FINANCIAL AID AND VETERAN SERVICES

The Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office’s mission is to provide Eastern Arizona College (EAC) students, prospective, current, and past, with prompt, accurate and courteous assistance. Please direct any questions or concerns to finaid@eac.edu.

To help students meet the financial obligations of college attendance, EAC administers a varied and comprehensive financial aid program. Financial aid is designed to bridge the gap between the costs of attending college and what students and their families are expected to contribute. Citizens, or eligible non-citizens of the United States, may apply for assistance regardless of sex, age, color, religion, marital status, national origin, pregnancy-related conditions, handicap, or veteran disability.

The U.S. Department of Education, through EAC, offers three major student financial aid programs:

1. Federal Pell Grant

2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

3. Federal Work Study (FWS)

Eastern Arizona College does not participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan program.

A complete description of these programs is available online at www.studentaid.gov.

To be considered for financial aid, the following is required:

1. Complete an application for admissions, https://connect.eac.edu/apply/.

2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), resulting in a FAFSA Submission Summary. The FAFSA can be completed on the web at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. For tips on how to complete the FAFSA, go to 6 Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA Form: https:// studentaid.gov/articles/filling-out-fafsa/. To sign this application electronically and access your federal financial aid account in the future, apply for an FSA ID at: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.

3. Documentation of information submitted on financial aid applications is required if the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) selects it for a process called verification or EAC has conflicting information.

4. The student meets all other eligibility requirements as established by the U.S. Department of Education, State of Arizona, Eastern Arizona College and/or the funding agency.

Additional information or help is available through the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office. Please come in or call with your questions. It is important to have the right answer the first time rather than being delayed by inaccurate information. Corrections can be made electronically by the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office or online at the FAFSA website using your FSA ID.
In general, eligibility for financial aid (Title IV funds) is determined through the following criteria.

• Student demonstrates financial need: when the student’s institutional Cost of Attendance (SAI) minus FAFSA results or Student Aid Index (SAI), results in a need. The FAFSA also determines eligibility for Pell Grant.

• Student is enrolled in courses that lead to a declared certificate or degree with a minimum duration of not less than one academic year (30 weeks of instruction) and not less than 16 credit hours.

• Student’s total number of credit hours enrolled in each semester.

• Student meets Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by Eastern Arizona College, and in compliance with federal regulations.

• Student does not owe an overpayment to a federal grant program.

• Student has not received 600% or 6 years of full-time Pell Grant.

• Student is not in default on a Perkins, FFELP, or FDSL loan.

• Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for financial aid at EAC.

• Student has provided EAC with transcripts from all previously attended institutions, and these transcripts have been evaluated by the Registrar.

If a financial need has been demonstrated and the necessary qualifications have been met, assistance in the form of grants, work-study, and/or scholarships may be made. Generally, a “package” of aid or a combination of different types of assistance is awarded.

Because family capabilities vary, each aid award is designed specifically to fit the student’s circumstances. All awards are made based on an academic year beginning with the fall semester and ending with the summer Term; so a FAFSA must be completed each year. Students will be notified by Monster e-mail through an “award letter,” or it can be accessed through your MyEAC portal under My Financial Aid. The award is based on the availability of funds and may be adjusted at any time.

FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENTS

Financial aid is disbursed to individual student accounts no later than 10 days after the first day of class. Disbursements are generally made once a week within the Business Administration Office. If, after tuition, EAC-approved fees, on-campus food and housing, and other student-authorized charges are paid, and a balance remains, the balance will be refunded to the student by EAC. Students can select how they would like to receive their refund or disbursement (stipend) through their MyEAC account. To choose a printed check or direct deposit option, students should look for “My Billing & Payments,” “Make Online Payment”, and allow pop-ups in their preferred browser.  By selecting “Click here to Make an Online Payment,” students will be taken to their MyEAC Transact account. “Payment methods” and “Direct deposit refunds” should be set up by the student to receive any remaining disbursement balances.

TRANSFER STUDENTS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS

If a student transfers to or from one school to another, previous financial aid awards will not automatically transfer. To receive aid at the new school, check with that school’s financial aid office to find out what aid programs are available and what steps are required to receive it. Midyear transfer students to EAC must notify the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office of their transfer status so that required documents can be requested.

Federal regulations require that EAC conduct a process called ‘Transfer Monitoring’ before disbursing financial aid. Academic transcripts from previously attended institutions are also required.

WORK STUDY

Eastern Arizona College provides many part-time work opportunities for students who have completed a FAFSA and been determined eligible for the Institutional or Federal Work Study Programs. Employment is available in a variety of on-campus and off-campus jobs, including office assistants, lab assistants, library tutors, America Reads tutors, and others. Federal student employment is part of an award package. Institutional student employment is awarded upon hire. Work-study job opportunities can be found on the EAC website at: https://eac.edu/costs-aid/work-study/. This website also guides the work-study recipient through the employment process.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS

The Eastern Arizona College (EAC) Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office is required by federal regulations to monitor academic progress toward a degree or certificate for all degree-seeking financial aid applicants. As a result, the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office reviews grades and attempted coursework of all applicants, whether or not aid was received, prior to the awarding of financial aid and following each period of enrollment. All students receiving financial aid are required to meet the standards listed below. Credit hours earned prior to receiving financial aid are subject to these standards. Students who do not meet these standards will be placed on financial aid warning, probation, or suspension as stated.

STANDARDS

• Satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate includes maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C), or its equivalent. The student must continue to earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 throughout the course of attendance. Grade point values are: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0. Passing (P) grades do not count toward GPA but do count as completed coursework.

• Satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate also includes the total number of credit hours attempted each semester. Federal regulations require students to complete their program of study within a 150% time frame. The pace of progress, as established in this policy, requires students to complete a minimum of 67% of attempted credit hours. The completion rate is calculated by earned hours divided by attempted hours equal’s completion rate. Transferred credit hours, as determined by the Registrar, will be added to the total hours attempted and earned when calculating the completion rate and the 150% time frame. Anytime a student changes their program, the 150% time frame does not renew.

• Students seeking additional degrees from EAC are limited as follows. After earning a first Associate's degree of any type, a student may earn an additional 30 credit hours toward a second Associate's degree, but may not exceed 96 total credit hours. Students are limited to three certificates. Hours attempted while obtaining any degree count toward the aggregate of 96 credit hours. Students seeking a third Associate's degree or fourth certificate are suspended from receiving Title IV financial aid, even if they have fewer than 96 total credit hours.

• All repeated coursework will be calculated as attempted hours. In accordance with federal regulations, students can repeat a failed course until it is passed. A student can repeat a passed course once to improve the grade. However, once a student earns a degree, a course within the completed degree cannot be repeated for a higher grade.

• The college does not consider Withdrawals (W), Fail (F), or Incomplete (I) as successfully completed coursework when determining the minimum hours completed. Courses dropped without record before the expiration of the add/drop period are not counted against the maximum time frame.

• There is no academic amnesty for financial aid recipients per federal regulations. Academic amnesty is when a student has successfully petitioned for withdrawal without a record to have a Withdrawn or Failing grade removed from the transcript. Financial aid will still count the removed course(s) as attempted credit hours.

• Students may receive federal aid for up to 30 credit hours of remedial coursework. The student must be accepted as a regular student in a degree program and need the remedial coursework to successfully complete the required degree courses. Up to 30 credit hours of remedial coursework will be excluded from the 150% maximum time frame measurement. Remedial coursework does count towards the GPA calculation and the measurement to determine the student's required 67% pace of progress.

WARNING STATUS

Students who do not comply with either the GPA or minimum credit hour completion ratio will receive a single semester of warning status. During this warning period, the student must improve his/her GPA to a cumulative 2.0 and/or complete and make up deficient credit hours, reaching a 67% completion rate. If a student earns a cumulative GPA that is below 1.0, no warning period will be given. If a student earns 0 credits in a semester, no warning period will be given unless the earned hours divided by the attempted hours is equal to or greater than 67% and a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

SUSPENSION STATUS

Students who do not achieve a GPA of 2.0 or make up deficient credit hours during a period of warning will be placed on financial aid suspension status. Students who earn a semester GPA of less than 1.0 will be placed on suspension status unless their cumulative grade point average remains a 2.0 or higher. Students who earn 2 or fewer credits during a single semester will be placed on suspension status unless their earned hours divided by attempted hours is equal to or greater than 67%. A transfer student who withdraws from all courses in their first semester at EAC will be placed on suspension status.

MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS SUSPENSION

The maximum number of credit hours a student may attempt and still be eligible for financial aid is 150% of the credits required to complete a declared degree, generally 96 credit hours for an associate’s degree. This includes credits accepted as transfer to EAC. In keeping with institutional policy, the transferred GPA will not be included in the college’s calculation of the institutional GPA. A student will be suspended prior to exceeding the 150% time frame if this time frame is exceeded during the next period of enrollment.

Students completing additional hours beyond the 150% allowed by regulation are required to complete the Maximum Credit Appeal (MCA) form.

FINANCIAL AID APPEAL PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENSION BASED ON NONSATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

A student whose financial aid eligibility has been suspended must meet the following conditions to regain financial aid eligibility:

1. Complete the necessary credit hours on personal resources to improve the cumulative GPA to 2.0.

2. Complete the necessary credit hours on personal resources to achieve a 67% completion ratio.

If a student feels there were circumstances beyond their control that affected academic performance, they may submit an appeal for a probationary period.

Suspended students will receive a suspension notice from the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office with information on the probationary appeals process.

Circumstances under which a student is permitted to appeal are:

• Death of a family member.

• Injury or illness of the student.

• Change in employment or work schedule.

• Other extenuating circumstances.

Document Examples

• Newspaper obituaries or death certificates to substantiate death.

• Physician’s written statement to substantiate illness or accident.

• Written statement from a clergy, counselor, medical professional, or other third party who knows the situation.

• Statements written by an academic advisor or instructor.

• Documentation of the change in work schedule that caused the inability to attend courses.

Lack of documentation may result in the denial of the appeal.

Appeal submission and possible outcomes:

1. The appeal is denied for lack of documentation, or the financial aid counselor does not feel the documentation is adequate, or the students’ academic record does not indicate an ability to be successful in their chosen major.

2. A completed Non-Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form is submitted to the EAC Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office with accompanying documentation within the specified appeals time frame as indicated in the suspension letter.

3. A probation period may be granted for one semester if the student can achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and/or a competition ratio of 67% within one semester. The student will be notified by email or letter of this determination.

4. A probation period may be granted based on an academic plan if it is not possible for the student to achieve a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and/or 67% completion ratio in one semester. This plan, if followed, will achieve the required cumulative grade point and completion rate when concluded.

5. Failure to adhere to the conditions of the probationary period may result in financial aid termination without the possibility of further appeal. To again become eligible, a student must attend on personal resources to improve the cumulative GPA and/or achieve a 67% completion ratio.

6. If a probationary period is denied, an appeal to the financial aid appeals committee is permitted. Students are encouraged to submit the committee appeal as soon as possible. The Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office must deem the additional information substantive enough to make a difference to the original outcome. The committee will review the original appeal, the additional documentation, and render a decision within 10 working days. The committee’s decision will be provided to the student by letter; it is final and cannot be challenged.

7. If a probationary period is granted based on a financial aid counselor's review of the appeal and the student fails to meet the probation conditions, an appeal to the financial aid appeals committee may be possible. The student must submit a non-satisfactory academic appeals form, document the reasons for failing the probationary period. The committee will review the documentation and render a decision within 10 working days. The committee’s decision will be provided to the student by letter; it is final and cannot be challenged.

FINANCIAL AID APPEAL PROCEDURE FOR A MAXIMUM CREDIT APPEAL

Suspension resulting from exceeding the maximum time frame of a 150% to complete degree requirements may be appealed to the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office.

Appeal submission and possible outcomes:

The appeal and accompanying documentation must be submitted as indicated in the suspension letter.

The student will complete all sections of the appeal. Students will only take courses needed for the program they are admitted and will not enroll in courses that are not required for their program. Students are encouraged to meet with an Academic Advisor to complete the form. The student will agree to the terms of the appeal by reading and signing the Student Acknowledgement portion of the appeal form.

The student will submit the completed appeal form to the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office.

The Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office will evaluate the appeal and determine if the student’s time frame to complete the stated degree is appropriate within federal guidelines. If approved, the appeal and courses outlined will be the contract under which the time frame is extended. The student must abide by this contract. Failure to do so may result in suspension without the opportunity for further appeals. Revisions to the contract must be approved by the Financial Aid Counselor prior to enrolling for non-approved courses.

If the appeal for an extended time frame is denied, a denial notice will be sent to the student by email or letter. The student may appeal this denial within seven days of the date the denial was sent. The appeal must be in writing, explaining why the student feels the denial should be reviewed by the financial aid committee. The financial aid committee will review the student’s appeal and letter, provided the student has submitted adequate documentation to support the basis of their appeal. The decision of the committee will be communicated in writing to the student within 10 working days. The committee’s decision is final and cannot be challenged.
DISBURSEMENT POLICY

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions of Higher Education to institute Cash Management requirements for Title IV programs. These requirements affect the crediting and disbursement of financial aid funds. Highlights of these regulations are as follows:

• The College cannot disburse financial aid funds to a student’s account until the student is enrolled in classes for the semester for which the funds are intended.

• The earliest the College may begin crediting a student’s account with financial aid funds is 10 days before the first day of the payment period.

• The College can only credit student accounts for allowable charges, i.e., tuition, fees, room and board, if on campus. Any discretionary charges on an account may only be credited by financial aid if authorized by the student through a signed statement. This authorization may be rescinded at any time by contacting the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office.

• The College must provide a way for a Federal Pell Grant eligible student to obtain or purchase, by the seventh day of a payment period, the books and supplies required for the payment period if, 10 days before the beginning of the payment period the institution could disburse funds for which the student is eligible, the student would end up with a credit balance and the amount the college determines as needed for books and supplies is less than the credit balance.

• Financial aid is disbursed to individual student accounts no later than 10 days after the first day of class. Disbursements are generally made once a week within the Business Administration Office. If, after tuition, EAC-approved fees, on-campus food and housing, and other student-authorized charges are paid, and a balance remains, the balance will be refunded to the student by EAC. Students can select how they would like to receive their refund or disbursement (stipend) through their MyEAC account. To choose a printed check or direct deposit option, students should look for “My Billing & Payments,” “Make Online Payment”, and allow pop-ups in their preferred browser.  By selecting “Click here to Make an Online Payment,” students will be taken to their MyEAC Transact account. “Payment methods” and “Direct deposit refunds” should be set up by the student to receive any remaining disbursement balances.

WITHDRAWING/STOPPING ATTENDANCE FROM CLASSES

The federal law specifies how Eastern Arizona College must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from all Title IV eligible courses. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs). EAC does not participate in the Federal Student Loan Programs.

Though your aid is posted to your account at the start of each semester, you earn the funds as you complete the semester. If you withdraw during the semester, 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 EAC 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 than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by EAC 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 the semester, you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60% of the semester, you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. EAC 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). EAC needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other school charges. If you do not give your 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.

If you receive (or EAC receives) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, EAC must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

1. Your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or

2. The entire amount of excess funds.

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

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

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 EAC or 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 EAC may have. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges. EAC will also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return. If you don’t already know EAC’s refund policy, you should ask the Admissions and Registration Office for a copy. The Admissions and Registration Office 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 may 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 at www.studentaid.gov.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Grants
Federal Pell Grant - The Federal Pell Grant is a federal Title IV grant program to help undergraduates pay for educational costs after high school. For many students, these grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which aid from other Federal and non-federal sources may be added. Unlike loans, a Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. In order to receive a Federal Pell Grant, a student must be enrolled in an eligible certificate or degree program as outlined in EAC’s college catalog. The amount of the award is based upon the Student Aid Index (SAI), the cost of attendance, enrollment status, and a payment schedule issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Congress has reinstated the year-round Pell Grant beginning on July 1, 2017. Eligible students may receive up to three pell disbursements (150%) in one academic year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - FSEOG is a Title IV grant program that provides additional funds from the Federal Government to exceptionally needy students. This grant must be combined with other forms of aid and is also non-repayable. A grant may range from $200 to $2,000 per academic year. These funds are limited and awarded to eligible students who meet the priority service deadline, then to others.

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) - LEAP is a federal grant program matched by the State of Arizona. Only Arizona residents are eligible. The award may range from $100 to $1500 per academic year. These funds are limited and awarded to eligible students who meet the priority service deadline, then to others.

Federal Work Study (FWS) - The FWS funds provide opportunities for students to work part-time and earn income to help meet educational expenses. Salaries must be equal to the current Arizona minimum wage, but the maximum amount a student may earn in an academic year is determined by the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office. Federal Work Study awards generally range from $500 to $5000 per academic year. Federal Work Study students are encouraged to perform community service employment and/or to participate in the America Reads Program. Funds are limited and awarded to eligible students who meet the priority service deadline, then to others.

Institutional Work Study (IWS) - The IWS is a student employment program funded by Eastern Arizona College. IWS awards are based on the department budget and the gross amount a student is authorized to earn during a school year. IWS is not a grant; it must be earned through hours worked at a job. IWS funds are awarded upon hire; the student must still locate a work-study position, interview, be selected, and complete all employment paperwork.

For additional information on Title IV financial aid program specifics, reference “The Student Guide” published by the U.S. Department of Education on the Internet at: www.studentaid.gov. Alcohol and drug information is also required by law to be given to students. This information is published annually in the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report. Information from this report may also be obtained on the Internet at: https://eac.edu/student-life/campus-safety/.

COST OF ATTENDANCE – ANNUAL BUDGET FOR EAC

The following are average costs of attendance for three types of students: those living at home with a parent or relative (commuter), those living in a campus resident hall (on campus), and those renting an apartment or buying a home (off campus).

Non-Resident (N/R) total budgets are also provided. These budgets are representative of an academic year (2025-2026) or a nine-month period. They are adjusted for periods of enrollment less than an academic year or for attendance less than full-time.

VETERANS AND CHILDREN OF DECEASED VETERANS

Eastern Arizona College’s Veteran Services Office acts as a liaison with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Students may be eligible to receive educational benefits if they are registered in courses that apply to the student’s approved programs.

Application forms, counseling, advisement, and tutoring are available for students who are eligible for veterans’ educational benefits. The amount of benefit awarded is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is based on the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled and the length of the enrollment period for each course.

You should apply for educational benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs well in advance of your enrollment at Eastern Arizona College. Our Veteran’s Affairs Office can provide you with the Veteran Application for Education Benefits.

Veteran’s benefits available at EAC:

• Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill®

• Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation (separately served through the local VA office

• Chapter 32 - VEAP Program

• Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill & Transfer of Eligibility to Dependents (TOE)

• Chapter 35 - Survivors and dependents of deceased/100% disabled veteran

• Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve

• Chapter 1607 - REAP Reserve Educational Assistance Program

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Veteran Services Specialist regarding any change in enrollment, address, program of study, enrollment at another institution, or any other change that may impact their veteran educational benefits.

Those students receiving benefits must follow the VA academic progress policy to continue to receive benefits. Department of Veteran Affairs regulations require that all persons using any type of veteran educational assistance program make satisfactory academic progress toward achievement of their educational objective (program of study). A student who does not meet the minimum standards of 2.0 upon completion of 12 or more credit hours will be placed on probation, at which point the student will have no more than two semesters in which to improve academic standing to an acceptable. At this point, if satisfactory academic progress has not been demonstrated, veteran educational benefits may be terminated. Benefits may be resumed when the student raises the cumulative grade point average to the required minimum standards or demonstrates the ability to meet these standards through the approval of a written appeal. For appeal procedures, contact the Veteran Services Specialist in the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office. For additional details and information regarding veteran educational benefits, contact the Veteran Services Specialist

Distance Learning:

The course content and competencies for distance learning classes are the same as courses offered in-person or in a hybrid format. The courses offered in this format lead to completion of EAC degrees and/or certificates of completion. EAC uses Canvas for teacher/student interactions for online or hybrid classes. You will be contacted through official EAC channels to help with initial login. If you have questions about accessing Canvas, please visit the EAC Alumni Library or call 928-428-8304 for assistance.

Prior Credit Evaluation:

The Department of Veteran Affairs requires that all persons using any type of veteran educational assistance must have all prior education and training evaluated. Students will be required to request transcripts from all prior institutions, including military training. Without all prior institutions and military training, veteran educational assistance may not be certified. Transcripts will be evaluated, and credit will be granted as appropriate.