2004/2006
Catalog

Financial Aid

Grants
Employment
Disbursements
Application Process
Award Letters & Acceptance
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Student Rights
Student Responsibilities
Veterans Programs

Eastern Arizona College has a comprehensive financial aid program to ensure, to the extent of available funding, that no student will be denied a college education because of lack of funds. EAC believes that primary responsibility for financing your education rests with you and your family. The ability of you and your family to provide that support is calculated through a federally approved needs analysis system.

A financial aid "package" often includes more than one type of aid. Eligibility requirements for the following programs are general in nature, and may change without notice. For more specific details please access the EAC Financial Aid World Wide Web site or contact the Financial Aid Office, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, AZ 85552-0769, (928) 428-8287; fax (928) 428-8462.

Grants

Grants are awards which do not have to be repaid. Included are Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and for Arizona residents, the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP – formerly SSIG).

Employment

Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS): Federally funded part-time employment. Pay dates are twice monthly. Student employees are paid at least the federal minimum hourly rate.

Institutional Work-Study Program: College funded part-time employment awarded at specific request of faculty or staff. Pay procedures are similar to those under FWS above.

Terms and Conditions of Federal or Institutional Work Study Employment

If you have been awarded Federal Work-Study:

• Confirm award with Financial Aid Office.
• Locate a job. See listing under Student Employment at the Financial Aid World Wide Web site or in the appendix of the Student Employment Handbook.
• If you are a first-time EAC employee, fill out an employee "Set-Up Packet" at the cashier’s counter in the Student Services Building. Bring two forms of identification (social security card and driver’s license preferred).
• Work your agreed schedule and keep a careful record of the dates and hours.
• Turn in your time sheets to your supervisor before noon on the 15^th and 30^th of the month.
• Complete the timesheet with your correct social security number and sign it!
• Check calendar for pay dates. Typically it is the 7^th and 22^nd of the month. Take your identification and pick up your check at the cashier’s window.

Note! If you are applying your work-study earnings toward a college debt, you must come to the cashier’s counter and endorse your check so the funds can be transferred to reduce your outstanding bill.

Loans

EAC no longer participates in the Federal Student Loan Programs. Information on lenders of private educational loans is available from the Financial Aid Office staff.

Disbursements

Disbursement of grants and scholarships in excess of institutional charges will be by electronic transfer, cash or check two days prior to the first day of classes or as soon after as practical.

The Application Process

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1 if you plan to enroll the following fall term. EAC's deadline for priority consideration is March 1. Since errors or incomplete forms cause delays it is important to complete the form early, carefully, and accurately. We encourage you to apply on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Completing your FAFSA on the World Wide Web can speed up the FAFSA process.  Using the World Wide Web version can cut down on postal service delays.  It also does edit checks as you enter data which helps cut down on errors.  If there are difficulties or questions in filling out the form, please utilize online assistance or request assistance from a high school counselor or our Financial Aid Office.

Approximately 30% of all applications will be selected for a process called "verification." If the Department of Education or the College selects you for verification, you must prove that the information you reported is correct by submitting income tax forms and other documents. Therefore, you should save copies of all records and materials used in applying for aid.

Eligibility Determination

Before aid can be awarded your financial aid file must be complete, including all documents requested. Aid is then awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. The amount of your award is determined by eligibility, availability of funds, and compliance with deadlines. You must reapply for aid each year.

Only regular students are eligible for federal financial aid. Regular students are defined by Eastern Arizona College as those students having earned a high school diploma or a GED. High school or home schooled students that are simultaneously enrolled in college classes are not considered regular, degree seeking students, and are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Two basic steps are used in determining financial aid eligibility.

Step 1. Determination of costs (student budget). Financial Aid considers fees, tuition, room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Several standard budgets are designed to reflect a modest but adequate standard of living. Budgets are revised only if you can document extraordinary costs over which you have no control. The following are samples of the standard budgets to be used for the academic year based on an average of 16 credits per semester.

Out-of-state fees are an additional $2,490 per semester or $4,980 per year.

Step 2. From the appropriate budget, subtract the expected family contribution as computed from information supplied on the FAFSA application. This results in the maximum eligibility.

Financial aid cannot be awarded until you have declared a major and are enrolled in courses that will lead to a degree or certificate. If you have neither a high school diploma nor GED, you must take and pass the Ability to Benefit test and results must be in the Financial Aid Office before aid can be awarded.

Notification of Award

A notification of aid offered will be mailed to you. The Fiscal Control Office disburses aid and all debts to the College will be deducted from any amounts due you.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To insure compliance with Federal regulations, EAC will award federal financial aid only to those students who are making satisfactory academic progress toward obtaining a degree or certificate. These procedures are designed to encourage you to successfully complete a degree or certificate in the appropriate amount of time. EAC has established the following by which to judge that progress. These standards should not be confused with the academic standards of the College, which may differ.

Standards: You are required to successfully complete at least 67% of your total attempted credit hours whether or not you received aid for all the terms attended. Repeat courses are counted in the total number of credits for that semester. Audited credit hours are not included.

You are required to maintain at least a 1.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) if you have attempted 1-30 semester hours and a 2.0 or better cumulative grade point average if you have attempted 31 or higher semester hours.

Ninety-six (96) credits, including transfer credits, will be considered the maximum time frame for completion of most Associate degree programs. Proportional amounts of time will be allocated to students in shorter programs.

Financial aid may cover a maximum of 30 credit hours of developmental classes. This includes classes below the 100 level and MAT 120 and ENG 100. However these credits will be included in the maximum total of attempted hours allowed.

Financial Aid Status: If you completed fewer than the required credits or did not achieve the required GPA, you will be placed on probation for the following semester. While on probation, you may continue to receive financial aid but must complete all attempted credits with at least a 2.00 semester GPA.

If you achieve less than a 1.00 term GPA or complete no credits, you will not receive a probationary semester and future aid will be canceled.

Appeals: If you fail to meet the above standards and feel that there are significant extenuating circumstances you may submit an appeal. Appeals are to be made in writing to the Director of Financial Aid and should outline the specific problem and project your ability to complete the program.

Reestablishing Eligibility: If your aid is canceled due to lack of compliance with the above GPA standard, you can reestablish eligibility by completing credits at Eastern Arizona College without federal financial aid and by bringing the cumulative GPA up to the required level. If your aid is canceled due to lack of compliance with the above earned credits standard, you can reestablish eligibility by completing credits at Eastern Arizona College or another college without federal financial aid. If these credits are taken at another school you must arrange to have an academic transcript sent from the other school. Only those credits which transfer will be included in the calculation. Transfer credits are not included when your GPA is calculated.  Only EAC credits affect your GPA.

Financial Aid will attempt to notify you of any deficiencies in a timely manner; however, it is your responsibility to be aware of the conditions of Satisfactory Academic Progress and to ensure compliance.

Student Rights

You have the right to know:

• what programs are available at EAC.
• the deadlines for submitting applications.
• how your financial aid eligibility was determined.
• the refund and repayment policies.
• the satisfactory progress requirements.
• the costs at EAC.

Student Responsibilities

You must:

• complete all application materials accurately and on time.
• provide correct information. Misreporting may be considered a criminal offense.
• accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign.
• notify the Financial Aid Office in writing of any changes in address, marital status, name, or drop in credits that takes you below the number of credits for which you are receiving aid.

Veterans and Children of Deceased Veterans

Most of Eastern Arizona College's curricula and courses listed in this catalog are approved for veterans training. You can contact the EAC Veterans Affairs Office (in the Records and Registration Office) for information on approved courses. These programs are maintained by cooperative arrangement between Eastern Arizona College, the State of Arizona, and the United States Department of Education. The College and students must comply with all regulations governing the Act under which the students are granted educational benefits.

You should apply for educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs well in advance of your enrollment at Eastern Arizona College. Our Veterans Affairs Office can provide you with the Veterans Application for Education Benefits. You'll need to arrange for transmittal directly to EAC of an official transcript from all colleges attended. For further information please write to Veterans Affairs Office, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher AZ 85552-0769.

For additional information contact: Records and Registration Office, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher AZ 85552-0769, (928) 428-8273; FAX: (928) 428-8493; send email to: records@eac.edu.