Financial Aid

Student Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible for financial aid if you:

• are an admitted and enrolled student, whether full- or part-time;
• are enrolled in an eligible program at least one year in length that leads to a degree or certificate (some exceptions apply);
• have registered with the Selective Service (if required to do so);
• have a high school diploma or GED;
• are not attending an elementary or secondary school;
• are a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
• are not in default of any federal loan program;
• do not owe a refund on any federal grant program.

For the Federal Direct and PLUS Loan programs, you must be enrolled at least half time (six credit hours). For a Pell Grant, you must be an admitted, degree-seeking student enrolled in one or more credit hours. For the Oregon Opportunity Grant, you must be a resident of Oregon for a year prior to the start of school and be enrolled at least half time (six credit hours).

Program Eligibility Requirements

Eligible programs need to be at least one year in length (some exceptions apply) and must lead to a degree or certificate. Eligible one-year programs must provide training to prepare students for “recognized occupations” as defined in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Accelerated Certificate Training Programs

The U.S. Department of Education has certified several accelerated certificate training programs (defined as less than one year in length) as eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Students may be eligible to participate in the Pell Grant and Direct Loan programs. Annual grant and loan limits are prorated based on the length of the programs. The accelerated certificate training programs are not eligible for the Oregon Opportunity Grant or Federal Work Study. The approved programs are:

• Pharmacy Technician
• Polysomnography
• Phlebotomy
• Veterinary Assistant

Application Procedures

Before you can be considered for financial aid, you must be admitted to LBCC (even if you are attending less than full time). See the Admissions section of this catalog for more information.

You may apply for aid at any time throughout the year; however, financial aid funds are limited. If you apply after February 1, you may find that some programs no longer have funds. If you are applying for a federal or state grant, a work program or loan, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application form. LBCC uses the FAFSA to determine the amount a family and student can contribute to the cost of a college education. The use of this federally approved aid application assures every applicant fair and consistent treatment. Application forms are available on the Internet at www.fafsa.gov.

You, the applicant, must complete the application form and submit it to the FAFSA Central Processor, who forwards the information to the schools listed on the application. No processing fee is charged. We strongly recommend your FAFSA be submitted and all outstanding requirements completed by the Priority Deadlines published at www.linnbenton.edu/financial-aid.

After LBCC receives the FAFSA data electronically from the Central Processor, our financial aid staff will begin determining your eligibility for aid. See LBCC’s Financial Aid Process at www.linnbenton.edu/financial aid. They may require additional information such as proof of independence, tax return transcripts or information regarding aid received at other institutions. You will be notified by email (personal email and later LBCC-assigned email) concerning your eligibility. Allow 10 to 12 weeks from submission of all required documents for the entire process from application to award. You may track your progress through your WebRunner student account.

Transfer Students

Transfer students applying for federal financial aid must notify the financial aid office of any credits they have transferred from a prior college and request a transfer credit evaluation and degree audit from the Registrar’s Office.

Academic Standards and Eligibility

To receive financial aid, you must fulfill the standards of satisfactory academic progress. Additionally, if you are not in good standing with the institution (i.e., if you are on academic or disciplinary suspension), you will not be eligible for further aid or certification until you have been removed from suspension. A copy of this Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is available at the Financial Aid Office and online at www.linnbenton.edu/financial-aid in the “Academic Standards area.”

Financial Aid Disbursement Policy

Financial aid is direct deposited to a student’s bank account (or sent out by check, upon request) after the add/drop period (Monday of 2nd week, 5 p.m.) of each term. Typically, this means aid monies are received during the second week of each term. Before financial assistance can be disbursed, you must:

• be admitted (completed the admissions process)
• sign and return to the Financial Aid Office a “Disbursement Form”
• enroll for six (6) or more credit hours (except for Pell Grants)
• maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Note: If your aid was based on full-time attendance and you elect to register for fewer credit hours, your financial aid will be adjusted automatically to reflect the reduction in course load.

Students admitted into the LBCC/OSU Degree Partnership Program may have their credit hours taken at both schools combined to determine their eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid. Financial aid is available for qualified students who are dually admitted. For further information about the DPP program, contact the Admissions office at OSU, 541-737-4411 or LBCC Admissions at 541-917- 4811 or visit www.linnbenton.edu/degree-partnership.

Withdrawal Information

U.S. Department of Education regulations mandate that federal financial aid recipients “earn” their aid by attending and participating in class. Recipients cannot earn all of their aid funds unless they maintain attendance and class participation for more than 60 percent of each term they receive aid.

Students that completely withdraw from or stop attending all classes before 61 percent of the term has expired have not earned all their aid and will be required to repay some or all of the aid disbursed to them. The percent of funds that was not earned is the same as the percent of the term not attended. The college also is required to return the funds we deducted from your financial aid for tuition and fees (institutional charges) at the same percentage rate. Example: If you attend only 59 percent of the term, then you did not earn 41 percent of your financial aid, and it must be repaid. In addition, the college must return 41 percent of your tuition and fees. You must repay the college 41 percent of your tuition and fees that it was required to return to the federal government. You will not be permitted to re-enroll at LBCC until this amount is paid in full. Federal aid that the college is required to return for “unearned” tuition and fees will be returned to financial aid programs that you received aid from in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Direct Loan
• Subsidized Direct Loan
• Direct PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal SEOG Grant
• Other federal financial aid programs, excluding Federal Work Study

You can repay federal loans under the terms and conditions of the promissory note for the loan. However, a grant repayment must be repaid within 45 days. If the grant repayment has not been repaid in full within 45 days, the college will forward the debt to the U.S. Department of Education for collection. You will not be permitted to re-enroll at LBCC nor will you be eligible to receive federal financial aid (including loans) from any higher education institution in the country until the grant has been repaid. For a complete copy of the federal aid repayment policy or if you have any questions, please contact the LBCC Financial Aid Office.

2015–16 Year: 60% of Financial Aid Earned Dates for Each Term

July 31, 2015 - Summer 2015

November 11, 2015 - Fall 2015

February 17, 2016 - Winter 2016

May 11, 2016 - Spring 2016