PTSA
Cal Grant
Cal Grant Policy
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. Cal
Grant applicants must apply for the FAFSA or CADAA by the deadline and meet all eligibility, financial,
and minimum GPA requirements of either program.
Depending on the Cal Grant you receive, the money can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food and even transportation costs to and from classes. You must submit your FAFSA or California Dream Application AND your verified Cal Grant GPA by the March 2.
Eligibility for Cal Grant:
– Meet the California residency requirements.
– Meet U.S. Selective Service requirements
– Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen or be exempt from nonresident tuition.
– Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school. (3.0 GPA for Cal Grant A 2.0 GPA for Cal Grant B)
– Attend an eligible California college or university.
– Not have completed a prior baccalaureate degree.
– Be enrolled at least half time.
– Not be in default on any federal or state education loan or owe a grant refund.
– Submit a completed FAFSA or CAL ISIR (for DREAM applicants) and a verified Cal Grant GPA by the March 2nd, deadline.
– Have family income and assets below the established ceilings.
Understanding my Cal Grant: Please check the link.
https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/understanding_my_cal_grant_-_updated_11.21.17.pdf
Cal Grant Comparison Chart: Please check the link.
https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/cal-grant-program-comparison-chart
Cal Grant Application:
The deadline to apply is March 2nd.
Procedure:
– Complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
– Submit a GPA to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2nd.
– Create a WebGrants Students Account.
– Transfer students should complete the G6 Form and submit to the CSAC.
– You should receive your notification for renewal by mid-July from the Commission. If you are a renewal Cal Grant student and you have not heard from the Commission by August 1, please contact CSAC.
Payments & Disbursements:
PTSA applies student’s Cal Grant Tuition/Fee awards directly to Tuition/Fee charges on the student billing account based on their disbursement schedules.
If the school determines that a student is not eligible, they have the authority to withdraw the award.
Note: To receive a Cal Grant payment, you must be attending at least half-time, provide all necessary documentation to the school, and maintain a Satisfactory Academic Progress as reported by the school.
A student who is denied a Cal Grant their first year may be eligible for the Cal Grant in subsequent years but must file a FAFSA and submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by the March 2nd deadline.
Students are required to submit their financial aid applications on an annual basis. Priority considered for financial aid funds administered by the Financial Aid Officer shall be given to students who submit all required documentation by the assigned deadline. Students must also pass verification, if required.
As a Cal Grant recipient, you may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments.
The duration of your eligibility will be based on your education level at the time you receive your first Cal Grant payment. Your eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment.
PTSA determines education level (EL) at the time of initial payment based on the number of units completed. The EL is based on all accepted transfer units at the institution and established institutional policy.
Grade 1: 0 – 30 semester units or the equivalent
Grade 2: 31- 60 semester units or the equivalent
Grade 3: 61 -93 semester units or the equivalent
Grade 4: 94 or more semester units or the equivalent
Refunds Policy
When a student who receives Federal Student Aid funds withdraws from the PTSA prior to completing 60% of a payment period (Fall and Spring Semesters), the student – after the return calculation – may be required to return a portion of the received Aid within 45 days of the student withdrawing.
A return is only required of those students who withdraw from the school/who cease to be enrolled. A student who reduced his/her course load is considered a reduction and not a withdrawal. A returncalculation is not required for such students.
The required calculation determines a students earned, and unearned Title IV aid based on the percentage of the enrollment period completed by the student. The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the enrollment period.
If the withdrawal date is after the 60% point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student is considered to have earned 100% of the Title IV funds he or she was scheduled to receive during the period. For such a student there are no unearned funds. PTSA will still complete a return calculation in order to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement.
PTSA must determine the student’s withdrawal date. The withdrawal date is defined as:
- The date the student began the withdrawal process or officially notified PTSA of his/her intent to withdraw; or
- The last date of attendance at an academically related activity by a student who does not notify PTSA.
Based on the date of the withdrawal, the Financial Aid Office will determine the actual date of the student’s withdrawal and, using the Return of Title IV form provided by the Department of Education, they will calculate the amount, if any, the student must return. The student will then be notified by mail of the amount the Federal Student Financial Aid stated that they must return. In some cases, both the school and the student may be required to return unused or unearned portions of Federal Aid to the Federal Title IV program.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (“SAP”) is composed of Qualitative Standard and Quantitative Standard.
Qualitative Standard
Students have to maintain a good academic standing. PTSA requires undergraduate students and ELSP students to maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Graduate students are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Repeated courses which the student previously passed are not counted toward satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Quantitative Standard
There are two components in quantitative standard;
(a) Acceptable Passing Rate and (b) Unit and Time Limit to complete an education program.
(a) Acceptable Passing Rate: Excluding transfer units, an overall ratio of units earned at PTSA to units attempted is calculated. Withdrawn and incomplete units are attempted with zero units earned. Students must complete 67% of units attempted.
(b) Unit and Time Limit: To complete the program, no more than 150% of the number of units required can be attempted. For determination of satisfactory academic progress, all attempted units at PTSA are counted. For transfer students, only transferred units that apply to the degree program are counted.
SAP for Undergraduate Students
A full-time status of undergraduate students is obtained by completing a minimum of 12 credits per semester or 24 credits per academic year. A full-time undergraduate student is also required to complete the requirements of 128 credits while maintaining a 2.0 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
A student on Academic Probation who does not successfully remove himself/herself from Academic Probation at the end of three consecutive semesters of Academic Probation will be recommended for dismissal from the institution.
The maximum period granted for the completion is 6 years, 12 semesters (150% of the published length of four years)
Additional Cal Grant Information:
Website: http://www.csac.ca.gov/ Student Website for Cal Grant Status mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp or
www.webgrants4students.org
Phone 1-888-CA-GRANT
