The Financial Aid Office at QVCC is committed to reducing economic barriers to higher education. Financial assistance is provided primarily through federal grants, state grants, scholarships, and work-study. Most aid is awarded based upon the student’s financial need as assessed by the federal formula.
Eligibility Requirements
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for financial aid:
- Be citizens or eligible non-citizens
- Be matriculated in an eligible program of study
- Have received their high school diploma or GED
- Be registered with selective service if required
- Not be convicted of a drug-related crime within the last year
- Not be in default from previous student loans
- Maintain attendance as well as satisfactory academic progress
Eligible programs include all associate degrees and certain certificate programs which lead to employment.
Financial Aid Programs
Programs of Financial Aid described herein are subject to change due to Federal, State and local regulations or funding fluctuations.
Federal Pell Grant Program (PELL)
These grants, based upon financial need, are intended to be the “foundation” of a financial aid package, and may be combined with other forms of aid to meet the direct cost of education. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This program provides grants to eligible students demonstrating financial need. Preference is given to students with exceptional need. Students must be enrolled with a minimum of 6 credit hours.
Community College Grant Program (CCG)
This State program allows for the remission of tax-supported tuition, fees and cost of textbooks for resident students who demonstrate substantial financial need. Students must be enrolled with a minimum of 6 credit hours.
Capitol Scholarship Program
This need based scholarship program is available to qualified students who are residents of Connecticut or enrolled in the New England Student Regional Program and plan to enroll as full-time students. Awards are given to students with outstanding academic achievement and financial need. This scholarship if sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education. More information is available at www.ctdhe.org.
Governor’s Scholarship Program (GSP)
The Office of Higher Education established this scholarship program to make need-based financial aid and need-based merit aid available annually to eligible Connecticut residents enrolled as undergraduates at Connecticut’s public and nonprofit independent institutions of higher education.
Federal College Work-Study Program (FCWS)
This program provides college jobs for students with financial need. Students must be enrolled with a minimum of 6 credits each semester. Hours can be arranged to suit a student’s academic schedule. Any student seeking work-study campus employment should contact the Financial Aid Office.
Stafford Loans
Quinebaug Valley Community College does not participate in loan programs. Please visit the Financial Aid Office to learn more about education tax credits, QVCC Foundation scholarships, and the convenient payment plan offered by the College’s Business Office.
Competitive Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships and awards are presented in May each year to continuing and graduating students whose academic achievement and/or service to the College merit special recognition. Several scholarships are also available for new students who have recently graduated or will be graduating from high school in the spring and plan on enrolling at QVCC in the fall. Currently available scholarships and awards are listed below. Consult the Financial Aid Office for specific information since availability and eligibility criteria may change from year to year.
There are approximately 56 competitive scholarships to which eligible students may apply for award consideration. Applications are available after March 1 each spring semester. Community members and organizations, student organizations, and the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation provide funding for these scholarships. A Foundation scholarship committee reviews submitted applications in April and select the scholarship recipients. Current scholarships include:
- Altrusa International of Northeastern Connecticut
- Archambault-Beauchamp Memorial
- Richard C. Berry Memorial
- David T. Britland Memorial
- David & Nancy Bull
- Burke Memorial
- Rhoda L. & David T. Chase-Academic Achievement
- Rhoda L. & David T. Chase-Motivation
- Citizens National Bank
- Elizabeth Czepiel Memorial
- Joan Dash
- Michael F. Davis Memorial
- Day Kimball Healthcare
- Demers Family
- Ryan S. Doyle Memorial
- Dr. Carlee R. & Michael S. Drummer President’s
- Mary Espinola Memorial
- Exchange Club of Northeastern Connecticut Norman Corriveau
- Joan F. Golrick Memorial
- Betty & Newell Hale
- W.H.G. Herklots Family
- Jewett City Savings Bank
- John Keenan Memorial
- Keith John Kipper Memorial
- Hans Langhammer
- Maria Angelos & George Laktzis
- George & Demeter Lakatzis
- Rose Bove & Normand O. LaRose
- LiR Paul Berthiaume
- Liberty Bank Foundation
- May & Frank Messinger Memorial
- Emil & Alice Miller Memorial
- Robert E. & Sylvia M. Miller
- Barbara Morowski Memorial
- Moumouris-Dykstra Family
- Virginia Atsales Moumouris Memorial
- Northeastern Connecticut Arts Council
- Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Lynn Pasquerella ‘78 & John Kuchle
- Mary Patenaude Putnam Bank
- Alice & Lionel Romney Memorial
- Rooke-Norman Women’s Opportunity
- Rotaract Mal Schumann Memorial
- Kathleen A. Russell Memorial
- William & Dorothy St. Onge Memorial
- Savings Institute Bank & Trust
- Norma & David Senger Family
- A.L. Simonds Memorial
- Spirol International Corporation
- Thompson Lions Club
- Steve & Marjolaine Townsend-Business
- Steve & Marjolaine Townsend-Fine Arts
- Steve & Marjolaine Townsend-Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Steve & Marjolaine Townsend-Veterans
- United Natural Foods
- Jeanne L. Zesut Northeastern Connecticut Human Resources Association
Emergency Scholarships
Quinebaug Valley has two sources of emergency scholarships to aid current students who are experiencing a crisis situation. These scholarships require a written letter outlining the situation from a College faculty or staff member who is aware of the circumstances. Letters should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. All letters and circumstances will remain confidential. Funding is limited for these awards. Funding is provided by the QVCC Foundation.
Financial Aid Application Procedure
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. This is the only application necessary to apply for financial aid at QVCC. The financial aid application process must be completed each academic year. The application will remain in effect for both the fall and spring semesters. Students who did not apply for the fall semester may still apply for the spring.
- New students must complete an application for enrollment to QVCC and be matriculated in an eligible program of study.
- All financial aid applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application can be completed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov
- The Financial Aid Office will receive the application electronically, provided the school code is listed, within two weeks. School Code: 010530.
- Parents and students may need to request tax return transcripts from the IRS at www.IRS.gov http://www.irs.gov, and provide them to the Financial Aid Office if necessary.
Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA after filing their taxes using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Payment of fees will be required at registration if the financial aid process is incomplete.
Priority deadlines are August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Preface
In March 2005, the Connecticut Community Colleges approved a uniform satisfactory academic progress policy for all students receiving financial aid. Recent changes to federal regulations (effective July 1, 2011) have required the Connecticut Community Colleges to make updates to this policy. This updated standard is reflected in the policy statement below and is effective with the Fall 2011 semester. Questions concerning this revised policy should be addressed to the director of financial aid services at the attending college.
Policy
A student receiving Federal Title IV financial aid or other financial aid directly administered or certified by the college must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a certificate or degree program of study. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients is measured by using a quantitative and qualitative standard and is an assessment of a student’s cumulative academic record at the college.
A student must successfully complete two-thirds (66.66%) of the credits (earned credits/attempted credits) s/he attempts. All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in the quantitative calculation. Incomplete courses, course withdrawals, course repetitions, noncredit remedial courses (with appropriate credit equivalency evaluation), and ESL courses will also be included in this assessment. Transfer credits will be counted as both attempted and earned credits in the calculation for determining satisfactory academic progress.
A student must also maintain a cumulative minimum grade point average (qualitative standard) as noted below in order to be making satisfactory academic progress and be eligible to receive financial aid.
| Earned Credits |
Minimum GPA |
| ≤ 15.99 |
1.50 |
| ≥ 16.00 |
2.00 |
A student’s cumulative academic history will be evaluated at the end of each enrollment period and prior to the subsequent term’s financial aid disbursement. This policy will be used to evaluate all students; regardless of their enrollment level.
Maximum Credit Hours
A student may receive financial aid for any attempted credits in his/her program of study that do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s educational program at the college. For example, a student enrolled in a 60-credit degree program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 90 attempted credit hours. Similarly, a student enrolled in a 30-credit certificate program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 45 attempted credit hours. Any attempted credits at the college must be included in the calculation. The 150% maximum credit hours rule is applicable to students who change majors or who pursue a double major.
Communication
A student will receive notification prior to the start of a period of enrollment via Connecticut Community College email that will describe any changes to the status of their academic progress. Updates to academic progress standing may also be made available to students through the use of myCommNet online access (http://my.commnet.edu).
Financial Aid Warning
Any student who fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. The Warning period will be the student’s next semester or period of enrollment at the college. The college will communicate the Warning status to the student and inform the student that s/he must meet the academic progress standard by the end of the subsequent enrollment period in order to maintain eligibility to participate in the financial aid programs at the college.
Termination
Any student who fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard at the end of the Warning period will become ineligible from the financial aid programs at the college. The college will communicate the Termination status to the student and inform the student of the available Reinstatement and Appeal Process.
Reinstatement Policy
A student’s financial aid eligibility will be automatically reinstated at such time as the student meets the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard. Reinstatement to the financial aid programs may also occur upon a successful appeal by the student (see Appeal Process below).
Financial Aid Probation
Any student who fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard at the end of the Warning period will become ineligible from the financial aid programs at the college. Ineligible students have the opportunity to file an appeal regarding their termination from the financial aid programs. Students that have failed the academic progress standard and have been approved with a successful appeal will be considered on Financial Aid Probation.
Appeal Process
A student may request consideration for reinstatement to the financial aid programs through the following Appeal Process:
If the student feels his/her failure to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard was the result of an unusual or extraordinary situation that affected successful progression, the student may appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Some personal mitigating circumstances could include illness or injury of the student or dependent of the student; a death in the family; or other undue hardship as the result of special circumstances. An appeal form is available in the Financial Aid Office.
To provide consistency in decision-making, a Financial Aid administrator will make all appeal decisions in a timely manner after the receipt of the appeal form. The student must: 1) explain the extenuating circumstances causing the non-compliance; 2) substantiate it with third party documentation, (i.e. letter from the doctor who treated the student); 3) give a detailed explanation of specifically what has changed that will allow satisfactory progress to be demonstrated at the next evaluation; and 4) meet with an academic advisor to create an academic plan.
Should an appeal be approved and the student is not mathematically able to return to satisfactory academic progress at the conclusion of subsequent enrollment period, a Financial Aid administrator will devise an appropriate academic plan for the upcoming semester with the student. For example, the terms of an academic plan may be as follows:
- Register and successfully complete a minimum of six (6) credits; and
- Successfully complete these courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
At the end of the semester, grades will be evaluated. If the student has met the required terms of the academic plan, the student may continue to receive financial aid the following semester. If the student fails to meet the terms of the academic plan in any subsequent semester, the student will become ineligible to participate in the financial aid programs until the student is able to once again meet the minimum requirements for academic progress. The student’s progress will continue to be monitored at the end of each semester with the same terms in place until the student is in compliance with Connecticut Community Colleges’ satisfactory academic progress policy.
If the student’s appeal is denied and the student is already registered for the upcoming semester, the student is responsible for any monies owed to the college. If the student pays for the next semester and successfully completes all classes with a GPA of 2.0 or better, the student may appeal again after that semester.
Return of Title IV Funds
Students who receive federal financial aid and withdraw or stop attending all classes are subject to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Those students who have completely withdrawn prior to the 60% point in the semester and have received federal funds from loans, Pell grant or FSEOG are subject to a recalculation of their federal awards. QVCC will calculate the earned portion of such awards based upon the number of calendar days completed vs. the number of calendar days in the semester. Any unearned portion will be returned to the Department of Education.
In addition, the student must repay the difference, if any, between the amount of unearned assistance and the amount that the school must return. In most cases, when a student receives Title IV assistance greater than the amount of institutional charges, (s)he will most likely be subject to return some of those funds. However, students who must return grant funds are given an additional consideration: the student’s grant repayment is reduced by half.
Students are urged to work closely with an advisor in selecting courses and should consider the demands of work and family when deciding how many credits to take. Regular attendance is required of all financial aid recipients. Students who never attend their classes will not receive financial aid, even if their application is complete and eligibility was determined.
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