FCC Academic Catalog 2016-2017

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2016/2017 fcc catalog
Fall & Spring Semester (15-week session)
Through the first week of the semester..........100%
Through the second week.......................................50%
After the second week...................................No refund
Summer Semester (8-week session)
Through the first week of the semester..........100%
Through the second week......................................50%
After the second week..................................No refund
Summer Semester (5-week sessions)
Through the first week of the semester..........100%
Through the second week......................................50%
After the second week..................................No refund
January Semester
Through the first day of class..............................100%
Through the third day of class...............................50%
After the third day...........................................No refund
b. The College offers courses of varying length
during the fall, spring, and summer terms. The
College reserves the right to establish additional
refund schedules for terms of variable length.
See schedule of classes for additional refund
dates.
C. Tuition Refund Appeals
1. In cases where the student withdraws after the
normal refund period, the College will consider
granting a partial refund of tuition and fees for
the following reasons: 1) medical reasons dated
and certified by a physician; 2) job transfer dated
and certified by the employer; 3) job schedule
(shift) change which causes a conflict with the
student’s class schedule, dated and certified by
the employer; or 4) military transfer dated and
certified by documentation (copy of orders) from
the military unit.
2. To be eligible for consideration the student
must: 1) officially withdraw from the course(s)
and 2) submit a tuition refund request form with
documentation to the Welcome & Registration
Center.
3. Requests pertaining to issues involving
classroom instruction are handled through the
College’s grievance procedure for students.
4. Students must make requests for refunds prior
to the end of the academic year in which they
took the course. The academic year starts with
fall and continues through the summer.
D. Tuition Refund Policies for Students
Receiving Title IV Funding
1. All students who are awarded Title IV financial
aid funds who completely withdraw from
classes either officially or unofficially are subject
to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. This
calculation will determine if any percentage
of Title IV funds must be returned to the
appropriate program. The amount of Title IV aid
that a student must repay is determined by the
federal formula for return of Title IV funds as
specified in the Higher Education Act of 1998 (34
CFR 668).
2. The financial aid office is required to determine
the last date of attendance and calculate the
percentage of the payment period the student
attended. This is the percentage of funds that
the student has earned. After this percentage
of aid earned is determined, the financial aid
office will compare the amount earned and the
amount disbursed. If the amount that has been
earned is greater than the amount disbursed, a
late disbursement will be calculated. However,
if the amount earned is less than the amount
disbursed, this amount will be calculated and
the student will be notified. FCC will refund the
unearned Title IV aid back to the appropriate
programs as specified by law. The student will
be notified of the amount that is required to
be returned and the finance office will bill the
student for this amount. Funds must be returned
to the Title IV programs in the following order:
a. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
b. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
c. Federal PLUS Loans
d. Federal Pell Grants
e. Academic Competitiveness Grant
f. Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant
g. Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grant
3. Students may obtain a sample copy of the
Return of Title IV Funds worksheet with sample
calculations from the financial aid office.
E. Continuing Education &Workforce
Development Refunds
1. The Continuing Education Department will
provide a 100% refund if the student drops the
course the business day prior to the first day of
class and a 100% refund if the class is canceled
by the College. Classes that are one day long
must be dropped before the class starts for any
type of refund consideration. Refunds may not
include the cost of materials/supplies ordered
for the course or consumed/retained by the
student. Students must officially withdraw
from the course by either a) Completing
the appropriate form in the Welcome and
Registration Center; b) Withdrawing on-line, c)
Submitting written notification; or d) Submitting
notification by electronic mail.
2. After the course has started, students must
submit a written request to the Office of
Continuing Education.
3. Upon receipt of the written request, the
Associate Vice President of Continuing Education
or designee reviews the refund request and
solicits feedback from the appropriate Program
Manager.
4. For refunds in the amount of $300.00 or
less, decisions are made by the Associate Vice
President of Continuing Education or designee.
5. Refunds that are over $300.00 and fall within
the criteria set-forth in this procedure shall be
forwarded to the College refund committee.
6. Refunds are granted based on the following
criteria:
a. Missing instruction due to a serious
illness, or the serious illness or death of a
family member.
b. Missing instruction due to a change
in military or work schedule that causes a
conflict with the student’s class schedule.
c. Missing instruction due to other verified
significant emergencies.
7. After classes begin, refunds that fall outside of
the established refund criteria shall be governed
as follows:
a. For classes lasting two (2) or fewer
weeks, a 50% refund may be granted
to those students who appropriately
withdraw within the first two (2) business
days of the first day of class, which days
shall include the first day of class.
b. For classes lasting three (3) or more
weeks, a 50% refund may be granted
to those students who appropriately
withdraw within the first five (5) business
days of the first day of class, which days
shall include the first day of class.
8. Requests pertaining to issues involving
classroom instruction are handled through the
College’s grievance procedure for students.
9. Approved refund requests will be forwarded
to the Welcome and Registration Center for
processing.
10. If a refund request is disapproved, the Office
of Continuing Education will inform the student.
11. Refunds are disbursed through Finance -
Administration via Accounts Receivable.
F. TuitionWaivers
Tuition waivers may be granted to certain
individuals in accordance with State law and State
regulations. Fees other than tuition must be paid
by the student.
1. Senior Citizens (any Maryland resident 60 years
old or older) According to Maryland law, senior
citizens may receive a waiver of course tuition on
a space-available basis in most classes.
a. Credit courses: Senior citizens may enroll
tuition-free three weeks prior to the start of
the semester; specific dates are published
in the schedule of classes. Senior citizens
are required to pay all fees associated
with classes. Those eligible for waivers
who agree to pay full tuition and fees may
register at any time during the registration
period. Refunds will not be granted to
seniors paying full tuition who then drop
and later add the same course under the
tuition-free benefit provision.