When you accept your financial aid offer, you have indicated that you have read, understood, and will comply with all of the rights and responsibilities contained therein. These include:
Your Rights:
1. Students have the right to discuss questions, concerns, or complaints regarding
their financial aid with the Financial
Aid Office. Students are encouraged to contact the Director of Financial Aid to review
their situation, better understand
their rights and responsibilities, and discuss available options for addressing financial
aid-related matters in accordance
with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
2. If you are placed on financial aid suspension for not meeting satisfactory academic
progress requirements, you may
submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal to request reinstatement of your
financial aid eligibility.
3. You may request a review of your financial need if your financial circumstances
change during the academic year or if
you experience changes since filing the current aid year FAFSA.
4. To know what financial assistance programs are available, including federal, state,
and institutional financial aid
programs.
5. To know the procedures, forms, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for applying
for financial aid, how recipients
are selected, and how the amount of aid is determined.
6. To know how your financial need is determined, including how cost of attendance
budgets are developed.
7. To receive an explanation of each type of assistance included in your financial
aid award, including what portion is
grant or gift aid and what portion must be repaid, as well as how to maintain eligibility
for those funds.
8. To know the interest rate on any student loan you receive, the total amount to
be repaid, repayment procedures, when
repayment begins, how long you have to repay the loan, and any cancellation or deferment
provisions.
9. To know the method and frequency of financial aid disbursements.
10. To know the cost of attendance, including tuition, books and supplies, and other
miscellaneous educational expenses.
11. To obtain information about the college’s academic programs, instructional facilities,
faculty, and the accrediting,
approving, or licensing organizations associated with Indian Hills Community College.
12. To know the college’s completion or graduation rates, job placement rates (if
available), the average indebtedness of
graduates, and the percentage of students who default on federal student loans.
13. To know statistics regarding the receipt of athletic-related student aid and to
review campus security policies and
campus crime statistics.
14. To know the types of jobs available through Federal Work-Study, including the
number of hours you may work, job
duties, pay rate, and how and when wages are paid.
15. To know the requirements and standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP),
the procedures, deadlines, and
eligibility requirements necessary to remain eligible for financial aid programs,
the facilities and services available for
students with disabilities, and who to contact within the Financial Aid Office for
assistance.
16. To expect that information provided to the Financial Aid Office will be handled
confidentially and disclosed only in
accordance with federal privacy regulations. Financial aid information may be shared
with authorized school officials
who have legitimate educational interests or with officials at other institutions
where you seek or receive enrollment.
Your Responsibilities:
As a student receiving financial aid at Indian Hills Community College, you are responsible
for:
1. Reviewing and considering all information about the college’s programs before you
enroll.
2. Accurately completing all financial aid applications, including the FAFSA, and
submitting them on time. Errors, omissions, or falsification of information may delay
or prevent you from receiving aid and may result in penalties under federal law.
3. Submit a valid FAFSA while still enrolled, and promptly notify the Financial Aid
Office if you receive aid from another institution during the same academic year or
if any of your personal or financial information has changed since you submitted your
application, as federal and state aid can only be received at one school at a time.
4. Meeting all deadlines for applying or reapplying for financial aid.
5. Reporting all outside scholarships, grants, loans, or other financial resources
not listed on your Indian Hills financial aid award.
6. Submitting accurate and complete documentation if you or your contributor(s), if
applicable, are selected for verification or additional financial aid review, including
tax transcripts, W-2 forms, or other requested forms. Failure to provide required
documents in a timely manner may result in loss of aid.
7. Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by Indian Hills Community
College and understanding the eligibility requirements for each financial aid program.
8. Reading, understanding, and keeping copies of all forms or agreements you sign,
including financial aid award notifications, promissory notes, and counseling materials.
9. Borrowing responsibly and understanding the terms, repayment obligations, and consequences
associated with student loans. When you sign your Master Promissory Note, know the
terms of what you are borrowing. If you owe money from a prior overaward of federal
funds at any institution, you need to arrange for repayment of the overaward. You
are not eligible for financial aid if you owe a balance on federal funds.
10. You must repay all loans according to your established repayment schedule. You
are not eligible for financial aid if you are in default on a Federal Perkins Loan,
Federal Direct/FFEL Stafford Loan, or Federal Direct/FFEL PLUS received at any institution.
11. Participating in loan entrance counseling before receiving a Federal Direct Loan
and exit counseling when leaving the college.
12. Using any federal, state-appropriated, or institutional financial aid received
solely for educational expenses related to attendance at Indian Hills.
13. Performing any work agreed upon through Federal Work-Study or other employment
programs and understanding the expectations for hours, duties, and payment.
14. Understanding Indian Hills’ withdrawal procedures, tuition refund policies, and
the financial implications of withdrawing from courses or programs.
15. Maintaining current contact information, including name, address, and phone number,
and promptly notifying the Financial Aid Office and your loan servicer of any changes
in enrollment or personal information.
16. Regularly checking your student account and Indian Hills email for financial aid
notifications and important updates.
17. Review all information related to your financial aid award, including this handbook,
and understand the requirements for each financial aid program to maintain eligibility.
Accept or decline any offered loans by the last day of the term or your last date
of attendance, and comply with any additional conditions outlined in the Financial
Aid Handbook or communicated by Indian Hills, the Financial Aid Office, or other aid
programs.
18. Understanding that enrollment status may affect financial aid eligibility, including
federal student loan eligibility. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, students
enrolled less than full-time may have reduced annual Direct Loan eligibility based
on their enrollment level. At Indian Hills Community College, full-time enrollment
is defined as 8 credit hours, and students must be enrolled at least half-time (4
credit hours or more) to be eligible for federal student loans. Students are responsible
for reviewing how changes to their enrollment may affect their current or future financial
aid eligibility. Students are also responsible for meeting established payment deadlines
and understand that non-payment by the established due dates will result in being
dropped from registered courses.