North Carolina
Community College Grant, Targeted Assistance and Loan Program
Questions and Answers
(Underlined words are linked to
additional information)
Last modified: September, 2004
Contact:
Wanda White
Director of Student Development Services, NC Community Colleges System
919-807-7104
It is a need based program established by the NC Legislature to
provide funds to help meet the educational costs including
tuition, fees and some transportation costs for NC
residents attending community colleges. The funds are used for
grants, assistance for students enrolled in programs that have a
high demand for employment in the community but low enrollments, and
short-term loans to students who qualify for the Hope Scholarship
Tax Credits but need to borrow funds for tuition, books and fees.
2. How do students apply for the NC Community College Grant?
They must complete the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and
list a NC Community College as one of the top three choices of
institutions. Students should apply early prior to starting
their programs, but may apply while already enrolled. Financial Aid
Administrators certify eligible students by midnight on Tuesday of
each week. Funds are released to the College within 3 business days
by the College Foundation, Inc. (CFI).
3. When will these funds be available to NC students?
The awards will be made for the Fall and Spring of each year.
Schools should permit students to charge tuition, fees and required
books until funds are received from CFI, Inc. Funds will be
sent to the college by master check or electronic funds transfer
from CFI.
4. Who is responsible for administering the NC Community College Grant?
Responsibilities will be shared by the the NC Community College
System Office, the Financial Aid Administrators at the local
community colleges,
NC State Educational Assistance Authority, and the
College Foundation, Inc.,
5. Who is the designated contact person at each NC Community College?
The Financial Aid Administrator or other designated officials.
6. Who will be eligible for the grant?
- The student must be a NC resident enrolled at least
half-time (6 credit hours) in an eligible curriculum program.
- The student must be meeting the Satisfactory Academic
Progress requirements and the Pell eligibility requirements
except for the expected family contribution (EFC) requirement
established by the federal government.
- Students with a bachelors’ degree are ineligible.
7. How much money has been allocated by the legislature for this program?
The NC General Assembly has allocated $6,062,806; they are
recurring funds for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
8. Is there a limit on the amount each Community College can receive?
The total amount received by each college will depend on the number
of students qualifying for funds.
Can the student receive both Pell
and the State Grant Funds?
Yes, depending upon the student's EFC.
9. How will students be informed if they are eligible?
They will be mailed an award letter from the college's student
financial aid office.
10. How will financial aid administrators be informed that students are
eligible?
They will access a roster with potentially eligible students via the
College Foundation’s web site. Schools will be required to
apply for a user ID and password if they do not already certify
students on-line. Certification for these funds will be done
after the census date (the 10% point).
11. What is the amount awarded for the NC Community College Grant?
Annual amounts for full-time students will vary between
$250.00-$1,900.00 based on student’s established need and
enrollment status. Annual amounts for 3/4 time will vary
between $188.00-$1,425.00. Annual amounts for ½ time will vary
between $125.00-$950.00.
12. Will additional funding be
allocated to provide additional staff to administer this program?
The General Assembly has mandated that there be a designated
financial aid administrator to inform students and parents about
available state and federal financial aid programs. Each local
institution will decide how to configure staff in order to carry out
this provision.
13. What other programs are available besides the NC Community College Grant?
The State Board allocated funds for short term loans for curriculum
students from 1999 to 2002. No new funds will be allocated during
2002-2003. Participation by a institution is at the discretion
of the local college administration. An additional $350,000 has been
designated as Targeted Assistance for "high demand/low enrollment"
credit and non-credit programs. Local colleges select programs and
students based on criteria approved by the State Board.
14. How can students apply for
short-term loans and targeted assistance funds?
Students should contact the financial aid office at the college to obtain
applications and guidelines for short-term loans and targeted assistance funds.
15. How can our community college apply
for the short-term loan and targeted assistance funds?
Interested institutions may apply by letter to the NC Community
College System Office - Business and Finance Division for targeted
assistance funds. No new loan money will be allocated in 2002-2003.
Colleges may continue to use the balance of funds allocated in
2000-2001 and 2001-2002 for short-term loans. Participation by
an institution is at the discretion of the local college
administration.
16. What are the requirements?
Colleges must develop and implement policies consistent with the
State Board policies and must report students who do not repay loans
to the NC Department of Revenue using the Setoff Debt Collection
Act. Targeted assistance (high demand/low enrollment) funds are
grants and do not require repayment.
17. Will these programs be available for
future years?
These programs will be reviewed at the end of each year and
necessary revisions will be made to the administration of
these programs. These are recurring funds for the 2001-2003
biennium.
18. Do institutions have to employ a
financial aid staff member if there is a person currently serving in that
capacity?
This decision is for the local college to determine. If the
financial aid activities should increase significantly on a
given campus, funds from the college’s base budget may be used to
hire another financial aid staff member.
19. Short term loans-- What happens if
the student does not repay, therefore the school cannot repay?
The repayment of loans will be handled by the NC Department of
Revenue and the amount will not have to be repaid by the college.
The college may establish procedures that will not permit the
student to re-enroll in classes and/or participate in any other
college programs/activities until the loan is paid.
20. May the college elect not to
participate in the loan program?
Yes, participation in the loan program is at the discretion of each
institution.
21. Why did the state not process the
new Grant Program from the NCSIG model?
NCSEAA administers the NCSIG program and will assist in the
administration of the new $5 million state grant. NCSIG
evaluation requires the same need analysis review (completion of the
FAFSA) that the new grant will require.
22. Does the North Carolina Community
College Grant, Target Assistance & Loan Program replace the North Carolina
Community College Scholarship program?
Yes, effective for the 1999-2000 program year, the NC Community
College Scholarship program is terminated. The program does not
replace the
privately funded scholarships such as the Wachovia
Scholarship, the Petroleum Marketers Scholarship, the Sprint
Scholarships, the CP&L/Progress Energy Scholarships, the Bellsouth
Scholarships, etc.. Colleges will receive notification of the
number of privately funded scholarships allocated to their
institutions.
23. If a student (including a military
dependent) has listed North Carolina as the state of residence on the
FAFSA, is he or she eligible for the North Carolina Community College grant and
loan program?
Since the intent of the General Assembly was to provide this benefit
to bonafide NC residents, individuals who are non-resident for
tuition purposes are not eligible to receive the NCCC grant.
The information in the student information system database should be
definitive resolution of residency for tuition purposes. If
the dependent of military personnel has met the requirements for
residency and is coded NC resident in your institution’s student
information system, then the NCCC grant applies. If the
student has indicated NC resident on the FAFSA but has not applied
for NC residency for tuition purposes through your campus residency
process, then the out-of-state category applies. You may suggest to
students that they complete the residency for tuition
application and if the intent to establish residency, the cluster of
activities and the requisite waiting period warrant a change in your
student information system, then you should apply the NCCC grant to
their award packages (after changing the residency data field).
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Last modified:
Thursday, September 04, 2008 08:31:48 AM
This page maintained by Karen Yerby.
