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Financial Aid Policies


Non-Discrimination Policy

Rio Hondo Community College District complies with all Federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs, including career and technical education programs, and/or extracurricular school activities.  Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District’s Title IX Officer/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Loy Nashua, Executive Dean, Student Affairs & Student Equity, Student Services Building, 2nd Floor, Room SS-204, (562) 908-3498


Student Academic Progress (SAP) policy

Federal, state regulations require that students maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to be eligible to receive financial aid. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage all students to progress towards graduation, transfer or complete their educational goal. The Financial Aid Office at RHC evaluates all aid recipients at the end of every fall, spring, and summer semester. Satisfactory academic standards fall into three parts:

Part One: Grade Point Average Requirement:

Students must maintain an overall 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). The cumulative GPA from all current, prior, and transfer coursework.

Part Two: Unit Requirement/Pace of Progression:

Students must successfully complete 67% of attempted units by receiving credit.  Grades of F, I, IP, NP, W or other will not be counted as units completed, but the units will be counted as attempted.

Part Three: Maximum Time Frame Requirement:

Students can only receive financial assistance for a maximum of 150% of their current degree. If a student transfers in coursework from other institutions, we will count all coursework that counts toward their program of choice into the SAP calculation.

Other Provisions:

The Financial Aid Office has the authority under federal regulations to determine a students eligibility for future financial aid due to academic history indicating a pattern of inability or unwillingness to progress, such as continued or numerous withdrawals or enrollment inconsistent with the student’s educational objective, for failing
to meet reasonable academic progress standards. If grades are not yet posted, any financial aid award offered is tentative until the academic record is reviewed.

If at any point in time it is determined that the student cannot complete their course of study within the 150% timeframe, they will become ineligible for future financial aid, for the remainder of their program even if currently meeting the SAP standards.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office for our current SAP Policy.


Student Responsibilities

Things you should know as a financial aid recipient:

  • If you withdraw from all of your classes before you have completed 60% of the semester, you will be required to repay some or all of the financial aid you have received for that semester.
  • You must reapply for financial aid each year.
  • The FAFSA will be used to determine your eligibility for Fall through Summer semesters of an academic year at RHC.  Please note: The FAFSA application will be used to determine whether you receive a California Promise Grant (formerly Board of Governor’s Fee waiver) for the Summer terms.
  • Grants are disbursed on designated Disbursement Dates to the refund preference you have chosen with BankMobile.  The dates are listed on the disbursement page.
  • Work-study funds must be earned and are paid monthly according to an hourly rate of pay and the number of hours a student works. Checks will be disbursed by the Payroll Department.
  • California Promise Grants pay your enrollment fees only.  If a student already paid these fees and were eligible to receive a Promise Grant, a refund check will be issued by the Accounting Department and sent to student’s address on file with Admissions and Records.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. You may potentially lose eligibility if you do not successfully complete all of your courses; exceed the total number of units allowed for your degree, certificate, or transfer program; or if your GPA falls below a 2.0.

 

If you have circumstances which may impact your eligibility, please contact the Financial Aid Office.


Student's Rights

As a student at Rio Hondo you have the right to:

  • Know what financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state and institutional financial aid programs.
  • Know the cost of attending RHC, it’s refund policies and academic requirements.
  • Know the deadlines for submitting applications for all financial aid programs.
  • Know the criteria used by the Financial Aid Office to award financial aid funds and how your financial need is determined.
  • Know the financial aid policies on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and implications of not making SAP.
  • Request a re-evaluation of your income based on special circumstances.