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Financial Aid & Scholarships Welcome to the Home Page for Financial Aid and Scholarships at Louisiana Delta Community College. Our goal is to provide you with important information about financial aid at Delta and give you the necessary resources to successfully apply for and receive financial aid. We hope these pages will simplify the financial aid process for you. We are committed to providing programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners. Therefore, Delta, through funds provided by the State of Louisiana and scholarship donors, awards financial aid, tuition waivers and scholarships to eligible students. The College has recently filed an application with the United States Department of Education and can now offer Title IV funds such as Federal Pell Grants and Academic Competiveness Grants. Take the first step for 2009-10 Financial Aid now. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to qualify for state and federal grants. You can go directly to www.fafsa.ed.gov or click on the link below. The Financial Aid priority deadline for fall 2009 is April 15.
Important Information for Students with Pell Grant Awards If you register early and have a Pell Grant awarded, it is based on the number of hours you are registered in at that time. Once you have accepted your financial aid award, the aid can be credited to your student account. When your tuition and fees have been paid in full, any remaining financial aid will be issued to you by check. You must be enrolled in the required hours to receive your aid. Students who drop or add classes on or before the last day of the drop/add period will have their Pell Grants adjusted to reflect the correct enrolled hours. If you have already received your Pell refund and then drop one or more classes on or before the last day of the drop/add period, the Pell adjustment may result in you being overawarded. You will have to REPAY any overaward. Before you drop a class, check with your Financial Aid Advisor to understand how this will affect your award. You will owe money if:
Students must begin attendance in ALL classes. Financial aid will be adjusted if you do not begin attendance in ALL classes. If you receive your financial aid check and never attend any classes, you are responsible for immediate REPAYMENT of the FULL amount of the financial aid. If you begin attending classes, but resign or stop attending all classes before completing more than 60% of the semester, you will owe money to the aid program and Delta.
Important Dates top
Federal Financial Aid: Grants top Louisiana Delta Community College Federal School Code is 041301. Students may use this code to apply for federal Pell Grants. Federal Pell Grant: The U.S. Department of Education provides federal grants to undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Pell Grants are considered a form of “gift-aid” and do not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned their first bachelor’s degree and who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Eligibility is determined with information provided on the FAFSA form and is a direct result of the students’ expected family contribution (EFC) and enrollment status. Delta must receive a valid Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) which is generated and sent to us electronically if you listed Delta’s school code: 041301 on the FAFSA. Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): The ACG is available for first-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The ACG provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1300 for the second year of academic study to full-time students who are eligible for a Pell Grant and successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Recipients must meet the following additional criteria:
The amount of the ACG when it is combined with a Pell Grant may not exceed your cost of attendance.
GoGrants top The Louisiana Go Grant Program is provided to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college. The Go Grant award is a state grant and does not have to be repaid. To be eligible for a Louisiana Go Grant, you must meet the following criteria:
Eligible students will receive the following award amounts per academic year:
Any student who was a first time freshman beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year or later who was not initially Pell eligible but subsequently becomes Pell eligible then also qualifies for a Go Grant award. *Residency: Louisiana resident as of the day the FAFSA is filed and Louisiana is the student’s true and fixed domicile as reported on the FAFSA. IF the student’s state of residence on the FAFSA is not reported as LA, but a dependent student claims that a non-custodial parent is a Louisiana resident, or that parents are Louisiana residents living out of state, LOSFA will determine residency based on the completion, by the parents, of a residency affidavit. If a dependent student’s FAFSA indicates that his/her parent was a Louisiana resident when his/her FAFSA was received by the federal processor, he/she is a Louisiana resident. If an independent student’s FAFSA indicates that he/she was a Louisiana resident when his/her FAFSA was received by the federal processor, he/she is a Louisiana resident. **Education Cost Gap (ECG): The ECG is an amount that is approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents for full-time tuition and mandatory fees. Schools use this figure in a calculation to determine whether a student has financial need and is eligible for the Go Grant. The calculation for is as follows: $1998 + $2000 – Pell Grant Award (full-time) = Education Cost Gap
How to Apply top Six Easy Steps to Apply for Federal Financial Aid: Step 1: Apply for Admission at Louisiana Delta Community College. You must be accepted in an Associate Degree program before Delta can determine your eligibility for financial aid. Confirm your status with the Admissions Office at 318-342-3743. Step 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov starting on January 1st of each year. You may sign your application electronically using your federal student aid personal identification number (PIN). If you do not have a PIN you can apply for one at the same time you complete your FAFSA. If you are dependent, your parent(s) should apply for a PIN also. Be sure to list Delta’s school code: 041301 on the application so that Delta can receive your results electronically. Transfer and continuing Delta students must meet Delta’s minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Step 3: Carefully examine your Student Aid Report (SAR). Once your FAFSA application is processed you will receive an email from the Federal Processor with a link to your Student Aid Report (SAR). Be sure to check over your SAR for any errors. If you have to make corrections, you can electronically. Be sure you and your parent(s) re-sign the corrections electronically with your PINs. If you do not receive the SAR within 2 weeks from when you first submitted it online, contact the Federal Processor at 1-800-433-3243. Step 4: Complete the Delta Financial Aid Application. This is a required form that provides the Office of Financial Aid with additional information necessary to process your financial aid request. Your Financial Aid cannot be processed until this form is received. The Delta Financial Aid Application is available online at http://www.ladelta.edu or in the Office of Financial Aid. Step 5: Look for a Missing Information Letter. Once the Office of Financial Aid receives your SAR, you may receive a letter requesting additional information or documents required to complete your application. These documents must be submitted by the priority deadline to ensure that Delta will have enough time to process your request by the fee payment deadline. Allow a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks for your aid application to be reviewed and processed. Step 6: Accept your Award Online. A letter will be sent to you detailing your financial aid package. You can also accept your financial aid award online at http://www.ladelta.edu.
Scholarships top Foundation Scholarship Eligibility: To be considered for Foundation Scholarships students must meet the following criteria:
No Scholarship funds will be available from the programs listed on the Delta Scholarship Application if you submit your scholarship application or complete your admissions file, if applicable, after June 30. Foundation Scholarships Available: Carol B. Coltharp Memorial Business Scholarship: Applicants must be a Business Technology major pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to new and continuing students. Entering freshmen applicants must have a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher. Continuing college students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Single parent applicants are preferred. One scholarship awarded per year. General Foundation Scholarship: Applicants can be in any major pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to new and continuing students. Entering freshmen applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Continuing college students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Applicants must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours. Glen B. Roscoe Scholarship: Applicants can be in any major pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to graduates of high schools within the Louisiana Delta Community College’s service area. Applicants must be an outstanding golfer and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours or complete 24 hours for the year. Entering freshmen and continuing college students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. A maximum of two years allowed for use of the scholarship. One scholarship awarded per year. Kitty DeGree Scholarship: Applicants must be in Nursing or Allied Health major pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to continuing students only. All developmental requirements must have already been completed with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be a Louisiana resident. Applicants must submit a personal narrative describing their goals and commitment to a career in nursing or an allied health field in Louisiana. Staci R. Aucoin Memorial Scholarship: Applicants can be in any major pursuing an Associates Degree. Scholarship is available to female graduates of West Monroe High School with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Must have participated in one of the following sports during senior year: basketball, 400-meter individual or member of 4x400 meter relay team. Applicants must be full-time and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. One scholarship awarded per year. A maximum of two years allowed for use of the scholarship. Click here for Foundation Scholarship Application Process Technology Scholarship Eligibility: To be considered for Process Technology Scholarships students must meet the following criteria:
Process Technology Scholarships Available: Angus Process Technology Scholarship: Applicants must be a General Studies major with a concentration in Process Technology pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to new and continuing students. Entering freshmen applicants must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Continuing college students must have a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA. To keep the scholarship students must maintain good standing in the Process Technology program with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in Process Technology classes. Six scholarships awarded per year. Euroboard Process Technology Scholarship: Applicants must be a General Studies major with a concentration in Process Technology pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to new and continuing students. Scholarship is intended for an at-risk student (single parent household or no parents). To keep the scholarship student must maintain a 2.5 or higher cumulative Process Technology GPA and be in good standing in the Process Technology program. One scholarship awarded per year. OEDC Land Corporation Process Technology Scholarship: Applicants must be a General Studies major with a concentration in Process Technology pursuing an Associate Degree. Scholarship is available to new and continuing students who seek an education to obtain permanent employment in industries that use and control mechanical, physical or chemical processes to produce a final product. Entering freshmen applicants must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Continuing college students must have a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA. To keep the scholarship students must maintain good standing in the Process Technology program with a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA in Process Technology classes. One scholarship awarded per year Click here for Process Technology Application Other Scholarship Opportunities: Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS): Tops is a merit-based scholarship program administered through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) in Baton Rouge. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed by students who are applying for TOPS. LOSFA updates a master roster every week. This roster identifies TOPS eligible students based on FAFSA information, high school core curriculum requirements, ACT scores, and GPA. An official offer will come from LOSFA if you are eligible. You can check your current eligibility status at http://www.osfa.state.la.us. If you are eligible for the TOPS Tech award, you must be seeking an Associate’s degree in Business Technology or Care and Development of Young Children. The Delta TOPS award amounts are $812 per semester or $1624 for the year. TOPS Performance or Honors awards are eligible for an additional stipend each semester. How to Retain Your TOPS Award: You must maintain continuous full-time enrollment or earn at least 24 hours for each academic year to keep your TOPS. If you do not earn 24 hours your TOPS award will be cancelled. The following minimum cumulative GPA’s must be maintained:
Suspension and Cancellation: If your award is suspended because of GPA or steady academic progress, you may have your award reinstated upon achieving the required cumulative GPA, if the period of ineligibility is not over two years (one year for the TOPS Tech award or students using Opportunity, Performance or Honors to pursue a technical program). Cancellation of a TOPS award due to failure to earn 24 hours per academic year, is permanent unless you are granted an exception. Students must apply for the exception within 6 months of the award cancellation date. If you are granted an exception through LOSFA, you must submit a copy of your exception letter to the Office of Financial Aid. Go to the TOPS portal at http://www.osfa.state.la.us or contact a LOSFA representative at 1-800-259-5626 for more information. Louisiana Pathways Scholarship: Students seeking an Associate of Science degree in Care and Development of Young Children can apply for the Louisiana Pathways Scholarship. The statewide scholarship program is open to individuals working or wanting to work with Louisiana children from birth through 8 years old. Enrollment and active participation in the Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System is required to receive a scholarship. This scholarship will assist students with the cost of tuition; however, students are still responsible for all required fees, books, and supplies. Student applicants must complete the Pathways Child Career Development System Enrollment Form and the Louisiana Pathways Application available in the Office of Financial Aid. Other documents that must be attached to the application include: plan of study, schedule of classes, tuition and course description, letter of commitment/intent, letter of recommendation, academic transcripts and financial aid award letter. All forms and documents should be mailed directly to: Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System, 1800 Warrington Place, Shreveport, LA 71101-4425. For more information contact LA Pathways at 318-677-3167 or 1-800-245-8925 or http://pathways.louisiana.gov/. Waivers/Tuition Exemption top SGA Waivers for Officers: Student Government Association waivers of in-state tuition, exclusive of student self-assessed fees may be granted to the four highest ranking SGA officers. These officers include President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The waivers for the officers cannot exceed the cost of four full-time equivalent students. Louisiana National Guard Tuition Waiver: The Louisiana National Guard provides a tuition waiver to students who are active members in good standing. The amount of the award is normally the cost of tuition and does not include student self-assessed fees, books and supplies. Exemptions may be claimed for five separate academic years or until the receipt of a bachelor’s degree, whichever occurs first. Students must appear on the eligible State Tuition Exemption Program (STEP) list and be in academic good standing. Veterans Benefits: Children(not less than 16 years but no more than 25 years of age), spouses, and surviving dependents of deceased or disabled veterans are eligible for tuition exemption. All eligible students must apply with Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to obtain the exemption. After registration, the VA Coordinator certifies the enrollment of students with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, provided you have completed all the required forms. Students should contact the VA Coordinator in the Admissions Office to complete the paperwork required for monthly VA benefits. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to be certified for VA benefits. Students should review the Academic Policies section concerning probation and suspension for more information. Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation Grants: Vocational Rehabilitation provides assistance with educational costs for students with permanent disabilities that constitute a job handicap. This program usually covers the expense of tuition and fees. Eligibility is based on an individual with a disability benefiting from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of achieving employment, including supported employment. Students may apply at the Monroe Regional Office, 122 St. John St., Suite 311, Monroe, LA 71201 or call 318-362-3232 or 1-800-737-2973. Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) Employee Tuition Waiver Program: This program is designed to encourage employees to continue their education through completion of an Associate Degree. It provides assistance for employees by covering part of the tuition costs. Applicants must be full-time and have been employed at Delta for at least one year in a permanent position. Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver: Students who are fifty-five years or older and are Louisiana residents may register for one three-hour course and be exempt from the payment of tuition. Students must pay all other required fees. Proof of age, such as a valid Louisiana Driver’s License, must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.
External Aid top Louisiana Rehabilitation Services Tuition and fees are paid for eligible students with disabilities. Tuition and fees are not based on economic need. However, additional services such as the provision of books and transportation are based on economic need. Students may apply at the Monroe Regional Office, 122 St. John St., Suite 311, Monroe, LA 71201-7386, or call 318-362-3232 or 1-800-737-2973. Workforce Investment Act The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides financial assistance with the cost of tuition, fees and books to eligible students. To qualify for WIA funding, the recipient must have been laid off from his/her job, the job has ended due to business closure, the recipient has been injured on the job and needs retraining in another field, or the recipient has other barriers to employment. All WIA grants are awarded to students based upon eligibility determination.
STEP top Strategies to Empower People (STEP) is a family case management program designed to help all work-eligible recipients of the Family Independence Temporary Program (FITAP) move toward financial independence. The Office of Family Support works with a network of community resources to connect these individuals with the resources they need in order to receive training to gain employment, improve workplace skills and move up the career ladder. STEP participants may attend any Community or Technical College within the Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS). The cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies will be covered for eligible STEP participants. Interested students should apply with their local Office of Family Support to determine eligibility for this program.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) top Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for federal financial aid is defined as passing a required number of hours and achieving a required grade point average during any semester or academic year. The minimum progress standards are reviewed once per academic year, at the end of the spring semester. Your entire academic record is reviewed, including semesters when you did not receive federal financial aid. Academic and admissions appeals and Financial Aid appeals are independent from each other. The SAP policy includes both a qualitative (such as the use of cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative (such as a maximum time-frame for completion) component.
Repeated coursework will be counted towards the hours attempted. Students whose SAP appeals are approved are placed on a probationary status and must earn 67% of their hours attempted and a 2.0 semester grade point average to continue receiving financial aid. Students on a probationary status will have their records reviewed on a semester basis and can receive financial aid while on a probationary status. Those who do not meet these requirements will lose financial aid eligibility. Students with extenuating circumstances may appeal to have financial aid reinstated. Notification of appeal procedures are outlined in the SAP notification letter. Students declared ineligible at the end of the Spring semester may use the Summer Sessions as a grace period to attend and receive federal aid for the Summer Sessions unless they have exceeded the maximum time frame for receiving federal financial aid. Students who receive aid in the summer will have to submit an appeal for eligibility reinstatement for the next academic year (Fall & Spring). Quantitative Measure
If you wish to earn a second Associate Degree you may request that your eligibility be extended to a maximum of 120 hours. You must present a written statement from your department head confirming that you have met all the requirements for the first degree. Your academic progress will be evaluated at the end of the academic year. You must meet both qualitative and quantitative standards. Once the Office of Financial Aid has determined that you are not making SAP; the office will notify you in writing. However, it is your responsibility to be familiar with SAP and monitor your progress each semester.
Financial Aid Appeals top Appeal Process Students with extenuating circumstances may appeal to have financial aid reinstated. Notification of appeal procedures are outlined in the SAP notification letter.
To appeal the loss of eligibility, students must submit a completed Financial Aid Appeal and Reinstatement Agreement, with appropriate documentation attached, along with an unofficial copy of their most recent academic transcript and a written statement (preferably typed) explaining why they were unable to meet SAP standards and what steps they are taking to ensure progress in the future. These documents should be submitted to the Student Affairs – Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The documentation must be directly related to the events that affected their ability to meet the SAP standards. Students are eligible to appeal a maximum of four times during their undergraduate career. Students will be notified in writing on the outcome of the appeals review within 7 to 14 working days from when the appeal was submitted. If the appeal is approved, it may list specific requirements the student must meet to continue to receive financial aid. Students filing financial aid appeals should pay their tuition and fees and be reimbursed if their appeal is approved. Since there is no guarantee that financial aid will be awarded, students should pay their tuition and fees in order to secure their enrollment in selected classes. Students declared ineligible at the end of the Spring semester may use the Summer Sessions as a grace period to attend and receive federal aid for the Summer Sessions unless they have exceeded the maximum time frame for receiving federal financial aid. Students who receive aid in the summer will have to submit an appeal for eligibility reinstatement for the next academic year (Fall & Spring). FAQs: When is SAP reviewed? Your entire academic record is reviewed annually after the spring semester of the academic year as required by federal regulations before awards are made for the upcoming academic year. If I am granted Academic Amnesty, will that effect my SAP status? All hours, including those in which academic amnesty was declared, will be counted as attempted hours for financial aid purposes. What must I do to keep my financial aid? You must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards your degree to continue receiving financial aid. At the end of the academic year (spring semester), we review your academic performance for the fall and spring semesters. TOPS scholarship recipients have additional requirements that must be fulfilled each semester and the academic year to continue receiving TOPS. Does SAP apply to transfer students? Transfer students must meet the SAP standards as defined at Delta before being eligible for financial aid. Academic transcripts are reviewed to determine the total hours attempted at all prior schools and compared to the maximum allowed at Delta for their intended major. Eligibility is evaluated using the incoming cumulative GPA, percent of course hours completed and the aggregate hours attempted. Students who have exceeded the aggregate hours allowed for their degree program, have a deficient cumulative GPA or have not completed the required 67% of courses attempted are ineligible for financial aid. If I repeat a course will that effect my financial aid? Repeated coursework is counted towards the hours attempted and if successfully completed, hours earned. Return of Title IV Funds Policy Students who receive Title IV financial aid will be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy if they withdraw before completing 60% of the semester in which they were disbursed Title IV financial aid. The Return of Title IV Funds Policy calculates the student’s percentage of earned aid by using the following formula: The number of calendar days attended is calculated by counting from the first day of the semester to the student’s official withdrawal date. The number of calendar days in the semester is calculated by counting from the first calendar day of the semester/summer session to the last calendar day of the semester/summer session. Weekends and holidays (excluding Mardi Gras) are included in the number of calendar days. Note: Students who stop attending classes and do not officially resign from Delta will also be subject to this policy. All instructors involved are contacted to verify the last date of class attendance.
Withdrawal and Resignation Policy Withdrawal from a Class Resignation from the College Request for Special Consideration
Forms top
Links top Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov) Scholarship Search Websites Fastweb (www.fastweb.com ) Watch out for Scholarship Scams: Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams/ Contact top If you need additional assistance with your application for financial aid, or if you have questions that are not addressed on the website, please feel free to make an appointment to see one of our staff in the Financial Aid Office. We do see students on a walk-in basis; however, an appointment will give you the assurance that you will be able to see someone when you come in the office. Mailing Address: Telephone: 318-342-3700 or Toll free 1-866-500-5322 (Ask for Financial Aid) Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday (CST) Location: Coenen Building on the ULM Campus For questions concerning Financial Aid and Scholarships:
Kimberly Bruce For questions concerning Financial Aid and TOPS:
Sharron Robinson
Crystal Gaines |
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