INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW STUDENTS

Be certain to apply for admission to Northwestern Connecticut Community College since only students who have completed the admissions process can be considered for student financial aid.  Additionally,

You will need to receive your college ID number in order to gain access to Student Self-Service where all of your financial aid and academic records are maintained. You may reach the Admissions Office by selecting the tab listed on the College’s home page or by calling  860 738 – 6330 or 6329.

TUITION AND FEE CHARGES

Go to Student Accounts and Payments for detailed information about the costs before any financial aid awarded to you is applied to your tuition account.

NET PRICE CALCULATOR

This Net Price Calculator will provide you with personalized and consistent estimated information about college costs. Note that the estimate is based on income(s) and size family that you plug in which may differ from the actual application information you report on your FAFSA. You may use this information to obtain an estimate of your "out-of-pocket" costs after any grant aid is applied to your direct charges (tuition, fees, and books/supplies). In the event that you identify the potential of receiving grant aid in excess of your charges, you may plan to utilize those funds to charge or rent books at the Follett Book Store. Any funds not used to purchase books will be refunded to you to meet commutation expenses.

Go to http://www.commnet.edu/finaid/netprice/npcalc.htm?coll=C

Please understand that this is an estimate only and should not be understood to be an official award notification.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applying for financial aid is fast and easy!  You file one application for ALL of the financial aid programs administered by the College including the largest source of assistance, the Federal Pell Grant.

Ensure that you have an email address.  If you don’t already have an email address, note that free email addresses are offered by Yahoo at www.yahoo.com or MSN Hotmail at www.hotmail.com.

You will be filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  This single application will allow you to be considered for all Federal, State, and college financial aid programs.  The FAFSA allows you to automatically apply for the largest source of financial assistance called the Federal Pell Grant Program.

Step 1 - Apply for a Federal Personal Identification Number (Federal PIN).  You will need a Federal PIN to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  If you are dependent on your parents and will be required to report parental income information on your FAFSA, one of your parents will also need to obtain a Federal PIN.  To get a Federal PIN, go to  www.pin.ed.gov .

Step 2 – File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA on the Web).  Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov .

To file an accurate and complete FAFSA, you will need various records and information.  Locate and use the following when you are filling out your FAFSA:

• The Federal Income Tax Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ for the 2010 tax year for yourself, your spouse (if you are married), and your parents (if applicable).
• All W-2 Forms for the previous tax year provided to you by your employer(s), so that you, your spouse, or your parents can file a Federal Income Tax Return.
• Social Security Numbers for you, your spouse and parents (if applicable).
• Dates of birth of your spouse and parents (if applicable).
• Alien Registration Numbers for you, spouse, and parents (if applicable).
• Records of any untaxed income for the previous year such as worker’s compensation or disability benefits, interest income on educational IRA’s, untaxed portion of capital gains, and also the first-time home buyer tax credit from IRS Form 1040 (line 67).
• Money received from a friend or relative (other than your parents) or cash payments made on your behalf (for example, your boyfriend pays your rent, groceries, or your utility bill that you would otherwise be obligated to pay yourself.  You will report this on the FAFSA as Money Received.
• Dates of marriage, marital separation, or divorce for you and your parents (if applicable).

IMPORTANT  NOTES:  If you do not assemble this information, it will be impossible to file an accurate and complete FAFSA.  An incomplete or improperly signed FAFSA will seriously delay the processing and awarding of any financial aid to you.  Be careful, use the hyperlink above to pull you to the correct web address to file the FAFSA.  Note that it is www.fafsa.ed.gov .   It is NOT fafsa.com.

List on your FAFSA the correct school code number 001398 to authorize that your FAFSA data is to be released to Northwestern CT Community College.

Be certain to sign your FAFSA by using your Federal PIN. Also, one of your parents (if applicable) will also need to obtain a Federal PIN and use it to sign your FAFSA.  Unless you do this, the Federal Processor will be unable to deliver a complete FAFSA record to the College Financial Aid Office.

Step 3 – Allow three days, then go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to review your Student Aid Report (SAR).  Pay special notice to all comments by the Federal Processor on your SAR, and take any necessary corrective actions immediately.   You should use the SAR as a means to correct any data elements on your FAFSA, or to add a signature (Federal PIN).

Step 4 – Allow seven days after having filed the FAFSA and received an email from the CT Community College System indicating receipt of the data from the Federal Processor.   Monitor your financial aid status through accessing Student Self-Service.  You can only view your records if you have a valid NCCC College ID number.

If you have completed the admissions process and have an NCCC Student College ID number, you may be able to log in to the CT Community Colleges student information system via the my.commNet portal.  Go to http://my.commnet.edu , then follow the instructions on the log in screen, form your first password (after your first log in you will be asked to change it), and then select the Student Tab.  Select Student Self-Service and choose from the menu, “Financial Aid”.  You will then see some submenus.  You have to clarify as to which records you wish to view.  Select the Aid Year, “2011 – 2012”.

The following submenus offer the following capabilities:

“My Eligibility” – Click on Student Requirements to see if your FAFSA was selected to be verified which requires you to provide a Verification Worksheet along with signed copies of Federal Tax Forms, etc.  As you turn in what is required, the unsatisfied requirement will change to satisfied.  This assures you that your FAFSA data is in a processing queue of the Financial Aid Office.

“My Overall Financial Aid Status” -  Check your overall financial aid status, estimated Cost of Attendance, and Academic Progress status for financial aid participation.  Note the all-inclusive listing of the Costs of Attendance which includes a cost for living expenses, transportation, and personal expenses.  Keep in mind that only tuition and fees and books and supplies are really out-of-pocket expenses.  The other expenses are acknowledged, but not funded.

“My Award Information” – This submenu will show you whether any financial aid has been awarded to you.  Select the aid year that you want to look at (“11-12”), and open the details header to view the actual names of the financial aid programs and the amount of any awards by semester.  Note that you can also receive detail about the “Terms and Conditions” of any aid awarded.  You can sign up for “Direct Deposit” to make arrangements to receive your tuition credit balance refund and have your excess funds deposited into your personal checking account.  This service is free and will allow you to receive your credit balance refunds much faster. 

“My Financial Services” –  Go  here to  look at your tuition account summary.  Review your tuition and fee charges and compare your anticipated financial aid with what appears as an advance credit on your tuition bill.  Make certain that the anticipated aid is correctly pro-rated if you are not attending full-time (12 credits per semester).  If there is a negative symbol in the Balance Due area, it means that you have more anticipated aid than your charges.  This is called a “credit balance” that you can use to charge against to purchase books in the College Book Store.

“Title IV Authorization” – To accept the financial aid package detailed in the submenu, you must authorize the student aid funds to be applied to your tuition account. If you do not do so, any excess aid will not be available to charge books at the Book Store.  Change the first and second options to “authorize”. 

You should practice accessing the my.commNet portal  and go into your financial aid and academic records on a regular basis.  Keep your name, mailing and email addresses up-to-date.  Review your academic transcript and actively manage how you will use the information to your fullest advantage.

Look at your tuition account summary to keep informed about when any student aid is applied to your account, and whether you will have a credit balance to use to charge books or receive a refund.

If your access to the my.commNet portal becomes disabled, (it is disabled after 3 unsuccessful log in attempts) you need to contact the NCCC Computer Center at ljassen@nwcc.commnet.edu.  Remember your password!  You may also access the web reset at http://www.nwcc.commnet.edu’registration.htm.

Student Self-Service is the primary means by which the College’s Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office, and Cashier’s Office communicates with you in a secure and private way that you can access 24/7.

PRIORITY DEADLINES

All applicants for financial assistance are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The Financial Aid Office accepts applications on a first come first served basis throughout the whole year.   The number of financial aid applications is far greater than the amounts of aid available to students.  It is highly important for you to plan to apply well in advance of the above dates to allow time to correct errors or furnish tax forms to verify any information you reported on your FAFSA.  On-time applicants who meet the above dates will receive notification of eligibility and any awarded funds before the beginning of classes.  On-time applicants will then be able to deduct their anticipated aid from their tuition and fee charges.  FAFSA data or income verification forms received after the Priority Deadline Dates will be processed on a rolling basis as long as funds permit.  Late applicants run the risk of not allowing enough lead time to process FAFSA data, complete any verification process, or correct data; therefore, campus-based aid funds may be exhausted by the time that the application finally becomes complete.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In order to become eligible to receive financial aid, you must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

• You must be enrolled as a regular student working toward an Associate Degree or certificate in an eligible program of study.  This is called “matriculation.”
• You must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• You must have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• You must meet the CT Community College System requirements as to good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress.
• You must certify that you will use federal student aid funds only for educational purposes and that you are not in default on prior federal student loans or owe a refund of Federal Title IV grant funds.
• You must have a valid Social Security Number.
• You must demonstrate financial need as a result of completing accurate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• You must understand that you may have to pay back federal student aid if you withdraw from all classes before earning the full amount of any federal student aid you were scheduled to receive.

Note that other restrictions may apply in instances of having previously earned a bachelor’s degree, incarceration, or federal or state convictions for selling or possessing illegal drugs.

INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In addition to your meeting the General eligibility requirements, you must also meet certain individual eligibility requirements.   Among these requirements are:

• You must demonstrate “financial need” as it is measured by an analysis of the financial aid data that you reported on your FAFSA.  This means that all of the information you reported on your FAFSA is evaluated and a calculation of your ability to contribute to college expenses (Expected Family Contribution-EFC) is determined.  If your EFC is less than your Total Costs of Attendance you demonstrate financial need.
• You must accept your responsibility to know the Priority Deadline Dates and understand that if you are a late applicant the Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee whether campus-administered aid programs will have available fund remaining when your application is considered.  The Financial Aid Office will process and determine your eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant despite any college deadline.  You must satisfy all verification document requirements  no later than 120 days of the last date of your attendance  in order to maintain eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant.
• You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to have any Federal, State, or College grants paid to your account (disbursed).  The exception to this requirement is that you may be eligible for a partial Federal Pell Grant if you are registered for less than half-time (1-5 credits).
• You must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress as it is measured after every academic term including the summer.

NCCC COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

NCCC has an extensive range of scholarships for new, continuing, and graduating students provided through generous gifts to the College to establish various scholarships.

Review the descriptions of Scholarships and become mindful of the application deadlines. Scholarship applications are available in the Financial Aid Office and the Office of the Dean of Continuing Education.

VETERANS BENEFITS

• Chapter 30: The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
• Chapter 31: Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
• Chapter 32: Contributory Education Assistance Program (Post-Vietnam Veterans)
• Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Chapter 35:  Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
• Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve Program
• Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program

Eligibility for these programs is determined by the Veterans Administration, 450 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103.  Application forms and further information are available from the NCCC Veterans Certifying Official, Jeff Crothers (738-6306).  He is located in the Student Development Center on the second floor of Greenwoods Hall.  Students are urged to make their initial application for VA benefits well in advance of their first semester.

Eligible students may use VA benefits to pursue a degree or certificate program approved the State Approving Agency, and must be enrolled in that program.  One a student has registered for classes and paid any applicable charges for a given semester, the NCCC Certifying Official will certify the student’s enrollment to the VA.  The VA will, in turn,  pay benefits directly to the student. 

Continued certification of the student seeking VA benefits is contingent on the student maintaining  good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress toward completing the requirements of his/her authorized program of study. 

Connecticut Veterans Tuition Waiver

Requirements:  At least 90 days of active duty during a State-defined wartime period (Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, etc.)  Honorable discharge from active duty.  To obtain this tuition waiver, a veteran should complete the application with the VA Certifying Official and present a copy pf his/her separation document (usually DD214).  Additional information will be provided at that time.  The Connecticut Veterans Tuition Waiver cannot be used for Extension Fund Courses, and covers only tuition, not other student fees.

National Guard Tuition Waiver

Members in good standing of the Connecticut Army and Air National Guard are eligible for a waiver of General Fund tuition.  This waiver does not cover student fees or Extension Fund Courses.  Guard members must obtain a certificate of eligibility from their unit and submit it to the VA Certifying Official when tuition is due

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT & LOANS

NCCC Student Employment

College Policy directs the Financial Aid Office to coordinate all on-campus student employment, solicit student worker needs of departments, advertise the positions, and refer possible job candidates to interviews with those departments. Federal Student Aid and State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education regulations require that students apply for financial assistance and be determined to demonstrate financial need in order to participate in either the Federal or CAP Work Study programs. Annual allocations of funds to the College determine the size of the payroll for either program.

The Operating Fund of the College contains a budget item for “Student Labor.” The amount of funds allocated for the Student Labor payroll establishes annually how many students can be referred to work in prioritized jobs on the campus.

Regardless of the source of funds or the specific payroll, the Financial Aid Office functions as the clearinghouse for all student employment. The Financial Aid Office maintains all job descriptions in a Job Book. Further information about specific policy and procedures is contained in the NCCC Student Employment Handbook.  If you are interested in the possibility of a campus job, you should complete a Student Employment Application in the Financial Aid Office as early as possible in the beginning of an academic term. 

Education Loans

The College participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program and follows the regulations and policies associated with responsible financial planning.  As amended by the Student Aid Reform Act , the Federal Direct Loan Programs replace the former Federal Stafford and Federal PLUS programs.  Accordingly, loan funds now come directly from the Federal Government rather than from banks.In these uncertain economic times, the College urges caution to all that may be contemplating taking on long term debt in the form of an education loan.  Our objective is to encourage students and families to develop a sound educational financing plan which enables the student to attend the College without experiencing a debt burden s/he cannot manage successfully.  We encourage all students to first apply for grants and scholarships which do not have to be repaid to avoid any debt at the community college level.  Loan avoidance promotes being able to reduce aggregate loan debt upon transferring to four year colleges and beyond.  Also, the ability to make other credit related purchases should not become restricted because of accumulated education loan debt.Further information about choosing an early tuition payment option in tandem with the College’s Tuition Installment Plan is available in both the Financial Aid Office and the Cashier’s Office.  Acceptance of this philosophy to avoid long term education loan debt and accumulating interest and fee charges has resulted in individuals finding a less costly way to meet their tuition and fee charges. If you have examined the other options to make partial payments of tuition and fees, and find it absolutely necessary to borrow a Federal Direct Loan, you must:

• Apply for admission to the College and complete all requirements of that process.

• At the same time, be certain to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at least two months before the beginning of classes for any academic term.  Ensure that you receive the fullest consideration for any grant aid before you attempt to borrow.

• After learning of your eligibility for grant assistance, but still needing to borrow a loan to meet tuition and fee expenses, you may obtain a Direct Loan Request Form and complete the form and return it to the Financial Aid Office. Loan Request Forms will be considered for the next period of enrollment, not for terms already passed.

• After submitting your Loan Request Form, the Loan Review Committee of the College will examine your loan request and assess your academic and financial history.  The Committee retains the authority to approve, deny, or reduce the amount of your request and will advise the Financial Aid Office of its decision. 

• Upon approval of a loan request, even for a reduced amount, the Committee will notify you to make an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to complete a Loan Entrance Counseling session to ensure that you fully understand your rights and responsibilities.   At that time you will be instructed to complete an online Master Promissory Note. 

• If you are a parent seeking a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, obtain and submit a Federal Direct PLUS Loan request with the Financial Aid Office.  Please initiate this process at least 60 days before the beginning of any academic term to ensure that your loan can be processed in time of when you need it. 

• Please note that Federal Direct or Direct PLUS loans are disbursed to the student’s tuition account in two equal installments with the second installment arriving no earlier than the midpoint of the loan period.  Also, Direct Loans cannot be disbursed until 30 days of an academic term has elapsed.  Further, borrowers have the right to cancel or reduce their loan request before disbursement and up to 14 days after disbursement by providing a written request by the 14^th day.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

All applicants for financial assistance are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To attend the Fall & Spring Semesters                    To attend Spring Semester only

July 1 for new students                                        December 1 for new students
June 1 for continuing students

Although the Financial Aid Office accepts applications on a first come first serve basis throughout the whole year, we strongly recommend that the FAFSA be filed well in advance of the above dates to allow for correction or verification of data. On-time applicants who meet the above dates will receive notification of eligibility before the beginning of classes. On-time applicants will then be able to deduct the anticipated financial aid funds from their tuition and fee charges. FAFSA data or income verification documents received after the Priority Dates will be reviewed on a rolling basis as long as available funds permit. Late applicants run the risk of not allowing enough lead time to process FAFSA data, complete any verification process, or correct data; therefore, campus-based funds may be exhausted by the time that the application is finally considered complete.

All financial aid applicants are strongly encouraged to develop a sound educational plan and to apply early to receive the fullest consideration and advantage to limited funds.

Requests for Federal Stafford Loans to defer payment of tuition/fees, including completion of Loan Entrance Counseling and filing of a Master Promissory Note, must be accomplished before the first day of classes of any academic term. Requests for loans after that date will be processed on a first come first serve basis, but not for the purpose of deferring payment of tuition/fees.

The College recommends that Federal Stafford Loans be considered only as a last resort. Students and parents usually are able to avoid the obligations and added interest costs of borrowing by enrolling in the College's Installment Plan. Further details are available in the Cashier's Office located in Greenwoods Hall (738-6313).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS