Higher Education Act of 1965

Financial Aid Requirements

Moraine Park Technical College participates in student financial aid programs. Federal, state, local and private sources of funds are available to students in the form of loans, work-study, grants and scholarship programs.

All students are eligible to apply for financial aid by submitting a federal application.

The financial aid programs are coordinated and managed by the Student Financial Aid Office staff to ensure that the established principles and regulations in the administration of student aid programs are observed.

Student Application For Financial Aid

All students requesting financial aid must file an application with the U.S. Department of Education by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must also agree to complete any related forms and provide other related documentation if required. Application for financial aid must be made for each academic year.

The preferred priority processing date is April 1 for applicants for the upcoming year. Applicants filing after that date will be considered on the basis of funds available and according to date of completed application.

Misrepresentation, Forgery Or Fraud

The Department of Education mandates that a staff member who becomes aware that a student and/or parent(s) has purposely misrepresented facts relevant to the student's financial aid application, or has committed forgery or fraud, must report the situation to the Student Financials Partner for appropriate follow-up.

If the matter cannot be resolved following investigation, the case must be referred to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Education or the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS for resolution.

Verification Of Application

To ensure that financial aid funds are awarded to eligible students in an equitable and consistent manner, 30% of the total number of student federal aid applicants will be verified (34CFR 668.54(a)(2)). All applications selected by the Central Processing System (CPS) will be verified. In addition, records with inconsistent or questionable responses will be selected by the institution for verification.

Confidentiality Of Student Records

All records and conversations between an aid applicant, his/her family and the financial aid staff are confidential and entitled to protection. Information concerning a student's financial aid record will be protected under the Family Rights of Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.

Determination Of Student Eligibility

When a student applies for federal student aid, the information reported on the FAFSA is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate the EFC is established by law and is used to measure the family's financial strength based on their income and assets. The EFC is used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal and state student aid.

Financial Aid staff has authority to make individual adjustments to data values according to the regulations provided by the Department of Education. Any changes will be documented in the student's file with supporting information.

Awarding Financial Aid

Awards will be offered based on enrollment or projected enrollment according to the student's survey form. The Student Financials Partner may make exceptions for extenuating circumstances, beyond the student's control.

Financial aid awards will be calculated to provide every student with the most advantageous combination of financial aid funds for which he/she qualifies, subject to availability of funds under the respective programs. Whenever possible, the full need (budget less resources) will be met with grants.

Institutional awards and awards from other sources may not exceed financial aid eligibility. Students receiving aid in excess of their need will receive an adjustment in their aid award. Adequate records shall be maintained to document any changes in the original award.

Lender Relationships

The College and its employees are prohibited from:

Soliciting, accepting, or entering into any agreement in which educational loan lender provides fees, revenue sharing or material benefits to the College in exchange for the College or its employees recommending the lender or its loan products.
Entering into an agreement with a lender of education loans for, or solicit or accept from a lender of education loans, any funds that would be allocated or used for opportunity loan pools or any similar arrangements;
Soliciting or accepting assistance for call center or financial aid staffing from lender or education loans.
Soliciting, accepting, or entering into any agreement in violation of the College policy on student financial aid operations and engaging in conduct that violates the district code of ethics under TCS 6.06 (1), Wis. Adm. Code., or any applicable provisions of Wis. Stats. §19.41, et seq., Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees.
Receiving compensation or reimbursement from an educational loan lender for any costs incurred as part of participating on an advisory council of the lender.

The College employees are allowed:

To participate on an advisory council of an educational loan lender for the purpose of improving services to students.

The College must inform students who apply for financial aid:

That the student may use any lender who is eligible to make education loans.
Of available federal loans and encourage students to explore and weigh the use of federal loans that are guaranteed, regulated, and may be more advantageous, before pursuing private or alternative loans.

The College in regards to maintaining lists, either in print or other media, or educational loan lenders for the benefits of students, is subject to the following:

The College must use an evaluative process for the inclusion of lenders on the list; information regarding the selection of lenders, the evaluative process used, and the criteria used for such selection must be available to the public upon request;
Any College lender list must be accompanied by a statement explaining that students are not limited to the lenders included on the list;
A lender list must include a minimum of three lenders; and
The College must work with the educational loan lenders on the list to ensure that specific loan information and key details (including, but not limited by enumeration to, the terms, interest rate, and repayment requirements) are available from the lender in a clear and understandable manner.

The services and resources of the College and its employees, not withstanding any other provisions of the College’s policy, may include:

Counseling and educational materials for use by students and their families regarding student lender laws, educational loans, financial literacy, debt management and other topics relevant to providing students and their families with financial aid assistance; any such materials must clearly disclose the source of said materials and may not use trademarks, logos, mascots or other symbols associated with the College or that would suggest any district endorsement of the lender or product;

Training to College employees regarding student lending laws, education loans, financial literacy, debt management and other topics relevant to providing students and their families with financial aid.

Federal Campus-based Financial Aid Programs

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) will be awarded to the highest-need students meeting the additional federal eligibility requirements. Minimum award is set by federal regulation. Maximum award may be up to 10% of the remaining unmet need or maximum set by federal regulation, whichever is less.

Federal Work-Study

Federal work-study will be awarded first come, first-served, based per student's request. Federal work-study will be 150% over-awarded to ensure utilization of the funds.

All College work-study employees will be classified as casual employees and will be paid at least an amount in accordance with the minimum wage law. Upon completion of 192 hours worked as a work-study, an increase of $.25 per hour would be given at the beginning of the next semester.

Authorized College employees may request work-study students with the approval of their dean, supervisor or administrator.

Positions may be available in the community at nonprofit organizations or at elementary schools under the America Reads program on a contract basis. The nonprofit organization will be responsible for the local cost that will equal at least the institutional share of the wages. The America Reads program is funded completely by federal funds. Approved requests should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

The Financial Aid staff will complete an initial report as soon as possible after September 1, listing the number of students in the program, the position and the student's supervisor. This report will be updated at the beginning of the second semester.

Disbursement Of Funds

Funds will be disbursed based on Department of Education regulations, state or sponsors requirements and enrollment as of the date of record or date of award, whichever is later. Awards will be paid based on enrollment status as of the date of record (15th calendar day) or as of award date, whichever is later.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal Student Aid Program

Regulations governing the federal financial aid programs require a student to be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or diploma and to demonstrate qualitative and quantitative progress according to the standards and practices of the institution within federal and state guidelines. Satisfactory academic progress will be checked each semester. No provision for the concept of academic amnesty.

The student's total academic history at Moraine Park Technical College, whether or not the student has received financial aid in a previous semester, is considered in determining satisfactory progress. Continuing or returning students applying for financial aid the first time must have demonstrated progress to be eligible for financial aid.

Satisfactory progress as required by regulation is defined as:

Qualitative Standards (Grade Point Average)

Effective fall semester 2006-07, students' courses will be reviewed using the following progress standard. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid is defined as the successful completion of at least 75% (rounded down to the next whole number) of the credits counted as attempted with at least a 2.0 semester grade point average.

A, B, C and NC are calculated in the GPA. P grades for approved remedial and developmental courses do not affect the GPA calculation. Grades of NC, NR, @ (repeated) and I are considered non-passing grades. Grade of AU (audited) is not eligible for financial aid. Transfer credits are not evaluated and are considered credits already earned. Consortium transfer credits will be evaluated as Moraine Park credits completed but will not affect GPA.

After two years of attendance at any enrollment status, the student must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA to maintain eligibility.

Quantitative (Credits Earned)

Time Frame - The maximum time frame students may receive federal financial aid cannot exceed 150% of the number of credits required to earn a degree. Credits dropped during the 100% and 80% refund period are not counted as credits attempted. Remedial and developmental courses are not counted as credits attempted. If credits are dropped during the 60% or 0% refund period, the credits will be counted as attempted and not completed. Career Prep courses dropped at 0% and audited courses will not count as courses attempted. Transfer credits or program credits attempted at Moraine Park will count toward the student’s overall length of eligibility.

Change of Program - Eligibility is based on the maintenance of satisfactory progress and is not affected by whether or not such aid was previously received. The student's total academic history is considered. Credits attempted in other Moraine Park programs in which the student has or has not graduated will count towards the student's overall length of eligibility.

Advanced Standing - Students receiving or planning to receive financial aid or Veterans’ benefits are required to have any prior education or training reviewed for advanced standing. These credits must be reviewed regardless if the fees for these courses were paid by the student or were funded by financial aid, Veterans’ benefits or any other funding agency. The responsibility for evidence of credits received from other institutions rests upon the student. These credits are reviewed as stated in the Moraine Park Procedure #1TIO0101 Advanced Standing.

Probation - Students will be placed on probation for the next semester if a cumulative or semester GPA is below 2.0 or a cumulative or semester course completion total is below 75% of the credits counted as attempted. Failure to meet the cumulative 2.0 GPA by the end of the second academic year will result in suspension.

Suspension - The student will be suspended from receipt of financial aid after the probation semester if any of the following are not met: (1) the required semester GPA and/or minimum credit completion total fall below the requirements (2) the required cumulative GPA and completion total fall below the requirements or (3) cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of the second year is not met.

The student will be suspended from financial aid without a probation semester if they completely withdraw from classes after receiving financial aid or have not earned a degree within 150% of the credits attempted.

A student who has been suspended must meet reinstatement requirements. A change of program will not eliminate these requirements, as total academic history is considered.

Reinstatement - To regain eligibility for the subsequent semesters, the student, during the time of suspension, must achieve satisfactory academic progress with (1) the same number of credits as were previously carried during the probation semester or (2) completion of the total number of deficient credits that led to suspension.

Extension of Eligibility - A student who graduated from a program and pursues another program at the college continues under the 150% timeframe for the new program or demonstrates mitigating circumstances can request an extension of eligibility.

Appeal Procedure

A student may to appeal his/her eligibility suspension in writing with supporting third-party documentation to the Student Financials Partner to resolve the matter.

Extenuating circumstances, beyond the student's control, related to the student's suspension status will be reviewed. If unusual circumstances warrant that the progress requirement be waived, student and staff will be notified in writing. Any conditions of approval will be explained in the appeal decision.

If, after review, the suspension appeal is denied, the student may request a hearing by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee. This request must be made in writing to the Student Financials Partner no later than three days after the student's appeal review. The request should also detail the circumstances and include documentation to substantiate the basis of the appeal if not previously provided.

A Financial Aid Appeal Committee comprised of the Student Financials Partner, Registrar, Financial Aid Specialist, counselor, an appropriate faculty member or advisor and Admission Associate will be established as necessary when a hearing has been requested. The student and his or her representative may be present if requested. The hearing shall be impartial and closed. The final decision and written report of the committee's findings shall be submitted within two days to all parties. The decision of the Appeal Committee shall be final.

Refunds

Students who withdraw will be evaluated for refunds based on any federally mandated refund regulations or donor refund requirements that apply. The rank order refund distribution priority for Title IV programs is based on federal regulations.

An up-to-date internal procedures manual will be maintained by the Financial Aid Office.