The college is still covering its students who qualify for financial aid all the way up to 90 attempted units.
An update on PCC recently highlighted that the timeframe check, which is meant for students utilizing financial aid to reevaluate their academic standing and situation, is 78 attempted units. However, it does not mean that the financial aid stops at the 78 mark.
90 units, which is 150 percent of the school’s two-year program length, is still the law and continues to be what the college is capping its students’ financial aid eligibility at. Appeals and petitions are part of the process to continue financial aid past the 78 attempted unit mark, according to the school’s website.
“The program cap is still 90 attempted units. We did not change anything,†said Kim Miles, assistant dean of financial aid. “There may be a perception that we did something different.â€
A student who has reached 78 units would need to check where he or she stands academically and from there, ask for more eligibility if necessary. Even a program like nursing, which demands a lot, still wouldn’t exceed the 90 unit mark as a program or else it wouldn’t qualify under the two-year AA/AS degree program length.
“All we are doing is at a certain point, 6.5 semesters, we need to see if you need more time and why, because you’re reaching the 90 unit limit,†said Miles. “How much longer are you going to need? You are reaching your max in one semester as a full time student, but maybe you need two [semesters]. Why? It’s a case-by-case basis so not all students are going to be here.â€
Classes where students received a W, incomplete, or failed still count as attempted units on his or her record. Transfer units count as well. Sixty units is “traditionally†the college’s program length, but because of prerequisites a student may need another 15 units before he or she can transfer.
Yvette Corral, psychology, who is currently in her third year and at her 78 unit mark, said she has had no problem with her financial aid for this semester, which is when the timeframe check was in effect.
“For this semester, my financial aid came quick,†she said.
Students approaching the 78 mark or more should double check with a financial aid advisor, but as long as he or she is in decent academic standing, will still be able to receive financial aid up to 90 units.
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There was something different. The reduced units have forced students into a delayed time frame of obtaining financial aid. You can see this by the programs offered to help alleviate the burden of the program change. More students are more likely to approach these units and become further financial duress when administration informs new students that registration priority gets based on units and the time frame at PCC. That’s not the full story. You can only take so much before facing probation and should only do the required GE classes. PCC’s focus is on getting the students in and out. Obtaining overcrowded classes becomes a difficult task or struggle. Also, reducing the units puts students at an early time of probation who makes a student ineligible for a loan approval or possible contingent upon grades the current semester grades.
When putting in the petition, it may be best reviewed by a single staff member who is there only 3 days out of the week with only a few hours each day. Students preparing for the oncoming semester needed to go back and forth if time did not allow it. However, it is a choice; so, the petition should be focused on the best reason for convincing (possible a committee) for an approval for the pell grant. Other issues occurring have been faulty systems that notes notices were sent to students as well but truly never went out.
The two-year programs are almost unattainable. To state it without the consideration of some of limited classes or seats, registration priority, allowed time slots, and classroom teacher quality leaves out the serious issues this school needs to rectify. If a student is lost or unsure, I wouldn’t wait and hope for anyone to help out as it seems some, or even most, of the board and administration have lost sight on the concerns and needed guidance many students face. I’d heard it too many times, “I can’t wait to get out of here.”