Student Rights & Responsibilities

• Federal law prohibits students from receiving Pell grants and/or loans at more than one college at the same time.
• Falsifying information regarding the requirements for federal financial assistance could result in a $20,000 fine, a prison sentence, or both.
• Students are responsible for ensuring their account is in good standing. You agree to pay any balance on your student account that is not covered by financial aid (grants or loans); these balances could include tuition, fees, bookstore charges and/or other miscellaneous charges.
• To receive financial aid, students are expected to attend all classes on which a financial aid award is based. Award funds may be delayed if you do not attend the first class. If you stop attending all of your classes, you may owe money back to federal aid programs.
• Federal Regulations require you to be “degree” or “eligible certificate” seeking to receive financial aid and the courses you take must also be required for the program. Essentially, only the coursework that counts towards your degree will be used in determining your hours of enrollment for federal aid purposes (grants, loans, Federal Work-Study and A+ program). This is referred to as Course Program of Study (CPOS).

Learn more about the CPOS here.

• Check your student SFCC email account on a regular basis for notices from the financial aid office.
• You must fill out a FAFSA for every year you are plan on using the A+ Scholarship Program.
• Check your mySFCC student account for red flags and disbursement payment dates.
• Review and consider all information about the college’s programs before enrolling.
• Understand the college’s tuition and fee pricing payment information.
• Pay special attention to applications for student financial aid. KNOW ALL DEADLINES FOR APPLYING ON TIME! Complete applications thoroughly and accurately AND submit forms to the correct place, within specified deadlines.  
• Students MUST submit new or corrected information requested by the financial aid office promptly. This includes: paperwork; names changes; address changes; enrollment changes; or changes to previously submitted information on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Failure to respond or incorrect information can result in delay or loss of financial aid.
• Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms that you have signed.
• Follow the Loan Request instructions in mySFCC and complete loan entrance counseling, if you are applying for student loans.
• If you accepted a student loan and are graduating or leaving SFCC, complete loan exit counseling.
• Make and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward your certificate or degree program.

You have the right to ask the college about all of the items below. A great place to start looking for answers is our Consumer Information web page.

• The names of our accrediting and licensing organizations and to see copies of the documents describing the accreditation or licensing.
• A list of faculty and other instructional personnel.
• Instructional, laboratory and other physical facilities associated with the academic program.
• Facilities and services available to students with disabilities.
• What the cost of attendance is and what the policy is on refunds to students who reduce hours or withdraw completely from classes.
• Whom to contact for information on student financial assistance.
• What types of financial assistance are available, including information on federal, state and institutional aid programs.
• Eligibility requirements and how to apply for financial aid programs.
• How financial aid recipients are selected for awards.
• An explanation of each award shown on the College Financing Plan.
• What the interest rate is on any federal student loan, the total amount the student can expect to borrow.
• The Federal Work Study award (if offered one), what the job is, what the hours will be, what the rate of pay will be and how and when you will be paid.
• To reconsider the financial aid package, if the student believes a mistake was made or if enrollment changes prior to the first day of classes.

How the college determines whether students are making satisfactory academic progress and what happens when financial aid recipients do not make satisfactory progress.