and other non-taxed funds.

Outside aid
Outside aid is typically a BCC Foundation scholarship, V.A. Benefits or other private scholarships. All outside aid is used in determining need and must be reported to the Financial Aid Office.

The aid award package
Your award is designed to meet any remaining need you may have after taking your budget, resources, and outside aid into consideration. The Financial Aid Office attempts to provide each financial aid applicant with a package consisting of grants, first; Federal work study, second; and loans third. Therefore, all aid applicants must apply for PELL grants before being considered for other programs.

Example of need determination:
Budget (Tuition, fees, books, transportation, etc.)	$12,117
Family contribution	$1,500
Need	$10,617
Example of award to meet need:
Need	$10,617
Award package: Pell grant FCWS TAG Federal Stafford Loan	2,650 2,000 1,572 2,265
Total award	$8,847

1. Quantitative MeasureCompletion Rate

A student must successfully complete a minimum of 66.67% of all credits attempted to be making satisfactory progress and maintain aid eligibility.Students must, at a minimum receive a satisfactory grade in the courses attempted by completing 66.67% of the credits for which they enrolled. C Credits with a grade of completed are those for which grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D, or P are earned are successfully completed..

If a completion rate is below 66.67%, a student is placed on Unsatisfactory status and is ineligible for aid.

2. Maximum Time Frame
A student must complete a program of study within 150% of the number of credit hours required for degree graduation or certificate completion to be making Satisfactory progress and maintain aid eligibility. The 150% is measured on the basis of attempted credits, including transfer credits. For example, if an associate degree program requires 64 credits for graduation, it must be completed within 96 credits to maintain aid eligibility. Since credit hour requirements for academic programs vary, check the College Catalog for the precise number of credits required. Multiply the number by 1.5.

NOTE: The measure of maximum time frame will exclude up to 30 credits of developmental course work and all English as a Second Language (ESL) course work in the calculation of attempted credits.

If the number of attempted credits exceeds 150% of the active program’s requirement for graduation, the student is placed on Unsatisfactory status and is ineligible for financial aid. The student may appeal based on special circumstances or a change in the academic program of study. See Appeal Process below.

NOTE: BCC permits the pursuit of more than one academic program concurrently. Maximum Time Frame will be measured using the credit number requirements of the longest standing active program.

3. Cumulative Grade Point Average
A student must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to be making Satisfactory progress and maintain aid eligibility. The GPA is calculated by dividing total number of grade points earned by the total credits attempted for courses with grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D, and F.

If the cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, the student is placed on Unsatisfactory status and is ineligible for financial aid, with the following exceptions. Students that have attempted less than 48 credits and have a cumulative GPA within the following ranges are placed on Probation and are eligible for aid for one probationary period.

Credit Attempted Minimum Cumulative GPA Required

Less than 12 Greater than 0.00

13-23 Equal or greater than 1.5, but less than 2.0

24-47 Equal or greater than 1.75, but less than 2.0

If the student is degree-seeking the probationary period is one year. If the student is certificate-seeking, the probationary period is one term. At the end of the probationary period, if the student has not achieved at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, the student is placed on Unsatisfactory status and is ineligible for financial aid.

Academic Amnesty

Federal regulations make no provision for academic amnesty. If a student’ s prior coursework was given special treatment under BCC’s provisions for Academic Amnesty, the student’s cumulative GPA must be calculated based on the inclusion of all credits attempted at BCC. If the recalculated GPA is less than 2.0, the student may appeal to the Financial Aid Office for special circumstances.

Transfer Credits

Credits transferred from another college are counted in the number of credits attempted and completed to measure completion rate and maximum time frame. Transfer credits are not counted in the calculation of grade point average.

Withdrawals/Incompletes/Repeats/Other Grades

NOTE: None of the following grades are included in the calculation of cumulative GPA with the one exception of the highest grade earned on a repeated course.

Credits with a grade of “W” (withdrawal) or “E” (old excused withdrawal) assigned after the drop/add period of a term are treated as attempted but not earned.

Credits with a grade of “I” (incomplete) or “X” (extended incomplete) are treated as attempted but not earned. .
Credits for repeated courses are treated as attempted but not earned, except for the course with the highest grade, which is included in the GPA calculation.

Credits for developmental and ESL coursework with a grade of “P” (passing), “O” (outstanding), or “S” (satisfactory) are treated as attempted and earned. A grade of “U” (unsatisfactory) or “Q” (questionable) is treated as attempted but not earned.
Credits with a grade of “N” (no grade reported) or “NA” (non-attendance) are treated as attempted but not earned.

A grade of “AU” (audit), “L” (old audit), “M” (old audit non-attendance), “Z” (withdrew before the 10th day of a term), “AW” (administrative withdrawal), or “EX” (credit by exam) are not included in attempted or earned credits.

Second Degree Students
Financial aid is available for students pursing a second degree. Credits hours attempted and/or completed toward a prior degree will be included in the measures of Completion Rate and Maximum Time Frame, along with any transfer credits.

Change in Program
If a student changes academic programs, the credits from the prior program will be counted in attempted and earned credits. If the student does not meet the minimum SAP requirements, the student may appeal on the basis of a change in program and request that only credits applicable to the new program be included in the calculation of cumulative GPA, completion rate, and maximum time frame.

Ineligibility of for Financial Aid

Students who are identified as having met the college’s definition of classified as on Academic Dismissal by BCC are immediately disqualifiedineligible for financial aid eligibility. Any aid that a student erroneously receivesdisbursed for a term in which the student has been dismissed in which they are later dismissed must be repaid to the College.

Students who who do ndo not meet the minimum SAP requirements and have a SAP status of Unsatisfactory are ineligible for financial aid. the credit progression schedule and/or who do not meet the cumulative grade point average standard will be disqualified from receiving financial aid. Any aid that a student erroneously receivesdisbursed for a term in which they the student is are later disqualified must be repaid to the College.

Appeal Process
Students placed on Unsatisfactory status may appeal their status and eligibility for financial aid. by submitting A ppeals must be submitted in writing, to the Financial Aid Office and. Appeals will be evaluated by the Financial Aid SAP Committee for special circumstances.
Special circumstances with documentation that may be approved:

student has a serious illness or accident on the part of the student,
death, accident, or serious illness in the immediate family,
unanticipated military deployment, or
change in academic program

Documentation of the student’s special circumstances, past academic performance, and assessment of ability to make up the SAP deficiencies will be evaluated. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Probation for one year if pursing a degree or one term if pursing a certificate. Approval of financial aid based on an appeal is normally granted one time during a student’s academic career at Burlington County College. If a student has not corrected the deficiencies after the first probationary period, the student is ineligible for aid until the deficiencies are corrected.

Unless there are special circumstances, a student placed on Unsatisfactory status should demonstrate the ability to successfully complete coursework without financial aid before making an appeal. For example, a student enrolled for 12 semester credits who successfully passes all courses with a minimum 2.00 GPA and with grades of “C” or better, and who can complete the program of study within the allowable maximum time frame, is encouraged to file an appeal.

A student who fails to meet the SAP requirements and chooses to enroll without benefit of financial aid may appeal for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility when the SAP minimum requirements are met.

Students should be aware that being re-admitted to BCC does not automatically make them eligible for financial aid. Students must meet the standards above to qualify for financial aid eligibility.

Updates
This policy was updated on May, 24, 2007. Students are responsible for the most current version of this policy, which is reviewed annually and published in the financial aid section of the BCC website.

Veterans Affairs Benefits