Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Fraud

Financial Aid Handbook

Financial Aid Office Student Rights and Responsibilities

Rights

  • Students have the right to receive courteous service from financial aid staff
  • Students have the right to be provided timely and accurate service
  • Students have the right to be provided information about their financial aid application
  • Students have the right to confidentiality concerning their application as guaranteed by the Federal Right to Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Students have the right to appeal to Financial Aid for not meeting federal guidelines for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Responsibilities

  • Apply for financial aid each year by submitting the annual FAFSA and provide all the required documents in an accurate and timely fashion. If you plan to attend a Summer term and want financial aid, you must complete the prior year’s FAFSA,
  • Understand that verification may require a correction to your FAFSA data, which may impact your aid eligibility. We reserve the right to modify any financial aid offer based on your verification results.
  • Check your Umpqua Community College email and Student Self-Service account often and read all correspondence. Keep copies of the documents you send as well as those sent to you.
  • Student aid eligibility is based upon financial circumstances that you certified were correct when you signed your FAFSA. If circumstances change, students must inform the Financial Aid Office
  • Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes to your academic course load (most scholarships require full-time enrollment) and understand that drops and/or withdrawals may affect your aid eligibility for the current term.
  • Students are responsible for reporting and updating mailing addresses and using their UCC Student email.
  • Inform your Financial Aid Office of any changes to yours/family’s financial condition.
  • Students are responsible for reporting third-party benefits such as VA and scholarships.
  • Students are responsible for understanding UCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Students are responsible for interacting with Financial Aid Office staff in a courteous manner.
  • Students are responsible for reading the contents of UCC’s financial aid WEB site and following instructions for aid offer acceptance and student loan entrance counseling and promissory note.
  • Students are responsible to complete loan program entrance and exit counseling.
  • Understand that scholarships and grants in excess of tuition, required fees, books, supplies and equipment may be subject to income tax.

Fraud

A student who attempts to obtain financial aid by fraudulent means will be suspended from financial aid for unsatisfactory conduct. The college will report such instances to local law enforcement agencies, to Student Aid Commission, and to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Restitution of any financial aid received in such manner will be required. Giving false or misleading information can cause a student to be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.