Important Financial Aid Information

Important Information

• Clock-hour certificate programs are structured around payment periods (the length of time for which financial aid funds are disbursed to the student), rather than academic terms as in credit-hour programs.

• The length of each payment period may vary by program as each has its own unique schedule.

• A payment period ends only when a student successfully completes both the required clock hours and the weeks assigned to that period.

Attendance Requirements

Daily attendance tracking is a federal requirement for clock-hour programs. Attendance and successful grades are essential for consecutive disbursements to occur.

Financial Aid Disbursements

Based on the student’s financial aid eligibility, verified documentation, attendance records, and instructor-confirmed participation, the first disbursement for a clock-hour program typically occurs a few weeks after the cohort begins.

Subsequent disbursements are contingent upon the student successfully completing the clock hours and weeks in the previous payment period.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

SAP is evaluated at the end of each payment period. The SAP schedule varies by program because payment period dates differ.
Incomplete or late grades are considered unsuccessful and will negatively impact financial aid eligibility, as reflected in the SAP calculation.

Return of Title IV Funds

Title IV funds (federal financial aid) are awarded under the assumption that the student will attend for the entire period for which assistance is granted.
If a student withdraws or stops attending class for 14 days or more or fails to meet SAP requirements, federal regulations require the institution to perform a Return of Title IV calculation. This determines whether funds should be returned to the federal government or whether the student is eligible to keep some or all the funds already disbursed.