Student Financial Aid & Scholarships - Cuyahoga Community College

Student Financial Aid & ScholarshipsFALL 2022 NE WSLETTERFinancial Aid is Here to Help!As we begin to crawl outof the pandemic, we canreflect on many things.The past two years haveproven to be very challenging, however wehave found ways toadapt and persevere inthis “new world”.you need to be success- to offer virtual (phone)ful.appointments. You canschedule a convenient,Many of our financialone-on-one appointaid processes havement with a Financialmoved to virtual orAid Advisor to get theonline formats. Studentsanswers to all your fican submit nearly allnancial aid and scholarfinancial aid formsships questions.online via their FinancialAlthough there areAid Dashboard and con- Although we have exmany pandemic trends, nect with Financial Aid panded our services,such as face masks and Advisors via phone,students can still visitzoom calls, that mostchat, email, or inthe campus for assisare glad to move onperson. With Tri-C 24/7, tance with completingfrom, the pandemic has we are also availablefinancial aid forms, walkallowed Tri-C to expand after hours, on week-in service, and workthe services we provide ends, and even holishops.to our students to endays!Visit our website tosure you have 24/7 acIn addition, the Financial schedule an appointcess to the resourcesAid office will continuement today!IN THIS ISSUEChange in Income?2Emergency Fund Programs2Student Laptop Program3On Track to Graduate?3SAP Appeal4GradReady4Scholarships5Work Study6Important FA Dates7

Student EmergencyFund ProgramsTri-C Student Emergency Fund programswere made possible by various generousdonors to the College. The purpose ofthese programs is to help students overcome unforeseen financial challengesthat would affect their ability to contin-Change in Income: Special Circumstance Appealue their education. Students may beawarded up to 500 per academic yearTri-C understands thatthings can change for students all the time. Certainchanges can impact yourfinancial situation, andmay not have been reflected on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Common reasons to con- benefit from this process,sider an appeal include, your advisor will workbut are not limited to:with you to submit required supporting docu Loss of income ormentation, complete aemploymentSpecial Circumstances Separation/Divorceonline form., and makethe necessary corrections Unexpected lifeto your FAFSA.eventsto assist with emergency related expens-The Special CircumstanceAppeal provides students’an opportunity to updatecertain information included on the FAFSA dueto changes since it wasoriginally submitted. Thiscould result in the student being awarded additional financial aid assistance. You can review more information about the appeals process online atBefore submitting a Spewww.tri-c.edu/paying-forcial Circumstance Appeal, -college/financial-aid-andstudents must consult-scholarships/with a financial aid advi- professionalsor to determine whetherjudgments.html.an adjustment willchange your financial aid Have questions? Schedule a virtual appointmenteligibility. If it is deterto discuss your options.mined that you wouldExcessive medical/education expenseses.Examples of emergencies include, butare not limited to: Technology/Equipment needs Book and supplies Food assistance Child-care related emergencies Healthcare emergency expenses notcovered by insurance Paying for housing/rent when unusual circumstances arise Transportation related emergencies(non-routine care repairs) Unexpected loss of incomeTo apply for this fund, contact the financial aid office using, Live Chat, email, orby phone at (216)987-6000, option #2.Want more information? View ourEmergency Fund Programs webpage.2

Tri-C’s Student Laptop Program allows eligible studentsto purchase a laptop at a special discount.What You Get Windows 10 HomeWith the support of the Cuyahoga Community CollegeFoundation, we are offeringnew laptops to eligible students for just 240 —that isless than half price! 8GB RAM 256GB Solid State HardDrive 14" HD Display 802.11ac WiFiYou may also be able to usefinancial aid to cover your portion of the cost. This means,there would be no up frontout-of-pocket costs. Bluetooth workforce, and CCP studentsare eligible to apply as well.Intel i5 ProcessorStudents are able to applyonline via the Student LaptopProgram webpage.Eligibility Requirements: Enrolled at least half-time(6 credits hours) in an academic program OR Enrolled in a workforcecertificate programApplications are reviewed regularly. You’ll be notified within Able to pick up their lap3-5 business days if you qualitop at a Tri-C Campusfy, and your portion of the(shipping is not available)cost will be charged to yourstudent account. You’ll receivepickup instructions once your Have questions? View ourpayment is processed.Student Laptop Program FAQor email studentlaptop@tric.edu.Laptops will be available on afirst-come, first-served basisto students. International,Are you taking the courses you need to graduate?Federal regulations require that students only receive federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal College Work-study) for courses that count towards their degree/certificate. Studentsmust be enrolled in a financial aid eligible degree or certificate program and taking classes included in that program.To comply with these regulations, Tri-C compares the student's registered coursework to the required courses outlined in thestudent's Degree Works audit. Registered courses not included in the audit will not be counted when determining federal aideligibility and federal aid will be adjusted based upon only courses in the student's degree/certificate. Please note: English as aSecond Language (ESL) courses, First Year Experience (GEN 1070) and remedial coursework (up to 30 credit hours) are eligiblefor federal aid but will not be included in the audit.To maximize federal financial aid, students should review their declared major and register for courses as outlined in their Degree Works audit.How can this impact your Financial Aid? You are registered for 12 credit hours, which is considered full-time. When Tri-C compares the registered courses to those required for your declared major, it is determined only 6 of those credit hours are included in your Degree Works Audit. As a result, your federal financial aid will be adjusted to the half-time amount , even thoughyou are still registered full-time (12 credit hours or more)Please visit the college website for important Frequently Asked Questions regarding this policy.3

Satisfactory Academic Progress — How To AppealFederal regulations requirethat Tri-C review the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)status of all students who receive federal student aid. Thereview process evaluateswhether a student is “makingmeasurable progress towardscompletion of their course ofstudy in order to continue receiving federal financial aid”.Tri-C reviews the SAP statusfor all students at the end ofeach semester for all terms ofenrollment. AND Be within 150% of thepublished credits requiredfor completionUpload a completed Academic Plan. Upload your DegreeWorks Audit. Complete the SAP AppealWeb form, which includesa detailed personal statement. Please review thePersonal Statement Outline for further details. Upload supporting documentation if you indicatedyou would provide it.If students are unable to meetthe SAP guidelines outlined inTri-C’s policy, they will become disqualified from receiving future federal financial aid Guidelines for submitting aat Tri-C. This includes PellSAP Appeal:Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Access the SAP appealStudent Loans, and Workelectronically via your FiStudy. It may also disqualifynancial Aid Dashboard instudents from being eligible toyour My Tri-C Space inreceive Tri-C scholarship fundTo meet SAP standards, at theyour Financial Aid Dashing.end of each semester a stuboard. If you do not seeDisqualifiedstudentsthatdent must:the link for the SAP aphave extenuating circumstancpeal, please contact the Maintain a minimum cues may have the option toFinancial Aid Office.mulative GPA of 2.0 orcomplete a SAP Appeal to tryhigher; AND Students are required toand get their financial aid elicomplete a FAFSA prior to Complete at least 67% of gibility reinstated.submitting an appeal.all courses attempted;Once all requirements aresubmitted, you will be notifiedof the decision via email ordirectly through your studentportal.Want more details? Find outmore about Tri-C’s SAP Policy.Are you GradReady?GradReady is a free, online resource that can help you buildmoney management skills and take control of your personalfinances. GradReady provides students with: Access to free articles and resources A guide to real-life money problems Online financial education courses through instructor assignments or self-studyHow to get access: Customizable financial tools A personalized dashboard to track progress1. Go to https://gradready.com/sponsor/tri-c2. Register online for a free account today!4

ScholarshipOpportunitiesHave You Applied for Scholarships Yet?Did you know that morethan 11,000 studentshave benefited frommore than 11.8 millionin Tri-C scholarships inthe last 5 years? Tri-Coffers various scholarshipopportunities to studentswho demonstrate a needfor assistance with educational expenses. Scholarship opportunities areavailable to studentsbased on merit for thosewho excel in the classroom, major, or programof study, affiliations( such as athletics or student government), andcertain program participants (such as MandelScholars).basis so it is recommendplete the Tri-C Scholed that you apply as earlyarship Applicationas possible regardless ofonline.the term you wish toIf you are selected toattend.receive a scholarship, youwill be notified via emailthat your financial aidOneaward has been revised.Application,All scholarship recipientsManyare asked to upload aOpportunities!Thank You letter to donors via the scholarshipapplication portal.Apply for Tri-C ScholarAll scholarship candiship opportunities withdates should have a minifour easy steps!mum 2.0 GPA and be en1. Apply to Tri-C. Com- rolled in at least 6 creditplete the online ap- hours per semester to beplication to Tri-C ifconsidered for the entireyou have not done so scholarship period.yet.2. Apply for FinancialThe college also offersAid. Complete thescholarship opportunitiesFAFSA and includefor students pursuingour Tri-C school codecertifications and work(003040).force development andnon-credit programs.3. Tell us about yourself. Prepare a perCompleting the generalsonal statement thatscholarship applicationprovides an outlinewill allow you to applyof your career goals,for various opportunitiesaccomplishments,throughout the College.and tells us how youIt is easy and well worthplan to use your eduthe time and effort!cation to better yourScholarships are awardedlife and community.on a4. Time to apply forfirstscholarships! ComcomeStudents pursuing associatedegrees and certificates inhealth careers can apply forprogram specific scholarships.Tri-C offers scholarship opportunities for students pursuingworkforce training and noncredit programs.Please keep in mind thatsome scholarships andprograms have varyingrequirements.Have more questions?Contact the Financial AidOffice or view our website for further information and additionalscholarship opportuni5Mandel Scholars are eligibleto receive up to 10,620 inscholarship assistance.