Oct 18 2016
This article was published on Oct 18 2016 and was archived on Oct 19 2017. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.
If you receive federal financial aid (ex. Pell Grant, SEOG, Federal Work Study, or Federal Direct student loans) PLEASE READ the following important information.
A helpful financial aid tool is being added to the Student Information System (SIS) and will go into effect November 8, 2016 when Spring 2017 registration begins. The tool is called the Financial Aid Course Audit - more commonly referred to as FACA - and is designed to help you identify financial aid eligibility for courses in which you are enrolled. Here is an overview of the FACA basics:
• Federal financial aid regulations have always stipulated that financial aid may only be applied to eligible courses.• Eligible courses are those courses required for completion of your program of study (degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate).• The VCCS has added a software feature in SIS that will alert you as to which courses are eligible or ineligible (known as the FACA process).• The FACA process will run nightly beginning November 8 (the first day of spring registration).• As you enroll in courses, you will be alerted the following day if courses fall outside of your program of study and, thus, are ineligible. The alerts will be posted in the Message Center feature in the Student Center in SIS. You are encouraged to drop ineligible courses and replace them with eligible courses. Please note that ineligible courses will not be automatically dropped. It will be your responsibility to drop these courses.• If you choose to remain enrolled in ineligible courses, please take note of the following:o Financial aid award amounts will be based on the number of eligible credits in which you are enrolled. If you are enrolled in less than 12 eligible credits, your financial aid award will be reduced proportionately based upon your number of eligible credits.o Ineligible courses must be paid for out-of-pocket and in-person at the Business Office or Mall site and you must indicate for which course(es) you are paying.
The FACA process is a positive step to help you better identify which courses are required for your program of study and it will serve as an added advising tool as you progress toward program completion. To prepare yourself for this new tool, I encourage you to be proactive and meet with an academic advisor to ensure that the courses you register for are required for your program of study.
Additionally, please plan to attend one of the following FACA information sessions where we will discuss the process and answer any questions you may have.
• Tuesday, November 1, 11:00-11:30 a.m. - Mall site, room 123• Tuesday, November 1, 11:00-11:30 a.m. - Dublin, Rooker Auditorium• Wednesday, November 2, 5:30-6:00 p.m. - Mall site, room 135• Wednesday, November 2, 5:30-6:00 p.m. - Dublin, Rooker Auditorium• Monday, November 7, 2:00-2:30 p.m. - Dublin, Rooker Auditorium
As always, you are welcome to visit the Financial Aid Office or Advising Center in Rooker Hall or Office 103 at the Mall site.
Public Relations Specialist / Adjunct Instructor