Federal Pell Grant Program

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides financial aid to qualified students. Eligibility is determined by a formula developed by the United States Department of Education and by the Financial Aid Officer. Students must be enrolled in a course of study of at least 600 clock hours to be eligible for Pell. The student must be a high school graduate, have a GED certificate of equivalency or pass the Wonderlic test. Financial Aid application forms are available in the Student Services Office, in the lobby of Building 8 or on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Progress and Evaluation

Pell students’ progress will be evaluated quarterly. Instructors will complete and submit to the Financial Aid Office the “Progress Evaluation” and “Verification of Enrollment” forms each respective Pell student on a quarterly basis.

Academic Probation and Reinstatement

Any student who does not meet minimum standards of achievement will be placed on probation and counseled by the Financial Aid Coordinator. If the student’s re-evaluation is satisfactory, he/she may be eligible for funds in the payment period in which they qualify. If the student’s re-evaluation is unsatisfactory, the financial aid funds will be terminated for the subsequent Quarter (may or may not coincide with payment periods). A student who does not agree with an unsatisfactory rating may appeal through the Appeal Process.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This is a federally funded grant, which is awarded to students who are determined to have financial need. Awards are calculated by the Financial Aid Office and are determined by availability of funds. Students must apply for, and be eligible to receive a Pell Grant for the same academic year.

Payment Schedule

The Pell schedule is: 1st Quarter: Oct. 18, 2007; 2nd Quarter: Jan. 10, 2008; 3rd Quarter: March 20, 2008; 4th Quarter: May 29, 2008. NOTE: Students receiving Pell funds must meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for payments. The FSEOG schedule is: 1st Quarter: Oct. 25, 2007; 2nd Quarter: Jan. 17, 2008; 3rd Quarter: March 27, 2008; 4th Quarter: June 5, 2008.

Return of Funds

If a student withdraws on or before the 61% point within a payment period for which they have received Pell Funds, the school will complete a calculation to determine if any funds are to be returned. Examples of the calculation of funds and earned/unearned time may be found in the Financial Aid Office.

Scholarships

There are a limited number of program scholarships available in various departments. See the Financial Aid Officer for details.

Workforce Plus

Training opportunities are available through two programs funded through Workforce Plus, which serves Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla counties. These two programs utilize numerous activities for transitioning a person from unemployment or low-wage employment to gainful, self-sufficient employment. Scholarships provide funding for tuition and books. WIA also provides job search assistance, plus various workshops to assist clientele back to the workforce. Contact the Workforce Investment Act Program (WIA) at 850-414-9374.

The WAGES Program assists welfare recipients as they begin to make the transition from cash assistance to employment. WAGES provides support and mentoring, as well as assistance in such areas as transportation and child care. Further information can be obtained by calling 850-922-0023, or by speaking with a Student Services staff member.