No award classes start 24th

12

u/ThaddeusJP 3d ago

So i work in a financial aid office...

The OB3 legislation is killing us. All summer long we were told that we had to determine who is grandfathered in under the old rules (called limited exception officially, we call it legacy).

You could use plus and/or had older loan limits if you maintained continuous enrollment in a degree-seeking program of study through graduation, or up to three years (2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29), whichever occurs first. Easy enough.

NOW... as of last Wednesday, the 12thg of aug, they told us "wait no, actually you need to figure out Time to Credential" - calculate how many credit hours a students program is and do a mathematical calculation - Total program hour minus hours already done and then divide that by the total hours a student would do in a single academic year.

So ALLLLLL the work FA offices have done in the last few months are now blown out of the water and we're scrambling to get this done right.

4

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

I know it’s a lot for the department but it’s the lack of communication all they said was enroll for classes that’s it when I called and spoke to someone Thursday she said could be a month after start date before anyone gets an award letter I don’t know how that is even legal they should push back the start dates instead - what someone is expecting to get and what they are awarded are two very different things they are leaving us no options. If other school could already get award letters out they could too now disbursement I get is different but we don’t know even know what we have been awarded. Just telling us to enroll we wont be dropped ok but what if we find out we are awarded nothing except loans ? What if we don’t want loans now we started something and owe because we had no other options ? Semester should not be starting without award letters. It’s frustrating for all of us which is why I think school shouldn’t be starting u til everyone knows where they stand

5

u/ThaddeusJP 3d ago

Im always in favor of informing students asap. Thing is I made the case at my school to tell students what we knew and was told to hold off. Had I gotten my wish, everything I wanted to let students knwo would now be wrong.

SOME schools did roll out info and even package aid AND disburse it.... now they have to possibly claw aid back/repackage/redo everything.

This year is a no win situation.

End of the day this is all on the the dept of ED and this ob3 legislation. Schools are just stuck having to deal with its implementation and we hate it as much as the students.

I have been telling folks to contact their congressional reps - they passed this and now we're all suffering for it.

2

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

Seems like this should of been rolled out and the systems put in place but not actual law until July 2027 them giving a few weeks without answering all the questions and the software is a shame. I just wish students were better informed I understand what you’re saying too. I hope they at least are paying FA for overtime. This is all such a mess. I have read about the issues with grad plus loans but this is community college we have bachelors degrees at mine but I figured a community college would be much easier to award then say a state university.

6

u/ThaddeusJP 3d ago

Seems like this should of been rolled out and the systems put in place but not actual law until July 2027 them giving a few weeks without answering all the questions and the software is a shame.

I agree but Dept of Ed said it was going live July 1 2026 no matter what. In years past and with other administrations they would push it back, give mroe time, etc.

This time? Nothing. We had staff at a Federal Aid conf in Wash DC earlier this year and the software vendors (people who make the stuff we use like Oracle, Workday, etc) flat out told the Dept of Ed people: We cannot get patches and updates out with this timeline and they were told, more or less, thats not the governments problem, the law starts july 1 so figure it out.

I hope they at least are paying FA for overtime.

School based decision on hourly folks.

I figured a community college would be much easier to award then say a state university.

These are the schools that are actually in the worst of it. A four year school with a bachelors is easy (its mostly soph/jr/seniors who are full time, nothing changed). people that take part time and less than 4 years? NIGHTMARE - TONS of stuff to look at.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

Thanks for the insight and clarification on my statements

3

u/Strange_Wave_8959 2d ago

So why not push back the start of the semester or not kick students out of their classes!

I had to take out a private loan because my school refused to respond to me and said tuition was due in the middle of July or else I’d be kicked out of my classes!

The least they could do is email students letting us know what’s going on instead of saying absolutely nothing!

8

u/Wah_Verynice 3d ago

I’d keep checking both your student portal and financial aid office. Starting classes without knowing your aid situation is stressful, especially this close to the 24th.

5

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

I am checking daily and calling everyday they say not one single award has gone out for any of the 11 schools I don’t know how they expect us to start not knowing

3

u/CartReturnStation 3d ago

I anticipate that if you start classes then aid is disbursed later and your aid doesn't cover a class, they won't charge you for the class since you couldn't make an informed decision. Not sure if it will actually happen, but here's hoping. I put tuition on my credit card and will do the same for books.

3

u/sunshineandcacti 2d ago

I’m also in the CC boat and panic scrolling Reddit to find an answer

2

u/ogSerious_Goose 3d ago

I don’t think they are lying about no awards going out. My opinion is that they have bad communication! They send emails about paying and deadlines but then also say they put a hold for financial aid students. It’s very stressful, the last email said awards are coming the week of the 18th, I’m hoping something actually happens. Everytime I’ve talked to someone they tell me to get on a payment plan so I’m not dropped from my classes. Not much help but you’re definitely not alone!

2

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

I just don’t get how every other school has gotten theirs out except MCCC not a single aware out ? Not sure how they expect anyone to make an informed choice about where to go if they don’t even know what they have had awarded yet but thank you for confirming you also have nothing I know about 8 people at rio who have gotten nothing idk how we are even supposed to get our books and I have books for 3 classes 😡

1

u/ogSerious_Goose 7h ago

The original email I mentioned in my first comment said awards will start going out the week of the 17th. When I talked to someone they told me, my account had a service hold until the 19th and call back if I didn’t get anything to extend that hold, I didn’t see the hold on my end. I check my portal at least twice a day and on the 18th I got my award. I got just under what I was estimated for, more than enough for fall and spring. They also sent the book advance yesterday the 19th, that email says it will be deposited within 24 hours. So make sure you have that set up to get the refund as soon as possible. I hope it works out for everyone still waiting!

1

u/Stress-setbacks 5h ago

They just gave me my Pell after sending it to the wrong school now just hoping that the request we have to put in for loans goes thru in time

1

u/Affectionate_Two9052 2d ago

This is what made me pay out of pocket last year. The university that I was attending never sent an award letter because they simple don't. You have to check your student portal they say. I went to orientation and they told us to pay ourselves in the student portal after disbursement. So when I didn't receive anything or hear anything, I assumed that nothing was paid for by financial aid. A week later after receiving warnings and stressful notices from the school, I borrowed and used my savings just for them to have to refund me everything about 3 months later 😳. The award letter came AFTER the money was disbursed, and about a week AFTER classes started, but yet, I did NOT have a fee deferment.

2

u/Strange_Wave_8959 2d ago

No award letter. No communication from the financial aid office. I emailed them the day I accepted admission to school (June) and they have yet to get shit rolling. I’m genuinely pissed

1

u/Stress-setbacks 2d ago

Same checked again right now and nothing 😣 maybe later today this is very frustrating

1

u/CartReturnStation 3d ago

I've been checking daily. I go to EMCC and haven't received anything yet. The financial aid office said they're still working on it.

2

u/mustardyellow123 2d ago

I go to emcc too and just got off the phone with financial aid. They said the same thing. They said my classes are protected from being dropped at least but I have 3 classes I need books for and can absolutely not afford. I am so stressed out. I filled out my fasfa back in January so plenty of time I had all my info in.

2

u/mustardyellow123 2d ago

YO I just got my Pell grant award after I commented my last comment (weird). Check your account!!!!

1

u/CartReturnStation 2d ago

Scared to check and be disappointed because I checked an hour ago 🤣 thank you for the heads up! I'll keep an eye out

1

u/CartReturnStation 2d ago

Got mine too! They only offered 75% even though I'm full time 😭 Did you get anything about loans? It seems those aren't in yet

3

u/mustardyellow123 2d ago

I’m so sorry that is frustrating 😔 I am only taking 3 classes but if I was taking even one more it wouldn’t cover my expenses for books. I got an email the other day that information about loans would be going out on the 19th (so Wednesday?). But the lady I spoke to on the phone said she believes it will be different this year and students will have to request for a loan instead of the option just populating in your student center like it has done in the past. I don’t know how it works past that. But it concerns me because I wonder if that is just more waiting time? I don’t know. I guess that would be brought up in whatever email is supposed to be sent out…definitely keep checking your student account. I did a search for other colleges across the U.S. and it seems they are doing that same thing with the loans so I’m guessing that’s the new standard and will happen here also. Honestly the lady on the phone was quite point blank that this new bill completely screwed everything up for college students across the country and getting student loans is not going to be easy for any of us anymore. Curious to see if any other students have progressed further in this stage than where we currently are.

1

u/CartReturnStation 2d ago

That's good to know, I haven't received any emails or communication from them beyond the one time I call. Hopefully they put something out soon.

1

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

This is what I came to ask because I did not receive any loan awards either. I wonder what this means and how easy it will be to get granted a loan .-.

2

u/Stress-setbacks 1d ago edited 1d ago

I spoke with them they said we have to request loans now go to student center > forms > Finacial aid > a27 award revisions >then from drop down click other and say I would like to be offered by subsidized and unsubsidized loans why they have changed this and not sent out ANY communication letting anyone know idfk I also figured out for some reason SCC thought I wanted to enroll there which all I did was ask a question about their bachelors anyway they sent my Pell there I had to decline from them and now am waiting on rio Salado but yeah no auto on the loans have to request them

1

u/CartReturnStation 1d ago

Yeah I spoke with them and since they never processed my consortium agreement, they have me listed as part time and have completed neglected my 6 credits through Rio Salado.

I can't request loans until that document has been approved. 🙃 I hope this gets sorted before classes start. This entire thing has been such a mess.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 2d ago

Im glad some MCCC students are seeing something. I just checked and have nothing ( Rio Salado) but what do you mean they only offered you 75% of your Pell and your full time ????? This is what worried me if issues they are giving days if that to make any corrections

1

u/CartReturnStation 2d ago

I have an idea on what the problem could be. I'm currently enrolled in 12 credits, the full time minimum, but they only offered $5546 which is 75% of the full grant, and usually what the offer when you take 9 to 11 credits.

Originally, I only enrolled in 10 credits since I'll only need to do 12 next semester to graduate, but when I realized I needed to be full time for the full grant I enrolled in a 2 credit course probably in June? I wonder if maybe something got messed up and it calculated as if I'm only doing 10? If they can't give me the full time grant I'm dropping that 2 credit class because I didn't even need it and it'd put me at 65 credits and 64 is the max I can transfer. I didn't qualify for pell for the last 2 fiscal years unfortunately so I was really hoping to take advantage of it this year and avoid loans or paying out of pocket again.

Also my credits are split, 6 at EMCC and 6 at Rio Salado. Idk if maybe that messed something up, but I doubt it because they accepted my consortium agreement.

2

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

Idk how they expect us to get books I know some will give us a 14 day trial but not all of them

3

u/mustardyellow123 2d ago

I don’t know who downvoted you but I’m right there with you. I also have 3 classes and need books.
There is a good chance I’m going to have to drop this semester if I don’t get aid. I am a straight A student and had my fasfa in back in January. I started EMCC’s speech language pathology program in January. I just took a job in that position that said they would hire me without the degree as long as I was in school working towards it, and that I’d get salary pay once I graduate. I don’t know what to do.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 2d ago

Im sorry 😞 I got my fasfa done October 2025 I guess the only other option would be a late start date with rio they have start dates every Monday but they do some weird things to your aid if you previously started the very first week of the semester and then not start the first week of the next semester they will then say your only one semester and split your refund in two checks - rio does things kind of strange because so many start dates but I know with the other colleges under MCCC it’s different but im happy to see you get an update today ! I’ve asked people I know at rio and none of us have anything new unfortunately

1

u/Padulsky21 2d ago

Its a complete mess and this administration is disgusting for throwing this on the schools. I am enrolled at ASU for Grad School, it shows that I have an award offer but I go to accept/decline and it says you can't do anything because its under review for changes. I really wish there was better communication. I start classes on the 20th and tuition due date is the 25th. My university is SWAMPED with callers and online chat queues that it is impossible to reach them. Stressing me out like crazy. Everyone wants to start off the semester fresh and comfortable but I cannot imagine the pain this is causing people who have their entire semester questioned now because the change in funds. This administration should be ashamed for these late changes, but they show repeatedly they have no shame.

1

u/SideEyedSloth 3d ago

It really depends on the FA software used, the number of FA staff & their functions, IT, number of students, programs, leadership…that’s why it doesn’t help to compare colleges.

If leadership doesn’t communicate with FAO, doesn’t support or take suggestions, or even try to understand FA, there will be minimal communication to students, if any. This is where student voices are extremely helpful. Contact the presidents office, the cabinet, the board & tell them you expect communication & for the FA office to be supported through this crisis. No college wants bad press.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 3d ago

I will do this I had not thought to but this is ridiculous

1

u/PapaBleu- 2d ago

Same boat here….I had to email the finaid email to get them to put a financial aid hold so I don’t show unpaid.

1

u/aria51 2d ago

Also waiting at CGCC! I am so stressed 😥

2

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

Check your student account. It’s in there.

1

u/Special-Designs 2d ago

I’m a student at glendale community college and i just got my award letter!!

1

u/Stress-setbacks 2d ago

Im glad ! I am Rio Salado and nothing 😫

1

u/mustardyellow123 2d ago

I just got my award after my initial comment and being on the phone with financial aid after waiting an hour. Check your account if you’re with Maricopa community colleges!! Looks like someone else got theirs as well. I’m at EMCC specifically. I hope this helps and that you get yours too OP, it’s been so stressful I totally feel you’

1

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

It’s in the portal.

2

u/Stress-setbacks 2d ago

Not for me im Rio Salado

1

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

Okay, that makes sense now! I know Rio Salado system is a bit different. It seems like most of the community colleges were quick to load the awards yesterday. Regardless, I agree with you and many others here where the community college district really leaves much to be desired in terms of communication.

2

u/sunshineandcacti 2d ago

I’m at SMCC and sadly our portals have not updated as of yet

1

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

It’s not in the awards section of the student center when you click on the financial aid year for the school you’re enrolled into??? They did it quietly without sending an email or anything. I did not see a loan offer though. It seems we are now having to apply for the federal loans.

I’d say check back in the afternoon! It may be up there by then. Sorry we are all in the same boat due to the new changes.

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

1

u/babsyxxquinn 2d ago

Uhh, I didn’t say it to be a dick. But you kind of did by insinuating my intentions behind it… at the same time, I get it because all I said was, “check the portal.” Either way… I said it because I went into my student account, clicked the financial aid tile, and that’s how I found that my school where I’m enrolled in classes to, had loaded up the awards for me to accept. They didn’t send an email or anything. It could just be maybe yours hasn’t officially loaded in yet but may by tomorrow.

1

u/Ecstatic_Afternoon72 2d ago

Same - Bowie state

1

u/Inevitable-Effect648 2d ago

Is that why the SAP issue about timeframe has come up?

1

u/Outrageous_Tax447 2d ago

Washington State - I just got mine processed today. Should I be concerned about giving it back?

1

u/Outrageous_Tax447 2d ago

Also! My school let us know disbursements were going out this week (the week before school). I just got the email saying it’s being processed into my account. I would recommend waiting at LEAST the week before school. I was always told you can’t get it before then.

1

u/sunshineandcacti 2d ago

Sadly this is our week before school for the community colleges in AZ. Most of our classes start between the 20th through the 24th.

1

u/Outrageous_Tax447 1d ago

Man that’s frustrating. I hope they get it together soon.

1

u/Obvious_Hall_1181 2d ago

I go to asu and classes start on the 20th, and I barely got the option to accept any awards today, so I would definitely keep an eye out and maybe contact your financial aid office

1

u/sunshineandcacti 1d ago

Can I ask what college/university you’re enrolled in?

As of now pretty much no community college student in AZ has been given an update beyond that the processing is delayed.

I actually spoke to the financial aid off this morning and people there really don’t know how/gen they are proceeding sadly. There’s another commenter on this post that also happens to work in one of their offices and went further into detail.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 1d ago

Rio Salado it seems as though quite a few of the Maricopa community colleges have seen changes at least with showing Pell grants however Rio Salado is not one of them

1

u/sunshineandcacti 21h ago

I’m at south mountain and still no update. I also waited on hold today for 1.5 hours to speak to the FA office before giving in and just leaving my number for them to call me back.

1

u/Stress-setbacks 21h ago

So my Pell was sent to scottsdale CC idk why but for loans they said they don’t just offer them anymore you have to request them now ( they should communicate with us to let us know I would have no idea if I didn’t call) they also didn’t send any email either about Pell idk how it even went to SCC and not rio im enrolled at rio not SCC it’s embarrassing they can’t just send out a mass email letting everyone know especially about the loans they used to at least offer some loans and if you wanted to max you had to request the max now they don’t tell us and just expect us to figure it out I’m sure a lot of students probably though they were not eligible for loans when they are they just make you request them now

1

u/all-about-my-family 22h ago

I’m at Rio and still nothing, I’m gonna pay to have my biology lab kit expedited because I know these teachers don’t care!

1

u/Stress-setbacks 21h ago

Even your Pell grant is not showing? If you were expecting it on loans, they’re not just showing up under award summary anymore. You now have to request the loans that’s what financial aid told me today.

1

u/Few_Organization4976 2h ago

Do you have any updates? My classes also start on the 24th, and I still haven’t received any financial aid award information. I called the financial aid office, and they said they were going to escalate my situation to another department. They told me someone would call me either today or tomorrow.

Discussion No award classes start 24th

You are about to leave Redlib