2014 - 2015 Combined Catalogs of the Colleges

Class Registration Deadlines


Financial aid programs require enrollment and attendance in class in order for financial aid awards to be paid toward educational expenses. An eligible enrollment is determined by validating that the student is registered, and has been attending, in the required number of credit hours and in the correct program of study on the certification date of the semester in which aid is to be paid. The official academic calendar of the college will be used to determine the official date of enrollment. Flex terms may not have the official date of enrollment published in the calendar. The date will vary according to the start date and length of each flex term. Information on the official date for a flex term can be obtained from the instructional department office at the college. If a student withdraws from the class after aid has been paid, he or she may be required to return a portion of the financial aid received for the term. Please read the section, "Return of Federal Title IV Funds Policy."

Financial Aid Awards for Flex-Term Classes

Flex Term describes classes that do not follow the regular semester schedule. Flex Terms are shorter, more concentrated classes that often last only a month. In order for a course registration to be counted in the enrollment level for determining financial aid awards, including flex classes, students must register no later than the lock date and be certified for attendance by instructors.

The financial aid lock date is the day after the date on which enrollment for a semester is certified for state reporting purposes. During the fall and spring terms the state reporting date is the 12th class day.

Examples:

  • If a student registers for 12 credit hours by the lock date and is certified for attendance in all 12 credit hours by their instructors, a student is considered full time for financial aid purposes.
  • If a student registers for 9 credit hours by the lock date, and then registers for 3 additional credit hours after the lock date, and is certified for attendance by the instructors for all 12 hours, a student is considered eligible for financial aid based on 9 credit hours or three quarter time. The additional 3 credit hours were registered after the lock date and are not eligible for financial aid.
  • If a student registers for all classes after the lock date, those classes will not be paid with financial aid awards. If a student registers for all classes by the lock date but are not certified for attendance by their instructors, those classes will not be paid with financial aid awards.
If a student receives a financial aid award before credit classes start:
  • Any tuition owed will be deducted from the award. Tuition will not be deducted earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes.
  • A student will receive an initial disbursement of up to $1000 unless there are blocks on the student record (for example, if a student has an outstanding balance from a previous semester). A student can use the initial disbursement to buy books and supplies for classes. A student will not receive this money any earlier than 10 days before the start of classes.
  • A student will receive any remaining funds eligible for release after the financial aid lock date and after beginning attendance has been certified by each instructor.
If a student receives a financial aid award after classes have begun:
  • Any tuition owed will be deducted from the award.
  • A student will receive any remaining funds eligible for release after the financial aid lock date and after beginning attendance has been certified by each instructor.
Lock dates and certification dates are published on the academic calendar by the following link: https://www1.dcccd.edu/catalog/ss/academic_calendar

Restrictions on Financial Aid Awards for Non-term Class Schedules

Courses that are offered in a non-term schedule that overlaps between semesters or a course that has a starting or ending date outside of the dates of the semester cannot be counted in the enrollment level for financial aid awarding. For example, if a course is scheduled to begin during the fall semester but will not end until after the last day of the fall semester, that class is not eligible to be counted in the student's financial aid enrollment level. If a class is scheduled to begin during the spring semester but does not end until summer, that class cannot be counted in the student's financial aid enrollment level.


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