Student Rights

A student has the right to:

• Know what financial aid programs are available at COTC.
• Know the deadlines for submitting applications for each financial aid program.
• Know how financial aid eligibility is determined and how aid is awarded.
• Know how financial need is calculated, including the cost of attendance components such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses.
• Know what resources are considered in the calculation of need, including income, assets, and other financial assistance.
• Receive an explanation of the financial aid offered and how it is determined.
• Know COTC’s refund policy and how it may affect financial aid.
• Know which portions of financial aid must be repaid and which are grants or gift aid. For loans, students have the right to know interest rates, repayment terms, total repayment amounts, and when repayment begins.
• Know how Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined and the consequences of not meeting SAP standards.

Student Responsibilities

A student is responsible for:

• Completing all financial aid applications and forms accurately and submitting them by required deadlines.
• Providing complete and accurate information. Providing false or misleading information may result in corrections to aid eligibility and could require repayment of funds received.
• Submitting all required documentation, verification materials, corrections, or additional information requested by Student Financial Services or other agencies.
• Reading and understanding all forms and agreements before signing and keeping copies for personal records.
• Accepting responsibility for all agreements and obligations related to financial aid.
• Meeting all published deadlines for application or reapplication for financial aid.
• Repaying all loans according to the terms of the loan agreement, including interest and repayment schedules.
• Completing all required employment duties if accepting Federal Work-Study employment and complying with all student employment policies.
• Maintaining at least six (6) credit hours per semester to be eligible for Federal Work-Study, when applicable.
• Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to remain eligible for financial aid programs.