Scholarship Award Policy

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP REVIEW POLICY
This policy governs the administration of the financial aid and scholarship programs.
1. All letters of intent will contain the statement:
“Violations of college policies and violations of state/local laws are grounds for termination of this scholarship.”

2. Scholarships will be limited to 18 semester hours with an allowance of 9 semester hours for developmental courses. Kansas resident students with a GPA of 2.25 or higher may apply for scholarship aid for additional hours with the approval of the student’s advisor. But, granting of such aid is dependent on the availability of funds. The Financial Aid Director will be the approving authority.

3. The 18-semester hour limit will not apply to participation courses required for scholarship eligibility. Examples of participation courses are: orientation, varsity sports, fine arts, student learning improvement and agriculture techniques etc. A maximum of 3 credit hours per activity will be allowed each semester unless approved by the Vice President for Instruction.

4. The loan of books scholarship will be limited to 18 semester hours except for those students enrolled in developmental courses. The loan of books scholarship is not authorized for courses approved for additional aid over the 18 semester hour’s limit. Workbooks and other materials are not part of this scholarship.

5. The Financial Aid Director will announce a deadline date for scholarship renewals.

6. The GPA requirements for retention of PCC scholarships are 2.0 with the following exceptions:
a. Above and Beyond, Awards of Excellence, and Presidential Scholarships would remain as published in the college catalog.
b. Scholarship limits that may be established by the donor of a particular scholarship.
7. GPA requirements apply at the end of the first semester. The Registrar will review GPA requirements at the end of each semester, automatically place on probation students whose GPA falls between 1.5 and 1.9, and inform the students, their advisors and coaches, Director of Student Success Center and the Vice President of Instruction of that action For those students who do not meet GPA requirements at the end of the next semester, the Financial Assistance Committee will be the approving authority for reducing or discontinuing financial aid and/or scholarship aid. The academic/vocational departments’ recommendation and, in the case of an athlete, the Athletic Director’s recommendation must be considered in the committee’s deliberations.

8. Each year the college provides a limited number of need-based scholarships for students. These awards are available to the entire student population and are based on financial need rather than ability. To qualify for consideration for a needs-based award, a student must have verified their financial need through the college’s financial aid office. Returning students in good academic standing receive priority consideration.

9. Students receiving scholarship awards in the amount of $500 or greater will be required to enroll in 16 credit hours per semester, with a minimum of 32 credit hours per academic year, to retain their scholarship award. Exceptions to this requirement can be authorized by the administration in isolated cases of just cause. Students in the nursing program are excluded from this requirement

10. If a student has initially enrolled in 16 hours, drops * a course for whatever reason after the 20th day, the student receives a “W” grade in the course, is still technically enrolled in 16 hours, because “W” grades remain on their transcript and the hours they drop were originally counted for FA, eligibility, state reimbursement, ect. The student does not have to add back an equivalent amount of hours to equal the 16 hours or be actively “attending” 16 hours.
11. If the student “drops” * courses prior to the 20th day and falls below the 16 hours required, the hours they drop do not receive a grade, are removed from their transcript, do not count for FA, eligibility or state aide and is not enrolled in 16 hours, so the student much add back hours equivalent to 16 hours. If the student does not add back hours equivalent to 16 hours, scholarship will be revoked.
12. If student attends a class one time during the first week of the course and does not drop the course during the refund period, student is responsible for tuition and fee payment.
13. On line courses count in meeting the credit hour requirement but are not eligible for scholarship aid.
* There is a difference between “withdraw” which occurs after the 20th day and “drop” which occurs prior to the 20th day.

X Replaces policy dated 5-20-11,3-1-11, 03-22-2004, 12-15-03.

X Replaces policy dated 03-01-11, 03-22-2004, 12-15-03.