Financial Aid

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

Motlow State Community College School Code: 006836

Motlow State Community College (Motlow) has financial aid offices located on the second floor of the Crouch Center on the Moore County campus, in the administrative buildings on the Fayetteville and McMinnville centers, and in the One-Stop at the Smyrna campus. Students may also speak to a financial aid representative during regular business hours. Students with questions about the financial aid process may call the Financial Aid Office at 931-393-1553 (or toll-free at 1-800-654-4877, ext. 1553) or contact them via email.

The following financial aid sections outline current provisions; however, since regulations and funding for institutional, state, and federally supported programs are subject to change, Motlow reserves the right to administer the programs accordingly.

The primary purpose of the financial aid program at Motlow is to provide assistance to students who, without such aid, would find it difficult or would be unable to attend college successfully. The financial aid programs at Motlow are administered in accordance with nationally established policy and philosophy of financial aid for education. The basis of this policy is the belief that students and parents have the primary responsibility for financing education and that financial assistance is available when the student and parents cannot meet educational costs. Motlow provides this assistance through federal, state, institutional, and private sources. All students are encouraged to apply for aid if they feel they have the need. To determine if there is need for assistance, students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of Education, which takes into consideration the factors that affect a family’s financial status. Motlow’s financial aid programs focus on the student as an individual, with aid being awarded to students with need regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

HOW TO APPLY 

Students receiving financial assistance are responsible for completing all necessary paperwork in advance to ensure proper credits to their accounts. Students not meeting this requirement may be required to pay in advance of receiving any financial assistance.

• NOTE: Priority and Deadline dates are posted on the Motlow Financial Aid webpage.

1. Financial Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Students filing applications after the priority deadline dates will be considered on a funds-available basis.
2. The student must apply and be accepted for admission to Motlow. Final high school transcripts or HSE transcripts must be in place with the Admissions and Records Office prior to any financial aid being processed. Transfer students must submit all previous college transcripts and have them evaluated prior to any financial aid being processed.
3. The student must be enrolled as a regular student and must be working toward a Department-of-Education-approved degree or certificate program. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher are not eligible to receive federal or state aid while at Motlow.
4. To receive full consideration for all funds available through Motlow, all applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with any additional financial aid requirements. 
   The Federal School Code for all Motlow campuses is 006836. Questions concerning the FAFSA can be directed to the Federal Processor at 1-800-4-FED-AID. All information received during the Financial Aid process is kept in strictest confidence.
5. THE STUDENT MUST REAPPLY FOR AID EACH YEAR BY SUBMITTING A NEW FAFSA AND REQUIRED INSTITUTIONAL AND/OR VERIFICATION FORMS.
6. Students interested in applying for scholarships and other grants must complete and submit a Motlow Scholarship Application, according to directions, on or before March 15th. Please visit the financial aid section on the website for detailed instructions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Motlow uses the results from the FAFSA in awarding all federal and need-based programs, including the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program, TN Promise, and TN Reconnect. The student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor by mail or e-mail. The College receives a similar report from the federal processor provided that Motlow was listed as one of the schools the student is interested in attending on the FAFSA. Some students will be selected by the processor or by the school for a process called verification. If the application is selected for verification, additional worksheets and documentation will have to be supplied to the Financial Aid Office prior to the student receiving financial assistance. Students can review their status online at any time in their MyMotlow account.

Motlow calculates financial need by deducting the estimated family contribution (EFC) from the cost of attendance (COA). The EFC is provided on the Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education. The COA is based on an allowance for tuition and fees, room and board estimates, books and supplies estimates, transportation estimates, and miscellaneous expense estimates along with other calculations depending on the student situation (COA may be prorated for students who are not full-time or enrolled in special programs). Information on the Cost of Attendance budget is available in the Financial Aid Office or online in MyMotlow. Once financial need is calculated, the Pell Grant and the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship are awarded if the student is eligible, followed by other resources. Other resources include, but are not limited to, Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, VA benefits, WIA benefits, TRA benefits, private and institutional scholarships, discounts and fee waivers, federal supplemental educational opportunity grant (FSEOG), Tennessee Student Assistance (TSAA), TN Promise (a last-dollar scholarship), TN Reconnect (a last-dollar scholarship) etc. Motlow reserves the right to adjust any award because of changes in eligibility, enrollment status, or funding levels. Any adjustments resulting in a balance due on the student’s account is the full responsibility of the student to repay. Financial aid recipients are required to inform the Financial Aid Office of any resources awarded to them, such as scholarships, loans, grants, etc., by any source other than the Motlow Financial Aid Office. Failure to do so may result in later reductions or cancellations of assistance.

All awards are contingent upon (1) the number of hours for which the student enrolls each academic term; (2) the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined on the Motlow College Financial Aid webpage; (3) the availability of federal, state, and institutional funds; (4) Motlow’s receipt of those funds; and (5) Course Program of Study (CPoS) eligibility in some situations. Thus, Motlow reserves the right to adjust student awards accordingly. All awards will be credited to the student Business Office account each academic term and applied toward institutional charges. Any funds remaining will be made available to the student generally within fourteen (14) business days via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or a paper check. Students can sign up for EFT within their MyMotlow account and paper checks will be mailed to the address on file in the Admissions and Records office. Prior to the release of EFT or paper checks, class engagement will be verified by the Business Office.

Students must be enrolled in a degree or a certificate program in one of the following areas: Associate of Science, Associate of Science in Teaching, Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, or approved Technical Certificate.  Financial aid is available only for one of the degrees/certificates. A second degree will be considered if it is in a different degree program. A completed financial aid appeal form will be required for this consideration.

Student Discounts: Student discounts will be calculated and applied to the student account by the Business Office. (Note: Any Teacher Dependent Discount does not include online fees in the calculation.) Student discounts may reduce some financial aid awards.

RETURN TO TITLE IV

Students who received or could have received federal financial aid must be processed through the Return to Title IV calculation if they withdraw officially/unofficially prior to completing sixty percent of the academic term or do not complete modules in a module program.  As a result, the student could be required to return all or a portion of financial aid funds received. For additional information, please refer to the Refund and Repayment section of this catalog under the heading Federal Financial Aid Return to Title IV. If students experience any difficulties while attending Motlow, please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss options before stopping class engagement or initiating the formal withdrawal process. Students who stop attending all classes prior to the end of the term are considered to have withdrawn unofficially.

Note: Courses offered in mini-terms within a semester are now treated as modules. All modules must be completed without an official or unofficial withdrawal to maintain eligibility for financial aid awards for the semester. Dropping or withdrawing from mini-terms may result in financial aid funds having to be returned by the student for the entire semester.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

All students at Motlow who receive federal and some state financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their degrees/certificates within a reasonable period of time. Motlow has approved standards defining satisfactory progress in accordance with regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Satisfactory academic progress is measured at the end of each term of enrollment utilizing these standards. Other federal, state, private, and institutional assistance programs may have the same or other satisfactory progress requirements not shown.

Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of the Motlow College Financial Aid website for up-to-date information on these standards.

TYPES OF AID

Motlow provides financial assistance to students through: grants and scholarships. Most of these funds come from programs sponsored by the federal and state governments. In order to be entitled to receive federal and/or state student assistance benefits, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress in the program of study he/she has selected. More detailed information on aid programs and student rights and responsibilities is available on the Federal Student Aid website.

The following sources of financial assistance are discussed on the following pages:

GRANTS

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

The Federal Pell Grant Program is a federal aid program that provides money to help undergraduates pay for their education. Eligibility is determined by the Department of Education using a standard formula to evaluate the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This grant provides the “foundation” of financial aid to which other aid may be added; therefore, all students needing assistance should apply for the grant each year. Students must be regular degree-seeking undergraduates. 

In December 2011, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74) was signed into law. This law has significantly impacted the Pell Grant Program. Beginning in Fall 2012, students are now limited to twelve semesters (or 600%) of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant.

Please be conscious about the lifetime limit of the Pell Grant when changing majors and/or scheduling classes. You may view the amount of Pell Grant used by logging into the National Student Loan Data System.
 

Note: Course Program of Study (CPoS) restrictions apply.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federally funded, institutionally controlled grant program. Eligibility is based upon financial need. Students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically be considered for the grant. Funding for this program is limited and students are encouraged to apply early.

Note: Course Program of Study (CPoS) restrictions apply.

TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE AWARD

The Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) is a state need-based grant. Funds are appropriated annually by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). Tennessee students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will automatically be considered for the award. To qualify for funding under this program, the student must be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours per semester. Funding for this program is limited, and students are encouraged to apply early with the FAFSA.

SCHOLARSHIPS

TENNESSEE EDUCATIONAL LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS (TELS)

The TELS program consists of the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, General Assembly Merit Scholarship, Aspire Award, Tennessee Hope Access Grant, and Tennessee Hope Foster Care Grant. To receive the most current information and to learn more about the individual programs, visit the State of Tennessee’s CollegePays website.

TELS Notes:

• Apply with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Motlow must be listed first in the “School Choice” section of the student’s FAFSA.

• FAFSAs must be submitted by September 1 for fall semester and February 1 for spring and summer semesters. Early application is recommended.

• Maintain institutional satisfactory academic progress and TELS progression requirements.

• Maintain continuous enrollment by enrolling each fall and spring (at least 6 credit hours for payment of funds). Award amounts for part-time enrollment will be prorated based on credit hours attempted.

• Maintain enrollment status for every semester. If the student begins the semester as a full-time student, he or she must finish the semester with at least twelve hours. If the student begins the semester as a part-time student, he or she must maintain at least 6 credit hours. Dropping or withdrawing (officially or unofficially) from one or more classes may result in the permanent loss of eligibility.

  • The student may file a Tennessee Lottery Appeal if he/she fails to meet enrollment requirements due to extenuating personal or medical circumstances. Eligibility may be reinstated based on the appeal and supporting documentation.

• The only valid ACT scores are tests from national test dates.

• Credits gained through dual enrollment, advanced placement, or other tests do not count in the TELS GPA or TELS attempted hours.

• All classes taken after high school graduation count in the TELS GPA and attempted hours, including repeated classes which Motlow excludes from the institutional GPA.
   
• The TELS GPA and TELS attempted hours may differ from the Motlow GPA and attempted hours, due to the exclusions mentioned in the preceding item. The student should check the TELS GPA and attempted hours in the Tennessee Lottery information section on their My Motlow account frequently to determine progress.

• If a student fails to meet the required TELS GPA at any bracket, TELS eligibility will be lost. However, there is a one-time regain provision that a student may use to regain eligibility if they have continued to meet all other requirements and bring their TELS GPA up to the required standards at a subsequent bracket.

• CHANGES TO THE TENNESSEE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP (effective Fall 2011):

If you first received the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship DURING or AFTER Fall 2009:

Terminating events: You will lose your lottery scholarship eligibility when you reach 120 attempted hours. Attempted hours include all classes completed after high school graduation, classes in which you received a grade of “W” or “I,” Learning Support classes, and repeated classes.

Classes completed during the 2011 summer term will NOT count towards the 120 attempted hour cap.

Summer School Eligibility: You may be eligible for your lottery scholarship for summer terms, beginning with Summer 2012. You must still be academically eligible at the end of the previous spring term.

Summer awards will be the same amount as awards for fall and spring terms.

If you first received the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship BEFORE Fall 2009:

You will NOT lose your lottery scholarship eligibility when you reach 120 attempted hours. Your eligibility will continue until you graduate with a baccalaureate degree or five years have passed since your initial enrollment at a post-secondary institution.

You will NOT be eligible for a lottery scholarship in the summer term.

TENNESSEE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP

Tennessee Promise is both a scholarship and mentoring program available to eligible students finishing high school in the 2015 graduating class and later. The scholarship is also available to dependents of Tennessee military parents who are stationed out of Tennessee. The scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship will cover mandatory tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant, the Hope Scholarship, or state student assistance funds (including state discounts and waivers.) The Tennessee Promise Scholarship DOES NOT cover the cost of textbooks. The Tennessee Promise Scholarship DOES NOT cover all the costs associated with TN eCampus courses. Tennessee Promise students who register for one or more TN eCampus courses will owe a balance to the business office.

Fees covered by TN Promise:

• Maintenance Fee
• Student Activity Fee
• Technology Access Fee
• Campus Access Fee
• International Education

Fees NOT covered by TN Promise:

• TN eCampus Course Fee
• Science Consumables Fee
• Textbooks

For more detailed information about fees, please visit the Business Office’s webpage.

Requirements

In order to qualify for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship, a student must:

• Graduate from an eligible Tennessee high school, complete a Tennessee home-school program, or, prior to reaching 19 years of age, obtain a GED or HiSET diploma
• Begin college at an eligible institution in August directly after graduating from high school
• Complete the TN Promise Application by November 1st during the student’s senior year in high school
• Attend all mandatory TnAchieves meetings held at the student’s local high school
• Complete the FAFSA by February 1st during the student’s senior year in high school
• Submit 8 hours of community service to TnAchieves by July 1st during the student’s senior year of high school
• Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA once in college

Denial of the Tennessee Promise

Students may be denied the Tennessee Promise Scholarship if they:

• Fail to submit their TN Promise Application by November 1st during their senior year in high school
• Fail to attend the required mandatory meetings at their local high school
• Fail to complete the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline during their senior year of high school
• Fail to submit 8 hours of community service by the appropriate deadline during their senior year of high school
• Fail to submit all required forms to the Motlow financial aid office before the appropriate deadlines including any and all materials related to the FAFSA verification process
• Fail to attend a qualifying institution in August directly after graduating from high school

Appealing the Tennessee Promise

Eligible students can appeal the loss of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship if they:

• Suffered from a major illness that prevented them from starting college directly after graduating from high school
• Have a recently deceased immediate family member or one who is severely ill
• Experienced extreme financial hardship that prevented them from attending college
• Must fulfill a religious commitment expected of all students of that faith
• Joined a branch of the U.S. military and will be completing basic training directly after graduating from high school
• Completed the Tennessee Promise Application by the appropriate deadline, attended all mandatory meetings, completed 8 hours of community service by the appropriate deadline, completed the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline, and submitted all required materials to the Motlow Financial Aid Office by the appropriate deadline.

APPEALS PROCESS

To appeal the loss of the Tennessee Promise scholarship, please complete the TELS/Tennessee Promise appeal form, attach any and all supporting documentation, and submit to the Motlow Financial Aid Office.

TENNESSEE RECONNECT GRANT

Tennessee Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship program available to eligible students beginning in the Fall 2018 semester. The scholarship program DOES NOT cover the cost of textbooks, science consumable fees, or the costs associated with TN eCampus courses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be a Tennessee resident for one (1) year prior to date of application.
• File the FAFSA by the deadline date and be classified as an independent student.
• Be enrolled in a federal Title IV eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or associate degree.
• Not have previously earned an associate degree or baccalaureate degree.
• Enroll in and attend at least six (6) hours at an eligible institution.
• Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the academic year as determined by the institution.
• Participate in a college success program, as determined by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Award Facts

• Award amount varies based on amount of remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has first been applied.
• Scholarship is terminated after the student has attained an associate degree or certificate in an eligible program of study OR the student has attempted the total number of semester hours necessary for completion of an eligible program of study as determined under Title IV satisfactory academic progress standards, inclusive of any postsecondary hours transferred to the eligible program of study which were earned prior to enrollment at the postsecondary institution as a TN Reconnect student OR five (5) years have passed since the date of initial enrollment as a TN Reconnect grant student.

How to Apply

• Submit the Tennessee Reconnect Grant application.
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

For additional information, please visit the State of Tennessee’s Reconnect website.

INSTITUTIONAL and FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Refer to the Scholarship section of the Motlow Financial Aid website for up-to-date information about available scholarship opportunities.

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Motlow State Community College cooperates with the Veterans Administration in providing educational opportunities for veterans and other eligible persons under appropriate public laws. Veterans and other eligible persons desiring to attend Motlow under appropriate federal legislation should contact the Office of Admissions and Records.

To start receiving veteran’s benefits, the appropriate forms must be completed. These are available in the Office of Admissions and Records. A certified copy of the DD 214 must be submitted, as well as marriage certificate, divorce papers, and birth certificates of dependent children. A veteran must be approved by the VA for an educational objective, such as a specific degree. A veteran must enroll in classes directly related to his/her approved program. Courses not required for graduation or exceeding the number of elective hours required will not be approved to or by the VA. A change of status may reduce the payment from the VA.

A change of program is subject to VA approval. A form available in the Office of Admissions and Records should be completed and submitted for program change approval.

Veteran students will receive a maximum of four semester credit hours (4 hours physical education) for military service time based on active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States. The veteran must present a certified copy of the DD 214 (if not already on file at Motlow) to the Office of Admissions and Records. (One semester hour of credit will be granted for every six months of active service to a maximum of four semester hours.) Veterans will receive credit for coursework completed while in the military if credit is recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). The VA Coordinator in the Office of Admissions and Records can assist veterans in requesting their military transcripts.

The Veterans Administration will not provide for Learning Support courses taken through alternative delivery such as Internet, hybrid class, video, interactive video, etc.

A veteran who wishes to contact the VA Central Office may do so on the  VA website, at the Educational toll-free number: 1-888-442-4551, or 877-823-2378.

The Office of Admissions and Records has on-campus responsibility for Veterans Affairs.

ELIGIBILITY FOR DEFERMENT OF PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES BY CERTAIN ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR OTHER GOVERNMENTALLY FUNDED EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS

Service members, veterans, and dependents of veterans who are eligible beneficiaries of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits or other governmentally funded educational assistance, subject to the conditions and guidelines set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-104 as amended, may elect, upon formal application, to defer payment of required tuition and fees until the final day of the term for which the deferment has been requested. Application for the deferment must be made no later than 14 days after the beginning of the term, and the amount of the deferment shall not exceed the total monetary benefits to be received for the term. Students who have been granted deferments are expected to make timely payments on their outstanding tuition and fees balance once education benefits are being delivered, and eligibility for such deferment shall terminate if the student fails to abide by any applicable rule or regulation, or to act in good faith in making timely payments. This notice is published pursuant to Public Chapter 279, Acts of 2003, effective July 1, 2003.

Pursuant to PL 115-407 Section 103, any covered individual will be able to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1.            The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.

2.            90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.