Federal Aid Eligibility
The amount of your Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the Department of Education. They use a need-based formula, which assigns students an index number that is called an “Expected Family Contribution (EFC)”. This index number reflects the amount a student is expected to contribute to his or her own education costs. Once an index number gets above a certain range you will no longer qualify for a Pell Grant. Eligibility for campus-based grant aid is based on that same index number and the available funds at the time you start school. Amounts of campus-based grant aid varies based on the availability of funds. The Davis Technical College (Davis Tech) does not participate in federal student loan programs. If you do not qualify for federal grant-aid, the only other federal funding program that may be available to you at the College is Federal Work Study. Federal Work Study is a program that provides you with employment options while attending school. Federal Work Study has limited availability, is subject to a background check, and may or may not be readily accessible to you. Please contact the financial aid office for information on how to apply. If you do not qualify for federal funding you may apply for college scholarships or secure funds from private or public agencies outside the College (Dept. of Workforce Services, Division or Rehabilitation Services, etc.).
Determining and Activating and Award
If you are eligible for financial aid, the financial aid office will package your offer and provide you with an offer letter within 6-8 weeks after you activate your grant. A student can only receive campus-based grant or work-study funds up to their total need. Need is calculated as the cost of attendance minus your EFC. All funding sources available to pay your school costs are applied in determining your need.
Disbursement of Funds
The financial aid office normally requires up to 6-8 weeks from the day you start school or activate your grant to process your aid and to disburse any Title IV refunds (federal aid eligibility that exceeds the direct cost of attending school). In addition, if you qualify for adequate funds, Pell funds can be transferred to the bookstore to purchase any books and supplies for your program on the first day of class.
All disbursements of aid represent payment made in advance of training. Dollars are earned by attending and completing courses. If you complete a course early, you can only be paid for the hours you attended that course. For this reason, you should speak with an academic advisor about your options for testing out of courses in which you already have the necessary skill. If you withdraw before completing the hours you have been paid, you are at risk for overpayment with the Department of Education or may owe money to the school. Amounts owed to the College that are not recovered may be referred to a collection agency and may be assessed up to 33% in collection fees.
You can only receive Federal Pell Grant at one school at a time. You must notify the financial aid office if it is your intention to transfer to another school. You must officially stop your federal aid at Davis Tech before accessing aid at a new school. If you fail to do this, any costs that accrue or a federal aid overpayment are your responsibility.
In keeping with federal grant regulations, the College pays federal grant funds in increments called payment periods. Payment periods are defined by federal regulation and are determined by your program length, the academic year of your program, and for students receiving aid in more than one year, the remainder of the program.