Important Financial Aid Information

We would like to extend to you a warm welcome and hope that the below information assists you as you progress through your time at our college. At Onondaga, we believe you should have every opportunity to pursue a college education and we encourage you to contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions you may have.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR FINANCIAL AID REFUND

Students who are eligible for financial aid over and above what is needed to pay for college expenses will be provided with the excess funds in the form of a check, direct deposit to your bank account, or deposit to your Lazer Card, as you request. Financial aid will be made available to you based on the following schedule for the Fall 2016 semester.

BOOKSTORE CREDIT

If you have been awarded PELL GRANT, TAP, SEOG and/or Direct Loans with at least a $25 balance remaining after residence hall charges, meal plans and tuition and fees are covered, you will be placed on a Bookstore Charge List in the college bookstore. Eligible students will be notified.

LAZER CARD TRANSFERS

Lazer card transfers of pending aid must be made in the Student Account’s Office, located at Student Central in the Gordon Student Center. Students may also deposit funds onto their Lazer Card from a credit or debit card transaction online through Get Funds . Money that is transferred from excess financial aid must be used for education related expenses only, such as books, supplies and meals. Lazer card transfers are limited to a maximum of $600 per semester.

The Lazer Card serves as your Student ID – please keep it in a safe place!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SCHEDULING YOUR COURSES

DO I NEED THE COURSE FOR MY DEGREE/CERTIFICATE?

Students cannot be awarded financial aid for classes that do not count toward their degree or certificate program requirements. If a student is enrolled in courses that do not count toward his degree, those courses cannot be used to determine enrollment status and aid eligibility. All registered courses must apply to the student’s program as a general education requirement, a major requirement, or elective (whether restricted or free elective).

CAN REPEATING A COURSE IMPACT MY FINANCIAL AID?

Students who repeat courses they have taken previously either at OCC or another institution and received a passing grade for that coursework may have an adjustment or denial of one or more of their financial aid programs. This may impact both federal and state aid programs. To maintain full-time status for financial aid, a student’s coursework must be for at least 12 credits without the repeated class. An exception may be made for state aid if the student did not meet the minimum grade requirement for that class for graduation.

Federal Aid, including student loans, will pay for a student to repeat a passed course only once.
State aid (TAP) will only pay for a repeated course once, but only if it is required to have a higher grade for graduation in the student’s particular degree program.

If a student’s program does not require them to earn a higher grade for graduation, but the student is being advised to repeat coursework for academic reasons, it may be advisable for the student to be enrolled in at least 12 credits of new coursework (in addition any repeated courses) in order to maintain his/her full time status.

Students can be referred to Student Central for questions or may call (315)498-2291.

WHAT IF I DROP A CLASS OR ALL MY CLASSES?

ON OR AFTER the first day of classes:

A percentage or all of the tuition and fees will be your responsibility.
You may not be able to keep all of your financial aid.
You may owe money after you withdraw.
Any classes you drop may jeopardize future financial aid eligibility.
Please talk to someone in Financial Aid to understand the impact if you drop courses.