General Eligibility
Sheridan College (SC) is eligible to participate in Title IV programs by meeting the definition of an institution of higher education as defined by the US Department of Education. Title IV funding includes Federal financial aid that each individual student is eligible to apply for by competing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Federal financial aid programs at Sheridan College includes the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, as well as Parent Plus loans. The FAFSA application must be completed every year to determine federal financial aid eligibility.
To be eligible for federal financial aid, applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements, including:
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as the HiSET/GED or completed home schooling at the secondary level
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree requirement or certificate program
- Must not be defaulted on a federal student loan or owe a repayment of a federal grant
- Demonstrate financial need
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
- Certify that you will use federal aid for educational purposes only by signing the statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Additional information for each program is listed below, or you can visit Student Aid for additional information. To complete the FAFSA application, please visit the FAFSA website. The school code for both Sheridan, SC Johnson County, and Gillette College is 003930.
FAFSA Verification
FAFSA Verification is the process used by the college to check the accuracy of the information the FAFSA contributor(s) provided when applying for federal financial aid on the FAFSA. A student’s FAFSA can be chosen for this additional review by either the U.S. Department of Education or the college. This review checks that the information the student—and their contributors, if required—put on the FAFSA is correct. This does not mean the student and/or contributors did anything wrong!
If the student’s FAFSA is selected for verification, they are notified two different ways. The student’s FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) and via email. The FSS will have an asterisk near the SAI (Student Aid Index) in the upper right-hand side of the first page. A comment will be included in the “Application Status” section indicating the student is selected for verification and the institution will be requesting documentation.
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The student will also receive an email from the financial aid office. This email will be sent to the student’s college email address. The student will also have a message within their Financial Aid Self-Service module indicating “Complete required documents”. The Financial Aid Self-Service module will also include which worksheet(s) the student is required to complete.
Students must submit the worksheet(s), all required documentation, and be sure appropriate signatures are attained before their federal financial aid awards can be finalized. Federal financial aid awards include the following:
- The Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work-Study (CWSP)
- Direct Subsidized Loans.
FAFSA Verification Tracking Groups
There are 3 verification tracking groups; Standard Verification or V1, Custom Verification or V4, and Aggregate Verification or V5. Depending on the student’s dependency for FAFSA, dependent vs independent, worksheet(s) and signature(s) requirements will vary. V4 and V5 tracking groups have deadlines, but students who fall under V1 tracking group will not be packaged with their federal financial aid awards until verification is complete.
- Standard Verification or V1: This group is for both tax filers and nontax filers. Students are required to submit the V1 verification worksheet based on dependency. If the student and contributor(s) are unable to have their tax year information successfully pulled directly from the IRS, a signed copy of the filed 1040 or a tax return transcript ordered from IRS.gov must accompany the worksheet. If the student or contributor(s) did not file taxes in the tax year used on the FAFSA, they must review the worksheet and fill in the requested information about their employment.
- Custom Verification or V4: This group requires students to provide proof of identity. Students are required to submit the V4 verification worksheet based on dependency. Student should appear in person at the financial aid office with their unexpired government issued ID. This may include US passport, driver’s license, non-driver’s identification card, other State-issued ID, Global Entry card, Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien Card (I-551), Certificate of Naturalization (even without an expiration date), as long as the photo is recognizable as the student, State-issued voter ID (even if it does not have an expiration date).
- If a student cannot appear in person at the financial aid office, the student is required to provide a notarized copy (front and back) of their unexpired government issued ID.
- Student has 60 days from FAFSA filing date to provide this documentation to the financial aid office.
- Aggregate Verification or V5: This group requires students to complete both V1 and V4 steps outlined above using the V5 worksheet based on dependency. Students have 60 days from FAFSA filing date to provide identity documentation to the financial aid office. While the V1 portion of this tracking group does not have a specific deadline, no federal financial aid awards will be packaged until all verification is complete.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to maintain federal financial aid eligibility, students must meet the standard requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards a degree or certificate at Sheridan College. A student’s academic history starts the first semester the student is enrolled and is monitored regardless of whether he/she has previously received financial aid. SC’s SAP standard requirements include maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA and completing at least 67% of credits attempted. In addition, students must complete their degree program within 150% of the program length to maintain federal financial aid eligibility. SAP is reviewed on all students by the Financial Aid Office after the end of each semester of enrollment.
When failure to meet and maintain SC’s SAP standards are caused by extenuating circumstances, federal regulations allow those students to submit an appeal for reconsideration. The SAP appeal process is administered by the Student Appeals Committee. Instructions to submit an appeal are available by contacting the Financial Aid Office or by visiting the Student Appeals portal page on the HUB. For more information, visit SC’s Procedure 5041.32 Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Consortium Agreements
A consortium agreement is a written agreement between two schools that both are eligible to participate in federal Title IV programs. The agreement that allows a student to take courses at another school (host school), have the courses count towards their degree or certificate at SC (home school), and their total enrollment and federal financial aid during a period of enrollment. Students can find SC Consortium Agreement form within the Hub Financial Aid page.
Return to Title IV Funds Calculation
A student must earn his or her federal financial aid funds through classroom attendance/participation each term. When a student who is receiving federal financial aid fully withdrawals from all classes enrolled for the semester, the Financial Aid Office is required to determine the percentage of federal financial aid funds that the student earned while enrolled for the semester.
When a student officially withdrawals from the semester, the R2T4 calculation is based on the student’s notification to withdraw, or date of determination. The date of determination is defined as the date the student submits their institutional withdrawal form (paper or online) to the Records Office. After the student completes the withdraw process, a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation is performed in the Financial Aid Office using the student’s date of determination for the semester. The R2T4 calculation determines the percentage of federal financial aid that the student earned during the period of attendance, and whether the student will have to repay a portion of the financial aid funds that they received. If the student received more financial aid funds than they were entitled to during their period of attendance, the student’s account will be updated to reflect a balance owed.
Unofficial Withdrawal
If a passing grade was not earned on all attempted courses, and the student’s LDA was before the last week of the semester, the student is considered to have not earned the failing grades and is treated as an unofficial withdrawal. The R2T4 calculation is performed based on the student’s most recent LDA.
Withdrawing from classes will potentially affect a student’s financial aid eligibility, both for the current semester and for subsequent semesters, if the withdrawal results in a failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. SC strongly encourages students to meet with the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from classes so that each student may make an informed decision. Once an R2T4 calculation is ran, the Office of Financial Aid will send an email to the student’s personal email and a text message to the student’s phone number on record, notifying them they may now have a balance on their account an owe money back to the college.