Telecommunication classes and Financial Aid Office
Policy
Q. What is a telecommunication class?
Q. What is Financial Aid's past policy
for TCA and other telecommunication class?
Q. What is the new policy for telecommunication
classes?
Q. How will our office monitor students who haven't
completed their class within the semester?
Q. Can a student take the same telecommunication
class more than once?
Q. What costs can be included in a student's
cost of attendance for a telecommunication class?
Q. Are there any special disbursement rules
that apply to students in telecommunication classes?
Q. May a school choose not to award financial
aid assistance to otherwise eligible students who are enrolled
in distance education class or program?
Q. Is there anything that NWTC should be aware
of?
Q. What
is a telecommunication class?
A. A telecommunication class is a class offered principally through the use
of television, audio, or computer transmission, including ITV,
satellite, audio conferencing, computer conferencing, Internet, video
(TCA) or discs. Classes delivered by video or disc recordings that are
not offered on campus are considered correspondence classes.
Q. What
was Financial Aid's past policy for TCA and other telecommunication
classes?
A. We would only fund students if they were taking at
least 50 percent non-telecommunication classes. We would also
require students to complete a TCA class within the semester
they enroll. This is in conflict with the institutional policy,
which allows students two semesters to complete these classes.
Q. What is
the new policy for telecommunication classes?
A. The Financial Aid Office will award students for the total number of credits
for which they enroll no matter what percentage are telecommunication classes.
We will only allow students in video classes (TCA) two semesters to complete.
They will, however, only be paid once for the class during the semester in
which they enroll.
Q. How will our office monitor students
who haven't completed their class within the semester?
A. When it is questionable whether or not the student is making academic progress,
the student will be given a semester of probation for financial aid. The student
will still receive aid, but if they fail to complete their classwork, they
could lose financial aid eligibility. For most students, however, we will check
at the end of the semester to determine if they did make academic progress
for financial aid purposes.
Q. Can a student take the same telecommunication
class more than once?
A. Like other classes, a student can retake a telecommunication class if they
fail or don't complete the class within the allotted time. Their academic progress
could suffer as a result of the non-completed class though.
Q. What costs can be included in
a student's cost of attendance for a telecommunication class?
A. A student who is studying via telecommunications does not have any restrictions
placed on his or her cost of attendance unless the financial aid officer determines
(using professional judgment) that telecommunications instruction results in
a substantially reduced cost of attendance. Our office understands that these
students have similar needs and expenses to traditional students and will not
make any such judgment.
Q. Are there any special disbursement
rules that apply to students in telecommunication class?
A. No. While there are special rules placed on students in correspondence class,
there are none for students enrolled in telecommunication class.
Q. May a school choose not to award financial
aid assistance to otherwise eligible students who are enrolled in
distance education class or program?
A. No, a school may not make a blanket determination that it will refuse to
provide assistance to students enrolled in distance education program or class.
We must treat all students equally, which is why we chose to lift the restrictions
placed on students enrolled in telecommunication classes here at NWTC.
Q. Is there anything that NWTC should
be aware of?
A. The number of telecommunication and correspondence classes offered by the
institution must remain fewer than 50 percent of all classes offered.
Note: Students must be accepted into an associate degree or technical
diploma program and enrolled in at least six credits to receive financial
aid.
Contact Financial Aid at 920-498-5444
or email for specific questions. |
