Compliance and Accreditation

Federal regulations require that, for financial aid purposes, the College must establish and monitor standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in three areas: cumulative GPA (Qualitative Measurement), hours earned each term (67% Quantitative Measurement), and program completion time limits (150% Maximum Timeframe Measurement).  A student must maintain satisfactory progress in all three areas regardless of receipt of previous financial aid.  In order to maintain satisfactory progress, a student receiving financial aid must:

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.  A student must maintain a GPA consistent with the established College policy.  Any financial aid student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 at the end of a term will be placed on financial aid warning for the next term of attendance.  Students attending under the status of financial aid warning will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid warning who does not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement at the end of the term will become ineligible to receive financial aid.  Any student deemed ineligible for financial aid (by the Financial Aid Office), will have the one-time opportunity to appeal for extenuating circumstances.  A student under financial aid warning status with an approved appeal will be placed on financial aid probation.  A student attending under the status of financial aid probation will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid probation who does not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement at the end of the term will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of ineligibility for future financial aid until the academic deficiencies are resolved; and
2. Complete 67% of the total credit hours attempted each term.  Financial aid students must complete at least 67% of all hours attempted each term.  Successful completion includes grades of P, D, and higher, and does not include grades of F, IP, R, and W.  A grade of “I” may affect your completion rate.  If the financial aid student falls below the 67% completion rate, the student will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of the first 67% violation and will be placed on financial aid warning for the next term of attendance.  The student will remain eligible for financial aid while under financial aid warning and must complete at least 67% of all hours attempted during the next term of enrollment.  A student not completing 67% of the requirements of the term of enrollment will become ineligible to receive financial aid.  Any student deemed ineligible for financial aid (by the Financial Aid Office), will have the one-time opportunity to appeal for extenuating circumstances.  A student under financial aid warning status with an approved appeal will be placed on financial aid probation.  A student attending under the status of financial aid probation will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid probation who does not complete 67% of the requirements of the term of enrollment will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of ineligibility for future financial aid until the curriculum completion deficiencies are resolved; and
3. Complete program of study within 150% of the semester hours required to graduate.  Students are required to complete their curriculum within 150% of the curriculum length.  All hours attempted at Coastal, excluding 30 hours of developmental courses, are counted toward this maximum timeframe for curriculum completion (regardless of when they were attempted).  Financial aid students who exceed the 150% maximum timeframe standard will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of their ineligibility for future financial aid.  Any student deemed ineligible for financial aid (by the Financial Aid Office), will have the one-time opportunity to appeal for extenuating circumstances.

Maximum Time-Frame Standard

All hours attempted at Coastal, regardless of when they were attempted, are counted toward this maximum time frame for curriculum completion.  Financial aid students who exceed the 150% maximum time frame standard will no longer be eligible for financial aid.

How to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA)

GPA Calculator

Critical Information

Return to Title IV

Any change in your course schedule (drop, withdrawal, or a never attend) before the 60% point of the term (16-week, 12-week, 8-week, 5-week, or 4-week), may result in you being required to pay or return the unearned portion of the financial aid funds to the federal government.  Please see your Financial Aid Assistant for calculations.

Return to State Grants

If you are withdrawn or dropped from all classes prior to the 35% point of the term (16-week, 12-week, 8-week, 5-week, or 4-week), you may have to return the unearned portion of your state grant funds, including the North Carolina Community College Scholarship and the North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship.  Please see your Financial Aid Assistant for calculations.

Clock Hour Converted Programs

If you are registered for a technical or vocational program that is one year or less in length (such as a diploma or certificate level program), your classes may be subject to the Clock Hour Conversion (CHC) rule.  The CHC calculations are based on clock hours (actual time in class/lab) and the weeks of instruction time not on credit hours which may result in fewer hours than your actual registered credit hours and therefore your Pell may be reduced.  To determine your clock-hour enrollment status, please see your Financial Aid Assistant for a Clock Hour Conversion Chart.

Changes in Enrollment Status

The Financial Aid Office will re-evaluate enrollment status and re-calculate federal student aid for students who drop, add, never attend, or withdraw from classes.   The Financial Aid may be re-calculated based on current enrollment status for changes that occur after the Financial Aid census dates of each class.  See examples below.

EX: A student registers for 9 hours for classes starting on 1/5/2016 and attends all classes through the census date for those specific classes.  Financial Aid disburses aid of $2,082 on 2/19/2016.

The student decides that two of his classes do not fit in his schedule and withdraws from those classes on 2/25/2016.  His enrollment is reduced to 3 credit hours.  Because the student made it to the census date, he does not owe Financial Aid to the College.

The student then decides to add a 3 credit hour class that starts on 3/5/2016.  The census date for this course is 3/15/2016.  Financial Aid must re-evaluate his enrollment based on what he is attending on 3/15/2016.  His enrollment status is now 6 hours (half-time).  The student now owes $694 to the College.

Federal Work-Study Program

If you are interested in a part-time position that works around your class schedule, ask the Admissions Office Receptionist or any Financial Aid professional for a Federal Work-Study Application.

Late Start Classes: 12-Week, 8-Week, 5-Week, and 4-Week Terms

Pell will only pay for the classes that you have attended and have verified your attendance in.  12-week, 8-week, 5-week, and 4-week terms classes that have not started will not be included in your total credit hours until those terms have started and you have verified attendance for each class.  Your initial Cost of Living Refund amount will be reduced and the remainder will be issued accordingly throughout the semester.

Your Pell Grant funds will be adjusted if you:

• Registered for less than 12 credit hours.
• Drop/withdraw from a course before the financial aid census date, or the instructor reports you as a “never attend” for the course.
• Registered for a class that is not in your program of study.
• Registered for a late start class (12-week, 10-week, 8-week, 5-week, or 4-week).
• Registered for a technical or vocational (certificate or diploma) program that requires a clock-hour conversion calculation of funds.
• Exceed the 30-credit hour limit of developmental courses.
• Registered to audit a course or for a credit by examination course.
• Are close to your Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU).

Online Class(es) Attendance Verification Steps for Pell Grant Students

1. Login to MyCCCC and click the link to Blackboard.  Access your online class.
2. Click on the name of the course you are accessing (such as General Psychology).
3. On the Announcements page, you will see several announcements, select the one for Pell Grant Verification.  The announcement will direct you to the survey in your online class.
4. You will be prompted to verify that you want to complete the Pell Grant Verification Survey.  Click the “OK” button.
5. The Pell Grant Verification Survey will open. Read the instructions carefully.
   • Question 1 – Type your first and last name.
   • Question 2 – Type your 7 digit Coastal student ID number.
   • Question 3 – If you are receiving a Pell Grant this semester, click “Yes”.
   • Question 4 – Type the date.
6. Click “Save All Answers.”  Click the “OK” button.
7. Click "Submit".  Click the “OK” button.
8. Print this page.
9. Attach print out(s) to your Registration Statement (semester schedule).

After completing the online steps above, turn in your Registration Statement (semester schedule) with the printout(s) to the Admissions Office Receptionist (located in the Student Center Building) and sign the logbook.

If you are unable to bring your online class printouts to the Admissions Office, please mail them with a copy of your Registration Statement to: Financial Aid, Coastal Carolina Community College, 444 Western Boulevard, Jacksonville, NC 28546.  If you have any questions, please call 910.938.6332.

Technical problems?  Contact the Help Desk at 910.938.6123.

Your Pell Grant Award (hereafter referred to as Pell award) has been calculated by the United States Department of Education after consideration of the educational costs at Coastal Carolina Community College and your available resources.

Your Pell award is for a specific academic year and is based on your registering as a full-time student (12 semester hours of credit or more).  If you register for less than 12 semester hours of credit, your Pell will be adjusted accordingly (see Pell Grant Award Agreement, 2nd paragraph).  Federal regulations require the College to adjust or modify the Pell awards for students enrolled in specified one-year certification or diploma programs that require clock-hour conversion.

Your yearly award is divided in half to determine your semester award for the Fall and Spring semesters.  If you do not use your entire Pell award for the Fall and Spring, you may use the remaining balance towards your Summer semester.  You will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office that asks if you accept or decline your Pell award for the Summer.

For example: Your award for the academic year is $4,000.  If you register for 12 hours or more, you will have $2,000 for the Fall semester and $2,000 for the Spring semester.  If you register for 9-11 hours, you will have $1,500 for the Fall semester and $1,500 for the Spring semester; therefore, you should have $1,000 available for the Summer semester.

The Most Common Problems We See in the Financial Aid Office

The most common problems encountered within the Financial Aid Office arise from students not following directions or timelines.  Federal regulations require the College to establish operational guidelines and to set deadlines.  For the system to work properly, every Pell student must follow directions and comply with timelines.
Other common problems include:

• Students registering for courses not in their curriculum.  Pell funds cannot be awarded for any course that is not part of an approved curriculum program.

• Student registering for developmental courses in excess of 30 semester hours of credit.  A maximum of 30 attempted hours of developmental courses may be used with Pell Grant funds.

• Students registering for:  (1) Audited courses, and (2) credit by examination courses.  Pell Grant award funds cannot be awarded for any of these conditions outlined above.

Grade Requirements

A grade of D or better is considered successful completion; therefore, your Pell award will only pay to re-take those courses one additional time.

A grade of F in any course is not a successful completion and your Pell award may be used to re-take that course until successful completion.  Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must be maintained.

Pell Grant Adjustments

Your Pell award may be adjusted if you:

• Fail to enroll for 12 or more credit hours
• Withdraw from a course
• Are dropped by your instructor
• Are reported as a "never attend" by your instructor
• Register for courses not in your curriculum (except required remedial courses)
• Exceed 30 hours of remedial courses
• Register for a course(s) in the second accelerated term (for example, 8-week courses)
• Register for a course to audit the course or receive credit by examination
• Are in a one-year certification or diploma curriculum that requires a clock-hour conversion

Losing Your Pell Grant Award

Federal regulations require that, for financial aid purposes, the College must establish and monitor standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in three areas: cumulative GPA (Qualitative Measurement), hours earned each term (67% Pace Measurement), and program completion time limits (150% Pace Measurement).  A student must maintain satisfactory progress in all three areas regardless of receipt of previous financial aid.

In order to maintain satisfactory progress, a student receiving financial aid must:

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.  A student must maintain a GPA consistent with the established College policy.  Any financial aid student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 at the end of a term will be placed on financial aid warning for the next term of atten­dance.  Students attending under the status of financial aid warning will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid warning who does not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement at the end of the term's measurement of progress will become ineligible to receive financial aid.  Any student deemed ineligible for financial aid (by the Financial Aid Office), will have the opportunity to appeal for extenuating circumstances.  Students under financial aid warning status with an approved appeal will be placed on financial aid proba­tion.  Students attending under the status of financial aid probation will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid probation who does not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement at the end of the term's measurement of progress will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of ineligibility for future financial aid until the academic deficiencies are resolved; and/or
2. Complete 67% of the total credit hours attempted each term.  Financial aid students must complete at least 67% of all hours attempted each term.  Successful completion includes grades of P, D, or higher, and does not include grades of F, IP, R, and W.  If the financial aid student falls below the 67% completion rate, the student will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of their first 67% violation and placed on financial aid warning for the next term of attendance.  Students will remain eligible for financial aid while under financial aid warning and must complete at least 67% of all hours attempt­ed during the next term of enrollment.  Students not completing 67% of the requirements of the term of enrollment will become ineligible to receive financial aid.  Any student deemed ineligible for financial aid (by the Financial Aid Office), will have the opportunity to appeal for extenuating circumstances.  Students under financial aid warning status with an approved appeal will be placed on financial aid proba­tion.  Students attending under the status of financial aid probation will remain eligible for financial aid.  Any student under financial aid probation who does not complete 67% of the requirements of the term of enrollment will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of inel­igibility for future financial aid until the curriculum completion defi­ciencies are resolved; and
3. Complete program of study within 150% of the semester hours required to graduate.  Students are required to complete their curric­ulum within 150% of the curriculum length.  All hours attempted at Coastal, excluding developmental courses, are counted toward this maximum timeframe for curriculum completion (regardless of when they were attempted).  Financial aid students who exceed the 150% maximum timeframe standard will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of their ineligibility for future financial aid.

Loss of Student Eligibility for Federal Aid Due to a Drug Conviction

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 provide that a student is ineligible for federal student aid if convicted under federal or state law of any offense involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance during a period of enrollment in which federal student aid was received.  Federal aid can be grants or federal work-study.  The period of ineligibility begins on the date of conviction and lasts until the end of the statutorily specified period.  The student may regain eligibility early by completing a drug rehabilitation program or if the conviction is overturned.

Even though you may not be eligible for federal aid, you may be eligible for state aid or institutional aid.  If you become eligible or regain your eligibility, you will need to notify the Financial Aid Office.  If you are convicted of possessing or selling drugs after you submit your FAFSA, you must notify your financial aid office immediately.  You will lose your eligibility and be required to pay back the aid you received after your conviction.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility

You will regain eligibility for financial aid the semester following the semester in which the SAP or satisfactory curriculum completion is met.  Reinstatement does not waive the payment of any money you may owe Coastal Carolina Community College or the United States Department of Education.

Certain vocational programs of study at Coastal Carolina Community College are considered to be “clock hour” programs for Title IV (Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG) purposes.  A program is considered to be a clock hours program if:

• The program measures student progress in clock hours to receive state or federal approval or licensure.
• The completion of clock hours is required for graduates to apply for approval to practice applicable occupation.
• The program is one year or less in length.

The clock hours may be less than your actual registered credit hours and therefore your Pell may be reduced.  Please see your Financial Aid Assistant for the clock hour chart.

D60160 Automotive Systems Technology
C55120 Basic Law Enforcement Training
D60130 Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology
D55140 Cosmetology
C55160 Cosmetology Instructor
D45240 Dental Assisting
D60460 Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology
D35130 Electrical Systems Technology
D45660 Practical Nursing
D45740 Surgical Technology
D50420 Welding Technology

Payment Periods and Disbursement Procedure

Aid for students enrolled in clock hour programs will be disbursed based on clock hours (actual time in class/lab) rather than on semester credit hours.  See clock hour chart for your program of study to determine your clock hour enrollment status.

For clock hour programs, a payment period is defined not only in clock hours, but also in weeks of instructional time.  Students must successfully complete the clock hours and the weeks of instructional time in a payment period to progress to the next payment period.

Award Notification

The Financial Aid Office will provide a Pell Award Notification Package to each eligible recipient.  The package will provide detailed information about the award amounts, provide a Pell Grant Award Agreement that must be returned, and will also provide specific date/timeline requirements and cost of living information.

Clock Hour Programs

U.S. Department of Education regulations require the College to utilize a Clock-Hour Conversion (CHC) formula for awarding federal financial aid to eligible students enrolled in identified one-year diploma or certificate programs.  During each term, a student’s enrollment status will be calculated based on the clock-hour conversion of eligible credits available to the student.  These calculations may result in a reduction of Pell funds awarded to the student for the term.  For more information regarding the clock-hour conversion requirements, students may seek assistance through the College’s Financial Aid Office at finaid@coastalcarolina.edu or 910.938.6332.

Consortium Agreement

UA Consortium Agreement is a contract between two colleges/universities that recognizes the student’s registration at each location for financial aid purposes.  It also certifies only one of the two institutions can administer Title IV and State financial aid.
Within the Consortium Agreement, one of the two colleges/universities is defined as the "Home Institution" and the other college/university is referred to as the "Host Institution". The Home Institution is the school where the student is fully matriculated and from which he or she will earn a degree.  The Host Institution is where the student temporarily takes courses, whose credits will be transferred back to his or her "Home Institution."
The number of credits earned under an approved Consortium Agreement is integrated into the student’s record upon completion of the course.  The Consortium Agreement is also subject to approval by both the home and host institutions’ authorized financial aid staff.

Course Repeats

Federal financial aid guidelines for repeating a course are as follows:

1. A student can be eligible to receive financial aid to retake a previously passed course (only once) as long as the student is again receiving credit for the same course.
2. A student who previously passed a course with a grade of "D" or higher, and then subsequently failed the same course, is not eligible to receive financial aid for any additional attempts to repeat that same course.
3. There is no federal regulatory limit on the number of times a student may repeat a course failed and be eligible to receive financial aid.

Disbursement of Aid

Disbursement of excess financial aid after tuition, fees, and College Store charges will be processed on the date listed in the Information for Pell Students Handout distributed upon registering for class(es).  This information is updated on the College’s website.

The College Financing Plan

The College Financing Plan (CFP) is a consumer tool that participating institutions use to notify students about their financial aid package. It is a standardized form that is designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so that they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school. In July 2012, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) released the CFP (formerly known as the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet) and asked institutions to voluntarily commit to using it to supply financial aid information to students in a way that could be understood and compared easily.

To request a CFP prior to admission, please email admissions@coastalcarolina.edu. Upon providing a CFP form to a student or prospective study, Student Services staff will explain how the information applies to the student’s individual circumstances and how the information is subject to change or predicated on other factors, such as enrollment status.

Individuals who are located outside the service area or students primarily interested in distance education modalities will still be provided a CFP Form; however, the CFP Form must be sent to a student’s College e-mail account, and any additional correspondence related to the CFP Form must be conducted via the student’s College e-mail account.

Lifetime Eligibility

Effective with the 2012-2013 award year, the U.S. Department of Education established Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) guidelines which reduced the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive Federal Pell funding to the equivalent of six years (a combined total of 12 full-time semesters) or the maximum lifetime amount of 600 percent (600%) of attendance.  Lifetime Eligibility Used calculations compiled by the U.S. Department of Education are available for all students and reflect current and previous amounts of Pell used.  Students may seek assistance through the College’s Financial Aid Office or log onto the federal government’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)  to determine the remaining percentage of Pell eligibility.

Tuition, Textbooks, and Course-Related Supplies

Pell Grant funds may be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, and documented course-related supplies.  Eligible students may charge these allowable items to their student accounts based on the amount of their award.  If the amount of financial aid received is less than the charges, the student is required to pay the remaining balance at the time of registration or upon purchasing books and supplies in the College Store.  A valid Coastal student ID is required for purchase of allowable items within the College Store.

C25800B Bookkeeper/Payroll Certificate
C25800T Income Tax Preparer Certificate
C35100B Basic Refrigeration Certificate
C35100C Heating and Cooling Systems Certificate
C35100E Comfort Cooling Certificate
C35100R Residential Technician Certificate
C40100 Architectural Drafting and Design I Certificate
C60160 Automotive Systems Technology Certificate
C60160P Powertrain Certificate
C60160E Engine Performance Certificate
C60160U Undercar Certificate
C25120M Marketing and Customer Service Certificate
C60130F Collision Repair Introductory Certificate
C60130G Collision Repair Intermediate Certificate
C60130H Collision Repair Advanced Certificate
C60130E Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology Certificate
C55150C Professional Sous-Chef
C60460 Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology Certificate
C60460A Medium/Heavy Duty Power Train Certificate
C60460B Medium/Heavy Duty Drive Train Certificate
C60460C Heavy Duty Truck Systems Certificate
C35130 Residential Electrical Systems Certificate
C35130A Commercial Electrical Systems Certificate
C35130B Industrial Electrical Systems Technology Certificate
C40200 Basic Electronics Certificate
C40200C Computer Technology Certificate
C55460A Administration Certificate
C55460M Mitigation and Preparedness Certificate
C55460R Response and Recovery Certificate
C55240 General Level Certificate
C55240C General Level 2 Certificate
C55240B Incident Command Level Certificate
C55240D Fire Supervisor Certificate
C45630 Health and Fitness Science Certificate
C25110 Hospitality Specialist
C25110F Hospitality Food and Beverage Specialist
C25590N Network Management
C25380L Litigation Legal Assistant Certificate
C50420A Structural Welder Certificate
C50420B Combination Welder Certificate
C50420C Certified Welder Certificate