Financial Aid

Financial Aid information for all programs in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies is available at www.spfldcol.edu/PCSFinancialAid .

Because financing a college education can be a challenging task, Springfield College offers financial aid services through the Office of Financial Aid and at each instructional campus to help students make the best decisions on how to finance their education.

Financial aid policy at Springfield College is based on the following guidelines:

Students must be accepted into a degree program to receive financial assistance. Springfield College makes admissions decisions without regard for the student’s ability to pay educational expenses. College grant funds are awarded primarily on the basis of financial need. State and federal funds are awarded and disbursed subject to the program regulations of the awarding agency. Eligibility based on financial need is determined by estimating cost of attendance and subtracting family contribution as calculated by federal, state and/or College regulations. Students are advised that eligibility for funding is not the same as availability of funds. The College does not meet full need for all eligible students.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Financial aid forms and information will be sent to all applicants for admission. Students are expected to take responsibility for the financial aid application process, which must be completed for each year assistance is needed. The financial aid award year begins with the September term. Students may contact campus staff and the Office of Financial Aid for assistance. All data submitted in the application process is subject to verification.

All applicants for need-based financial aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA is available in paper format or can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and Procedures for Financial Aid Eligibility

To be eligible for financial aid, a student must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the degree. A degree must be completed within 150% of the published program length (for example: within 180 credits for a 120 credit degree program).  To ensure that students complete within this time frame, our SAP policy defines this as the successful completion of a minimum of 67% of all credits (including transfer credits) and also successful completion of a minimum of 75% of credits attempted at Springfield College. Students must also maintain a cumulative average (GPA) that meets the academic progress requirement for the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. 

• A GPA of 1.80 is required until an undergraduate student has earned at least 30 credits. 
• A GPA of 1.90 is required if an undergraduate student has earned from 30 to 59 credits. 
• A GPA of 2.0 is required if an undergraduate student has earned 60 or more credits.
• Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0.

Failed courses, Incompletes and Withdrawals are counted as credits attempted and not successfully completed. Repeated courses are counted each time as attempted credits and only a successfully passed course is counted as successfully completed.  A course that was previously passed can only receive federal aid for one repeat of the course.  Our policy is that repeat courses with any grade including Failed, Incomplete and Withdrawn) are not eligible for federal aid unless approved as an eligible repeat course by Blake Student Support Office of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress is monitored at the end of each term.  Students who do not meet the academic standard for GPA or the required completion ratios are notified by email of the ineligibility and the procedures for requesting and obtaining financial aid probation.  Students may receive financial aid probation for more than one consecutive term only if the student met all conditions of the academic plan.  Students who do not meet one or both of the academic requirements are eligible to be placed on Academic Warning only in the first term of the degree program. 

The PSC Blake and Student Support Office (BSSO) will be the location for repository of all paperwork related to academic progress, including financial aid probation forms, academic success plans, early warning intervention forms, and approval forms for financial aid for repeated courses.

Financial Aid Probation Procedures for the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Consideration of a student’s request for financial aid probation begins at the respective campus. Each campus should follow the procedures below:

• The student meets with the advisor for academic counseling and to complete the Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form.
• The completed Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is forwarded to Assistant Director of Administration or Assistant Director of Academic Services or Financial Coordinator to review for completeness. 
• The completed Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is forwarded to the Assistant Dean/Campus Director(ADCD)for review. If approved at the campus, the Student Request for  Financial Aid Probation form is signed by ADCD and forwarded to BASSO.
• The BASSO reviews the form and determine if the request is approved, denied, or returned back to the campus for additional information.
• If the Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is approved at Blake, BASSO notifies the financial aid office of the School’s recommendation. The Financial Aid Office approves and processes the student’s request for FA Probation.  

Request for Financial Aid to Pay for Repeated Courses Procedures for Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Consideration of a student’s request for financial aid to pay for repeated courses begins at the respective campus.  Each campus should follow the procedures below:

• The student meets with the advisor for academic counseling and to complete the Approval Form for Financial Aid for Repeated Courses.
• The completed form is forwarded to Assistant Director of Administration or Assistant Director of Academic Services or Financial Aid Coordinator to review for completeness.
• The completed Approval Form for Financial Aid for Repeated Courses is forwarded to the Assistant Dean/Campus Director (ADCD) for review. If approved at the campus, the Approval Form for Financial Aid for Repeated Courses is signed by ADCD and forwarded to BASSO.
• The BASSO reviews the form and determine if the request is approved, denied or returned back to the campus for additional information.
• If the Approval Form for Financial Aid for Repeated Courses Form is approved at Blake, BASSO notifies the financial aid office of the School’s recommendation. The Financial Aid office approves and processes the student’s request for repeated courses.

Academic Success Plan Procedures for the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

• Any undergraduate or graduate student placed on Academic Probation is required to execute an Academic Success Plan with his/her academic advisor. The Academic Success Plan must detail academic intervention strategies, along with specific measureable outcomes, that will move the student toward satisfactory academic progress.
• The plan must be individualized to meet the academic needs of the student.
• Given the seriousness of the Academic Probation status, the student is required to participate in the Academic Progress and Support Program to meet with a resource specialist for 3 mandatory meetings. This requirement must be included on the Academic Success Plan.
• The Academic Success Plan is forwarded to the Assistant Dean/Campus Director (ADCD) for review. If approved at the campus, the ADCD signs the Academic Success Plan.
• The Academic Success Plan, along with the Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is forwarded to Blake to determine approval, denial, or to be returned to the campus for additional information. If approved the student’s request for financial aid probation is forwarded to the Financial Aid Office for processing.  
• The advisor, resource specialist and campus  academic probation coordinator work collaboratively to provide the student with comprehensive support.

Early Warning Intervention Form Procedures for the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

• Any undergraduate student who has been placed on either Academic Warning or Academic Alert needs to meet with his/her advisor and complete an Early Warning Intervention Form. Although with an Academic Warning or Academic Alert the student is in good academic standing, the School is concerned that the student may be in danger of not continuing in good standing. Therefore, it is imperative to begin intervention immediately.  An identified student is required to seek campus academic support services (advisor, instructor, academic success services) to assist with addressing any issue that may result in the student moving on to Academic Probation.
• The Early Warning Intervention Form  is forwarded to the Assistant Dean/Campus Director (ADCD) for review. If approved at the campus, the ADCD signs the Early Warning Intervention Form
• A copy of the Early Warning Intervention Form must be forwarded to BASSO for filing.  

• Any undergraduate or graduate student who has been identified as not meeting the 75% completion ratio requirement for financial aid eligibility is required to fill out the Early Warning Intervention Form.  NOTE: Those undergraduate and graduate students on Academic Probation are not allowed to complete this form. An identified student is also  required to seek campus academic support services (advisor, faculty, academic success services) to assist with addressing any issue that may affect the student’s academic performance.

• Any undergraduate or graduate student who has been identified as not meeting the 75% completion ratio requirement is not eligible to receive financial aid. If extenuating circumstances warrant, a student may request financial aid probation by completing a Student Request for Financial Aid Probation form.
• The completed Student Request for Financial Aid Probation form is forwarded to Assistant Director of Administration or Assistant Director of Academic Services or Financial Coordinator to review for completeness.
• The completed Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is forwarded to the Assistant Dean/Campus Director(ADCD)for review. If approved at the campus, the Student Request for Financial Aid Probation form is signed by the ADCD and forwarded to BASSO.
• The BASSO reviews the form and determine if the request is approved, denied or returned back to the campus for additional information
• If the Student Request for Financial Aid Probation Form is approved at Blake, BASSO notifies the financial aid office of School’s recommendation. The Financial Aid Office approves and processes the student’s request for FA Probation.

Financial Aid Policy and Services

All information in a student’s file is considered confidential. Disclosure of family financial information is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The financial aid staff cannot discuss details of the student’s application with persons other than the student and/or responsible parent. If other individuals acting on behalf of the student are to have access to this information, a confidential release form, available upon request, must be on file with the Office of Financial Aid.

Unless otherwise noted in the student’s award letter, aid is awarded on the basis of full-time enrollment (12 credits per term for undergraduate students. 9 credits per term for graduate students). Aid awards are subject to adjustment or cancellation if the student does not enroll full time. Financial aid will be disbursed by term. There is no federal loan eligibility for any term in which a student is not enrolled at least half time.

The total financial assistance a student receives cannot exceed educational cost of attendance as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Students are required to advise the Office of Financial Aid of outside agency and/or scholarship aid. If there is a gap between calculated eligibility and the amount of aid in the student’s financial aid package, outside aid will be allowed to fill that unmet need. If full eligibility has been funded, outside aid will first reduce the self-help component (work study and loans) of the financial aid package. An award can be canceled during the academic year for failure to meet the academic requirements of the College, for conduct inconsistent with the standards of the College, for failure to enroll, or if incorrect information was provided in the application process.

An application for financial assistance must be completed for each academic year. Renewal of awards is contingent upon continued demonstration of financial need, eligibility, and availability of funds. Students who received College funds in the prior academic year will be given preference in the renewal process. The College does not guarantee the availability of funds to meet the need of all eligible students.

Failure to provide requested documentation may result in denial of assistance. Students are expected to take responsibility for completing the financial aid process. Changes in enrollment, financial, marital, or residential status should be promptly reported to the Office of Financial Aid.

The financial aid award shall be void if and when incorrect or inconsistent information is revealed on forms or other documentation submitted in the application process. All awards are subject to verification. Cases of fraud will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Students who are in default on prior educational loans are not eligible for assistance until the default is cleared or the loan is rehabilitated. Students receiving tuition remission/tuition waivers are not eligible for Springfield College grants.

The College advises donors of the names of students who are recipients of College grants funded by their gifts to the College.

Student registering in Spring and Summer will have annual the premium pro-rated.

All financial aid, including disbursements from one of the Federal Family Education Loan programs (Stafford/Plus), must be credited directly to the student’s account in the College’s Business Office. Credit balances (more aid than charges) will be refunded to the student according to the schedule published by the Business Office. These refunds must be used for education-related expenses only.

If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will be required to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refunds. If the student receives federal financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the money not paid from federal financial aid funds.

The annual publication “Financing Your Springfield College Education” details the available programs and the policies governing the awarding and disbursement of funds. This publication is sent to each student receiving a financial aid decision.

Treatment of Title IV Aid When a Student Withdraws

The law specifies how Springfield College must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from school.  The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, TEACH Grants, Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Federal Perkins Loans.

Though your aid is posted to your account at the start of each period, you earn the funds as you complete the period.  If you withdraw during your period of enrollment, the amount of Title IV program assistance that you have earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula.  If you received (or your school or parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds.  If you received more assistance that you earned, the excess funds must be returned by Springfield College and/or you.

The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro rata basis.  For example, if you completed 30% of your payment period or period of enrollment, you earned 30% of the assistance you were originally schedule to receive.  Once you have completed more that 60% of the payments period or period of enrollment, you earn all the assistance that you were schedule to receive.

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement.  If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, your school must get your permission before it can disburse them.  You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt.  Springfield College may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with the school).  Springfield College needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other institutional charges.  If you do not give permission, you will be offered the funds.  However, it may be in your best interest to allow the school to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the school.

There are some Title IV funds that you were scheduled to receive that cannot be disbursed to you once you withdraw because of other eligibility requirements.  For example, if you are a first-time, first-year undergraduate student and you have not completed the first 30 days of your program before you withdraw, you will not receive any Direct Loans funds that you would have received had you remained enrolled past the 30^th day.

If you received (or Springfield College or parent perceived on your behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, your school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of…

• your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or
• the entire amount excess funds.

Springfield College must return this amount even if it didn’t keep this amount of your Title IV program funds.

If your school is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. 

For any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for PLUS loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note.  That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the grant funds you received or were scheduled to receive.  You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount of the overpayment is $50 or less.  You must make arrangements with the Department of Education to return the unearned grant funds.

The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that your school may have.  Therefore, you may still owe funds to Springfield College to cover unpaid institutional charges.  Springfield College may also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return.  If you don’t already know Springfield College’s refund policy, you should ask for a copy.  Springfield College can also provide you with the requirements and procedures for officially withdrawing from school.

If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.4.FEDAID (1.800.433.3243).  TTY users may call 1.800.730.8913.  Information is also available on Student Aid on the Web at www.studentaid.ed.gov and/or contacting Springfield College Financial Aid Office at 413.748.3108 or our web-site www.springfieldcollege.edu.