TERMS OF OFFER
The Terms of Offer are subject to change without prior notice due to frequent revisions in applicable laws, regulations, and rules. The following general requirements apply to all financial aid programs:
Important Dates and Deadlines
You are responsible for knowing and meeting all current financial aid dates and deadlines to ensure you will meet deadlines for all financial aid processes.
Change in Information
You must immediately report any change to your legal name, address, Social Security number, or telephone number to both the admissions and records office and the financial aid department. Any mismatched information will delay your financial aid award.
Workshops
Financial Aid offers a variety of useful Financial Aid Workshops to assist students with the financial aid process and increase financial aid literacy.
Special Circumstance
You may submit only one special circumstance request. Subsequent mitigating circumstances may be considered by the Financial Aid Director on a case-by-case basis, subject to review and approval.
Forms
Most Financial Aid Forms can be found online. Additional forms may be available by contacting the Financial Aid Department.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
By accepting financial aid, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards. Failure to maintain SAP will result in either a warning status or disqualification from receiving financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Eligibility and Process
View this article for details on the SAP Appeal Eligibility and Process.
Course Program of Study
To be eligible for financial aid, students must have a declared financial aid-eligible major/course program of study (degree or certificate program) on record. A list of eligible programs is available on the Admissions and Records website. Students may update their major/course of study through Admissions and Records or online. Changes to your declared program may impact your financial aid eligibility.
Request for Award/Disbursement Notification
Financial aid students who have completed their financial aid file can view their awards online.
Enrollment, Change in Enrollment Status, Late Starting Classes, and Withdrawal
Initial financial aid offers of financial aid are based on full-time status and offered on the condition that you are enrolled and attending courses at this college.
In order to receive an actual full-time award, you must enroll in and maintain a minimum of 12 units throughout the semester. If not, you will receive a prorated disbursement based on the fund.
Late start classes will not be counted towards your enrollment status until the classes start. As a result, your disbursement will be reduced or delayed until the actual class begins.
A change in enrollment status during a semester may change or cancel your award. Should you withdraw, your remaining financial aid award may be canceled. Please discuss any enrollment change plans, the impact on your award, and possible repayment obligations with the Financial Aid Department before making changes.
Financial Aid Disbursements
Students who have been awarded a Federal Pell Grant will be disbursed based on the number of units they are attending and the start date of their classes. Financial aid disbursement dates are contingent upon the dates listed on the web and on the scheduled start date(s) of classes.
When a student completes their financial aid file prior to the first scheduled disbursement of the semester, their initial Federal Pell Grant disbursement funds will be sent directly to the Owl Bookstore to allow students to purchase books and supplies. Students should refer to the website for detailed disbursement information and dates.
For students participating in the study abroad program (SAB), disbursement dates will vary due to the different enrollment periods. Students must be attending at least six (6) units to receive Federal Direct Loan(s), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), and Cal Grants.
In certain situations, an eligible student can receive up to 150 percent of his or her scheduled Federal Pell Grant award for an award year. For example, if you are eligible for a $2,000 Pell Grant for the award year, and are enrolled full-time for both the fall and spring semesters, you'll likely receive $1,000 (50%) in the fall and $1,000 (50%) in the spring. However, if you enroll at least half-time (six units), you may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 (50%) in the summer semester (resulting in your receiving 150% of your original award). You might hear this situation being referred to as "year-round Pell." You must maintain at least half-time enrollment or you will have to repay the additional summer Federal Pell Grant funds you received in the summer.
Financial Aid Fund Disbursement Authorization
Financial aid students have the option to authorize the use of their federal and/or state financial aid funds to pay for outstanding account balances and institutional charges. Students can authorize payment by completing the required questions on the Financial Aid Dashboard.
BankMobile Disbursements Refund Preference Selection
Citrus College uses BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. to deliver financial aid refunds. In order to receive your financial aid refund, you must select a refund preference for where you want your funds deposited. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit this link: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/
Please take a moment to log on to your Wingspan account to verify your address information. You can make updates to your address by visiting admissions and records.
Financial Holds
Any student who has an outstanding financial balance at the college is subject to have their financial aid check held and/or delayed until payment has been made in full.
Availability of Funds
All awards are made on the condition that funds are available. In the event that the state or federal governments reduce or eliminate funds, the Financial Aid Department will reduce and/or cancel your award.
Course Repeats
Students are not eligible to receive aid for more than one repetition of a course that has been previously passed.
Pell Recalculation Freeze Date
View the Pell Recalculation Freeze Date article for full details.
Return of Title IV Calculation
As a recipient of federal financial aid, you are expected to complete the entire enrollment period for which your Title IV funds were awarded. Federal financial aid (Title IV funds) includes the Federal Pell Grant, Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). When you withdraw from all classes before completing 60% of the term, Citrus College must calculate the amount of aid earned and, if necessary, return any unearned funds in compliance with federal regulations. This repayment is in addition to any overpayment due from the recalculation due to Pell Grant Recalculation Freeze. You are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Department before withdrawing from all courses. See the Return of Title IV Policy article for more details.
Non-Attendance and Impact on Financial Aid
Your financial aid disbursements and refunds are based on your anticipated or currently enrolled courses scheduled for each week in a term. If you fail to begin attendance or engage in your course(s), your instructor may report you as an "instructor no-show." This may significantly impact your financial aid eligibility and any outstanding balance you may owe the institution. This policy addresses the impact of non-attendance on your financial aid separate from the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation, which applies when you withdraw or drop from all of your courses in a financial aid award period. (Please see the separate Return of Title IV Funds Policy for details regarding the calculation of unearned aid when withdrawing from all courses.). See the Non-Attendance and Impact on Financial Aid article for more details.
Over-Awards
Federal and state regulations do not allow students to receive aid that exceeds their financial eligibility. An over award may occur in the following situations: unreported aid from outside resources (scholarships, grants, stipends, etc.), an increase in family contribution as a result of corrections made to the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, changes in enrollment status, or a human error such as calculation or data entry errors. In all instances, regardless of the reason, any funds received in excess of the amount that the student is entitled to must be repaid by the student.
Consortium Agreements
Citrus College must be the student's home school of record for obtaining their degree, transfer, or certificate. The student must be enrolled in at least six units at Citrus College in order to become eligible to apply for the consortium agreement. The course(s) must be required towards the completion of their Citrus College major and verified by a Citrus College counselor. Students are not eligible to receive aid for more than one repetition of a course (including an equivalent course from another college) that has been previously passed. Approved consortium units from the secondary institution will be paid by Citrus College. Official transcripts must be received after the end of the semester from the secondary institution prior to any subsequent disbursements and will be used to calculate satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Courses taken at the secondary institution will be included in the quantitative component of SAP for units attempted. Students who drop units and/or withdraw from all courses are subject to "Return of Title IV" calculations and may owe a repayment.
View the following article: Consortium Agreements
Federal Work Study (FWS)
Students interested in FWS must first complete their financial aid file and then request a FWS referral from the Financial Aid Department. FWS has limited funds and is awarded on first come first serve until funds are exhausted. View the Federal Work Study Job Seeking and Hiring Process article for more information.
Cost of Attendance
View the Cost of Attendance (COA) article for details.
Funding for the Student Success Completion Grant
Funding for the Student Success Completion Grant is limited and is not guaranteed. Receiving this grant in the fall does not guarantee receipt in subsequent semesters. Students must have enough unmet need in their cost of attendance to receive this grant. Taking out loans will reduce the amount of unmet need a student has. Undisbursed loans can be canceled to increase the amount of unmet need a student has, thus allowing eligibility for other grants, scholarships, and awards.