To qualify for most Federal aid programs you must meet the following requirements:
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (permanent resident).
- be enrolled at least half-time in a degree granting program (classified student) (Pell excluded).
- be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree.
- not be in default on a loan or owe a refund on a federal grant.
- demonstrate financial need.
- have obtained a high school diploma, GED, or completed a secondary education home schooling credential.
- have registered with Selective Service, men only.
Federal Financial Aid Programs include:
FEDERAL PELL GRANTS: These are federal entitlements available to any qualified, needy undergraduate student who is attending college and who has not previously earned a Bachelor’s degree.
FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (SEOG): These grants are available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who are attending school at least half- time.
FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM (FWS): This program provides funds for part-time employment. Students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic terms. An individual student’s award is based upon his/her individual need and the availability of funds.
SUBSIDIZED FEDERAL STAFFORD LOAN: Annual loan limits differ depending on a student’s academic level and existing Stafford loan balance. Interest is paid or subsidized during deferment periods. Repayment begins 6 months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least a half-time or separates from College.
UNSUBSIDIZED FEDERAL STAFFORD LOAN: Very similar to the subsidized loan’s annual and aggregate limits, interest rate, and deferment. However, interest begins to accrue upon disbursement of the funds. Student loan deferments are available.
State, Institutional, Private, and Other Financial Assistance:
B PLUS SCHOLARSHIP: Recipients are selected based on the following eligibility criteria:
- Graduated from a public high school in the State of Hawai‘i;
- Earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher based on high school transcript;
- Completed a rigorous high school curriculum or earned a Board of Education (BOE) Recognition Diploma;
- Demonstrated financial need according to the Federal financial aid guidelines for students via completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form;
- Hawai‘i resident for tuition purposes;
- Be admitted and attend as a freshmen in the fall semester immediately following graduation from high school; and
- Enrolled as a full-time classified undergraduate.
Kaua'i CC OPPORTUNITY GRANT: Tuition grants and scholarships to resident or non-resident undergraduate and graduate/professional students who demonstrate financial need, merit, or service.
Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship
Hawai‘i’s Promise: The Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship is a need-based award intended to be applied toward the unmet need of qualified students enrolled at any community college campus of the University of Hawai‘i.
Awards are contingent upon funding and amounts are determined by the individual students’ FAFSA information. Recipients are selected based on the following criteria combined with the use of a selecting algorithm.
Student eligibility:
- Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (https://fafsa.gov/).
- Must be a State of Hawai‘i resident or qualify for exempt status that pays in-state tuition.
- Must be enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester within the UH System and at least 1 credit at home institution.
- Must be degree-seeking in a financial aid eligible program.
- Must not possess a bachelor's degree.
- Must be meeting Kaua‘i CC's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
Hawaiʻi Promise provides aid for any financial needs not met by other forms of financial aid, such as federal grants and benefits and scholarships from UH (University of Hawai‘i) or other sources. Its goal is to provide free in-state tuition for qualified UH (University of Hawai‘i) Community College students and covers tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
As a condition of receiving financial aid at Kaua‘i Community College, students must demonstrate and maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the achievement of an associate degree or certificate.
Evaluation Period
- The student’s academic progress will be evaluated prior to disbursement of funds each semester.
- All semesters of previous enrollment will be considered in calculating the percentage of remaining eligibility whether or not a student had previously received financial aid.
Eligibility Requirements
- Only classified students enrolled in courses applicable to their primary educational major are eligible for financial assistance.
- Students must maintain a cumulative and current GPA of at least 2.0.
- A student must maintain a pace of progress of earning at least 67% of all cumulative credits attempted.
Quantitative (Maximum Timeframe)
In addition to completing a certain percentage of their coursework, students must also be progressing through their educational program within a set timeframe. A student’s maximum timeframe is determined by the number of credits required for completion of their degree goal multiplied by 150 percent.
Examples:
A Certificate of Achievement in Business Technology requires 33 credits. A student in this program is eligible to receive aid for a total of 50 credits.
An Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree requires 60 credits. A student is eligible to receive aid for a total of 90 credits.
- Transfer credits that have been evaluated and accepted will be counted as both attempted and completed hours. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with an academic counselor to determine the number of transfer credits that are not applicable to their program of study at Kaua‘i Community College
- Students may choose to change their major at any time, however all credits previously attempted at the college and accepted transfer credits, will initially be counted in their new maximum timeframe.
- When students re-enroll after completing a program they were officially enrolled in, their new maximum timeframe may not need to include all previously attempted credits.
Multiple Degrees
Once a student completes one degree at Kaua‘i CC, the student may not be eligible for financial aid OR may have limited financial aid eligibility. Students must see an academic counselor to determine how many credits from the previous degree apply to the second degree and submit a Financial Aid Timeframe Review Form to the Financial Aid Office. The form will inform the Financial Aid Office of how many credits the student needs to graduate with the second degree. In certain cases, if a student has not exceeded the maximum timeframe as allowed by federal guidelines, the student may be able to receive aid towards subsequent certificates or degrees.
Grades and Dropped Courses
- The following grades will be considered as credits attempted but not earned: F, NC, N, W, I. An “I” will be calculated as no credit. If the grade should change to an A, B, C, or D it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office so his/her Financial Aid GPA may be recalculated.
- Repeated courses are counted in total attempted hours.
- Dropped classes after the erase period (3rd week of the semester) will be counted in total attempted hours.
- Credit by Exam and Audited courses will not count in a student’s total enrollment for financial aid purposes.
Remedial & Developmental Courses
- Remedial courses will not count in a student’s 150% timeframe, but will count in the GPA and 67% completion calculations.
- Developmental courses that directly fulfill primary major requirements will be calculated in the 150% timeframe, GPA and 67% completion calculations.
Financial Aid Warning
- Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements as listed above will be given a financial aid warning for the following semester.
- During the warning semester, students are still eligible to receive financial aid.
- Students not making Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of the warning semester will be placed on suspension.
Financial Aid Suspension
- Students on Financial Aid Suspension are ineligible for all Title IV aid (including loans), unless an appeal is granted.
Appeal Policy and Procedure
A student who is not maintaining satisfactory academic progress and has a status of Financial Aid Suspension may appeal his/her status by completing the appeals process. Appeals will only be considered for the following reasons:
- Extended personal illness/injury
- Death of immediate family member
- Withdrawal for reasons other than medical
- Other extenuating circumstances
Students are required to meet with the Academic Counselor to review their appeal application and create an academic plan. Follow-up academic counseling appointments may be required as a condition of the appeal.
All appeals must be made in writing, with supported documentation when required, on the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. All appeals along with all required documentation are to be submitted for review to: Financial Aid Officer, Financial Aid Office, OSC 104, 3-1901 Kaumuali‘i Highway, Līhu‘e, HI 96766- 9500. Appeal decisions are final.
Financial Aid Appeal Status
- A student on financial aid suspension who successfully appeals the suspension will be in a financial aid appeal status.
- During the appeal status period, students are eligible to receive financial aid.
- At the end of the probationary semester, a student must either:
- be making satisfactory academic progress; or
- be meeting the conditions of their academic plan.
- If the student is not making satisfactory academic progress, but is successfully following the established academic plan, the student would continue to be eligible for aid in subsequent semesters.
- A student on financial aid probation that is neither making satisfactory academic progress, nor successfully following their established academic plan at the end of the probationary semester will be placed on financial aid suspension for future semesters and further appeals will be granted only in extremely extenuating circumstances.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON APPLICATIONS, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT 245-8360.
See the entry on Scholarship Programs for more information.