Federal Funding Sources

To apply for any of these federal funding sources, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is generally awarded to undergraduate students with financial need who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.  Pell grants for the 2006-2007 school year ranged from $400 to $4,050 per year.

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will determine eligibility and the amount to be received.  If eligible, the amount paid will depend on full-time or part-time student status and whether the student attends school for a full academic year or less.

The school code for Johnston Community College is 009336.

JCC’s Year-Round Pell Policy

Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year students are eligible for up to 2 scheduled awards (200%) per year of Pell grants.

For the summer of 2010 only: Johnston Community College (JCC) will pay Pell grant out of the 2009-2010 year (as a "trailer") during the transition period for the new Pell grant awards. No consideration will be given to 2010-11 student eligibility during this cross-over payment period and no consideration will be given to Academic Year Acceleration requirements.

Year-Round Pell

If students use their first scheduled award and they enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours they can be eligible for a 2nd scheduled award. For example, if the student receives a full-time award in fall 2009 and spring 2010 and enrolls in 6 hours or more in summer they would receive Pell grant, for the summer payment period from the 2009-2010 year, providing they are otherwise eligible. Pell grants for a payment period may be combined using the first and second scheduled awards if the student is eligible. Students must also be in a program of Study that is longer than an academic year in length (greater than 24 credit hrs).

For the summer of 2011, JCC will consider the term to be a "cross-over" payment period (any period that includes both June 30 and July 1) and will pay Pell grant out of the 2010-2011 or 2011-2012, which ever award year provides the student with the most Pell grant eligibility. Students must have a valid ISIR on file for the year used to determine Pell grant eligibility. For the summer 2011, students will also need to meet applicable Academic Year Acceleration requirement for a 2010-2011 award or they may be eligible for a first scheduled award from the 2011-2012 year.

Academic Year Acceleration

If students use their first scheduled award and they enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours they can be eligible for a 2nd scheduled award. Student must have one hour which would go into their second year. For example, JCC defines its academic year for Year-Round Pell as 24 credit hours; if the student earns 12 credit hours in fall 2010 and earns 12 credit hours in spring 2011 and enrolls in 6 hours or more in summer they could receive Pell grant for the summer payment period from the 2010-11 or the 2011-12 award year based on whichever will provide the largest Scheduled Award, providing they are otherwise eligible. Pell grants for a payment period may be combined using the first and second scheduled awards if the student is eligible. Remedial Credits do count in acceleration.

For the summer terms in all subsequent years after 2011, the rules applied in summer 2011 will be applied using the correct aid years as determined by federal regulations.

Transfer Students for 2 scheduled Pell Awards beginning 2010-2011

• JCC will use the assumption method to determine acceleration toward the second Scheduled Pell Award.
• If student received 100% of the first Scheduled Pell Award at prior school(s), we will assume the student completed the first academic year.
• If student received less than 100% we will use the same ratio to JCC’s academic year as the % of the Scheduled Award that was received from the other school(s) and must be rounded down.

Example:

Assume student completed the same ratio of the academic year as the % of Pell received

• Prior School disbursed $2,007 of $5,350 Scheduled Award at that school.
• JCC's academic year is defined as 24 credit hours
• $2,007 X 24/$5,350 = 9 credits assumed earned at prior school
• Student is given 9 credits toward completion of the first academic year.

Special Circumstances

Special Circumstances for Academic Year Completion Requirement for Second Scheduled Award:

• Can be waived.
• FAA determines that student was unable to complete the hours of the first academic year due to "circumstances beyond the student's control."

Special Circumstance may include but are not limited to withdrawing from classes due to a verifiable illness, being unable to register for classes necessary to complete his or her eligible program because classes were not offered. Determination must be documented and made on a student by student basis.

Special circumstances beyond a student's control do not include withdrawing to avoid a particular grade, failing to register for necessary class that is offered during the term to avoid a particular instructor, and classes are full and student is unable to register.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

This is a federal assistance grant awarded to eligible undergraduate students. An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant) of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• be a Federal Pell Grant recipient during same award year
• be enrolled at least half-time in a program at least one year in length
• be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
• have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student)
  • if a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program (does not count High school students)
  • if a second-year (completed 24 semester hours) ACG student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (as set forth in regulations to be promulgated soon) for the first academic year
• not have a bachelor’s degree

Each applicant is required to apply for a Federal Pell Grant and be eligible.

Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a smaller grant that is awarded to students with the greatest financial need, i.e., lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC).  Limited funds are provided by the federal government and are awarded by the JCC Financial Aid Office to both full-time and part-time students.  Therefore, when the funds have been awarded, there will be no additional funds for the academic year.

Federal Work-Study Program

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.  Most of the on-campus work is clerical in nature.  Students will be paid monthly for the number of hours worked.  Eligible students may work up to 20 hours per week.  The rate of pay is at least the federal minimum wage.

Title IV Federal Student Loan Programs

The HCERA (Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) provides that, after June 30, 2010, no new student loans will be made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Therefore, beginning July 1, 2010, all new subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans made to students, PLUS loans made to parents and to graduate/professional students, and consolidation loans made to borrowers, can only be made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program.

Therefore, JCC offers Federal Direct Loans to students and Federal Direct PLUS loans to parents through the Federal Direct Loan Program. Student Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest.

Students must be enrolled at least half-time to apply for a Direct Loan. The amount students may borrow will be determined by a number of factors, including whether they are first-year or second-year students, whether they are dependent or independent students, and whether or not they have unmet financial need.

In addition to the FAFSA, students must complete a JCC Direct Loan Worksheet available in the Financial Aid Office.

Additional information is available at www.studentloans.gov.