Financial Aid Rights & Responsibilities

All financial aid recipients have certain rights, afforded them by the U.S. Department of Education as well as Montgomery County Community College. It is also vitally important for financial aid recipients to know and understand their responsibilities as outlined below.

Student Rights

As a student consumer, you have the right to:

• Know the information you provide to Enrollment Services or one of the College's contracted processors will be treated confidentially and protected as mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
• Seek financial aid counseling. To schedule an appointment with a financial assistance coach, log into Self-Service and navigate to the Success Network;
• Know what financial assistance is available, including all federal, state, and institutional aid programs; 
• Know the procedures and deadlines for submitting applications for each financial aid program (including federal, state, and institutional aid programs);
• Know how your financial aid awards were calculated, the criteria to receive each award, and how the funds will be distributed or disbursed;
• Accept or decline any of your financial aid award(s) or assistance options, for example, educational loans; 
• Know the terms associated with employment through the College's federal work study program;
• Know the College offers a financial aid refund advance for books to qualified aid recipients to help them purchase their textbooks and supplies with their anticipated financial aid refund/credit balance;
• If offered an educational loan, know the lender, interest rate, the total amount to be repaid, deferment options, repayment procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment begins. The National Student Loan Data System  will keep record of your loan information. Your specific loan repayment details will be available to you through your lender's website. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid provides information to help you understand student loan repayment options and obligations;
• Know, if you meet all eligibility requirements for disbursement, financial aid for the semester will be sent to your student account at the College shortly after the attendance reporting for the term in which you're enrolled. Single-semester loans will be disbursed in two equal installments: the first occurring after attendance reporting for the term in which you're enrolled; the second occurring on or about the half-way point through the term;
• Know you should select a refund preference via Self-Service under the Finances tab via Access My Payment Center. 
• Submit a Special Conditions appeal, requesting reconsideration of your financial aid eligibility if you or your family’s financial circumstances change. Contact Enrollment Services, Office of Financial Aid via email to enrollmentservices@mc3.edu or by phone at 215-641-6566 for additional information; and
• Submit a Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal if you do not meet the College's Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Student Responsibilities

It is your obligation and responsibility to:

• Complete all financial assistance applications and forms accurately and by the appropriate deadlines;
• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completely and accurately. The College offers assistance at weekly FAFSA Completion Workshops;
• Monitor your Montco student email account on a weekly basis;
• Monitor your financial aid checklist in Self-Service to ensure all items are marked complete;
• Ensure you address, phone number, and personal email address are updated and accurate in your User Profile via Self-Service. Name, social security number, date of birth, or F1/F2 visa status changes require updates in Self-Service under the Registration tab via the Update my Student Information e-form;
• Respond quickly to all requests for additional documentation related to verification or corrections. Should you need further clarification or help understanding anything requested of you, please seek assistance from Enrollment Services;
• Read and understand all forms (electronic or hard copy) that you are asked to submit or sign, and keep copies of these forms. You are legally responsible for all agreements you sign. Should you need further clarification or help understanding any information detailed on financial aid forms, please seek assistance from Enrollment Services;
• If you are a student loan borrower, notify your lender of any changes in your name or address. You can find information related to your lender by logging into the National Student Loan Data System;
• If employed through the College's federal work study program, report to your job according to the schedule you arranged with your supervisor, complete all work to the best of your ability, and notify your supervisor in advance if you are unable to report to work for any reason;
• Know and comply with the College's drop and withdraw policies;
• Be formally enrolled in a degree-seeking program; 
• To know and understand you must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain eligibility for federal financial aid;
• To know Montgomery County Community College's tuition refund policy; and
• To know the federal Return of Title IV funds policy, which deals with how financial aid must be treated (for example, if it is removed, reduced, or retained) when a student totally withdraws or ceases attendance during a semester.