SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
2013-2014 FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
NOTE: The following information is meant only as an introduction to financial aid at SMC. Students and parents are
encouraged to visit the SMC website (www.swmich.edu) and utilize SMC Wired for more details. The information
contained in this document is accurate at the time of printing, but may change during the year due to changes in federal or
state regulations and institutional policies.
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
SMC awards financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans and federal work study. A comprehensive list of
SMC’s financial aid programs can be found at www.swmich.edu/financialaid. Please note: If you are awarded a Federal
Pell Grant, this award is based on full-time attendance and will be adjusted based on actual enrollment status as illustrated
in the following table:
Status
Credit Hour Requirement
Pell Grant %
Full-Time
¾ Time
½ Time
Less than ½ Time
12 or more credits*
9-11 credits*
6-8 credits*
1-5 credits*
100%
75%
50%
25%
*Credit hours do not include audited courses or courses that have been passed that are repeated more than one time.
LIFETIME PELL ELIGIBILITY
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his/her lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the
equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. The Department of Education keeps track of your Lifetime Eligibility Used
(LEU) by adding together the percentages of your Pell Grant scheduled awards received each award year. You can view
your LEU by logging into the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov using your federal student
aid PIN. Your LEU will be found on the Financial Aid Review page. More information about this new federal law, including
a table with examples that will help you understand how the percentages are calculated, can be found at the Department of
Education website at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
REPEATED COURSEWORK
Federal regulations now limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive financial aid for that course.
A student may receive financial aid for only one repetition of a previously passed course, even if a higher grade is needed
as a pre-requisite for the next level course. If a student enrolls for a third time in a course for which he/she previously
received a passing grade, there will be a recalculation of aid to exclude the credits for the repeated course.
IF YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN
You can find information on how to complete the 3-step loan application process on our website at
www.swmich.edu/financialaid/federal-direct-loan.
PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES
Financial aid awards are applied to the payment of tuition and fees and in some cases, books and supplies. W ORK
STUDY FUNDS ARE NOT APPLIED TO THE COST OF TUITION, FEES OR BOOKS. Payment due dates are published
in each semester’s class schedule. Students who have applied for aid but do not have their financial aid file
completed and have not paid their bill or arranged a FACTS payment plan may be dropped from classes before the
semester begins. Payment due dates for the 2013-2014 academic year are listed below. If you intend to pay with a form
of financial aid (Pell grant, Federal Direct Loan, scholarships, etc.) you must have your financial aid file complete and all
funds in place by the following dates:
Fall semester 2013
August 6, 2013
Spring semester 2014
December 3, 2013
Summer semester 2014
April 1, 2014
RETURN OF TITLE IV POLICY (for students who withdraw from all classes)
In accordance with the federal code of regulations 34 CFR 668.22, the Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to
recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out or take a leave of absence prior to completing
60 percent of a payment period or term. The calculation is made for all federal financial aid recipients to determine whether
a student who completely withdraws during a term has “earned” the monies disbursed. A student earns his/her aid based
on the period of time he/she remains enrolled. During the first 60% of the term, a student earns student aid funds in direct
proportion to the length of time he/she remains enrolled. After the 60% point in the payment period or period of
enrollment, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds he or she was scheduled to receive during the period. Any aid
received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the
institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student may be required to return a portion of the
funds.
For more information about SMC’s Withdrawal process, please refer to
http://www.swmich.edu/files/parents/Student_Success_Reference_Guide.pdf or contact the Records and Registration
Office at 269-782-1351 or records@swmich.edu.
For more information regarding SMC’s Return of Title IV policy, please refer to
http://www.swmich.edu/files/financialaid/Return_of_Title_IV_Funds.pdf or contact the Financial Aid Office at
269-783-2143 or finaid@swmich.edu.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Federal regulations require that students receiving financial aid maintain progress toward completion of a certificate or
associate degree. You must complete, with a passing grade, a minimum of 67% cumulative attempted credit hours each
semester and maintain a minimum required GPA. Additional information on Satisfactory Academic Progress can be found
at www.swmich.edu/financialaid/eligibility.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Increasing or decreasing the number of enrolled credit hours at any time during the semester can change the amount of
financial aid you are eligible for, the amount you owe SMC, and your ability to meet Standards of Satisfactory Academic
Progress (see above). We strongly encourage all students to check with the Financial Aid Office before making any
schedule adjustments.
BOOKSTORE POLICY
Financial aid recipients whose total financial aid award exceeds semester charges for tuition and fees may use the
remaining credit, up to $2000, to purchase books and supplies in the SMC Bookstore. Students who have a credit balance
will find this on their e-bill in SMC Self-Service. Please note that not all financial aid funds can be used to purchase books.
Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions. Book vouchers are available for use at the SMC Bookstore during
the following periods:
Fall Semester 2013
August 30 – September 13
Spring Semester 2014
January 3 – January 20
Summer Semester 2014
May 12 – May 22
FINANCIAL AID PAYMENTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
Students are expected to use SMC Wired and Self Service to review their bill, financial aid requirements and awards. A
credit balance/refund will be available if there are financial aid funds remaining after tuition, fees and bookstore charges are
deducted. The Business Office will mail financial aid disbursement checks for grants, scholarships and loans to eligible
students. The initial refund schedule for 2013-2014 is:
Fall semester 2013
October 11
Spring semester 2014
February 14
Summer semester 2014
June 20
FINANCIAL AID REGULATIONS
Southwestern Michigan College must follow federal, state and institutional regulations in the awarding of financial aid. ANY
ERRORS MADE IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR, OR THE AMOUNT OF AID, WILL NECESSARILY BE
CORRECTED. Corrections may reduce the amount of a student’s financial aid award and could result in a balance owed.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Southwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for students, faculty and staff. The College
complies with all federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and Title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act and with all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education.
Inquiries regarding this policy and/or application of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 or the ADA may be referred to:
Kate Dorner, Director of Human Resources
College Services Building – Room 2106A
58900 Cherry Grove Road
Dowagiac, MI 49047
269-783-2110