Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions For Financial Aid

1. What is the FAFSA school code for SPC?

    003611

2. How do I reach a Financial Aid Advisor?

    Please call ext. 3800 or email finaid@southplainscollege.edu

3. How do I begin the Financial Aid application process?

    Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and http://www.pin.ed.gov

4. Why do I have to use my parents’ income on the FAFSA?

    All students are required to use parents’ income on the FAFSA form 
    unless they are 24 years of age, married, veteran, an orphan/ward of 
    the court, a graduate student or have a dependent that they support
    51%. Students with special circumstances should contact the Office of
    Financial Aid. 

5. Why did I have to turn in tax returns and other paperwork; and my friends didn’t
    have to? 

     The Department of Education selects students at random for verification*.

6. What if I haven’t filed my tax return?

    The FAFSA will allow you to estimate your income; but it is best if you wait 
    until you have filed.

7. Which FAFSA do I have to complete for summer?

     For summer ’08, you need the 07-08 FAFSA and for fall’08, spring’09 and
    summer ’09, you need the 08-09 FAFSA. 

8. What are the priority deadlines** ? 

    March 1st for summer, June 10th for fall and October 15 for spring.

9. What are the absolute deadlines*** for completing the FAFSA forms? 

    June 30, 2008 for 07-08 and June 30, 2009 for 08-09. 

10. Are there part-time jobs available on campus? 

     Please complete the College Work-study Application and view our available 
     positions online at  www.southplainscollege.edu.

11. What do I do if I have a scholarship? 

      Send your certificate or letter to the SPC Foundation to the attention of Norma
      Contreras as soon as possible so that your funds may be placed on the
      computer for use to pay tuition, fees, books and supplies.  If you have 
      questions, call ext. 2219 or email ncontrer@southplainscollege.edu. 

12. What do I do if I have an outside source paying for my college? 

      Students who have Texas Rehab, Federal Rehab, Texas National Guard
      and Texas Tomorrow Fund should send their documentation to the Business
      Office or contact them at ext. 2400.

13. What do I do if I have an exemption? 

      Documentation for Foster Care, Blind, Deaf, Fireman, Dependents of
      Slain Police Officers and Hazlewood should submit their documentation
      to the Admissions and Records Office for approval. Returning students
      may contact Financial Aid directly to have their exemption applied to a
      future semester with the exception of Fireman and Hazlewood which have
      to resubmit forms every semester.  Teachers Aide, Early High School and
      Americorp are handled exclusively by Financial Aid.

14. Why am I on suspension when I paid for those semesters myself? 

     When you apply for Financial Aid all semesters must be considered for
     Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)****.

15. Can I attend another college to have my Financial Aid suspension lifted? 

     No, hours must be taken at SPC.

16. If I take a semester off, will that lift my Financial Aid suspension? 

     No.

17. What must be done in order to have my Financial Aid Suspension lifted? 

     You would need to have an appeal approved, or pay for and successfully
     complete at least 6 credit hours at SPC with your own funds.

18. If I am suspended and I want to appeal, what is the weekly appeal deadline?

     Appeals that are received by 4pm on Thursday will be seen by the Appeals
     Committee the following Monday or Tuesday. 

19. If I was a full-time student when I was placed on suspension, can I retake just
     the one class that placed me on suspension to have it lifted? 

     No, you would need to successfully complete 6 hours to have your suspension
     lifted; but it can be done in multiple semesters.

20. Why do I have a 2.00 GPA from Admissions but I have been placed on Financial
     Aid suspension? 

     The Financial Aid GPA includes all developmental work and the GPA from the
     Admissions and Records Office is only college level work.

21. What will happen to my Financial Aid if I drop one class? 

     If it is before the official census date*****, the grants will adjust downward
     and the student will not be penalized by the Satisfactory Academic Progress
     Policy (SAP).  If it is after the official census date, the grant funds are frozen
     and the student will be penalized by the (SAP) Policy.

22. What happens to my loan if I drop below 6 hours? 

      Prior to the official census date you will be required to return 
      the loan funds to SPC for your first check and your second 
      check will be cancelled.  After the census date, only your second
      check will be cancelled.

23. What happens if I withdraw from all of my classes? 

      Prior to the completion of 60% of the semester, you will be 
      required to return a portion of your aid to the Business
      Office and possibly the Financial Aid Office and you will be placed 
      on Financial Aid probation or suspension (SAP).  After the 60% 
      point, only (SAP) will be affected.

24. What if I receive all “F” grades on all of my classes?  

      If the grades are earned, meaning you have attended or 
      participated in your classes up to or past the 60% point, you 
      will only be penalized by (SAP).  If your last day of attendance 
      is prior to the 60% point then you will also have to return funds.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

        *Verification-is the process whereby the Financial Aid Advisor
          compares the data reported on the FAFSA Form to the 
          information that has been submitted to the Financial Aid 
          Office.                                             

      **Priority deadline—is the deadline by which all students should
          complete their files if they want to be considered for all types
          of aid including limited funding for some grants and on-campus
          jobs.  It is also the deadline to ensure that student funding
          will be available for the preregistration payday and open
          registration.