Gov. Grants withheld, via 2yr. College Policy to promote transfering.

[BlerBler]

I live in Virginia, and I am attending the Eastern Shore Community College. I recently received a letter detailing why I would not be receiving financial aid this year in spite of the fact that my expected contributions are slightly less than $2k according to my FASFA. The reason they cite for not giving me financial aid is that I have obtained %150 of the credits toward my degree already. The wording of the actual policy and the facts of my situation alone are fishy. Their policy in the school catalog which was also word for word cited in the letter denying me aid is that I failed to complete my "current academic plan (curriculum) by the end of 150% of the academic plan (curriculum) length. All classes (passed and failed) at ESCC and all classes transferred in from other colleges are counted in this calculation, even semesters when aid was not received. Developmental courses are not included in this calculation.
Note:
If the student changes his/her academic plan (curriculum), he/she will not necessarily be granted additional time to receive financial aid at ESCC.

Example:
IF Mary enrolls in a program that requires completing 65 credits to graduate.
THEN she may attempt up too 98 credits.
WHICH IS 150% of 65 credits = 98 credits."

This however is not my case. I did not "change" my academic plan. I completed my plan to obtain an A.A.S. in General Studies, and I am now working on an A.A.S. in Electronics Technology. Granted the non electronics curriculum that is necessary for the A.A.S. in Electronics is completed by the classes I took towards my General Studies degree. However I never changed anything. I am completing two degrees! This is my academic plan.

This however should mean nothing given that I cannot see how it is within the rights of the college to withhold what is due to me. I am advancing in my education. Just because I value a universal education in conjunction with Electronics should not be a factor. It's not sapping off of the government, I believe that it has/is making me a truly well rounded productive citizen. The synergy potential of such an education base is great, and it is beyond the judgment of the local community college to determine this. I see this as a self serving policy to pump up their statistics to be seen as productive in pumping out students to 4y colleges who succeed in order to gain more funding.

 

[ElvisG]

My college did the same thing to me as well. I was almost finished with a A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems and started another degree (A.S. CIS) toward the end of the A.A.S. CIS degree. I even paid everything with my GI BILL. I have only two semester left to finish my A.S. CIS degree. My GI BILL ran out so I tried for a FIFSA student loan and got denied because I had 127 credits in a same field category degree.

I was told if I decided to change degrees into another field like liberal arts instead of a "computer related degree" then I would get accepted for a student loan.

I said screw it and just transfered to a state college.

 

[dmalone]

Several points...

1. You did complete your academic plan. The plan was to get the A.A.S. in General Students. Now you have a new academic plan to get the A.A.S. in Electronics Technology.

2. You stated, "This however should mean nothing given that I cannot see how it is within the rights of the college to withhold what is due to me. I am advancing in my education. I believe that it has/is making me a truly well rounded productive citizen. The synergy potential of such an education base is great, and it is beyond the judgment of the local community college to determine this."

--- You are due absolutely nothing!!! It is great that you are trying to better yourself and get an education, but the government, school, etc... owe you nothing. You don't have a right to money. You don't have a right to a college education.

There is only so much money to go around and if it all went to lifelong students who just completed degree after degree, there would not be anything left for those who are just starting college.

 

[BlerBler]

I understand your point on career students. However I have paid my way through college thus far. When you say that I am owed nothing you lack any legal reasoning. I understand that you may have a personal dislike for what I seek, however that is another matter to be taken up. Here however I simply ask a legal reason as to how the college can do this. What gives the schools financial aid administrator such privledges?

 

[stealth2]

What makes you think you are "owed" anything? Lots of people go to college without a penny of financial aid from anyone - it's called working your way through school.

 

[ElvisG]

My guess is this. FASFA put a limit on the number of credits a person can receive a student loan toward a certain degree field. It's not the school, it's FASFA.

 

[Perky]

What gives the schools financial aid administrator such privledges?

The federal government gives schools the authority to determine awards. Okey, dokey?