AYUDA FINANCIERA — PASOS INTELIGENTES PARA EVITAR LA DEUDA ESTUDIANTIL

Consortium Agreements

Explanation: A consortium agreement may be established between Colorado Mountain College (known as the Home Institution) and another college (known as the Host Institution) in order to include courses taken at a Host Institution when financial aid enrollment status is calculated.

Interested students should inquire with the Financial Aid office; contact your Specialist for more information.

Eligibility: The student must be admitted to a degree or certificate program at Colorado Mountain College. The courses taken at the Host Institution must be approved by the Registrar at CMC as applying to the student’s degree plan at CMC. Assuming financial aid criteria are met, the student is then eligible to receive financial aid through CMC; the Financial Aid office will count all courses taken (as long as it/they are part of the current degree program) toward enrollment status – both at the Home and the Host Institutions.

Procedures: The student should contact their Financial Aid Specialist for the Consortium Agreement Form. This form allows the Financial Aid staff to obtain enrollment and financial information from the Host Institution. The student should inform the Host Institution that he or she is enrolling as a consortium student and follow the enrollment procedures and tuition payment guidelines specified at that institution. CMC will not pay the tuition at the Host Institution. It is the responsibility of the student to make payment arrangements and to pay the tuition at the Host Institution.

The student should apply for financial aid at Colorado Mountain College and should not apply for financial aid nor accept financial aid at the Host Institution. Financial aid award amounts are based on many factors, including the student’s intended enrollment. CMC will construct average student expense budgets based upon the student’s reported residency and intended enrollment.

Disbursements will be authorized after individual enrollment verification has been received by the Colorado Mountain College Financial Aid Office and logged in the system. Each institution will assess regular tuition and fee charges for their own courses.

Official academic transcripts must be forwarded to the CMC Registrar after every semester. The successfully completed hours from the Host Institution will appear in the CMC system as transfer credit for the appropriate semester. This will enable CMC to monitor satisfactory academic progress.

Concurrently enrolled students who receive financial aid from CMC will be subject to all Colorado Mountain College Financial Aid policies, which include but are not limited to: Refund/repayment, packaging, disbursement, and satisfactory progress. Colorado Mountain College is the final authority in determining student eligibility for financial aid and compliance with applicable policies, rules, and regulations.

Colorado Mountain College Financial Aid Consortium Checklist

Apply for financial aid at fafsa.gov. List Colorado Mountain College, Code 004506, as your school. Please note that the fall semester is the first term in the CMC financial aid year. March 31 is the FAFSA priority date.

Contact your Financial Aid specialist to complete the required Consortium Agreement Form.

Declare a degree-seeking program at Colorado Mountain College.

Create a degree plan with your CMC academic advisor. Ask your academic advisor to approve any and all courses that you want to take that are offered by Host Institutions.

Register for all courses you plan to take at the beginning of each semester. Identify yourself as a concurrent student to the Host Institution and follow their registration procedures.

Receive financial aid shopping sheet from CMC.

Make arrangements to pay your tuition at Host Institution. It is your responsibility to make payment arrangements and to pay tuition at the Host Institution.

If financial aid at Colorado Mountain College is sufficient to pay all of the CMC student account, no further arrangements are needed at CMC. If financial aid at CMC is not sufficient to pay the student account, contact Student Accounts to set up a Payment Plan.

If student loans are offered as part of your financial aid award at CMC, accept loan awards on Basecamp.

Pay tuition at each institution.

Complete courses.

Contact your Financial Aid specialist each semester if enrolling at a Host Institution.

Send official transcripts to CMC at the end of the semester.

Failure to meet the cumulative 2.0 GPA or 67% cumulative completion rate may place students on warning for the following semester of their enrollment.

Students will remain eligible to receive financial aid during the warning term.

Students must make satisfactory academic progress during the warning term to continue to receive financial aid; failure to do so will result in financial aid termination.

Students have the right to appeal an ineligible SAP status of Financial Aid Termination or Exceeds Maximum Time Frame. Use the Termination Appeal Form for GPA or Pace of Progression appeals or the SAP Appeal for Additional Maximum Time Frame Hours.

Students may appeal the Maximum Time Frame status if it is the result of CMC credit hours received over 10 years ago and/or transfer credits from other colleges. A student's cumulative academic history, Pell grants, loan history and proximity to degree completion are considered with all appeals.

Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis and will be evaluated in part on how complete the student is with each requirement of the appeal. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee an approval.

Appeals must include the following:

• The typed appeal form.
• A typed, detailed letter from the student explaining any mitigating or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control that made it impossible to successfully complete the semester. The letter must include an explanation of what has changed in the student’s circumstances that will allow the student to successfully meet the SAP requirements at the next evaluation.
• In the event of a medical issue, appropriate documentation supporting the extenuating circumstance is required (includes documents from physicians and/or hospitals). Proof of diagnosis MUST be attached.
• Any other documentation required to support information provided in the student letter.

Incomplete appeals or those lacking appropriate detail WILL NOT be reviewed. All relevant details and supporting communication must be submitted by the deadline each term. Any appeals submitted after the deadline may not be reviewed prior to disbursement for the subsequent term.

The student is responsible for all charges on the student account.

If the appeal is approved, any aid disbursed will serve as reimbursement to the student for payments made during this period.

Appeals must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid electronically to finaid@coloradomtn.edu or mailed to:

Colorado Mountain College
Attn: Office of Financial Aid
802 Grand Ave
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Decisions to approve or deny appeals rendered by the Director of Financial aid are final.

Notifications

If the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning, Financial Aid Termination, Financial Aid Notice of Maximum Time Frame or Exceeds Maximum Time Frame the student will be notified of this status. If the student submits an appeal, the student will be notified of the results of the appeal whether it is approved or denied. If the appeal is approved, the notification will also include the requirements of the academic plan.

Notifications are sent to students via CMC issued email address.

If a student chooses to audit a course, it will not count toward the student’s enrollment status for financial aid purposes and cannot be paid with financial aid.

All federal, state, and most institutional aid is canceled immediately upon Financial Aid Termination. Any of the conditions listed below will result in Financial Aid Termination:

• A student’s failure to comply with the stipulations of the academic plan
• First-year students (completed less than 30 CMC credits) with a zero-completion rate for a single term
• Students with 9 or more attempted credits and a cumulative GPA of 1.0 or less

Following a Financial Aid Warning status, students who meet any of these conditions are placed on Financial Aid Termination:

• CMC cumulative GPA is less than 2.0
• Pace of completion is below 67% (students must satisfactorily complete at least 67% of attempted courses)
• For Maximum Time Frame: if a student cannot mathematically complete required coursework before reaching the 150% maximum credits for his/her degree program, the U.S. Department of Education regulations require Termination. See the Financial Aid Termination section for additional information.

• Death
• Divorce or separation
• Disability
• Natural disasters
• Loss of Income, etc.

In such a case, CMC’s Financial Aid Director may use his/her “professional judgment” so that your aid package will reflect the family’s real situation. Please provide a completed Special Circumstances Appeal for the current year along with all required documentation. Contact your financial aid specialist, if you have any questions.

Financial Aid Code of Conduct

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits conflicts of interest for financial aid personnel [HEOA § 487(a) (25)]. Any Colorado Mountain College officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans must comply with this code of conduct. The following provisions bring Colorado Mountain College into compliance with the federal law [HEOA § 487(e)].

1. Neither Colorado Mountain College as an institution nor any individual officer, employee or agent shall enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
2. No officer or employee of Colorado Mountain College who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any of their family members, shall solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. For purposes of this prohibition, the term "gift" means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
3. An officer or employee of Colorado Mountain College who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
4. Colorado Mountain College shall not: a. for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower's loan to a particular lender; or b. refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
5. Colorado Mountain College shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with: a. a specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV; b. a specified loan volume of such loans; or c. a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
6. Colorado Mountain College shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing.
7. Any employee who is employed in the financial aid office, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

These courses may be required because a student has basic skill deficiencies and are allowable for financial aid provided that the student is degree/certificate-seeking and enrolled in an eligible program. The maximum number of remedial credits that may be funded by financial aid is thirty. Remedial courses are included in both the Pace of Progression and Maximum Time Frame calculations.

Eligible courses include MAT 025 through MAT 101 and CCR 091 through CCR 094.

NOTE: Students enrolling in CCR 093 and a co-requisite 100-level course will only receive financial aid eligibility for 100-level courses applicable within their declared program of study.

Academic Achievement courses (AAA) do not count towards the student’s enrollment status for financial aid, with the exception of AAA 050, AAA 101 and, only when paired with MAT 050, AAA 095.

It is important to note that federal financial aid can only pay for coursework fully acceptable to the eligible degree program in which you are enrolled.

Academic Achievement courses (AAA) do not count towards the student’s enrollment status for financial aid, with the exception of AAA 050, AAA 101 and, only when paired with MAT 050, AAA 095.

Students may repeat a previously passed course one time using financial aid funds. A failed course may be repeated until it is passed using financial aid as long as the student remains in an eligible SAP status. Total attempted credits will be included toward the Maximum Time Frame.

Financial Literacy – Student Rights and Responsibilities

Understand your right to financial aid information and your responsibilities as a financial aid recipient

You Have the Right to:

• Know what financial aid programs are available;
• Know the deadline for submitting applications for each of the programs available;
• Be informed of financial aid policies and procedures;
• Know how your financial eligibility was determined and what resources (such as your income, assets, parental contribution and other resources) were considered in the calculation of need;
• Know what portion of your financial aid must be repaid, and what portion is gift or aid received from work;
• Know how the Financial Aid Office (FAO) determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress and what the consequences are if you are not;
• Request an explanation of the various programs in your financial aid package;
• Know the terms of any loans you receive, and your deferment, cancellation and forbearance rights.

You Have the Responsibility to:

• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress;
• Complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time;
• Provide correct information. Misrepresentation of information on financial aid applications is a violation of federal law and may be a criminal offense;
• Report any change in the information used to determine your eligibility, including name, family size, or other financial resources (i.e., scholarships);
• Return all documentation, verification corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application, in a timely manner;
• Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign and keep copies of them;
• Accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign;
• Perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a Federal or Colorado Work Study award in a satisfactory manner;
• Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if you withdraw from school or reduce enrollment status;
• Be aware of repayment procedures;
• Complete on-line entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) when applying for your first student loan and complete on-line exit counseling upon graduation, dropping below six credits or leaving Colorado Mountain College;
• If you are a recipient of a student loan, notify your lender and the Financial Aid Office if your enrollment status drops below half-time (6 credits).
• Repay all loans including the interest on those loans;
• File all required student loan deferment forms on time
• Read and understand the CMC .

Questions? Contact your Financial Aid Specialist at your campus.

Return of Title IV Funds

A student may be required to return Title IV funds after withdrawing from Colorado Mountain College during a semester

PROCEDURE FOR WITHDRAWAL

If a student needs to withdraw the student must notify the Student Services office.  

RETURNING TITLE IV FUNDS

The law specifies how a school must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student has earned if s/he withdraws from school. A student is considered withdrawn if the student does not complete all the days in the payment period the student was scheduled to complete or ceases attendance from all Title IV eligible courses in a payment period. If a student withdraws from a term-based credit-hour program offered in modules during a payment period and reenters the same program prior to the end of the period, subject to conditions established by the U.S. Secretary of Education, the student is eligible to receive any Title IV program funds for which he or she was eligible prior to withdrawal, including funds that were returned by the institution or student under the provisions of this section, provided the student's enrollment status continues to support the full amount of those funds. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grant, Direct Loan, PLUS Direct Loan, IASG and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

When a student withdraws the treatment of Title IV grant or loan funds must be determined on a payment period basis. When a student withdraws during a payment period, the amount of Title IV program assistance that the student has earned up to that point is determined by a formula set forth by the U.S. Department of Education. If the student received (or the school or parent received on the student’s behalf) less assistance than the amount earned, the student may be eligible to receive the additional funds. If the student received more assistance than earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or the student.

The amount of assistance earned is determined on a prorated basis. The calculation to determine earned aid includes both aid that has been disbursed and aid that could have been disbursed under the return of Title IV funds formula for a student who began attendance. If a student is enrolled in a module (a course in the program that does not span the entire length of the payment period) all the days the student was scheduled to attend in that payment period in which the student is enrolled will be used for determining eligibility. The percentage of aid earned is equal to the percentage of the payment period completed. For example, if the student completed 30 percent of the payment period, the student earns 30 percent of the assistance originally scheduled to receive. Once a student has completed more than 60 percent of the payment period, the student has earned 100 percent of the student aid the student was scheduled to receive for that period.

If the student did not receive all the Title IV grant and/or loan funds earned, the student may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Colorado Mountain College will automatically use all or a portion of a student’s post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds toward outstanding semester charges on the student account, i.e. tuition, fees, and CMC room and board charges. Any excess grant funds will be disbursed to the student.

If a post-withdrawal disbursement includes Title IV loan funds, CMC must obtain the student’s permission before disbursing them. A student may choose to decline some or all loan funds to avoid incurring additional student loan debt.

Once a student withdraws from all classes, there are some Title IV funds that cannot be disbursed due to other eligibility requirements. For example, if a student is a first-time borrower and has not completed the first 30 days of the payment period before withdrawal, the student will not receive any Title IV loan funds s/he would otherwise have received had s/he remained enrolled past the 30th day.

If a student receives (or the school or parent receives on the student’s behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, the school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

1. Institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of Title IV funds, or
2. The entire amount of excess Title IV funds.

The amount calculated as “owed by the school” must be returned to the appropriate Title IV program. This may create a balance due on the student account which will become a debt owed to Colorado Mountain College.

The Return of Title IV funds calculation also determines if a student must repay Title IV grant funds.  Any amount of unearned Title IV grant funds that a student must repay is called an overpayment.  The maximum amount of Title IV grant funds that must be repaid is one half of the grant funds a student received or was scheduled to receive.  If a student is required to repay grant funds, the funds must be repaid with 45 days of being notified or the student will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education.  Any student who does not repay the Title IV grant funds owed with 45 days of notification or does not enter into a satisfactory repayment arrangement with the U.S. Department of Education will be ineligible for future Title IV aid at any institution.

Any loan funds owed by the student, including parent PLUS loans, as a result of withdrawal are repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, the student makes the scheduled payments to the holder of the loan in accordance with the terms of the loan. Once the student withdraws, or drops below half-time, the 6-month grace period (if applicable) begins, and the student is required to begin repayment on the debt after the grace period has expired.

WITHDRAWAL DATE

For an official withdrawal, the effective withdrawal date is the first date of notification by the student to the Student Services Office.

If a student does not follow the official withdrawal procedure and it is subsequently determined that the student is an unofficial withdrawal (due to the student failing and/or withdrawing from all Title IV eligible classes), the effective withdrawal date must be determined on a case-by-case basis.

CMC may use either the midpoint of the payment period or the last date of attendance at an academically-related activity, (see examples below) as the effective date of withdrawal. If the last date of attendance at an academically-related activity is verified by a CMC employee with sufficient knowledge, then that date will be the effective withdrawal date. If a student experiences circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as accident, illness, or grievous personal loss, the withdrawal date will be the date that the institution determines is related to that circumstance, unless attendance at an academically-related activity at a later date is documented. If the last date of attendance at an academically-related activity cannot be verified, then the midpoint of the payment period will be the effective withdrawal date. In the case of unofficial withdrawals, CMC does not accept a student's self-reported last date of attendance.

Academic attendance and academically-related activity includes but is not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
• Submitting an academic assignment;
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction;
• Attending a study group assigned by the school;
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Regulations require schools to perform calculations within 30 days from the date the school determines a student's withdrawal and to process the actual return of funds within 45 days of the date the school determines the student’s withdrawal.

TITLE IV FUND REPAYMENT ORDER

A school must return Title IV funds to the programs from which the student received aid during the payment period, in the following order, up to the net amount disbursed from each source.

1. Unsubsidized Direct loans (other than PLUS loans)
2. Subsidized Direct loans
3. Direct PLUS loans
4. Federal Pell Grants
5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
6. IASG

The requirements for Title IV program funds when a student withdraws are separate from the Colorado Mountain College refund policy. Therefore, the student may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges. Unpaid institutional charges may also occur if CMC is required to return any unearned Title IV aid.

The CMC refund policy can be found in the Refund Policy.

For questions about Title IV program funds, visit Federal Student Aid.

Your financial aid award is based on the assumption of full-time enrollment. Financial aid will be prorated for students enrolled less than full-time.

Your enrollment status must be at least half-time for student loans and full-time for state grants.

The Federal Pell grant is prorated based on enrollment status.

Enrollment eligibility will be captured at the time of financial aid transmittal and may not be changed.

Eligibility and Estimating Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for Student Aid

The Department of Education uses information from your FAFSA to perform a need analysis and determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). CMC then subtracts the EFC from your Cost of Attendance (COA) to calculate the amount of need-based financial aid you are eligible to receive.

CMC will assemble a financial aid package and send you a shopping sheet outlining the types and amounts of aid available to you along with the estimated educational costs at CMC. You may accept all, part, or none of this financial aid package.

To get an early estimate of your EFC and aid eligibility prior to the official need analysis process, take advantage of the Department of Education’s FAFSA4caster. Using information you provide about the type of school you plan to attend, FAFSA4caster can even estimate award amounts for specific kinds of aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study. When the time comes to fill out the FAFSA, you can use your answers on the FAFSA4caster to prefill many of the FAFSA questions.

You may also want to check out FinAid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid, which provides an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator. The website also offers a detailed analysis calculator, in addition to a Quick EFC Calculator.

Other kinds of aid, such as scholarships and grants, may be given by schools, organizations, companies, etc. Some grants are based on need, while others are based on academic or athletic ability, career interests, religious affiliation, membership, location, employment, etc. Investigate these opportunities at your school, library, or on the internet at FinAid.

Dependency Status

The maximum amount you may borrow in Direct Loans depends on whether you are an independent student or dependent student, as well as your academic year in school.

You’re automatically considered INDEPENDENT if you:

Were born before January 1, 1997 (for 2020-21) or before January 1, 1998 (for 2021-22)

Are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces

Since turning 13, both parents are deceased

Are a dependent or ward of the court since turning age 13

Are married as of the date of your application

Are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

Were in foster care since turning age 13

Are currently or have been an emancipated minor

Have children and provide more than half of their support

Will be working on a master’s or doctorate program

Have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and you provide more than half of their support

Are currently or have been in legal guardianship

Are homeless or at risk of being homeless

The range of personal situations is extensive. If you feel your dependency status is not accurately reflected by these definitions, discuss your personal situation with the Financial Aid Office. If your dependency status changes at any time during the year, you must notify the Financial Aid Office immediately. Independent students do not include their parents’ financial information on the FAFSA.

Students will receive a SAP status of Notice if he/she has completed 75% of the 150% of the published length of the educational program.

The maximum time frame calculation is based on the student's total number of attempted credits in relation to 150% of the current program of study requirements. This calculation includes all attempted and completed credits at CMC and transfer credits from other institutions.

Disbursements/Distribution of Financial Aid

Students are required to pay tuition and fees at registration, your awards MUST be in accepted status to be used at registration. Students receiving PLUS Loans cannot have costs deferred unless a Notice of Loan Guarantee has been received by the Office of Student Financial Aid; therefore students should be prepared to provide payment.

Financial Aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans will first be applied towards the payment of outstanding tuition and fees owed to the college by the student. Financial aid awarded in excess of outstanding tuition and fees will be disbursed by check to the student approximately two weeks after the start of the semester, however there are some exceptions (listed below).

EXCEPTION #1: Aid funds will not be disbursed until you have started class. If you are enrolled in “late start” classes, your disbursement will be delayed or reduced until you have begun attendance in all classes.
Note, per Dept of Education:"...must confirm that: if the disbursement occurs on or after the first day of classes, that the student has begun attendance."

EXCEPTION #2: For first time borrowers of Federal Direct Loans, disbursement of the loan funds will occur 4 weeks after the beginning of the semester. For students receiving a one-semester loan, two disbursements will be made. The first half will disburse 2 weeks after the semesters begins (4 weeks if first time borrower); the second half will disburse 4 (or two) weeks later (6 weeks into the semester).

EXCEPTION #3: PLUS Loans will be credited to the student account and all obligations will be deducted before a refund check is issued. Any credit balance from the PLUS proceeds will be paid to the Parent unless the parent authorizes CMC to pay the balance to the student.

Loans will not be distributed if the student is enrolled in less than 6 credit hours.
Note, per Dept of Education: "...you must confirm that: for DL loans, the student is enrolled at least half time."

All borrowers must complete a loan counseling session and Master Promissory Note prior to receiving your first disbursement. We suggest you use the electronic entrance counseling on the web at StudentLoans.gov.

Ordering Books Using Your Financial Aid

For your convenience, CMC offers the ability to purchase textbooks using your accepted financial aid.

You must have completed all necessary paperwork, have sufficient funds, and financial aid must be in "accepted" status to purchase textbooks. To view and accept your available financial aid, please go to Basecamp (login required).

Students at CMC participate in the Learning Materials Program (LMP). An affordable flat rate "textbooks in tuition" lease system and service which provides 100% of required materials by the first day or start of semester automatically customized to the student’s schedule.

The Learning Materials Program fees are easily budgeted as cost of attendance in financial aid and payment plans. Flat fees are not applicable for non-credit classes.

• The rate is assessed at $28.00 per credit hour.

Getting Your Textbooks

Students participating in the Learning Materials Program automatically receive their textbooks.

To see your textbook order and information please go to Basecamp (login required), then access Learning Materials Program under MY CMC APPS.

If a student does not meet SAP standards at the end of the Financial Aid Warning period, the student is placed on Financial Aid Termination. If the student successfully appeals Financial Aid Termination, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. A student on Probation must follow all stipulations, outlined in the SAP determination letter, including any academic plan, if applicable, to be considered for Title IV eligibility. Terms of the academic plan are defined in the approval letter.

Once placed on an academic plan:

• The student remains on probation.
• The student must fully comply with the academic plan each term. Compliance is checked at the end of each enrollment period. Failure to fully comply with all aspects of the plan will result in Termination. If terminated, the student will be notified of the steps that must be taken before there will be any future consideration for aid eligibility.

A student in good standing is meeting all three requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress as well as the CMC academic standards.

Students are eligible to receive financial aid.

No Show Attendance Reporting

Colorado Mountain College Faculty and staff want you to be successful with reaching your educational goals. It starts with attending all of your classes. For credit courses that start at the beginning of the semester, faculty must report "Never Attended" (no shows). For late starting classes, faculty must report on the 7th day after the course start date.

NOTE: A no-show for a face-to-face class is defined as lack of “attendance” where attendance is defined as one of the following:

• Physical class attendance where there is direct interaction between instructor and student
• Submission of an academic assignment
• Examination, interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction
• Study group assigned by school
• Participation in on-line discussion about academic matters
• Documented initiation of contact with instructor to ask a question about academic subject

NOTE: A no-show for an online class is a student who has not: Completed the introductory assignment(s) by the deadline.

“No-Show” Reporting: If the student has not “attended” (per language above), the instructor will report the student as a no-show. Class reinstatement cannot occur after this point without significant documented extenuating circumstances.

“No-Show” Reporting and Financial Aid: If a student is dropped from a course (or courses) for non-attendance, the resultant loss in credit hours may cause a reduction and/or cancellation of his/her financial aid award. Like class reinstatement, financial aid awards can only be reinstated with documented extreme extenuating circumstances.

Reinstatement in class DOES NOT guarantee financial aid reinstatement.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, mandates institutions of higher education establish a standard of satisfactory academic progress for students who receive Title IV funds. This standard applies to the student’s entire academic history, whether Title IV aid was received or not. In order to remain eligible to receive aid at Colorado Mountain College, students must meet the standards specified for acceptable academic performance and for Satisfactory Academic Progress toward the completion of their program of study.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Components

• Cumulative GPA: 2.0 or above.
• Pace of Progression (cumulative completion rate): 67% or above. Calculations are not rounded up to 67%.
  Calculating a student’s Pace of Progression allows for variations of enrollment status since the percentage of credits successfully completed is evaluated in relation to the number of credits attempted.
• Maximum Time Frame: Students must complete the academic program within 150% of the required number of credits for completion of a degree or certificate program. Both institutional credits and all transfer credits accepted by CMC are included in the calculation for Maximum Time Frame.
• Students enrolled in a program longer than 2 academic years in length must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average) or “P” (passing) or better on all courses taken at Colorado Mountain College at the end of the second academic year.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress is calculated at the end of each term.

MONITORING

CMC will measure students’ eligibility for financial aid at the end of EVERY semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer), and will measure for all SAP components. The updated status will be effective for the following semester.

FINANCIAL AID WARNING

• A status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP and will be granted automatically without a written appeal from the student (at least one credit will have been completed in the semester).
• A student on Warning may continue to receive financial aid for one payment period.
• A student on Warning who then fails SAP standards the next payment period will be placed on Financial Aid Termination.
• Exception: A student who has attempted 9 or more credits and earned a cumulative GPA of 1.0 or less will be placed on Financial Aid Termination.

FINANCIAL AID PROBATION

If a student does not meet SAP standards at the end of the Financial Aid Warning period, the student is placed on Financial Aid Termination. If the student successfully appeals Financial Aid Termination, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. A student on Probation must follow all stipulations, outlined in the SAP determination letter, including any academic plan, if
applicable, to be considered for Title IV eligibility. Terms of the academic plan are defined in the approval letter.

Once placed on an academic plan:

• The student remains on probation.
• The student must fully comply with the academic plan each term. Compliance is checked at the end of each enrollment period. Failure to fully comply with all aspects of the plan will result in Termination. If terminated, the student will be notified of the steps that must be taken before there will be any future consideration for aid eligibility.

FINANCIAL AID TERMINATION

All federal, state, and most institutional aid is canceled immediately upon Financial Aid Termination. Any of the conditions listed below will result in Financial Aid Termination:

• A student’s failure to comply with the stipulations of the academic plan
• First-year students (completed less than 30 CMC credits) with a zero-completion rate for a single term
• Students with 9 or more attempted credits and a cumulative GPA of 1.0 or less

Following a Financial Aid Warning status, students who meet any of these conditions are placed on Financial Aid Termination:

• CMC cumulative GPA is less than 2.0
• Pace of completion is below 67% (students must satisfactorily complete at least 67% of attempted courses)
• For Maximum Time Frame: if a student cannot mathematically complete required coursework before reaching the 150% maximum credits for his/her degree program, the U.S. Department of Education regulations require Termination. See the Financial Aid Termination section for additional information.

FINANCIAL AID NOTICE OF MAXIMUM TIME FRAME

Students will receive a SAP status of Notice if he/she has completed 75% of the 150% of the published length of the educational program.

The maximum time frame calculation is based on the student's total number of attempted credits in relation to 150% of the current program of study requirements. This calculation includes all attempted and completed credits at CMC and transfer credits from other institutions.

EXCEEDS MAXIMUM TIME FRAME

Colorado Mountain College, in accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, has set a maximum time frame in which students are expected to complete their program. As stated above, the maximum time frame calculation is based on the student's total number of attempted credits in relation to 150% of the current program of study requirements. This calculation includes all attempted and completed credits at CMC and transfer credits from other institutions.

When 150% of the attempted credits is reached, the student will be placed in Exceeds Maximum Time Frame status. Affected students who have reached or exceeded the maximum time frame for their program can complete a Maximum Time Frame Appeal to have their status reviewed.

Refer to the chart below for the maximum number of attempted credits including transfer credits from other colleges that will be counted in the determination of maximum attempted credits.

*Additional credits may be required to complete major.

INCOMPLETES

An Incomplete grade (I) is given when no credit is earned. This counts as an attempted class that has not been completed and affects the Pace of Progression component of SAP. Therefore, an (I) grade may cause a student to be placed on Financial Aid Warning or Termination. The next SAP calculation will reflect the final grade assigned.

WITHDRAWALS

Students withdrawing from some, but not all, classes after the funds have been disbursed, may not have their current aid adjusted. A Withdrawal (W) or Administrative Withdrawal (AW) does not count as a completed credit, and failure to complete the credit hours upon which your award was based may impact future SAP calculations and future financial aid eligibility. However, a W or AW does count as an attempted credit(s) in calculating the maximum number of credit hours for the Maximum Time Frame and Pace of Progression calculations.

REPEATS

Students may repeat a previously passed course one time using financial aid funds. A failed course may be repeated until it is passed using financial aid as long as the student remains in an eligible SAP status. Total attempted credits will be included toward the Maximum Time Frame.

REMEDIAL COURSES

These courses may be required because a student has basic skill deficiencies and are allowable for financial aid provided that the student is degree/certificate-seeking and enrolled in an eligible program. The maximum number of remedial credits that may be funded by financial aid is thirty. Remedial courses are included in both the Pace of Progression and Maximum Time Frame calculations.

Eligible courses include MAT 025 through MAT 101 and CCR 091 through CCR 094.

NOTE: Students enrolling in CCR 093 and a co-requisite 100-level course will only receive financial aid eligibility for 100-level courses applicable within their declared program of study.

Academic Achievement courses (AAA) do not count towards the student’s enrollment status for financial aid, with the exception of AAA 050, AAA 101 and, only when paired with MAT 050, AAA 095.

AUDITING COURSES

If a student chooses to audit a course, it will not count toward the student’s enrollment status for financial aid purposes and cannot be paid with financial aid.

Appealing Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students have the right to appeal an ineligible SAP status of Financial Aid Termination or Exceeds Maximum Time Frame. Use the Termination Appeal Form for GPA or Pace of Progression appeals or the SAP Appeal for Additional Maximum Time Frame Hours.

Students may appeal the Maximum Time Frame status if it is the result of CMC credit hours received over 10 years ago and/or transfer credits from other colleges. A student's cumulative academic history, Pell grants, loan history and proximity to degree completion are considered with all appeals.

Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis and will be evaluated in part on how complete the student is with each requirement of the appeal. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee an approval.

Appeals must include the following:

• The typed appeal form.
• A typed, detailed letter from the student explaining any mitigating or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control that made it impossible to successfully complete the semester. The letter must include an explanation of what has changed in the student’s circumstances that will allow the student to successfully meet the SAP requirements at the next evaluation.
• In the event of a medical issue, appropriate documentation supporting the extenuating circumstance is required (includes documents from physicians and/or hospitals). Proof of diagnosis MUST be attached.
• Any other documentation required to support information provided in the student letter.

Incomplete appeals or those lacking appropriate detail WILL NOT be reviewed. All relevant details and supporting communication must be submitted by the deadline each term. Any appeals submitted after the deadline may not be reviewed prior to disbursement for the subsequent term.

The student is responsible for all charges on the student account.

If the appeal is approved, any aid disbursed will serve as reimbursement to the student for payments made during this period.

Appeals must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid electronically to finaid@coloradomtn.edu or mailed to:

Colorado Mountain College
Attn: Office of Financial Aid
802 Grand Ave
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Decisions to approve or deny appeals rendered by the Director of Financial aid are final.

NOTIFICATIONS

If the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning, Financial Aid Termination, Financial Aid Notice of Maximum Time Frame or Exceeds Maximum Time Frame the student will be notified of this status. If the student submits an appeal, the student will be notified of the results of the appeal whether it is approved or denied. If the appeal is approved, the notification will also include the requirements of the academic plan.

Notifications are sent to students via CMC issued email address.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Refer to the Colorado Mountain College Student Handbook

Students withdrawing from some, but not all, classes after the funds have been disbursed, may not have their current aid adjusted. A Withdrawal (W) or Administrative Withdrawal (AW) does not count as a completed credit, and failure to complete the credit hours upon which your award was based may impact future SAP calculations and future financial aid eligibility. However, a W or AW does count as an attempted credit(s) in calculating the maximum number of credit hours for the Maximum Time Frame and Pace of Progression calculations.

CMC will measure students’ eligibility for financial aid at the end of EVERY semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer), and will measure for all SAP components. The updated status will be effective for the following semester.