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Your rights and responsibilities are explained in detail in
the current issue of the booklet, "Financial Aid Information,"
available in the Financial Aid Office on both campuses.
The major categories of financial assistance programs include
grants, loans, the College Work-Study Program, and scholarships.
GRANTS
Grants, like scholarships, do not have to be repaid. Most grant
programs are based on student need.
PELL GRANT
Pell Grant is a need-based federal aid program for undergraduate
students. Eligibility is determined by the federal processor.
Award amounts for 1997-1998 range from $200 -$2,700, and are prorated
according to the number of credits for which you are enrolled.
Eligibility
Your eligibility for Pell Grant is based on a number of factors:
o financial need demonstrated on the FAFSA
o submission of an Application for Admission to Polk Community
College
o citizenship or Resident Alien status
o satisfactory academic progress
o compliance with repayment of Stafford Loan(s) or any other financial
aid program requiring repayment.
Applying for Pell
Follow these steps to apply for the Pell Grant:
o complete the FAFSA
o list our school code (001514) as one of your code choices
o mail the completed FAFSA to the federal processor (after approximately
four weeks you will receive a Federal Student Aid Report (SAR)
from the processor)
o check all information on the SAR for accuracy
determine if the Financial Aid Office has received electronic
financial information from the other schools you have attended.
Awards and Payments
If you meet all applicable standards the Financial Aid Office
mails an award letter listing the amounts you are eligible to
receive. Funds are credited to your account for payment toward
the cost of tuition and books. If there is a balance in your account
after the term begins the PCC Business Office sends you a check
in that amount. Please see the current issue of the booklet "Financial
Aid Information" for complete disbursement information and
minimum enrollment criteria. The booklet also explains the standards
of progress necessary to continue your eligibility for financial
assistance, as well as verification requirements for Pell Grants.
SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT
Federal awards are made to students with the greatest financial
need.
FLORIDA ASSISTANCE GRANT
Awards of up to $800 per year may be awarded to students with
exceptional need. Deadline to apply for the Florida Assistance
Grant is May 15.
HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
The federal Government's new "Hope Scholarship" is actually
a tax credit, not a scholarship. Tax credits are subtracted directly
from the tax a family owes, rather than reducing taxable income
like a tax deduction. A family must file a tax return and owe
taxes to take advantage of it. The Hope credit is not refundable
for families who do not pay taxes or who owe less in taxes than
the maximum amount of the Hope tax credit for which the family
is eligible.
A family may claim a tax credit of up to $1,500 per tax year for
each eligible dependent. This can be done for up to two tax years.
A family may claim up to 100% of the first $1,000 of eligible
expenses and 50% of the next $1,000 for a maximum credit of $1,500.
To qualify for the credit, the taxpayer must report the amount
of tuition and fees paid as well as the amount of certain scholarships,
grants, and untaxed income used to pay the tuition and fees. For
further information contact the IRS or a tax consultant.
JOB TRAINING PARTNERSHIP ACT
ECONOMIC DISLOCATED WORKER ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANT ACT
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and Economic Dislocated Worker
Adjustment Assistant Act (EDWAA) benefits are available to students
who are dislocated workers or economically disadvantaged and who
meet the eligibility criteria set forth by JTPA Legislation. The
benefits cover the cost of tuition, books and other associated
costs of learning for PCC's A.S. and certificate programs.
Students will receive career counseling, academic assistance,
as well as job counseling, job seeking skills and job placement
services. Additional information can be obtained by contacting
the JPTA Academic Advisors on either campus.
LOANS
PCC administers a Short-Term Loan Fund supported by various agencies
and individuals in our community. Eligible students may secure
short-term, no interest loans toward tuition. Apply for these
loans at the Financial Aid Office no later than eighteen days
before Central Registration to registration. Failure to repay
the short-term loan within sixty days of the first day of early
registration will negate issuance of any additional loans.
Please make gifts to the Loan Fund payable to the "PCC Foundation,
Inc." For a list of donors, see Appendix B.
To be considered for federal loan programs, complete the FAFSA.
Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information.
COLLEGE WORK-STUDY PROGRAM
The College participates in the need-based, federally-sponsored
College Work-Study Program (CWSP). Participating students may
work on campus, or in non-profit organizations in our community.
Students may work up to a maximum of 15 hours weekly. Income earned
through the CWSP does not require repayment.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Many academic merit, special skills, public service, and financial
need scholarships are available to students at Polk Community
College. We also encourage you to seek scholarships opportunities
from resources and organizations with which you are already affiliated.
These scholarship opportunities often are the best source of financial
assistance since the likelihood of acceptance is much higher than
open competition.
The Polk Community College Foundation also provides scholarships
for students. Foundation scholarship announcements are made in
late December each year. Applications are by the Financial Aid
Office. See Appendix B for a list of Foundation donors, as well
as additional scholarship information.
HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Polk Community College awards scholarships to academically outstanding
students from each of the accredited high schools in Polk County.
High School Academic Scholarships pay matriculation fees for two
years provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress. Certain
maximum dollar amounts apply.
These awards are made possible through the John Carlton Nydegger
Memorial Trust, the Ray and Anna Martin Memorial Trust, and College
scholarship funds. Further information about these scholarships
is available from high school counselors during the spring term
of your senior year.
MATURE STUDENT ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year PCC seeks four academically talented students who graduated
from high school with honors at least two years ago. To encourage
their attendance at PCC, Mature Student Academic Scholarships
pay matriculation fees for four terms (maximum dollar amounts
per term apply) provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained.
Deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 31 of the year
preceding your Term I (Fall semester) enrollment. Contact the
Financial Aid Office for additional application information.
HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS
Polk Community College awards scholarships to students who commit
to providing services to their high school classmates during their
senior year. High school juniors maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA
and a good record of activities also may apply.
High School Service Scholarships pay matriculation fees for two
years provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained. Maximum
dollar amounts per term apply.
Additional information about these scholarships is available from
high school counselors in the spring of your junior year.
CULTURAL ARTS AND OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR SCHOLARSHIPS
A number of scholarships are awarded each year to students displaying
special skills in one of a number of areas including music, art,
journalism, and drama.
These scholarships pay matriculation fees (maximum dollar amounts
per term apply) and are renewable provided performance and academic
progress are satisfactory. For additional information, contact
the Financial Aid Office or the area of the college appropriate
to your special skill.
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Athlete scholars are invited to apply for scholarships available
to those qualifying for participation in PCC's varsity sports
program. Scholarships are awarded in accordance with the rules
published by the Florida Community College Activities Association
and the appropriate Board of Trustees rule. Participating varsity
sports include baseball and basketball for men, and volleyball
and softball for women. Interested individuals may contact the
PCC Athletic Office for information about tryouts.
FINANCIAL NEED SCHOLARSHIPS
Students applying for financial aid at PCC may be selected to
receive a financial need scholarship. Financial need scholarships
are reserved for students demonstrating the highest level of financial
need. All students submitting FAFSAs are considered for an award.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE DISABLED
The Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security offers
scholarships through the Vocational Rehabilitation Division for
those with physical or emotional handicaps. Information and referral
is available from the Special Needs Advisor on each campus.
FINANCIAL AID STANDARDS OF PROGRESS
In addition to other requirements, you are required to maintain
at least a 66 2/3% (2/3) cumulative completion of all attempted
student semester hours (SSH) at Polk Community College to retain
your financial aid. Attempted SSH includes all college preparatory
courses, as well as courses for which a grade of "W"
is received. No federal aid is awarded to students after attempting
90 SSH in a 60 SSH major.
For additional information concerning Financial Aid Standards,
please consult the booklet "Financial Aid Information"
available in the Financial Aid Office.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students transferring from other post-secondary institutions also
are required to insure financial aid information is received from
each school attended by the Polk Community College Financial Aid
Office. Financial aid transcripts must be reviewed by PCC prior
to the awarding of any aid.
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