TNCC : Financial Aid : Federal Aid and Eligibility

Students applying for federal, state, and institutional financial assistance for the 2010-2011 academic year are required to complete the 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This form provides the Federal Processing Center with household, income, and asset information used to determine the expected family contribution and Federal Pell Grant eligibility for each applicant. The FAFSA is required for federal and state financial assistance.

Parent information is required unless the student is one of the following: 24 years of age, veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training, working on a master’s or doctorate program, married, both parents deceased, dependent of the court, has children who receive more than half of their support from the student, has legal dependents other than children or a spouse, has been an emancipated minor by a court in their state, or has been determined to be an unaccompanied youth who is homeless. Also, 2009 Federal Tax Return(s) and/or other financial documents are needed to complete the FAFSA.

The Thomas Nelson Community College Financial Aid School Code is 006871. The Financial Aid Office will receive your results electronically if the school code is listed.

Complete the 2010-2011 FAFSA online at www.fafsa.edu.gov. Students and parents must apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which can be done on the FAFSA website. If you do not have Internet access, you may visit the Thomas Nelson Library, TNCC Welcome Center or any other public library.

Students must meet all eligibility requirements described here to be considered for any Title IV federal financial aid programs and need-based assistance from Thomas Nelson Community College:

Approved Degree Program
Students must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate program with a minimum of 16 credit hours.
High School Diploma
Students must have a high school diploma, GED, pass an approved ability-to-benefit test, or have been home-schooled.
Enrollment Status
While it is not a requirement to receive financial aid, students should register for at least 12 credit hours each semester to receive a full financial aid package. Students who register less than full-time are still eligible to receive financial aid. They will have their financial aid awards reduced to reflect their actual enrollment. Students may receive financial aid if they are at least part-time (6 credit hours).
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To remain eligible for all grant, loan or work assistance programs, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the standards and practices of TNCC. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may not receive federal, state or institutional aid.
Citizenship Status
Students must be U.S. citizens or registered permanent residents in order to be eligible for federal, state and institutional financial assistance.
Valid Social Security Number
Students must have a valid Social Security number to receive financial aid. Exceptions to this rule are students from the republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Palau.
Selective Service
Male students between the ages of 18 and 25 must be registered with Selective Service to be eligible for financial aid.
Default or Owe Refund
To be eligible for financial assistance, students must not be in default on a federal Perkins Loan, Stafford Student Loan, nor owe any refund on a federal student grant.
Drug Conviction
A new law suspends federal student aid eligibility for students convicted under federal or state law for possession of or sale of illegal drugs (not including alcohol or tobacco). If you have been convicted in the past, this does not automatically mean that you are ineligible for federal student aid. In order to determine your eligibility visit the following website and complete the Drug Conviction Worksheet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before013.htm
Incarcerated students and sex offenders
Students incarcerated in federal and state penal institutions aren’t eligible for Pell grants, but students incarcerated in local penal institutions are eligible. Students incarcerated by jurisdictions defined as a state in the law, such as the District of Columbia, are considered to be in a state penal institution and aren’t eligible for Pell grants. A student isn’t considered incarcerated if she is in a halfway house or home detention or is sentenced to serve only on weekends. The cost of attendance for students who are incarcerated in local penal institutions is limited to tuition and fees and the price of books and supplies specifically related to the student’s course of study. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) disqualifies from receiving Pell grants students who are subject to an involuntary civil commitment following incarceration for a sexual offense (as determined under the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program).

The 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted to the Federal Processing Center by May 1, 2010, for the fall 2010 term for priority consideration and by November 1, 2010 for the spring 2011 term. The priority deadline for summer 2011 is May 1, 2011 If you submit your FAFSA after the priority deadlines, it will be processed in the order received.

Financial assistance is not automatically renewed each year. Recipients must apply each year. Most students are automatically sent a renewal reminder by e-mail if they provided an e-mail address or by regular mail if they did not. Students can reapply using Renewal FAFSA on the Web.