PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

1. Contact the Adult Counselor, Rita Morris, to discuss enrollment, financial aid that is available, and if interested, to obtain a financial aid application packet.
   
2. Student is encouraged to contact Elaine Brown, Financial Aid Coordinator, for assistance in completing the application, which can then be submitted electronically. If this is not possible the application can be completed by the student and mailed.
   
3. A notification, the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) will be returned electronically to the school, stating your eligibility to receive financial aid.
   
4. Student will be notified by the financial aid office regarding award to be made. Disbursement dates and amounts will be discussed during this session. The student will sign award letter at this time agreeing to accept or reject the aid award.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS
RECEIVING FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Education Amendments of 1976 stipulate that in order for a student to receive financial aid under the Pell Grant Program, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, College Work-Study Program, National Direct Student Loan Program, or the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Institution must determine that the student: (1) is maintaining satisfactory academic progress in the course of study he or she is pursuing in accordance with the standards and practices of the institution, and (2) does not owe a refund on a Pell Grant or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and/or is not in default on a National Direct Student Loan or Guaranteed Student Loan received in the past.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

If the Mid-America Technology Center administration determines, at the beginning of a term or payment period, that a student is not making satisfactory progress, payment for that term or period, will be withheld. If the student is able to reestablish satisfactory progress before the end of the term or payment period, payment may be made retroactively for the whole period.

Satisfactory progress mentioned in the above paragraph is defined at the Mid-America Technology Center as maintaining a 'C' average in any or all courses taken and making satisfactory progress toward completing the percent of the course requirements for certification that are appropriate, based on the length of time the student has been enrolled. A student who becomes ineligible to receive financial assistance because of unsatisfactory progress may reestablish their eligibility for assistance by raising their class grade to a 'C' average and/or accelerating their progress to enable completion of the course or courses in the required time frame.

PELL GRANTS

This is a federally funded grant program, which provides funds for adult students to attend post-secondary education.

Any post-secondary student may apply by obtaining an application from either the Adult Counselor or Coordinator of Financial Aid's office. 

This money is a gift from the Federal Government to be used for educational expenses and does not need to be repaid.

The family financial situation determines whether a student may receive a grant and the amount of the grant.

OTAG (Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant)

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has implemented a program of Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grants. The purpose of this grant is to assist Oklahoma college students with demonstrated financial need to meet the cost of attendance at Oklahoma post-secondary institutions. Continued recipients will be given first priority and then the students who demonstrate the most need will be selected. Applications may be picked up at the financial aid office. 

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT(WIA)

Eligibility determination must be made by the individual Workforce provider. A federal program of assistance may provide tuition and/or needs based payments to eligible students to attend school.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (Vocational Rehabilitation)

This program accepts physically and mentally disabled students. The local Vocational Rehabilitation counselor should be contacted. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information.

VETERAN'S EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

You may be eligible to receive benefits if:

Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 30)

1.  Individuals entering military service on or after July 1, 1985 and have their basic military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months of their service.
2. Character of Discharge specifically listed as "Honorable."
3. Served a minimum of 2 years continuous service.
4. Persons who are eligible to receive Chapter 34 benefits on December 31, 1989, and who have remaining Chapter 34 entitlement on that date may be eligible for Chapter 30, beginning January 1, 1990.

Also available is the Chapter 106 for Selected Reserves (Oct. 1990); and the V.E.A.P. Program, Chapter 32.

Students may contact the Veterans Administration for eligibility determination by calling this toll-free number 1-800-482-2800.

VETERAN'S FREE TUITION BENEFITS:

The State of Oklahoma shows appreciation for its veterans by providing tuition free training for any veteran attending career-tech school, excluding Okmulgee Tech, who meets the eligibility requirements. The student must provide a DD214 to the school and be determined eligible by meeting the following criteria:

1. Honorable discharge from the armed forces.
2. Served a minimum of eighteen (18) consecutive months between the dates of August 10, 1964 and December 31, 1976, or discharged with a service-connected disability.
3. A resident of Oklahoma at the time of entry into service.
4. Accepted benefits within fifteen (15) years
   following discharge or release, and
5. Satisfy the eligibility requirement of the institution.

CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE THE STUDENT'S AID AWARD

All student financial assistance given is based on the assumption that a student needs the financial assistance in order to attend school; therefore, a needs analysis is performed on all students applying for financial assistance. The student's income and assets, as well as the parents' income and assets, if applicable, are used to determine the resources available to the student for attending school. A dollar amount is arrived at through a calculation process for school expenses.

Budgets have been developed which indicate the expenses a student will have in attending school. These budgets are on file in the Coordinator of Financial Aid's office.

All checks to be disbursed must be approved by the Board of Education during their monthly meeting, which is normally held the first Monday evening of each month. Checks are available about ten (10) days after a Board meeting. All financial aid funds will be disbursed through the Superintendent's office.

Persons, who feel they have a complaint or have been treated unfairly in regards to the receipt of financial assistance should first visit the Coordinator of Financial Aid and express their complaint. If a solution is not reached, the student should then pursue the grievance procedure listed in the Affirmative Action Plan by contacting the coordinator responsible for assuring nondiscrimination listed above.

ABILITY TO BENEFIT

Federal law requires that any adult student receiving Title IV student assistance funds must have a high school diploma, a G.E.D. (General Equivalency Diploma), or have the ability to benefit from the education or training offered. The latter part of the requirement must be documented. At Mid-America Technology Center, any student not having a high school diploma or a G.E.D., will be provided the opportunity to qualify for Title IV aid by proving their Ability To Benefit (ATB). The student must perform no lower than one Standard Deviation below the Mean on the Accuplacer.

The acceptance of results of previously administered evaluations will be determined from the Ability To Benefit Approved Tests, June, 1991 as per the Student Eligibility Requirements of HEA, Title IV Federal Aid Programs.

Those students lacking a diploma or G.E.D. are encouraged to
attend G.E.D. classes that are available at Mid-America Technology Center. Classes meet 8:10 - 11:10 a.m., four days a week and 6 - 10 p.m. two evenings a week.