Return to Title IV Funds

When a student withdraws from North Arkansas College, he or she may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds (Pell, SEOG, Federal Student Loans, or Federal Work Study) that the student was originally scheduled to receive. In this event, the amount of Federal funds earned must be determined. Under Section 484B of the Higher Education Act, if the amount disbursed is greater than the amount earned, unearned funds must be returned. http://ifap.ed.gov/qahome/qaassessments/returntivfunds.html

The amount of Title IV aid the student must return is determined by the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV Funds as specified in Section 484B of the Higher Education Act. This law also specifies the order of return of the Title IV funds to the programs from which they were awarded.
If a student withdraws prior to completing 60% of the enrollment period, a repayment may be required when cash has been disbursed to a student from financial aid funds in excess of the amount of aid the student earned during the term. The amount of Title IV aid earned is determined by multiplying the total Title IV aid (other than Federal College Work Study) for which the student qualified by the percentage of time during the term that the student was enrolled. The date used in the calculation is either the date of the complete withdrawal or the date issued by the instructor if a failing grade is earned for nonattendance. If a date cannot be determined, midpoint of the semester is used (50%).
If less aid was disbursed than was earned, the student may receive a late disbursement for the difference. If more aid was disbursed than was earned, the amount of Title IV aid that must be returned (i.e. that was unearned) is determined by subtracting the earned amount from the amount actually disbursed.

The responsibility for returning unearned aid is allocated between the college and the student according to the portion of disbursed aid that could have been used to cover college charges and the portion that could have been disbursed directly to the student once college charges were covered. North Arkansas College will distribute the unearned aid back to the Title IV program as specified by law. The student will be billed for the amount the student owed to the Title IV programs and any amount due to the college resulting from the return of Title IV funds used to cover college charges.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Title IV Financial Aid

North Arkansas College students are expected to progress in their coursework and are required by federal regulation to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in order to receive federal financial aid funds.

SAP Evaluation
The Financial Aid Office checks SAP for all students who apply for Title IV federal student aid at the time of FAFSA application and midway through the student’s program of study. Additionally, SAP for students in degree programs is checked annually; SAP for students in other program is checked at the end of each term of enrollment.

SAP Standards

2.0 G.P.A. in the previous semester of attendance

For each period of enrollment, students much complete a minimum number of credit hours based on the student’s attempted hours:

Semester Hours Attempted	Required Minimum Hours Earned
12 or more	9
9-11	6
1-5	Must complete all hours attempted

Successful course completion is defined as earning a passing grade. Grades of W (withdrawal), F (failing), NC (no credit) and I (incomplete) do not constitute successful completion.

Maximum Time to Complete Program
Students may receive federal financial aid for no longer than 150% of the total hours required for a program. All courses attempted, including those with grades of W, I, F, AU, CR, and IP, are counted as attempted hours. SAP for students enrolled in a clock hour programs will be reviewed at the completion of each payment period.

Repeated Courses

Students may receive federal aid for a repeated course one time if a passing grade has been earned (D or better).

Transfer Students

Transfer students are subject to the same policy regarding maximum time to program completion and G.P.A for courses transferred to Northark. All official transcripts must be received by the Registrar’s Office and must be evaluated before SAP can be determined.

Financial Aid Warning

Any student not meeting SAP Standards for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning during the next period of enrollment.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students may be suspended from receiving Title IV Financial Aid as follows:

Students who do not meet SAP at the end of a period of Warning Status.
Students who exceed the maximum time for program completion.
Students whose academic progress indicates an inability to complete their programs within the maximum time frame.
Students who withdraw from all classes and students who complete the semester with a zero GPA will be automatically suspended for their next term of enrollment. These students are considered to have failed to make SAP.

Appeals to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students who demonstrate and document unusual or mitigating circumstances (i.e. illness, death in immediate family, etc.) may appeal the financial aid suspension by completing a “Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form. This form, along with supporting documentation, must be submitted to the financial aid office within 15 days after receiving notification of suspension. Students will be notified of the results of the appeal via email. The committee decision is final.

Reinstatement from Financial Aid Suspension

Students may be reinstated from financial aid suspension as follows:

Students who were suspended due to failure to make SAP must complete a semester using their own financial resources and must meet SAP requirements during that semester in order to regain eligibility.
Students who were suspended due to reasons relating to maximum time to program completion may not be reinstated without making a successful Financial Aid Suspension Appeal.
Students who appeal financial aid suspension and receive a reinstatement decision from the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

The Financial Aid Office processes applications for students who have made SAP and packages and awards eligible students.
The Financial Aid Office places students who have not made SAP on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension.
The financial aid applications of students who have been placed on Financial Aid Warning are processed, packaged and awarded (if the student is otherwise eligible for Title IV aid). These students are sent a Financial Aid Warning letter.
The Financial Aid Office sends a Financial Aid Suspension Letter and a Financial Aid Appeal form to students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Appeals to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students may appeal the financial aid suspension by completing the financial aid suspension appeal form and submitting it to the financial aid office.

Print this Page