Student Financial Aid
Students interested in applying for federal student aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Students must apply each academic year. When the FAFSA is submitted to the Federal Processor, the student must designate Jones College (federal school code 002411) as one of the college recipients. Priority consideration for some grants and scholarships is given to students who are admitted to the college in a degree-granting or certificate program, have a valid Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) on file, and have submitted all required information. Financial assistance is to be used for educational purposes, which is provided to students who have met the college admission requirements, have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent, and meet other eligibility requirements. In addition, to receive financial aid from any Federal Financial Aid Program, the student must meet satisfactory academic progress in the course of study according to Jones College financial aid policy. In order to be considered for aid, students may be required to submit additional information to the Financial Aid Office. All students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA. Refer to www.jcjc.edu/financialaid for information regarding federal and state financial aid programs.
Students that are anticipating federal student aid at Jones College are expected to enroll in classes that lead to a degree in Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science and/or certificate in the chosen Career and Technical Programs that are offered. A list of core graduation requirements for an Associate in Arts Degree can be found under the Graduation Checklist (Associate of Arts Degree). For Career and Technical programs, the program requirements can be reviewed with the advisor or in the College Catalog.
The program outlines for the Associate of Arts programs are guided pathways to assist students as they prepare for their advancement to a university or college to complete a bachelor or other degree. To streamline the transfer of credit from Jones College to any public university in the State of Mississippi, Jones College participates in the articulation agreement between the Mississippi Community College Board and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. For the purpose of ensuring transfer-ability within Mississippi, the Mississippi Articulation Transfer Tool (MATT) shall be used to advise and guide students in choosing the best courses to take as part of the requirements to graduate from Jones College with an Associate of Arts degree. If a student’s intended transfer institution is not covered by MATT (e.g., an out of state school and/or a private institution), it is the responsibility of the student to review coursework requirements with the chosen institution directly to determine transfer-ability of credit.
Federal Financial Aid Programs
Federal Pell Grant (FAFSA) is a need-based program available to students pursuing a first undergraduate degree or certificate, demonstrating exceptional financial need, and meeting the other eligibility requirements for student financial assistance. To apply, complete an online application at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid-fafsa.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a need-based program available to a limited number of students demonstrating substantial financial need. Availability of funds is limited and is based on yearly federal allocations.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is educational loans with fixed low interest rates which must be repaid. This program offers three types of student loans: Subsidized Loan, Unsubsidized Loan, and Parent PLUS Loan. Students are required to complete the FAFSA, student loan application, and meet all eligibility requirements to be considered for a student loan. Applications are available under forms on the Financial Aid website (https://www.jcjc.edu/financialaid/forms.php). PLUS Loan applications are only available in the Jones Enrollment Services.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is employment in offices and departments on campus and is available to students who must supplement their finances in order to attend college. The primary factors in assigning employment are as follows: financial need, the dependability of the student, positions available, and the availability of funds. Applications are available in the Veteran Affairs/Work-Study Office.
State Financial Aid Programs
Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) is available to current legal residents of Mississippi for no less than one year immediately preceding the award year and enrolled in 15 hours. Students can view eligibility requirements and complete an online state grant application at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/. All requirements must be completed by the application deadline, which is usually September 15, but is determined by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) is available to current legal Mississippi residents who are enrolled in 15 hours and meet the eligibility requirements. Students can view eligibility requirements and complete an online state grant application at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/. All requirements must be completed by the application deadline, which is usually September 15, but is determined by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.
Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP) is a scholarship that provides full-tuition to all qualified college-bound state residents who apply for the payment thereof and enroll in 15 hours at any eligible Mississippi public institution of higher learning or eligible Mississippi public community/junior college to pursue a first undergraduate degree. To apply, students must complete an online state grant application at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/ by the March 31st deadline.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
All students attending JC, whether or not they are financial aid recipients, will be expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress towards their declared degree objective in order to receive federal financial aid. If satisfactory academic progress is not met, all federal financial aid, including Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, will be terminated. Satisfactory academic progress will be measured based on the chart below:
Cumulative Semester Hours Attempted
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Dual Enrolled Hours
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1 - 24 Semester Hours
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25 - 48 Semester Hours
- 49 + Semester Hours
- Minimum Required Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): 2.0
- Completion Rate/Percentage of Hours Passed: 67%
The chart above does not apply to state or institutional scholarships that may require a higher GPA.
SAP measures three separate standards that are reviewed at the end of each semester of attendance by the Financial Aid Office based on the cumulative hours attempted:
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Qualitative component that measures the minimum grade point average,
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Quantitative component that measures the pace of progression, and
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Maximum time frame of attendance in which the student must complete the degree requirements. The review of the maximum time frame standards includes all institutional and transfer work that has been accepted by JC, including college course(s) attended while in high school.
Begin Again or Academic Amnesty does not apply when determining Financial Aid SAP.
Financial Aid Warning & Suspension
Financial Aid Warning
This status is assigned to a student the first time it is determined they have failed to meet the SAP standards based on the level of enrollment. For each SAP measurement (GPA, Completion Rate, and 75 hours for Maximum Time frame), the first violation will result in the student receiving a warning. Students are only given one semester of warning for not meeting SAP standards during their enrollment at JC.
Financial Aid Suspension
This status is assigned to a student that does not meet the SAP standards for a subsequent semester based on their level of enrollment. When a student is determined to be on suspension, their financial aid eligibility will be revoked or denied.
Notification of Financial Aid Warning and Suspension will be emailed to students at the end of the semester.
Other JC Financial Aid Regulations
Financial Aid Reinstatement and Appeals
Students have two options for reinstating their financial aid for future semesters.
Self Reinstatement
Students on Financial Aid Suspension have the option of paying out of pocket for one (or more) semester(s) to reinstate their financial aid eligibility. Students are required to attend a minimum of 9 hours per semester towards their program of study and meet the GPA and pace of completion requirements based on the chart of attempted hours.
SAP Appeal
Students on Financial Aid Suspension have the option of appealing their suspension due to extenuating circumstances that occurred in the semesters when SAP was not met. Extenuating circumstances can include, but are not limited to:
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Personal illness or injury to the student or immediate family member (parent(s), spouse, child),
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Death of close relative,
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Family emergency,
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Divorce,
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Birth of child or pregnancy, and/or
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Other extenuating circumstances that can be fully documented.
Appeals will be reviewed in the Office of Financial Aid at Jones College on a case-by-case basis and the outcome determined based on their individual merit. The SAP Appeal will need to include a detailed statement that includes an explanation of the circumstances that occurred during the semester(s) SAP was/were not met, along with supporting documentation. A second statement will include details of how the student’s situation has changed so they can be successful in future semester(s) at Jones College. Appeals that are not submitted with supporting documents as outlined on the SAP Appeal form are subject to denial.
Students that appeal for multiple semesters for not meeting the SAP requirements cannot be approved for recurring circumstances since the SAP appeal includes expectations of how the situations have changed and would not impact future enrollment at Jones College. The Office of Financial Aid can indicate if no further appeals will be approved, no matter the circumstances that occur. If a student appeals for the current semester, but is already recognized that they will not meet the SAP requirements by the end of the semester, the appeal will not be approved.
The Office of Financial Aid recommends that appeals be submitted prior to the start of the next semester students are expected to return to Jones College. This is to ensure a student’s financial aid is reinstated prior to the start of the semester or payment due dates as set by the Business Office. Appeals will be reviewed and students notified by email(s) within 15 business days of the appeal being received by the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals are not guaranteed approval and may require request from the Office of Financial Aid for additional documentation once the review process has begun.
Appeals to reinstate financial aid for the current semester will not be approved once the semester has ended. Suggested deadlines to turn in appeals and any supporting documentation will be established by semester and published on the SAP Appeal form and published important dates.
Census Date
The Census Date is the date during each course schedule in which the Office of Financial Aid determines the final official enrollment for the semester. The class(es) the student is enrolled in and attending as of the Census Date for each session will determine the amount of financial aid the student may receive. Adding and dropping classes during the semester may affect the financial aid awarded amounts and the final balance owed by the student to Jones College.
Determination of Need
The information submitted on the FAFSA will be used in a federally mandated calculation that determines what portion of students “cost of attendance” can be met through the students’ (and in the case of dependent students, the parents) resources. This figure is then subtracted from the cost of attendance during the appropriate period of enrollment. “Cost of attendance” is based on average costs for tuition and fees, room and board (even for commuter students), books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. This figure minus the expected family contribution (EFC) equals the documented limit for need-based financial aid. Once the documented limit is determined, awards are made by the Financial Aid Office based on the students’ eligibility for aid and the amount of need-based funds available. See calculation of financial need below:
Cost of Attendance (COA) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need
Disbursement of Awards
Federal, state, and other financial aid will be credited to the student’s account by the JC FAO. Any books, supplies, miscellaneous fees, and bobcat bucks (to the extent of funds available) may be allowed to be charged against the student’s account if authorized. All refunds to students, over the above charges, will be disbursed to the students based on the refund method selected with the business office. Additional information on refunds can be found at https://www.jcjc.edu/businessoffice/. Student refund dates will be posted on the Jones Financial Aid website at the beginning of each semester. This does not apply to students who work on campus. All work-study checks will be disbursed on a monthly basis.
Dual Enrolled Students
Dual enrolled college students are not eligible to receive Title IV aid at two institutions. Dual enrolled high school students are not eligible for financial aid.
Duration of Pell Grant Eligibility
The maximum allowable time a student may receive Pell grant funds is the equivalent of twelve (12) full-time semesters effective the 2012-2013 school year.
Grievance Policy
Students have the option to file a grievance with the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. The complaint process applies to conduct or behavior on the part of a Mississippi institution or any of its agents, representatives or employees that constitutes dishonest or fraudulent behavior, including providing false or misleading information to a student and operation of programs (including distance education) contrary to practices expected by institutional and/or programmatic/specialized accreditors. This process does not apply to complaints related to student grades or discipline/conduct matters. More information on filing a grievance can be found at http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/ student_complaint_process.asp
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades that are assigned with a letter grade of “I” must be completed within six weeks of the end of the semester. If the “I” is not changed after the six-week period, the incomplete grade will be considered an “F” grade when reviewing the SAP standards.
Non-High School Graduates
Students who enroll on or after July 1, 2012, are required to have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent. Students may receive Title IV aid if they demonstrate the ability to benefit from the academic program, and are enrolled in an eligible career pathway program as defined in the Higher Education Act.
Remedial Coursework
Students that are enrolled in remedial coursework will still be held to the same SAP standards. The remedial coursework will be calculated in SAP standards. Students may receive financial aid for 30 attempted remedial credit hours.
Repeated Coursework
All repeated coursework will be included in the SAP review. A student may receive federal financial aid for a repeat course only once if the course was previously passed. This is for instances when a student is attempting the course again for grade improvement. Students repeating failed coursework will continue to receive federal student aid, however the failed courses will affect SAP. Career and Technical programs are not subject to the same regulations for repeated coursework. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional guidance if needed.
Return of Title IV Funds
Students receiving federal student aid who begin attending classes during the enrollment period (semester) but cease attending or being involved in academic activities prior to the end of the semester will be subject to a review of financial aid eligibility under the Return to Title IV policy.
If a student chooses to cease attendance at Jones Colleges before the semester ends, students should follow the college’s withdrawal guidelines.
A record of a student withdrawing from Jones College is not complete until they have officially withdrawn with Enrollment Services. An official withdrawal form is available in Enrollment Services on the first floor of the Terrell Tisdale Library. If a student does not go through the official withdrawal process, students will be dropped based on the Jones College attendance policy.
Students who attend less than sixty (60) percent of the semester, will be subject to a prorated calculation of financial aid eligibility. The determination of the percentage earned is based on the enrollment start date, enrollment end date and the number of days attended based on the last date of attendance of all courses enrolled.
If a student ceases attendance, whether officially or unofficially, after their funds are disbursed, Jones College’s Office of Financial Aid will return the unearned funds as obligated by the institution. Students could have to return additional funds if the student received more funds than earned.
If a student ceases attendance, whether officially or unofficially, before their financial aid has been disbursed, students will be subject to a post-withdrawal disbursement based on the percentage of time attended. Federal loan post-withdrawal disbursements require the student/parent to accept the loans to receive the post-withdrawal disbursement. The letter of acceptance will be mailed to the student’s assigned Jones email or the parent’s email provided on the Parent PLUS Loan application. The acceptance will need to be returned to the Office of Financial Aid. If no action is taken, the funds will be cancelled.
The funds will be applied to the student’s account on the scheduled disbursement date. For Pell Grants, any access of funds that result in a refund to the student will be applied to the student’s refund method chosen with BankMobile. The refund will be released within fourteen (14) days of the disbursement date. Any refund as of the result of a student loan will be applied to the student’s refund method within three (3) business days of the disbursement date. Parents will receive their refunds by mail to the address provided on the Parent PLUS loan application.
The Return to Title IV calculation will be completed within thirty (30) days of the date it was determined the student withdrew from the semester. Any return to Title IV adjustments or payments will be made within forty-five (45) days of the date it was determined the student withdrew.
Unearned funds as of the outcome of the return to Title IV calculation will be returned in the following order:
· Williams D. Ford Federal Direct Loan(s)
o Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan
o Subsidized Direct Student Loan
o Direct PLUS (Parent) Loan
· Federal Pell Grant
· Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Transfer Students
Credit hours from previous post secondary accredited college(s) will be counted. Transfer students seeking a degree at JC are eligible to receive financial aid if eligibility requirements are met.
Transient/Guest Students
Please contact the Jones Enrollment Services for additional information.
Verification Process
Each aid year the U.S. Department of Education selects a percentage of financial aid applicants for a process called verifi8cation to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In addition, the Office of Financial Aid is required to review and to resolve any conflicting data provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This gives the Office of Financial Aid the authority to request certain documents such as parent and student IRS tax return transcripts, w-2 forms from employers, verification of untaxed income, proof of marital status, verification of number in household and in college, and other documentation as needed. Applicants selected for the verification process should provide documentation in a timely manner as to expedite the awarding process.
Withdrawals
Withdrawals will be included in the total attempted hours, however these hours will not be considered earned when determining GPA. The withdrawal of courses will be included in the determination of the Completion Rate. Rules and regulations are subject to change.
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