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Financial Aid
Information
Most financial aid at Three
Rivers is provided by federal programs. Grants are considered "gift"
aid and do not need to be repaid. Low interest loans are to be
repaid over an extended period once a student ceases half-time
attendance. Part-time employment is another form of assistance; the
student is paid an hourly wage.
Any information provided to
the Financial Aid Office is treated confidentially and used only to
determine need and award of aid. The Financial Aid Office
supplies information about the various forms of financial aid to students
including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities.
This information is also fully described in the College catalog.
Students must reapply each academic year for financial
aid.
Getting Started
Three Rivers Community College strongly encourages
students to electronically apply for student financial aid. Our effort
supports the activities of the U.S. Department of Education in making
electronic delivery of student financial aid a reality for all students.
We hope to improve our services to students and assist you in completing
the financial aid process. Important - You do not have to own
a personal computer to participate in this project or to apply for
financial aid from Three Rivers Community College. However, you do need to
have use of a computer with Internet access. Many public libraries, high
schools, adult education centers and community centers offer FREE access
to students. Also, you have access to many of the computers available for
student use at Three Rivers Community College. If you need assistance in
completing your electronic application, please contact the Three
Rivers Community College Financial Aid Office at
860-823-2870.
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Step 1:
Getting an e-mail
address
You must have a valid
email address to participate. If you do not, you can obtain one for FREE at
many web sites. For example, both Yahoo! (www.mail.yahoo.com) and Google (www.google.com)
provide e-mail services for free. You will provide your e-mail address
to both the U.S. Department of Education and Three Rivers Community
College. Both of us will communicate with you about your financial aid
application by sending information to your e-mail address.
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Step 2: Applying
for a PIN (Personal
Identification
Number)
It is important that you apply for a PIN,
as your PIN serves as your password to access private information on the
U.S. Department of Education’s web site. You can also
use your PIN as an electronic signature when completing your FAFSA on the
Web.
You can
obtain a PIN electronically by going to the government’s PIN site
(www.pin.ed.gov). If you are not sure whether or not you have a PIN
already, you can go to the same web site to check. Now that you have an
e-mail address, the Department of Education will e-mail you directions as
to how to obtain your PIN from a secure web site. Allow 3 days to secure
your PIN.
IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 24 AND:
1. You are married and/or
2. You are a ward of the State
and/or
3. You are a Veteran and/or
4. You have a dependant
ONE OF
YOUR PARENTS MUST APPLY FOR A PIN NUMBER ALSO.
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Step 3: FAFSA on the
Web
To apply for financial aid from Three Rivers
you must complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). You will need to visit the FAFSA on the Web
(www.fafsa.ed.gov)
site for the application. You will
need personal information documents to complete the electronic
application.
What do I need to fill out the
FAFSA?
You will need records for income earned in the year
prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your
parent(s)’ income information. You will need to refer to:
 Your Social
Security card and driver’s license
W-2 Forms or
other records of income earned
Your
(and your spouse’s, if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return
Your parent
(s)’ Federal Income Tax Return and Records of other untaxed income received such as
welfare benefits, social security benefits, TANF, veteran’s
benefits, or military or clergy allowances
Current bank
statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other
investments
Business or
farm records, if applicable
Your alien
registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
On the FAFSA form in step six, you must
enter Three Rivers Community College’s School Code Number 009765
to ensure your application information is provided to Three Rivers
Community College. Since you have a PIN, you can sign your application
electronically. If your parent(s) is required to sign the application,
your parent(s) can obtain a PIN by following Step 2 as indicated
previously. By filing this electronic application, you are applying
for federal, state and college financial aid.
This electronic application
process takes approximately 20 to 35 minutes to complete. If you provide
the Department of Education with your e-mail address, you will be notified
when the results from your application are available to you at
a secure website.
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Step 4: Using Online (The Student Information
System )
Now that you’ve applied for financial aid from the
U.S. Department of Education and Three Rivers Community College, you can
track your financial aid application and award information on the Internet
by using Three Rivers' Online student information
system (www.online.commnet.edu).
To use this system, you need to know your Banner ID
number and Banner PIN (this PIN is different from your U.S. Department of
Education PIN mentioned earlier). You must apply for
admission to Three Rivers Community College to obtain these numbers.
Your User ID is the “@” sign followed by your 8-digit student number (for
example: @ 12345678.) Your initial PIN is your date of birth in the format
mmddyy (for example: 010482).
You will be asked to change your PIN when
you first login. If you don’t remember your Banner ID student number, you
must contact the Registrar’s Office at Three Rivers Community College to
get this information. In addition to being able to track your financial
aid application online, you will be able to download any documents you may
need to complete your application requirements. You can then print out
these documents and either mail or drop them off at the financial aid
office.
To inform you of your application status, we will periodically
e-mail you and direct you to visit the Online system to check your list of
missing documents. You should make sure you log into the Online student
information system weekly to stay current with your financial aid
information and news.
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Step 5: Your Financial Aid Award
When we complete our review of your financial aid
application we will notify you at your e-mail address and direct you to
the Online student information system. You will be able to view your
Financial Aid Award and make decisions about your awards over the
Internet. We will assume that you want to accept any grants (free money)
that you are eligible for, but there may be additional awards (like
student loans or work-study jobs) that you have the option to accept or
decline.
By using Online, you can review and adjust your financial
aid awards, complete award requirements, and e-mail the financial aid
office with your questions and concerns. Your use of the student
information system allows you 24 hours/day, 7 days/week access to the
Financial Aid Office of Three Rivers Community College.
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What are the academic requirements for financial aid
recipients?
Students must be enrolled
in a degree or certificate program by having completed all necessary
admissions steps. Students must
maintain satisfactory academic progress. This is defined as a progression
toward successful completion of course requirements for a degree or
certificate. Students must also maintain a minimum Grade Point Average
(GPA) and successfully complete at least 67% of the credits attempted on a
cumulative basis. Refer to Three Rivers Community College
Catalog
for Academic Standards Policy.
Priority
Timetable
All applications should be submitted to the Federal
Government by May 1 for students enrolling in September (fall semester)
and November 1 for students enrolling in January (spring semester).
Adhering to these deadlines will assure students of an answer concerning
eligibility before the semester begins. Applications are accepted
throughout the academic year since financial aid is awarded to students
until funds are depleted.
Student’s
Responsibility
Three Rivers expects the student
to initiate the application process in a timely manner, and
considers it the student’s responsibility to complete the application on
time. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Students and their
families should be aware that they are completing applications for
federal, state, and college funds. Students are also expected to be
familiar with the general provisions of financial aid. Information on
financial aid programs, regulations, and procedures are found in the
College catalog. Deliberately misreporting can result in criminal and
civil liabilities. Late applicants will be awarded on a funds available
basis. Application materials cannot be accepted after the student’s last
date of attendance.
What types of
financial aid programs are available to students who attend Three
Rivers Community College?
Grants, federal loans, work-study opportunities,
scholarships and awards are available. A grant is a gift to an individual
for the particular purpose of pursuing higher education. A grant does not
have to be repaid. Federal loans are funds that are furnished for the
borrower’s temporary use to pay for the cost of education. Federal loans,
which include principal plus interest, must be repaid. Work-study enables
students to earn money through part-time employment on campus. A
scholarship is money given to a student to help pay for the cost of
education. An Award is money given to a student in recognition of merit or
achievement. Scholarships and Awards do not have to be repaid.
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Federal Pell Grant
Program
Pell Grants are based on need and are intended to be
the “base” of a financial aid package. Pell Grants can be combined with
other forms of aid to meet the direct cost of education. Every student
attending who may need financial assistance must apply for this
grant.
Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This program provides grants to
eligible students demonstrating financial need. Preference is given to
students with exceptional need.
Connecticut Aid for
Public College Students
State of Connecticut Grants are awarded to
Connecticut resident students who have serious financial need. Grants
range up to the direct cost of education per academic year and are awarded
based on satisfactory academic progress, financial need and the
availability of funds.
Community
College Grant Program (CCGP)
This state program allows for the remission of
tax-supported tuition, fees and cost of books for resident students who
demonstrate substantial financial need.
Federal Family
Education Loan Program (Stafford loan)
This loan program is jointly sponsored by lending
institutions and the federal government. To borrow through this program,
you must complete an application from a participating local lending
institution (banks, credit unions, and savings and loan associations). The
interest rate is variable for new borrowers. Repayment begins six months
after the recipient leaves college.
Federal College Work-Study
Program (FCWSP)
This program provides college jobs with an hourly
wage. You can work up to a maximum of twenty hours per week during
academic periods and up to thirty-five hours per week during vacation
periods (depending on financial need and the availability of funds). Hours
can be arranged to suit your academic schedule. If you are interested in
seeking out work-study campus employment, you should contact the Financial
Aid Office.
Scholarships (Institutional scholarships)
Scholarships and awards are presented each year to
continuing or graduating students whose academic achievements and/or
service to the College merits special recognition. There are numerous
competitive scholarships awarded each year. Applications are available
early in the spring semester. Funding for these scholarships is provided
by community members, organizations, student organizations, the Three
Rivers College Foundation and the College. In April, a College Scholarship
Committee or the individual scholarship sponsor reviews and selects the
scholarship recipients. Consult the Student Development Center for current information about scholarships and awards since
availability and eligibility criteria change from year to
year.
Academic
Competitiveness Grant Program
On February 8, 2006 President Bush
signed into law the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005
(HERA). Among many provisions, the law establishes a new grant
program effective July1, 2006 for first and second year college
students. All colleges participating in the Federal Pell Grant
program must also participate in the Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC
Grant) program. An eligible student may receive an Academic
Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant) of up to $750 for the First academic year
of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To
be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
1. Be a U.S. citizen
2. Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
3. Be enrolled full-time in an associates degree
program
4. Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or
her program of Study at a two-year or
four-year degree-granting institution
5. Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of
study after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1,
2005, if a second-year student.
6. If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled as a
"regular student" (matriculated) in an undergraduate program while still a
secondary school student; and
7. If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0
grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic
year.
If you wish to apply for the Academic
Competitiveness Grant you must fill out the FAFSA Application on
www.fafsa.ed.gov
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Awards (Academic Board of Trustees)
Academic departments present awards to Three Rivers students who have
demonstrated outstanding academic performance. Funding for these awards
is provided by community organizations, the Foundation, the Alumni
Association and community members. Recipients are selected by College
Faculty in May of each year.
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Alumni Association Department Awards
There are four awards sponsored by the Alumni
Association. Students sponsored by a faculty member submit entries in
February for writing award consideration. Recipients are selected by a
committee of faculty and alumni. The other awards are based on student
applications to the Alumni Association which determines the
recipients.
Medallion Awards
The Board of Trustees of Community Colleges
recognizes academic excellence with the presentation of medallions to
graduates who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.0, completed all degree
requirements for an Associate Degree Program, and complete at least 50% of
the degree requirements in residence at the Community College.
Remember
If you apply, Three Rivers Community College will
very likely be able to assist you with your college expenses. Do not
hesitate to contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions. We
realize that, especially for the new student, the financial aid process
can be complicated and even intimidating. We’re here to make that process
a smooth one.
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Instructions for Obtaining the
FAFSA
Click
on the icon below to view the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA page,
and follow the directions contained on the page.
U.S. Department of
Education Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA enables the student to
apply for all sources of financial assistance awarded by the College as
well as the Federal Pell Grant. Upon completion of the application
procedures outlined above, the applicant will have applied for all sources
of aid available through the Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA is also
available at the Financial Aid Office, or by mail by calling (860)
823-2870.
Satisfactory Academic Progress policy:
The
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available at:
http://www.commnet.edu/finaid/Documents/FinAid_Academic_Progress_Policy.pdf
If you
are currently suspended you can appeal your status by completing the
following form:
http://www.commnet.edu/finaid/download/K/SAPappeal.pdf
The SAP
appeals policy is:Students
may appeal any decision under the SAP Policy. A student must complete
the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form which one can obtain from
the financial aid office. Appeals will be considered for emergency
circumstances including illness, death of a family member or other
unusual situation. All students will be expected to provide clear
evidence in their appeal form of the following issues: 1) state the
reason for appeal 2) what has changed from that time in with
unsatisfactory academic progress occurred and 3) how (s)he will be
capable of overcome past academic difficulties. In addition students
must provide third party documentation to support their claims (i.e.
medical evidence of illness, death certificate, etc).
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