Northland Pioneer College -- Catalog 03-05 Page 25 to 29

FINANCIAL AID

Northland offers a range of federal, state, institutional and private financial aid for students who need assistance in meeting the costs associated with a college education. Financial aid is provided in the form of scholarships, grants and employment.

Northland's Financial Aid Procedure Manual serves as the guiding document for the administration of aid. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the information provided in the manual. It is is available at the Financial Aid and Academic Advisor offices.

The purpose of financial aid is to assist students and their families who have documented need with educational expenses, such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board and transportation when their own resources are inadequate to cover such costs. However, the primary responsibility for financing a college education lies with the student and his/ her family.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid to assist with educational expenses. Students should apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may also apply electronically through the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Appropriate materials and application forms are available from the Financial Aid Office and at each Northland campus/center location. Assistance in completing the FAFSA form is available from an Academic Advisor located at each campus/center, or by contacting the Financial Aid Office, Holbrook-Painted Desert Campus Northland Pioneer College, P.O. Box 610, Holbrook, AZ 86025, phone (928) 524-7470 or 1-800-266-7845 ext. 7470. Students are encouraged to apply early for financial assistance as it generally takes from 4-6 weeks to review and process financial aid requests. Northland maintains a May 15th priority deadline each new academic year for the completion of student aid files to insure full consideration for all financial aid programs. Completed files after this date may only receive consideration for Federal Pell Grant eligibility.

FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAMS

Northland participates in the following federal financial aid programs as authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended:

The Federal Pell Grant is the foundation of all aid consideration. The grant is designed to assist students with documented need who have not earned a bachelor's degree. If the student is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and meets the priority deadline of May 15th, s/he will be considered for other types of financial assistance.
A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is an award designed to assist exceptionally needy students with college education costs. FSEOG recipients are generally Pell eligible students who demonstrate exceptional financial need.
The Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) is an award utilizing both federal and state funds. The award is for Arizona residents who are in need of additional financial assistance and who are enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credit hours).
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program offers students with financial need an opportunity to earn money working on a job at the College or at certain off-campus agencies while attending classes. In addition to earning funds for college costs, FWS offers students the opportunity to gain experience and develop references for future employment.

Please note that Northland does not participate in any FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS, including Stafford, PLUS, Perkins and Direct loans.

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

Requests for financial assistance will be based on the following selection criteria:

A student must be enrolled in an eligible Northland degree or certificate program. Lists of eligible degree and certificate programs are available at academic advising offices or from financial aid. Applicants may file a degree plan through their academic advisor; the plan must be on file in the Financial Aid Office;
Federal methodology calculations and the FAFSA form determine need-based financial aid. Students must have documented financial need as prescribed for federal aid programs;
Preference will be given to applicants whose financial aid file is completed by the priority deadline of May 15th;
Students must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED);
A student must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards the completion of a Northland degree or certificate;
An individual must meet the appropriate citizenship requirements as defined by federal regulations; and
Be registered with Selective Service, if required.

VERIFICATION PROCESS

The Financial Aid Office at Northland is required to verify that information provided by the student on the FAFSA form is complete and accurate. Applicants may be required to verify family income, family size, and number in college, untaxed income, high school graduate or GED recipient, as well as additional information.

Students are required to provide all requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office to be considered for financial assistance. All requests for information should be supplied in a timely manner to insure prompt completion and review of the student's request for assistance. Individuals who neglect to comply with requests for information will not be considered for financial aid until their file is complete.

Students should periodically check with the Financial Aid Office to verify completion of their file and to insure timely processing of financial aid.

INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE

Northland offers limited financial assistance to help students with college costs. Northland attempts to assist both the academically talented and students emphasizing a particular program through scholarships and private aid. Each year Northland offers limited scholarship funds to students, including the following three awards:

The President's Scholars Program is designed to provide talented graduating high school seniors with opportunities for academic enrichment, as well as a scholarship. This scholarship provides students with full tuition and fees for two years (4 semesters) and up to $300 per semester for books and supplies, if eligibility is maintained. For further information, please contact the Admissions Office, Northland Pioneer College, P.O. Box 610, Holbrook, AZ, 86025.
The Performing Arts Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who wish to participate in various areas of the performing arts and theatre. The program is designed to enhance skills through various activities as well as providing students with educational background in these fields. For further information on NPC's Theatre program, contact the Director of Theatre Production; or for information on NPC's Music program, contact the Director of Music, Northland Pioneer College, P.O. Box 610, Holbrook, AZ, 86025.
The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) provides ABE scholarships to students through an Arizona Department of Education grant. The scholarship is designed to provide public access to adult basic education through The Learning Cornerstone (TLC) courses. ABE scholarships pay for tuition and fees for qualifying courses, and are offered to students meeting eligibility criteria on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information, please contact the Division of Developmental Services, Northland Pioneer College, P.O. Box 610, Holbrook, AZ, 86025.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRITERIA FOR AWARD AMOUNTS

Most private aid has specific award amounts stipulated in writing. If not, Northland's Scholarship Committee will distribute the money in a fair and equitable manner that assists the most students based on limited funds.

The following scholarships have been available for student applicants over the last 2 years at Northland:

American Indian Affairs
American Indian Education Foundation
American Association of University Women
American Welding Society
ASU Maroon and Gold
A.W. Bodine Sunkist Memorial
Arizona Artists Guild
Arizona Association of Realtors
Arizona Business and Professional Women
Arizona Cattle Industry
Arizona Council Epsilon Sigma Alpha International
Arizona Elks Association
Arizona Environmental Health Association
Arizona Federation of Women's Clubs
Arizona National Livestock Show
Arizona Nursing Foundation
Arizona Parent Teacher Association
Arizona Public Health Association
Arizona Society of Accountants
Arizona Veterans Program Association - Rich Wade Mem.
Arizona 4-H Youth
Catherine (Tink) Borum Memorial
Choctaw Indian Tribe
Coca-Cola
Daughters of Charity Foundation
Eastern Star Nursing
Elsa Mulhern Memorial
ESA Foundation
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Foundation
Fiesta Bowl
Friends of Hubbell
Gila River Indian Tribe
Healthcare Institute - Salsbury
Holbrook Education Association
Holbrook Rotary Club
Hopi Indian Tribe
Hualapai Indian Tribe
Humane Society of the White Mountains
Indian Health Service
Jeannette Rankin Foundation
Modified Motorcycle Association of Show Low
N-OADN Foundation - Bobbie Anderson
Naomi Brack
National Hispanic Exploration
National Society of Public Accountants
Navajo Community Chapters
Navajo Indian Tribe
NPC Classified and Administrative Staff Organization
NPC Faculty Association
NPC Foundation
NPC Four Directions Art Series
NPC Institutional
NPC Teacher's Pet Award
Peggy Goldwater Memorial
Phoenix Scottish Rite Foundation
Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe
Reno-Sparks Indian Tribe
San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe
Sioux Indian Tribe
Show Low Lions Club
Show Low Rotary
Southern Arizona Foundation
Spanish Club
State of Arizona - Les Arie
Talbots Women's
Timechee and Kabotie
Tucson Education Association
Utah Navajo Trust
White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe
Winslow Campus of Care
Yakima Indian Tribe
Zuni Indian Tribe

Local and national scholarships are announced periodically throughout the year in the local newspapers and are posted on the Northland campus/center bulletin boards.

INSTITUTIONAL SHORT-TERM PAYMENT PLANS

Northland offers a short-term emergency payment plan for students. Emergency payment plans are available for students who have been awarded financial aid and have encountered an actual emergency situation that could not be anticipated prior to the disbursement of aid. A student must be able to provide documentation to support his/her request for an emergency payment plan. Application forms are available from Academic Advisors or by contacting Northland's Financial Aid Office.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

All students are required to maintain certain standards of academic performance called Satisfactory Academic Progress, including those who receive federal financial aid. A student must make satisfactory progress toward the completion of his/ her degree or certificate program.

Northland has both a qualitative and quantitative measure of academic progress:

1. Qualitative Requirement: Maintain a minimum cumulative (based on 2 semesters of work) grade point average of 2.0 or above;
2. Quantitative Requirements: Satisfactorily complete at least 67% of the courses in which the student is enrolled, based on the following schedule: Full-time based on 12 or more credits = complete 8 credits. 3/4 time based on 9-11 credits = complete 6 credits. 1/2 time based on 6-8 credits = complete 4 credits.
Students enrolled for 5 or fewer credits must complete the number of hours funded (i.e., if a student is funded for 4 credit hours, the student must complete the 4 credit hours).
"Satisfactory Completion" means earning a passing grade of A, B, C, D, or P. I's W's and F's are not considered passing grades.
Students may be funded up to 150% of published program length with financial aid based on a 2-year program (64 credits x 150% = funded up to 96 credit hours) of study. This includes all Northland courses as well as all accepted transfer and assessed credits. In addition, this includes all semesters with or without financial assistance. EXCEPTION: Students accepted and enrolled in Northland's Nursing Program may be funded up to 114 or 124.5 credit hours, including all Northland courses and all accepted transfer and assessed credits.
3. Academic Progress toward the degree/certificate program will be measured at the end of each semester.
4. Students may repeat a class four times and receive financial aid funding provided all academic progress requirements are met. Also, students may receive funding for a maximum of six (6) repeatable special projects or special classes.
5. Eligibility for federal financial aid is limited for students required to take "pre-college" remedial work at Northland. Students are limited to the equivalent of 1 year, or 30 credit hours of course work numbered below 100.

FINANCIAL AID PROBATION

Recipients of Student Financial Assistance will receive a probation notice after any semester in which their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 or they fail to satisfactorily complete 67% of the credit hours in which they are enrolled. The probation letter serves as a warning to the student that s/he did not maintain satisfactory academic progress during the last semester of attendance at Northland. Students are eligible to continue to receive financial assistance while on probation if all other eligibility requirements are met.

Students will be removed from probationary status after completing the following semester in good academic standing as defined by Northland's Satisfactory Academic Progress procedure.

FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION

Recipients of financial assistance will be suspended from aid if they fail to meet the 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average, or satisfactorily complete 67% of their enrollment for 2 semesters of academic work.

A student who has been suspended from financial aid may continue to enroll in classes at Northland without receiving financial aid assistance. A student will be reinstated or required to reapply for their financial aid after completing six credit hours at Northland for which they have paid expenses in full with no third party assistance (i.e., Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Voc-Rehab, Tribal, tuition waiver, etc.). Student must also meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. A student is required to contact Northland's Financial Aid Office once requirements are met.

FINANCIAL AID APPEAL

Students who are suspended from financial aid may appeal their eligibility status to the Financial Aid Office and further to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee by filing a Petition for Reinstatement. Such an appeal should be based on extenuating circumstances as documented by the student. Petition for Reinstatement forms are available from Academic Advisors or by contacting Northland's Financial Aid Office.

IMPACT OF ENROLLMENT ALTERATION/SCHEDULE CHANGES ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Students who alter their enrollment (drop/add courses) during the course of a semester are subject to having their eligibility for financial assistance reviewed, may require recalculation and could be required to return some, if not all, of their financial assistance. A student must consult with their instructor(s) and/or an NPC Academic Advisor and the Financial Aid Office before making any enrollment changes. Please note that students who receive financial assistance are subject to Satisfactory Academic Progress. The Financial Aid Office is required to perform enrollment verification before the disbursement of financial aid. Financial aid may be reduced or canceled due to changes in the student's enrollment status.

NON-ATTENDANCE

Students must start attending classes to establish eligibility for federal financial assistance. If a student fails to initiate attendance in some or all courses, his/her eligibility for federal assistance can be recalculated, excluding those courses. Students who claim federal funds and never attend any class are responsible for the return of all "over-awarded funds" as a result of never attending the course(s).

CANCELED COURSE

Students who register for courses canceled by Northland are required to return all "over-awarded funds." A student may register for another course to replace the canceled course.

NON-CREDIT COURSE

The Financial Aid Office will not fund non-credit courses at Northland.

COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL FROM ALL CLASSES

Students who completely withdraw from Northland will have their federal financial aid recalculated by using the Federal Return of Title IV calculation prescribed by federal law. The Federal Return of Title IV calculation applies only to federal aid and will be returned to the appropriate program(s) in the following order: Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Arizona LEAP.

If a student unofficially withdraws and/or officially withdraws, the percentage of federal financial aid earned will be calculated based on the percentage of the term actually completed. For example, if a student completes 20% of a term, only 20% of their aid would be considered earned and 80% of their aid would be considered unearned and subject to return.

The number of days completed is determined by the withdrawal date from Northland Faculty's attendance record or class record. If unable to provide withdrawal date from the above documentation, then the following apply:

Date of student's last attendance at documented academically related activity, such as attending class, taking an exam, completing tutorial, taking computer assisted instruction, turning in an assignment or seeking academic advisement.
Date of student's official notification to the institution.
If student did not begin the withdrawal process or official notification, the midpoint of the enrollment period for which federal financial aid was disbursed or later date documented by Northland. Student would earn 50 percent of federal financial aid.
If student did not begin the withdrawal process or official notification due to illness, accident, grievous personal loss, or other such circumstances beyond the student's control, Northland may determine the appropriate withdrawal date.

Students, who withdraw after completing at least 60% of the term will be considered to have earned 100% of their federal assistance. Written examples of the Federal Return of Title IV calculations are available from the Financial Aid Office upon request. It is the student's responsibility to contact Northland's Business Office to make payment arrangements and to continue to make satisfactory payments. If a student neglects to pay the "over-awarded funds," the student will be reported to the Department of Education, which will prevent the student from receiving federal financial aid from any institution in the future.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are required to read materials, follow instructions and call the Financial Aid Office regarding their financial aid status.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the release of financial aid information without the student's written consent. All information provided will be kept confidential.
The financial aid award year for Northland occurs from the fall semester through summer session.
A student must file a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each financial aid award year.
A student may only receive Title IV Aid from one institution per semester.
The Financial Aid Office must receive a valid Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) by the student's last date of attendance for the semester enrolled for financial aid consideration.
If a student's cost of attendance exceeds Northland's standardized budget, s/he may request a budget review with supporting documentation.
Students are required to review the accuracy of information and notify the Financial Aid Office with changes in their financial, academic or personal situation that would affect their eligibility. This includes information not reported on the original FAFSA form.
If a student is selected for "verification," s/he must provide all requested documentation, including a signed copy of the Federal Income Tax Return and a verification worksheet to the Financial Aid Office.
Students are required to pursue an approved degree or certificate program in order to be eligible for Title IV Aid.
Students who withdraw from courses are responsible for understanding Northland's Institutional Refund Policy. For additional information, students may contact the Business Office.
A student has the right to know the types of aid available at Northland, the method and frequency of disbursement and the terms and conditions of receiving financial aid.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) checks are mailed to the student by the Payroll Office on the 15th and 30th of each month.
A student is required to register for and attend all classes that s/he is awarded for and any changes in enrollment or a withdrawal from Northland must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. A student must consult with his/her instructor(s) and an Academic Advisor before making enrollment changes.
15. Financial aid recipients must read and understand the Federal Return of Title IV Aid procedure at Northland. Aid recipients withdrawing from all classes may be required to return a portion of the funds disbursed to them for the semester enrolled.
Changes in enrollment that occur after the student has received his/her financial aid "refund" check may not result in an adjustment to his/her award for the semester.
A student must verify all tuition, fees, dorm, and book charges if entitled to a "refund" check. Students should contact the Business Office regarding discrepancies in their billing charges.
A student has a right to know the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), the criteria for continued eligibility and the criteria for reestablishing eligibility.
A student must maintain SAP standards in order to be eligible for financial assistance. Students with academic problems are encouraged to seek assistance from an Academic Advisor.
A Promissory Note is not intended to allow financial aid applicants to defer all payments until financial aid is approved. Students who have applied for financial aid, but have not been awarded financial aid, must make the scheduled monthly payments. The student's signature on the Promissory Note is an agreement to make payments.
Northland does not participate in any Federal Student Loan Programs. You may contact your banking institution for a personal loan.
If a student has received a student loan from another institution, the student is required to keep the lending agency informed of any change in address, change in enrollment status, withdrawal from school, or graduation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information regarding financial aid may be directed to the Financial Aid Office during normal business hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday; and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday at 928-524-7470 or 1-800-266-7845, ext. 7470.

GED TESTING

Northland offers GED testing on a regular basis to applicants who qualify.

The applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and have not received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate. Individuals between sixteen (16) years and eighteen (18) years of age may be tested, provided the applicant:

Presents to the examiner a notarized statement of consent to take the test, from a parent or legal guardian; and
Presents verification, by letter, from the last elementary or secondary school the applicant attended, certifying that the applicant has officially withdrawn;
Presents one form of photo identification to an official Arizona GED examiner

The applicant must pay the appropriate fee, as listed in the tuition and fee schedule. No individual younger than sixteen (16) years of age may make application for GED testing.

Individuals enrolled in a charter school or alternative high school are not eligible to be tested unless that person has officially withdrawn from that educational program. If home schooled, the parent must report to the County School Superintendent's office that the student is no longer home schooled. An Official Notice of Pupil Withdrawal (form: ADE 41-123) supplied by the County School Superintendent's office must be presented before GED testing.

The GED tests are administered throughout the school year at the White Mountain Campus in Show Low, Painted Desert Campus in Holbrook and other locations. Appointments are required to sit for the exams. Contact the Coordinator of GED Testing at 1-800-266-7845, ext. 6114 or 928-532-6114.