Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid & Priority Dates

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting financial aid.  Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA.  Students must fill out the FAFSA every year while in school in order to stay eligible for federal student aid.  Temple College’s federal school code is 003627.

Students must have a high school diploma or GED to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Your correct social security number is required to receive federal financial aid disbursements and an end-of-year 1098-T tax form for reporting tuition payments. If Temple College does not receive or cannot confirm your social security number, Temple College will not be able to provide these services to you.

A student’s financial aid file is considered completed once all documents are received including the FAFSA and any verification forms or missing documents requested.  Financial aid files must be completed by the priority dates to ensure that funds are available to pay for institutional costs such as tuition, fees, and books. 

Priority Dates:

Fall Semester - June 1
Spring Semester - November 1
Summer Semester - April 1

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants are eligible for the funds AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THEIR APPLICATION FILES ARE COMPLETED AND ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE IS CONFIRMED. Late applicants should make arrangements to pay their own registration expenses.

As a student submits the FAFSA application, he or she will be responsible to submit an application to Temple College’s Admissions and Records Office.  It is the student’s responsibility to then apply and follow all necessary steps to complete the registration process.

Remedial/Developmental Hours

There is a limit of 30 semester hours of remedial/developmental course work for any individual student. Remedial hours attempted beyond this 30 hour limit will not be included in a student’s course load for financial aid enrollment status purposes. [34 CFR 668.20]

Repeat Classes

Only one repeat of a previously passed course will be included in a student’s course load for financial aid enrollment status purposes [34CFR 668.2(b) and 668.20(d)(f)].

Student Employment on Campus

A limited number of part-time jobs will be available on the College campus for those who need to work in order to help pay for their college education. Students will be assigned to such duties as typists, file clerks, office assistants, community services, teacher assistants, pianists, models, technicians, library and laboratory assistants, grounds and building keepers, etc. Preference in employment is given to students reflecting financial need. Any student seeking campus employment should complete an application in the Financial Aid Office as early as possible.

Student Grants

Temple College is an active participant in the federally funded Pell Grant program and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program.  Temple College also participates in the state funded Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG), Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) and the TEXAS GRANT programs. Applicants apply for these various grants by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online using http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Student Loans

The Financial Aid Office will assist the student in securing a Direct Loan through the William. D. Ford Direct Loan Program.  Students and parents applying for Direct Loans are subject to the general eligibility requirements that apply to all Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO LOAN DISBURSEMENTS STARTING FALL 2016:

EARN AS YOU LEARN

Starting Fall 2016, Temple College will implement a new program called EARN AS YOU LEARN. This will change how and when financial aid loan funds are disbursed. The program will allow student loan borrowers to be more financially stable throughout the course of the semester by splitting their loan funds into three multiple installments.

• Starting Fall 2016, Direct Loans will be applied to a student’s Temple College account in three installments during each semester on the scheduled disbursement dates.
• Starting Fall 2016, only one-third of the principal loan amount will be applied to a student’s Temple College account per installment.
• Direct Loans can be used to pay institutional costs including tuition, fees and books for students who have completed all loan steps prior to registration. Once all institutional costs are met, any additional credit will be reimbursed to the student through TouchNet according to the disbursement schedule.
• Students must maintain at least a half-time enrollment status to receive a disbursement.
• First-time loan borrowers’ initial disbursement is delayed about six weeks into the semester.
• Students who are not half-time until they begin attending their 2^nd 8-week classes will not receive any remaining credit balance refund until the final 3^rd disbursement of the semester.
• All students completing the loan application steps late will receive their disbursement later in the semester.

To apply for federal Direct Loans, students must complete the following steps:

1. Register for at least 6 credit hours or more
2. Accept loans on TConnect
3. If student is borrowing for the first time at Temple College:

            a.  Visit http://www.studentloans.gov and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
            b.  Complete online Entrance Counseling at http://www.studentloans.gov for Temple College.
            c.  Attend a mandatory in-person Loan Counseling Session on campus at Temple College. See the Financial Aid Office Website for dates scheduled.

The Grace Period is a period of time after borrowers graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment where they are not required to make payments on certain federal student loans. Some federal student loans will accrue interest during the grace period, and if the interest is unpaid, it will be added to the principal balance of the loan when the repayment period begins.

Students at Temple College with an excessive amount of student loan debt will have their loan history reviewed by a Financial Aid Administrator before originating any new federal student loans. Students will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students will not be denied access because of race, sex, color, income, religion, national origin, age or handicapped status. In the best interest of the student, federal student loans may be reduced or refused per federal regulations. In either event, the student will receive written notification providing an explanation [HEA Sec. 479(A)(c), 34 CFR 685.301(a)(8), DCL GEN-11-07].

Direct Subsidized Loan Maximum Eligibility

Effective July 1, 2013, the Federal Government placed a limit on the maximum period of time that students can receive Direct Subsidized Loans. In general, students may not receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150% of the published length of their program. For example, students enrolled in a two-year associate degree program have a maximum period of three years for which they can receive Direct Subsidized Loans (150% of 2 years is 3 years).

Financial Aid Credit Balances & Student Refunds

Generally, classes that students are enrolled in AND ATTENDING as of census date will determine the amount of funds for which they are eligible. The census date is set by the College.  Financial aid (FA) will be adjusted for students who increase or decrease their enrollment status through the census date. Students with (FA) awards on TConnect at the time of registration will have their FA credited to their Temple College account within a few days after the census date. This credit will be used to pay institutional costs including tuition, fees and books. Any credit balance remaining will be paid to students through TouchNet according to the disbursement schedule.  Students in 2nd 8-week classes will not receive any remaining credit balance refund for those classes until the final 3rd disbursement of the semester.

If students are approved for certain scholarships and/or grants, including Pell Grant, their awards can be used to pay institutional costs including tuition, fees and books. Any remaining scholarship and grant credit balances are disbursed to students through TouchNet approximately 30 days after the first class day for those who have FA awards on TConnect at the time of registration.  Students in 2nd 8-week classes will not receive any remaining credit balance refund for those classes until the final 3rd disbursement of the semester.  Students completing their files late will receive their disbursement later in the semester.

Direct Loans can be used to pay direct costs including tuition, fees and books. Previous borrowers, who have their FA awards on TConnect and have completed the loan application process before the first class day, will have their loan credit balance disbursed to them approximately 30 days after the first class day. First-time borrowers must also complete the loan application process before the first class day and will have their loan credit balances disbursed to them approximately 45 days after the first class day. All students completing the loan application process late will receive their disbursement later in the semester.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO LOAN DISBURSEMENTS STARTING FALL 2016:   

Earn As You Learn

Starting Fall 2016, Temple College will implement a new program called EARN AS YOU LEARN. This will change how and when financial aid loan funds are disbursed. The program will allow student loan borrowers to be more financially stable throughout the course of the semester by splitting their loan funds into three multiple installments.

• Starting Fall 2016, Direct Loans will be applied to a student’s Temple College account in three installments during each semester on the scheduled disbursement dates.
• Starting Fall 2016, only one-third of the principal loan amount will be applied to a student’s Temple College account per installment.
• Direct Loans can be used to pay institutional costs including tuition, fees and books for students who have completed all loan steps prior to registration. Once all institutional costs are met, any additional credit will be reimbursed to the student through TouchNet according to the disbursement schedule.
• Students must maintain at least a half-time enrollment status to receive a disbursement.
• First-time loan borrowers’ initial disbursement is delayed about six weeks into the semester.
• Students who are not half-time until they begin attending their 2^nd 8-week classes will not receive any remaining credit balance refund until the final 3^rd disbursement of the semester.
• All students completing the loan application steps late will receive their disbursement later in the semester.

Financial Aid Disbursement Schedule:

Fall 2017:

·         Sept. 29          Pell Grants and Scholarships plus 1^st disbursement of loan proceeds

·         Oct. 13              Initial disbursement for first-time loan borrowers

·         Oct. 27            2^nd disbursement of loan proceeds

·         Nov. 17           3^rd disbursement of loan proceeds plus 2^nd 8-wk class refunds

Spring 2018:

·         Feb. 16            Pell Grants and Scholarships plus 1^st disbursement of loan proceeds

·         Mar. 2              Initial disbursement for first-time loan borrowers

·         Mar. 30            2^nd disbursement of loan proceeds

·         Apr. 27            3^rd disbursement of loan proceeds plus 2^nd 8-wk class refunds

Temple College Return to Title IV Policy

Federal regulations require the College do a return of funds calculation on students who totally withdraw from all their classes. Temple College will return any unearned funds received from federal student aid (FSA) programs to the proper program accounts in accordance with Federal Title IV student assistance regulations, as amended, under 34 CFR, section 668.22(d) of the Re-authorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Withdrawals must be initiated in the Advising Center.

Official rosters are sent to all instructors. The instructors are directed to drop all students who have never attended.  All students not reported are considered to have completed the semester and have earned grades received.

If a student NEVER attended his or her class(es), the College is required to recalculate the student’s financial aid awards based on the lower enrollment status of classes he or she actually attended. Any difference between the amount the student received and his or her newly recalculated awards is considered an overpayment and must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Any funds returned by Temple College represent a debt owed by the student to Temple College.

Within 30 days from the withdrawal date, the College calculates the amount to return to the respective Title IV programs. The Return to Title IV process in the Temple College student information system is used to perform all Return to Title IV calculations. A listing of students who have completely withdrawn from the institution is run weekly throughout the semester. Withdrawal date shall be defined as the actual date the student begins the College’s withdrawal process, the last date of attendance recorded by an instructor, or the midpoint of the semester for students who have been withdrawn by instructors for lack of attendance.

Amount of unearned Title IV aid due from the school: The return of Title IV funds returned to the FSA program(s) by the College from the student’s institutional charges, including tuition, fees, and books, shall be adjusted in the student’s account, and the student will be billed for the outstanding institutional charges. The student’s records will be placed on hold. Any funds returned by Temple College represent a debt owed by the student to Temple College.

Amount of unearned Title IV aid due from the student:  Federal regulations specify that a student is responsible for all unearned Title IV program assistance that the school is not required to return. This is the amount due over and above the student’s institutional charges. All funds returned by Temple College represent a debt owed by the student to Temple College.

• Any loans that remain outstanding after the portion repaid by the school must be repaid by the student according to the terms of the student’s promissory notes.
• Regulations limit the amount of grant funds a student must repay to one-half of the grant funds the student received or could have received during the applicable period. The student’s eligibility for additional Title IV funds will end if the student fails to take positive action from the earlier of 45 days following the date the school sent or was required to send notification to the student. There are three positive actions available for students to take to extend his or her eligibility for Title IV funds beyond the 45 days:

1. The student may repay the overpayment in full to Temple College.
2. The student may sign a repayment agreement, if eligible, with Temple College.
3. The student may sign a repayment agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.  

FSA funds are returned to ED in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
2. Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
3. Federal Direct PLUS Loans
4. Federal Pell Grants
5. FSEOGs
6. Other FSA Programs
7. Other federal, state, private, or institutional sources of aid
8. The student

Defaulted Student Loans

Students in default on a federal student loan will be placed on HOLD preventing them from receiving any records from Temple College. The student’s records will be released once the student meets their lender’s arrangements. Students with a defaulted student loan history will need to request their lender provide them a statement that the student has made a minimum of six to nine consecutive months of on-time voluntary payments or paid in full.

Reinstatement of Title IV

Students in default on a loan, must make satisfactory repayment arrangements and make six to nine consecutive, on-time, full, voluntary monthly payments to the holder of the defaulted loan before they will be eligible for additional federal student aid. After the qualifications are met, ED should send appropriate notification to Temple College upon the student’s request.

Students owing an overpayment to ED must pay their debt in full to be eligible to receive Title IV funds at any institution.

Institutional Short Term Loans

The Johnny S. Payne short-term loan fund is available at Temple College for students’ use in emergency situations involving tuition and fees where other funds have been approved but not received prior to registration periods. The Financial Aid office will provide the necessary application forms for this purpose. Preference is given to returning students who have obtained a satisfactory academic record.

The Hamrick-Harris short-term loan fund is available at Temple College for students’ use in emergency situations involving tuition and fees where other funds have been approved but not received prior to registration periods. The Financial Aid office will provide the necessary application forms for this purpose. Preference is given to returning students who have obtained a satisfactory academic record.

The American Legion Loan fund is available at TC for students who are having difficulty in purchasing books. Preference will be given to students whose financial aid has been approved but not completed.

A need-based, short-term loan has been established by Mrs. Viola Dawns Hunter for African American students. Students must maintain a “C” average. Loan applies to books only.

See Student Enrollment Services for information on other assistance programs.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Criteria

Federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress in a course of study leading to a degree or certificate. Failure to meet one or more of these standards of academic progress will make a student ineligible for financial aid. Satisfactory progress includes all previous academic history, even if the student did not receive financial aid. Satisfactory progress standards are calculated at the end of each semester, including the summer. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor their satisfactory progress. Although the Temple College Financial Aid Office attempts to send correspondence to students informing them of their status, students not receiving this correspondence will still be considered ineligible for financial aid.

Students are notified about Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) via their TC email. Students must monitor their TC email frequently. Notifications are sent after the term ends. It is imperative that students check their TC email after grades post for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) notifications.

What is considered in the calculations?

• All courses attempted, including remedial/developmental, withdrawals, repeated courses, and transfer hours (regardless of grade assigned) are counted in the hours attempted
• Grades of A, B, C, and D will be considered hours attempted and completed
• Grades of F, I, W, and XF will be counted in hours attempted only
• Grades of F and I are counted in the GPA

NOTE: Remedial/developmental hours can be funded only up to a maximum of 30 hours [34 CFR 668.20].

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher on all hours attempted at Temple College, including past semesters. The last grade of a repeated course will replace the original attempt(s) in the GPA.

Completion Rate

Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all past and present courses attempted including transfer courses, remedial courses, and grades of F and W.  All repeated courses will be counted toward attempted and completed hours.

Maximum Time Frame

Students receiving financial aid must complete degree or certificate program within 150% of the hours required for their program of study.  All transfer credit hours are included in this calculation. The College’s computer system automatically places students on Financial Aid Suspension once they have attempted 93 or more hours, including transfer hours. Some program’s 150% limit may be less than 93 hours.

Examples:

• For a Certificate requiring 47 hours, maximum time frame is 71 hours (47 x 150% = 71).
• For an Associate Degree requiring 60 hours, maximum time frame is 90 hours (60 x 150% = 90).

Consequences of not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress:

Students who have their financial aid suspended for failure to meet SAP standards will remain ineligible for financial aid until such time that they are meeting the SAP standards.  Students will be able to enroll and attend classes, but must pay their own tuition and fees. In the following provisions, warning or suspension applies only to financial aid statuses, not to other academic statuses that may be monitored by the college.

Financial Aid Warning – Students failing to meet the SAP standards will be placed on FA Warning status for one semester. The student will remain eligible for any financial aid for which he or she has qualified. Students placed on FA Warning are strongly encouraged to meet with a Financial Aid Adviser and an Academic Adviser to develop an achievement plan that will assist the student in the successful completion of the Warning semester. Consideration will be extended to those students who comply with their achievement plan if they are placed on FA Suspension at the end of the warning semester.

Financial Aid Suspension – If, after being placed on warning status, the student fails to meet the SAP standards again, the student will be placed on FA Suspension and will lose financial aid eligibility.

Maximum Time Frame Suspension – Students who fail to meet the Maximum Time Frame standards will be placed on Maximum Time Frame Suspension and will immediately lose financial aid eligibility.

Students whose financial aid is suspended for failure to meet SAP standards will remain ineligible for financial aid until such time that they are meeting the SAP standards. Students will be able to enroll and attend classes, but they must pay out of pocket for their tuition and fees.

Financial Aid Appeals and Priority Dates

Priority Dates:

Fall 2017 – August 24

Spring 2018 – January 11

Summer 2018 – May 24

Appeal Process   

Students who fail to meet the financial aid SAP standards may appeal their status if there are unusual and mitigating circumstances that contributed to their failure to meet the standards.  Financial Aid Appeal Request forms are available on the TC Website. Acceptable unusual and mitigating circumstances include, but are not limited to, a death in the immediate family, medical conditions, hospitalizations, or other situations beyond the student’s control.  Withdrawal from a class or classes to maintain a higher GPA, the classes are not what one expected, or not being prepared for college are NOT unusual or mitigating circumstances and will not be considered. Students who are denied may not appeal continuously (each semester) for the same circumstance.

All situations MUST be fully documented, including supporting letters from counselors, doctors, ministers, and other appropriate third parties. FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION - YOUR APPEAL WILL BE DENIED WITHOUT THIS REQUIRED INFORMATION!!

In addition, the student must indicate what has changed and list actions they will take to be able to maintain the required progress standards.

Maximum Time Frame Appeal

Students who already have a baccalaureate degree or students who have exceeded the maximum time frame for their declared program of study and wish to receive financial aid must submit a signed Financial Aid Appeal Request form available on the TC Website. The student must provide a copy of the degree plan he or she is pursuing signed by an academic adviser. For these appeals to be considered, the student must be meeting the 67% completion rate and the 2.0 GPA, and provide an explanation and documentation for all grades of F and W received throughout any of his or her semesters at TC. Students who are approved are expected to take only the courses shown as still needed on the degree plan. Taking coursework outside the degree plan will cause the appeal to be denied.

Initial Appeals are reviewed by a FA Appeal Committee member.  The student will be notified of the Committee’s decision via their TC email.  During peak times, this process may take a few days. Appeals are generally NOT APPROVED, and students should make other payment arrangements while waiting on the Committee’s decision or risk being dropped from their coursework. Most appeals are denied due to lack of documentation.

Second Appeal: Students who have their initial appeal denied may make an appointment to meet before the FA Committee if the student wants to contest the denial.  In general, an appeal at this level should include additional information and/or documentation that was not presented as part of the initial appeal. The student will be notified of the Committee’s decision via their TC email.  

Final Appeal: If the FA Committee still denies the appeal and the student feels that he or she was not treated fairly under the policy, the student may make an appointment to see the Financial Aid Director.  The decision of the Financial Aid Director is final.

Appeal Approvals and Re-Establishing Eligibility

Students can re-establish their financial aid eligibility by one of the following methods:

• Being placed on a financial aid warning period and meeting SAP standards within one semester;
• Successfully appealing and being placed on financial aid probation and meeting SAP standards at the end of one semester;

• Successfully appealing and being placed on an academic plan, and meeting SAP standards according to the terms of that academic plan; or
• Paying out of pocket for classes and earning enough grades and/or credits in those classes that would allow the student to regain SAP standards on his or her own. These students must submit another appeal to have his or her SAP status reevaluated.

Learning Assistance

• Tutoring is available through the Education Assistance Center (EAC). In addition, tutors are available in many other areas e.g., math lab, computer lab. The EAC also offers workshops to improve learning skills. 
• A learning frameworks course, such as EDUC-1300 or PSYC-1300, is another excellent way to improve academic proficiency.  The course can be taken as a regular weekly class.
• Students with documented disabilities can receive classroom accommodations for additional learning assistance.  Contact the Student Accommodation Coordinator (254-298-8335) for more information.
• Students Success Coaches are available to assist with class scheduling, and providing information about all college resources. For more information please contact 254-298-8501.