There are several reasons a student’s financial aid award could be adjusted. The most common reasons include:
Changes in funding
Your financial aid award is based on projected funding from Federal, State, and DMACC sources. If the projected funding is more than the actual funding available, your financial aid award will be adjusted to reflect these changes. For example, in the event that available state funds are insufficient to pay the full amount of each approved grant, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission has the authority to administratively reduce the award.
Changes in federal regulations
All federally funded programs are subject to change at any time as a result of legislative action. If the eligibility rules for an award change due to circumstances outside of the control of the DMACC Financial Aid Office, a previously offered award may be reduced or eliminated.
Changes in the Number of Credit Hours in which you are Enrolled
The amount of your financial aid award often depends on the number of credit hours you are taking. Keep in mind that financial aid is based only on courses that count towards your current DMACC degree/certificate. Your initial award is prepared based on full-time, full-year enrollment. If you do not enroll fulltime or do not plan to come back to DMACC for a subsequent semester, your award may need to be adjusted to reflect these changes.
A change in credit hours can affect your financial aid award package even after you have accepted the award. Please contact the Financial Aid office with questions concerning changes in enrollment.
|
If you are registered for (Fall/Spring): |
% of your total awarded grant funds disbursed: |
| 12+ credit hours towards your current DMACC degree/certificate | 100% |
| 9-11 credit hours towards your current DMACC degree/certificate | 75% |
| 6-8 credit hours towards your current DMACC degree/certificate | 50% |
(Enrollment levels are determined differently for the summer term as 8 credit hours is considered fulltime).
Taking Coursework Not Required for your Current DMACC Program
A student may only receive financial aid funds for courses that count towards their current DMACC degree/certificate. To comply with this regulation, DMACC must track
the courses that a student is registered for and ensure that they count towards their current DMACC degree, diploma, or certificate program. [Learn more]
Class Attendance
You must attend class to receive your financial aid. Therefore, DMACC's Financial Aid Office will verify that a student has
attended with his or her instructor. If a student does not show up for class, he or she will have their financial aid reduced and/or eliminated.
Late-Starting Courses
Students who are enrolled in LATE-starting classes (classes that begin after the official start date of the term) will have their aid applied to their DMACC Student Account
only after they have begun attendance in the LATE-starting course and it has been verified with their instructors. Therefore, if you have a class that begins several weeks into the term, you will not be paid financial aid for that class until you have had your attendance verified. A student's financial aid eligibility for any LATE-starting classes will still be authorized and available to pay for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. However, the financial aid for the LATE-starting course will not be applied to a student's account until the course has started and attendance has been verified.
How will Late-Starting Classes Impact my Financial Aid Refund?
If you are expecting a refund from your financial aid, the amount of the refund will only be based on the courses you are attending as of the date of the refund. If you are enrolled in 6 credits that begin at the start of the term and 6 credits that begin in the middle of the term, your grant assistance will only disburse for 6 credits (even though you are billed for 12). The other half of the grant remains authorized on your student account until you begin attendance. This means your refund may be smaller than your original authorized amount for all 12 credits. Federal Loans will pay once you have been confirmed attending in a minimum of 6 credit (4 credits during the Summer term). Once attendance is verified for any LATE starting classes, aid will be processed and refunded. Please see the schedule for financial aid release dates available on the DMACC
Release of Funds Information page.
Unearned Financial Aid Funds (Return of Title IV)
Students may need to repay financial aid that they received but did not earn since they did not complete the term. This is commonly referred to as the
Return of Title IV (federal financial aid).
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that students maintain
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in the program of study they are pursuing in order to receive financial aid. This means that a student must meet certain academic standards in order to continue to receive financial aid at DMACC.
Special circumstances
Please contact the Financial Aid office if you have a special circumstance come up during the semester. A special circumstance may include involuntary loss of employment or other conditions outside of your control that impact your financial situation. These circumstances may warrant an adjustment to your financial aid eligibility.