Financial Aid

How to Apply for Financial Aid at DMACC

Financial aid at DMACC is need-based. The College believes that the financing of an undergraduate education is a partnership between the student and college, and students should pay to the extent they are capable.

Students apply for financial aid at DMACC by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligibility for funds is based on a federal formula and each student’s financial situation, as well as DMACC’s cost of attendance. The following topics provide basic information concerning the financial aid awarding process at DMACC.

Budget Allowances

In addition to tuition and fees, allowances are made for room and board, personal expenses, books and supplies, child care and transportation in determining financial need.

Cost of Attendance

Estimated costs for a full-time undergraduate student, based on the 2013-2014 budget, are as follows:

Current cost of attendance can be found at www.dmacc.edu/fin_aid/finstudentexpense.asp.

Filing Request for Special Consideration

There are times, after receiving the award notification from the DMACC Student Financial Aid Office, that a student/family may find it difficult to finance their expected contributions due to changes in their financial circumstances. If this is the case, a student/family may file a Request for Special Consideration. If a student/family has new or additional information concerning their financial circumstances, it should be submitted in writing and sent to the attention of the Director of Student Financial Aid, Ankeny Campus. Any supporting documentation should be sent with the Request for Special Consideration.

Gainful Employment Information

Gainful Employment information about DMACC certificates and diplomas may be found at www.dmacc.edu/gainfulemployment/welcome.asp.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

One application is all it takes. FAFSA worksheets are available at all campuses. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ) on the Web at www.fafsa.gov.

When to Apply

It is necessary to file a FAFSA each year. Priority consideration will be given to students who apply by April 1 prior to the Fall semester.

1. Complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.
2. Make sure the appropriate signatures are on all forms.
3. Review all data before submitting the FAFSA. Check the student’s Social Security number and birth date. ESTIMATED tax data may be used, but it is preferred that taxes be completed before filing the FAFSA, when possible.
4. Submit the FAFSA online, www.fafsa.gov.
5. You can obtain a PIN to electronically sign the form by visiting www.pin.ed.gov.

Financial Aid Updates on the Web

Once students have applied for financial aid, they may check on the status of their financial aid by reviewing DMACC’s student WebInfo System at www.dmacc.edu. Students will need their DMACC student PIN numbers.

To Obtain a DMACC PIN

To request a PIN number, or if the student has forgotten his or her PIN, contact:

1-800-362-2127, ext. 7300, or 515-965-7300

or email to: techsupport@dmacc.edu.

Helpful hints section:

1. Keep together copies of all forms, letters, award notices and financial aid-related documents.
2. Include student’s name and DMACC ID number on all correspondence.
3. The student will be contacted by the DMACC Financial Aid Office if additional documents, such as tax transcripts, are needed.

Types of Aid (Grants & Scholarships)

Federal Pell Grants

These grants are awarded based on financial need and are available if the student has filed a FAFSA, shows financial need and does not have a Bachelor’s degree. Awards may range from $605-$5,645. The grant is limited to twelve full-time semesters.

Students should contact the DMACC Financial Aid Office concerning their eligibility.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

SEOG is available for undergraduate students who have completed and filed a FAFSA, are enrolled at least half-time and show exceptional financial need. The maximum amount is $500 for a full-time student.

Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grants (IVTTG)

IVTT Grants are available for students enrolled in vocational-technical programs. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission notifies DMACC of award recipients. The maximum annual award is $1,200.

Iowa Grant

These grants are available to undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time who have applied for financial aid and show exceptional need. The maximum amount offered is $5,005 per academic year.

DMACC Grant

The DMACC Grant is an institutional grant that is awarded on a first come, first-served basis to students with demonstrated financial aid need. The grant is limited to an annual amount of $300.

Kibbie Grant

The Kibbie Grant Program provides need-based financial assistance to Iowa residents enrolled in career education (career-technical) and career option programs at Iowa community colleges. Grants for full-time students may cover one half of the average tuition and mandatory fees.

TEACH Grant

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (the CCRAA), Pub. L. 110-84, created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program. This program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to students who plan on becoming a teacher and meet certain specified requirements. If a student who receives a TEACH Grant does not complete the required teaching, the grant must be repaid as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

Miscellaneous Scholarships

Scholarships available from off-campus sources are posted at: www.dmacc.edu/fin_aid/scholarships.asp

Applying for DMACC Foundation Scholarships and Outside Scholarships and Grants

DMACC Foundation Scholarships

Each year, the DMACC Foundation receives generous gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations. Fundraising efforts combined with earnings from Foundation investments provide scholarships to hundreds of students annually. These awards are granted through a competitive application process.

Most awards are based on financial need, academic achievement, or both. For a listing of Foundation scholarship awards available, visit www.dmacc.edu/foundation.

DMACC Foundation’s Scholarship Application Process

By applying through the Foundation online application, eligible applicants could be chosen to receive scholarships from any of our six campuses. The online application is available after February 1 each year at: www.dmacc.edu/foundation. Application and notification deadlines vary. Visit www.dmacc.edu/foundation.

Application Components Include:

• Online form detailing personal, academic and financial information.
• One-page essay describing the applicant’s educational and career goals, volunteer involvement, achievements and financial need. Applicants should explain how they would personally benefit from receiving scholarship support, and how they value a college education.
• Grade verification. Application Scoring will be based on:
  • 50% Essay
  • 25% Financial Need
  • 25% Cumulative Grade Point Average

Criteria and Conditions:

• Completed DMACC Admissions Application must be on file-OR- Applicant must be enrolled as a current DMACC student.
• Minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA for most recent coursework. Applicants with no recorded grade within the last 10 years will be exempt from this requirement.
• If awarded a scholarship, the applicant will be required to complete at least six DMACC credits and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA during the semester(s) of award. *Some awards may have higher requirements, which are communicated at the time of award notification, if applicable.

How DMACC Awards Are Paid

Unless otherwise stated, all awards will be applied directly to a student’s DMACC account and may be used for tuition and/or book charges at DMACC in the semester for which the award is given. Some awards are renewable for the following semesters. If a recipient fails to maintain his or her original enrollment criteria or drops out before the semester ends, he or she may be required to repay the DMACC Foundation.

Outside Scholarships and Grants Websites

FASTWEB: www.fastweb.com

CollegeQuest: www.collegequest.com

CASHE: www.cashe.com

Employment

Federal College Work-Study Program (CWSP)

The College Work-Study Program is for students who are enrolled and show financial need. The College Work-Study Program offers part-time jobs on- and off-campus. Students should contact the DMACC Career Center for available positions.

Community Service

Students who are College Work-Study eligible may be employed as tutors for children in reading and math. As tutors, students may work in a child care center, a school, an after-school program or a library. Community Service opportunities are listed in the Career Center on all DMACC campuses.

Study Abroad

A student in a study abroad program is eligible for aid if the program is approved for credit by an eligible school and the student is enrolled as a regular student at the eligible school. DMACC will accept the study abroad coursework for credit. The coursework does not have to be required for the student’s degree program. DMACC must have a contractual agreement with the foreign school or a single written arrangement with a study-abroad organization to represent agreement between DMACC and one or more foreign schools.

A financial aid advisor will assist you with obtaining financial aid for study abroad. Visit the Financial Aid Office on the Ankeny Campus or call 515-964-6283.

Loans

Federal Direct Student Loan Program- Subsidized and Unsubsidized

Subsidized loans are need-based, fixed 6.8 percent interest rate loans available to assist students for educational costs. (Interest rates subject to change.) Students must file a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be enrolled at least half-time to apply for a loan. The government pays the interest on the subsidized loan during periods of enrollment and the six-month grace period. The student pays all interest after receiving an unsubsidized loan.

Repayment for both loan types begins six months after terminating enrollment or dropping to less than half-time. The maximum annual subsidized/unsubsidized Direct Loan amounts are $3,500 for freshmen and $4,500 for sophomores. Independent students may be eligible to receive additional unsubsidized loans. Entrance and exit counseling are required.

Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

A PLUS loan is a fixed 6.8 percent interest rate loan that is available to parents of dependent students. Students must be enrolled at least half-time. Parents can borrow the cost of the dependent student’s education minus any financial aid the student receives. Parents apply through the DMACC Financial Aid Office.

Entrance Counseling

All first-time borrowers at DMACC are required to attend an entrance counseling session. Students may use the Internet Entrance Counseling tutorial at www.studentloans.gov or visit the Financial Aid Office.

Exit Counseling

Students leaving or graduating from DMACC must complete the Exit Counseling requirement. It is important for students to know the amount of their loans, as well as repayment options and requirements and loan cancellation provisions. Students may use www.dlservicer.ed.gov to complete the Exit Counseling requirement or visit any DMACC campus for Exit Counseling.

Alternative Loans

Alternative low-interest loans are available to students and families who would not otherwise receive adequate amounts of student aid. Students may obtain additional information by calling the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans Educational Benefits

The DMACC Veterans Services Office assists students in applying for veterans’ educational benefits, acts as a liaison between the student and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, (VA) and serves as a resource to other DMACC departments and services.

Students who could be eligible for veterans educational benefits through the VA include: former full-time active-duty U.S. military veterans, current members of the Iowa National Guard, current members of U.S. military reserve units, participants in the VA vocational rehabilitation program and surviving dependents and spouses of service-related disabled or deceased veterans.

Application for veterans’ benefits should be completed when applying for admission to DMACC. Forms are available from the Veterans’ Office on the Ankeny Campus. The application process for new claims takes a minimum of eight weeks to complete by the VA. Therefore, appropriate paperwork should be completed as early as possible.

DMACC is an SOC-Service members Opportunity College-and career and degree programs are approved by the VA for benefits. Monthly pay rates are set by Congress and the VA. These vary according to students’ benefits categories and are based on credit hour enrollment for each semester. Further details may be obtained at the Office of Student Financial Aid/Veterans Services, Ankeny Campus, 515-964-6282, or 1-800-362-2127, or at www.dmacc.edu/veterans.

Iowa National Guard

The Iowa National Guard Educational Assistance Program may pay up to 100 percent of an eligible student’s tuition (not additional class fees) in the Fall and Spring semesters at DMACC. Eligible students must be active members of the Iowa Army or Air National Guard. Individuals must apply for this grant through their Guard unit commander each spring for the coming academic year. Talented and gifted (TAG) notifies the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (ICSAC) of approved application. That agency notifies DMACC of the student’s eligibility and authorizes payment of the funds to DMACC.

Iowa New Choices

The Iowa New Choices Program located at the Boone, Carroll and Urban campuses provides support to single parents who have full or joint custody of minor children, single pregnant women, or low-income Iowans receiving public assistance or preparing to enter the job market.

The support services include academic advising, career assessment and planning, referral services to various community agencies and the promotion of nontraditional occupations. Financial assistance may be provided in the following forms: bus passes on a first-come, first-served basis; mileage allowance to the Ankeny and Urban campuses if the student lives outside Polk County; and childcare assistance if not eligible for State block grant.

All financial assistance depends on availability of funds. Details may be obtained from the Iowa New Choices Office on the Urban Campus, 515-248-7520.

Similar services are also available at the Boone and Carroll campuses.

Dislocated Workers

Adults whose jobs are being eliminated through downsizing or business closing should contact the Dislocated Worker Center in their county.

STRIVE

The STRIVE (Selected Training Received in Vocational Education) Program provides vocational education to special needs students from high school. Details may be obtained at www.dmacc.edu/strive.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Through a special agreement with the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services division of the Department of Education, a vocational rehabilitation staff person is assigned to each DMACC campus. Agency services are available to eligible clients. As a part of an individual written plan requiring training to meet a student’s vocational goal, financial assistance may be available per Agency guidelines.

Requirements For Continued Financial Aid Eligibility

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require that students maintain satisfactory academic progress in the program of study they are pursuing in order to receive financial aid. At DMACC, students must earn and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Students must also earn a minimum number of credits per semester to continue receiving aid. Financial aid includes all federal and state grants, college work-study and loans, including the Federal Direct Student Loans. Academic records will be reviewed every semester.

Financial Aid Academic Progress Standards

DMACC has two standards for measuring academic progress:

1. The U.S. Department of Education has defined the academic standard measurements the Financial Aid Office must use when determining eligibility for financial aid. The policy must measure both grade point average (GPA) and credit hours earned. Financial aid recipients’ academic progress, ES 4300, is described here.
2. DMACC’s standard academic policy for all students ES 4650 can be found at the following link: www.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/satisfactoryprogress.asp.

The FA-SAP standards apply to undergraduate students who wish to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility. These standards apply to a student’s entire academic record at Des Moines Area Community College whether or not financial aid was received for prior terms of enrollment.

General FA-SAP Requirements

The College’s records are reviewed at the completion of every semester of enrollment to determine compliance with the SAP policy. There are three components to the SAP policy:

1. Minimum GPA
   Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher to remain eligible for financial aid. Academic records are reviewed at the completion of every term of enrollment (Fall, Spring, Summer) to determine FA-SAP.
2. Minimum Pace of Completion
   Students must complete course work at a minimum cumulative rate of 67%. Completed course work is defined as any course for which the student receives a passing grade. Academic records are reviewed at the completion of every term of enrollment (Fall, Spring, Summer) to determine FA-SAP.

Use the formula below to determine the pace of completion. The minimum pace requirement is 67%. Completed Credit Hours (all passing grades) divided by Attempted Credit Hours (completed hours, hours enrolled in as of the end of the 14th day [census] of the semester and hours with nonpassing grades or incompletes). For more information or examples, please visit the financial aid website at www.dmacc.edu/fin_aid/finsatisfactory.asp or contact the financial aid office.

3. Maximum Time Frame (Duration of Eligibility)
   Federal regulations limit financial aid eligibility to 150% (96 credits for a two-year program) of the published length of the education program, as measured in attempted credit hours. Transfer credit hours (if available) are counted in the calculation of duration of eligibility. When the student has completed 100% of their education program, a letter is mailed to the student and a message is posted to the student’s DMACC e-mail account as notification that they are approaching the maximum time frame.

Repeating a Course

The credit hours from a repeated course are counted as attempted hours every time the course is repeated. Once the course is passed, the credit hours are counted as both attempted and completed credit hours. Incompletes are counted as non-passing grades.

Appealing Financial Aid Suspensions

Students who have extenuating circumstances may appeal their financial aid suspension one time. For details on how to appeal, see the College Policy ES 4300 for complete details, http://go.dmacc.edu/student_services/int/Procedures/ES4300%20Final.pdf.

Gainful Employment

Students may find gainful employment information about DMACC diplomas and certificates of specialization by visiting http://go.dmacc.edu/gainfulemployment/pages/welcome.aspx.

Repeating Classes

Financial Aid will monitor students with excessive retakes. This may result in a financial aid warning or cancellation.

When students retake a class that has a grade higher than an “F,” the credits are reduced in the semester the original class was taken. This could result in the student being short credits.

Example:

A part-time student enrolled in 7 credits gets a “D” in a 4-credit class and a B+ in a 3-credit class in the Fall and maintains a GPA of 2.00. His status is satisfactory. If he retakes the 4-credit class in the Spring, those 4 Fall semester credits will be removed and his status will be deficit one credit and would be on warning, even if the Spring semester credits and grades were satisfactory. The credits you earn for a class you have already passed will not be counted toward the number of credits required in the Quantitative Measurement for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

A retake of a class that has been passed will not make up deficit credits because it only replaces the grade for credits you have earned.

Never-Attending Process

(10th day-NA)

Prior to the 10th day of class, instructors can view their class lists online and must identify students who have never attended their class. Students will receive an email indicating the classes that were reported. If they have been reported as never-attending, the student is dropped from enrollment, and the student’s financial aid is adjusted accordingly. If a balance is due, a letter is sent to the student, indicating the amount and a due date. If an instructor error was made, the student may obtain a signature from the instructor on an official drop/add form and submit it to the Registrar’s office to reenroll.

Quit Attending Process

(Midsemester-QA)

Instructors are asked to report students who have quit attending. An email is sent to the student showing what classes have been reported as QA. The student must obtain the instructor’s signature and submit the signed email to the Financial Aid Office. If all instructors report a student as QA, a Return of Title IV calculation is completed. The student is dropped from his classes and receives a letter telling him of any amount he may owe to the College or Department of Education and the methods of repayment. Those students who are reported in some, but not all of their classes as QA should consider dropping those courses in order to avoid receiving a failing grade.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence may be granted to a student who leaves DMACC for military reasons or for jury duty. Only one leave per academic year will be allowed. The student must return by the end of the leave of absence or be treated as a withdrawal.

Financial Aid Recipients

If any amount of tuition is paid with funds from a Title IV Program and the student withdraws during the established refund period, the Title IV program funds will be adjusted and any unearned aid will be returned in the following order: Loans: Federal Unsubsidized, Federal Subsidized and Federal Plus. Grants: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Other Title IV programs. Under federal law, DMACC must return the funds as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after DMACC determines the student’s withdrawal date.

Return of Financial Aid

Title IV Funds

A student’s financial aid is based on the number of classes the student is enrolled in and the number of days the student is enrolled in classes. When a student initiates a withdrawal from one or more classes, the amount of financial aid the student is eligible to receive is affected.

The Return of Title IV funds to the federal government is based on a calculation that determines how much aid the student is eligible to receive and how much the student is no longer eligible for, because he or she is no longer enrolled in school. This calculation is applicable until the student has completed more than 60 percent of the semester. Once the student has completed more than 60 percent of the semester, all financial aid is considered earned.

For example:

If a student completed 10 percent of the semester, the student will have earned 10 percent of the financial assistance awarded for the semester. Any aid above and beyond the 10 percent is considered unearned and must be returned to the federal government.

Who is Responsible for Returning the Unearned Funds?

As prescribed by federal law, DMACC is required to return the lesser of:

• The unearned amount of the financial aid; or
• An amount equal to the student’s total institutional charges for the semester, multiplied by the percentage of unearned aid.

As prescribed by federal law, the amount the student must return is:

• The unearned amount of Title IV assistance minus any funds DMACC returned.

If the student is required to repay unearned loan funds, these funds will be repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, through scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

If the student is required to repay unearned Pell and/or SEOG Grant funds, the law provides that the student is only required to return grant funds if the final grant overpayment amount exceeds 50 percent of the total grant assistance the student received for the payment period.

Any unearned grant money must be repaid by either making arrangements with DMACC or with the U.S. Department of Education.

Example:

Bill Dollar is a returning student from Des Moines who was disappointed to have to withdraw from DMACC during the semester, particularly since he is doing very well in the 12 credit hours he is taking. Bill has to withdraw for personal reasons.

Bill was awarded the following financial aid, which was credited to his student account:

Bill completed only 11 days of classes or 10 percent of the semester. Bill’s tuition and fee charges for the full semester are $1,500. Please visit www.dmacc.edu for current tuition and financial aid information.)

To determine how much money must be returned by DMACC and Bill, the financial aid staff must first determine how much financial aid Bill did not earn. Since Bill only attended 10 percent of the semester, he only earned 10 percent of his financial aid. Therefore, the unearned percent of his financial aid is 90 percent.

Per federal requirements, DMACC and Bill must repay a total of $2,682.90.

DMACC is required to return the lesser of the unearned amount of financial aid, or the amount of total institutional charges multiplied by the percent of unearned aid.

In this example, DMACC would be required to pay back the amount of institutional charges, because it is the lesser amount.

Bill is required to return the remaining unearned amount.

Amount and Order of Repayment

In the example, both DMACC and Bill must return loan funds. After completing the calculations and following the repayment guidelines, it was determined that DMACC should repay $1,350.00 to Bill’s loan. Bill will be required to repay $383.00 to the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, through a repayment plan in accordance with the terms of his promissory note. In addition, based on the calculations, $949.90 of Bill’s Pell Grant was unearned. As DMACC has already paid the total amount it owes to the loan program, Bill is responsible for paying back 50% of the Pell Grant.

Title IV Grant Overpayment

If a student is required to repay an unearned grant (overpayment), the student will remain eligible for Title IV aid up to 45 days after the student has been notified of the overpayment. The student may resolve the overpayment by repaying the overpayment in full to DMACC, by making satisfactory repayment arrangements with DMACC, or by making satisfactory repayment arrangements with the U.S. Department of Education.