Important Policies


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Receiving Your Aid

Financial Aid Disbursements

WNC begins disbursements of Grants and Scholarship 10 days prior to each semester.  WNC begins disbursements of Loans during the 3rd week of school and after confirmation of academic engagement.  During the week before school and the first week of school, disbursements and refunds are completed Monday-Friday. Beginning with the second week of school disbursements and refunds are processed on a weekly basis. In general, the disbursement and refund batch jobs are ran on Wednesday.

Financial Aid refund checks will be mailed by the WNC Controller's Office, to the address that is on a student’s myWNC account. If the student has signed up for direct deposit, funds will be directly deposited into their bank account. It is the student’s responsibility to update any changes of address or changes in bank account information through their myWNC account.

Financial Aid Census Date

Enrollment Levels and Degree declarations are locked on the Financial Aid Census date, which is the last day of the 100% Refund Period.

Degree Applicable Programs

Federal regulations require that federal financial assistance can only be provided to students for courses that apply toward their degree or certificate of achievement program. If students are enrolled in courses that do not count toward their degree or certificate of achievement, those courses cannot be used to determine financial aid enrollment status. Enrollment status is what is used to determine the amount of financial assistance that can be awarded to a student.

Academic Engagement Requirements

WNC requires instructors to report academic participation/activity as of the Financial Assistance Census Date, WNC is not consider an attendance taking school and only confirms participation for the establishment of aid eligibility.   The WNC Financial Assistance Census Date coincides with the last date students can drop full term classes for a 100% tuition refund.  In order to maintain or establish eligibility for federal aid, students must establish Academic Attendance or have Attendance at an Academically-Related Activity as defined by under Academic Engagement in 34CFR 600.2.

 

Maintaining Your Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Federal regulations require Western Nevada College (WNC) to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The law requires WNC to develop policies regarding SAP. WNC must design criteria which outline the definition of student progress towards a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Students who wish to be considered for financial assistance must maintain satisfactory academic progress in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.  In general, financial aid students must maintain the following: 

  • Grade Point Average: Financial Assistance students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all coursework regardless of whether or not assistance was received for previous course work. 
  • Academic Completion Rate or Pace: At a minimum, a student must satisfactorily complete 67% of all credits attempted each semester. In addition, a student must maintain a cumulative completion rate or pace of 67% or higher.

  • Maximum Timeframe: For Financial Assistance purposes a student is limited to attempting 150% of the units required for their specific degree program.

To learn more about the SAP policy, notifications, and appeal processes visit: https://wnc.edu/financial/important-policies.php. 

 

Return of Title IV

A Return of Title IV (R2T4) of money occurs when a student receives all (or a combination of) F, I, W, EXP, AD, or U grades before completing more than 60 percent of the semester. If this happens to you, you will be required to return any unearned Federal funds (including Direct Loans and/or PLUS Loans). To learn more about the R2T4 policy, notifications, and appeal processes visit: https://wnc.edu/financial/important-policies.php. 

 

Other Important Financial Aid Policies

Fraud

Any individual who fraudulently manipulates the financial aid programs or process for personal gain will be reported to the Department of Education any individual committing fraud on an application for financial aid.

Cases of suspected fraud, including knowingly misrepresenting family or financial application information, purposeful certification of false statements as true and correct, or intentional falsification or misrepresentation on, or alteration of documents used in the financial aid process that results in the receipt of aid, will be reported for possible collection of funds and/or prosecution.

Special Circumstances

The Higher Education Act of 1992 allows financial aid administrators to make professional judgment decisions for special or unusual family or student circumstances. These circumstances must be documented and will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

The FAFSA Simplification Act distinguishes between different categories of professional judgment by amending section 479A of the HEA.

  • Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the COA or in the EFC calculation.
  • Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration), more commonly referred to as a dependency override. Students must:
    • Submit the FAFSA.
    • Schedule appointment with the Financial Assistance Office at 775-445-3264.
    • Submit Dependency Override form with required documentation.

Please contact a Financial Aid Advisor to discuss your special circumstance at 775-445-3264.