King College > About Us > Right To Know > Financial Aid Policies

Financial Aid Policies

The purpose of financial aid at King College is two-fold-to provide financial assistance to students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend college and to recognize and reward those students who have demonstrated superior achievement.

The college is able to fulfill this purpose partially because of the gifts of many individuals, groups, and churches who have supported King through the years. In addition, the college participates in federal and state student assistance programs.

A completed application for financial aid at King College includes the following:

1. Formal acceptance for admission to King College as a regular degree-seeking student.
2. Completion and submission of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with the indication of King College as one of the colleges you would like to attend. The complete address of the College, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, Tennessee 37620, should be used on the form with the code 003496. The financial data on this form should be taken from the completed tax return for the previous year. For example, a student enrolling for the 2004-2005 academic year will be using a completed 2003 tax return to complete the FAFSA. Early application will ensure receipt of all funds for which the student is eligible. The priority application deadline for completion and processing of the FAFSA is March 1. If it is at all possible, tax returns should be completed before this date. If tax returns cannot be finalized, complete the FAFSA based on estimated income data which can be corrected later so that the application will have an early processing date. Tennessee residents should submit the FAFSA by mid-February to ensure processing before the funding cutoff.
   It is very important to complete the FAFSA carefully with accurate data. Mail it by the priority deadline of March 1. King College will check your completed form for you if you make an appointment and if you can bring tax return copies with you. Be careful to use an accurate social security number, write legibly, and complete the entire form.
   The FAFSA is processed using a federal formula which determines the family's ability to pay. Eligibility for Federal Pell Grant, State Grant, and other federal financial aid programs is determined by processing this form. The processing results provide the College with information needed to distribute institutional sources of financial aid funding.
3. When the FAFSA is processed, students will receive a Student Aid Report. This should be kept with other financial aid papers for reference.
4. Copies of student and parent tax returns should be available if requested for verification of data by the Financial Aid Office.

Unique financial circumstances should be reported to the Financial Aid Office on the King College Request for Special Consideration form. These will be considered on an individual basis.

Financial Aid for summer terms may be available but usually in the form of student or parent loans. Summer term fees are discounted and the College cannot offer institutional grants or scholarships to already discounted fees. Occasionally there will be some Pell Grant funds which can be used to offset summer costs.

Special note about the Tennessee State Grant: Students who are residents of Tennessee who are eligible for the Pell Grant may also be eligible for the Tennessee State Grant. This can be a significant amount of money. It is imperative that Tennessee students who wish to be considered for the state grant complete all forms including the FAFSA as early as possible. A postmark of February 15 or earlier should ensure that the student's data is processed before the state runs out of money in the program.

Sources of Financial Aid

Over $5,000,000 in total financial assistance is made available each year to King College students. Most students will be offered a combination of grants, scholarships, work, and loans. Student loans are always offered as a source of financial assistance when need is demonstrated. Work opportunities on campus are numerous.

In addition to King College and external sources of assistance, the College participates in the following federal and state programs of financial assistance:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Federal Perkins Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan)
• Federal Stafford Loan (formerly Guaranteed Student Loan)
• Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Federal Work Study Program (FWS)
• Federal PLUS Loan for Parents
• Tennessee State Grant

Students should always investigate outside sources of money for college. Many businesses, civic organizations, churches, etc. offer scholarships and loan programs. For those who are eligible, money is available from veterans benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and Army ROTC. High School guidance offices often have lists of available scholarships in the community.

Financial aid resources are credited to the student account in the following order: Pell Grant, State Grant, Outside Scholarships, Institutional Grants and Scholarships, and Loans. Grants are not awarded in excess of tuition, fees, and books for commuters OR in excess of tuition, fees, room and board, and books for residents. Cash refunds for living expenses, if made, are from loan sources.

Summer Research Scholarships

Summer research scholarships were instituted in 1961 under a grant from the Research Corporation of New York for the improvement of instruction in natural science and mathematics at King College and have been continued by grants from the National Science Foundation and other supporting foundations. Under such grants, outstanding juniors may receive a stipend for summer study and research at the College, where they work with a faculty member on a research project. During the senior year the research is continued in a Special Topics course, and this research will be the subject of a senior thesis which will be presented to the Interdepartmental Science and Mathematics Seminar. The successful student will receive the citation "Honors in Independent Study" on the diploma.

Policies and Practices Governing
Student Financial Assistance

1. Financial Aid is awarded for one academic year, usually for two semesters. Aid eligibility is re-evaluated each year, and new applications must be submitted annually.
2. In most cases financial assistance will consist of part grant/scholarship, part work, and part loan. The amount allocated to the student in any of these three categories may vary from year to year.
3. Scholarship recipients will renew their scholarships contingent upon achieving the required cumulative grade point average at the end of the previous year. Current students who receive early award notification for the next fall semester may have the award cancelled or modified if final grades in the spring do not reflect the required cumulative average GPA. Loss of scholarship when demonstrated need is present may result in the replacement of the scholarship with need based grant.
4. Awards will be disbursed as credit to the student account as follows: 50% at the time of fall registration and 50% at the time of spring registration excluding student employment. Money earned through student work-study employment is paid monthly, directly to the student. The amount of money earned depends upon the number of hours worked by the student.
5. If a student is dismissed from a job because of unsatisfactory performance, he or she may be denied campus employment for the remainder of the academic year or in future years.
6. The awarding of financial aid and tuition remission is contingent upon the student continuing to make satisfactory progress. All students receiving financial assistance will be expected to complete a minimum of 12 hours per semester in order to be considered eligible for financial aid on a full-time basis, 9 hours for three quarters time, and 6 hours for half-time. Students receiving aid will need a cumulative 1.6 at the end of the freshman year at King College, a cumulative 1.8 at the end of the sophomore year, a cumulative 2.0 at the end of the junior year and above. Academic and athletic standards of performance are similar but not identical. Students must be in good standing in all areas to remain in school and receive financial aid.
7. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right on behalf of the College to review and change an award at any time because of changes in financial or academic status, change of academic program, or because of the recipient's failure to observe reasonable standards of citizenship.
8. A recipient of financial assistance should notify the Financial Aid Office of any additional aid needed, or of any other significant change in circumstances which affects his or her financial situation.
9. After the awarding of aid the student should report in writing to the Financial Aid Office any additional aid which he or she receives from outside sources (loans, outside scholarships, state grant, etc.).
10. Students who withdraw from the college must notify the Financial Aid Office at the time of withdrawal.
11. A student awarded and accepting student loans as part of a financial aid package must complete other steps before the loan can be received as credit on account. These include, but are not limited to: completion of loan entrance interviews and forms, signing of the promissory note, completion of loan application, etc.
12. Disbursement of federal funds is contingent upon Congressional appropriation and upon receipt of the funds by King College.
13. Endowed financial aid funds are provided by gifts to the College. A student awarded College funds may be required to thank the donor of those funds with a letter. If requested, the letter must be submitted. Failure to adhere to this policy could result in cancellation of this aid.
14. The student expense budget, built under federal regulations, will include the cost of tuition and fees, books, room, board, travel, and a modest but adequate living allowance for personal expenses.
15. If a student is selected for verification by King College or by the federal processor, reasonable efforts will be made to verify personal and financial data submitted by applicants for financial assistance. Included in the required support documentation will be income tax returns and schedules from all dependent students and their parents, and the tax returns of independent students and their spouses. Other documents may also be requested. We must have the forms which we send you signed and returned before we can disburse financial aid money to your account as a credit.
16. Returning students who do not apply by the priority filing date may be penalized by a reduction in their College gift aid or in loan resources in an amount which reflects the funding available. Priority is given to students with early applications. The priority deadline is March 1.
17. Outside scholarships may offset or reduce loans and/or College grant sources.
18. College policy dictates that total gift aid funded by King College generally will not exceed tuition for resident students or 60% of tuition for commuters. Total grants offered from all sources will not exceed tuition, fees, room, board, and books for a resident or tuition, fees, and books for a commuter.
19. A financial aid recipient must be a regular student, accepted for admission, pursuing a qualified degree or certificate. Institutional scholarships and grants are pro-rated for students enrolled less than full-time. Fees are already discounted at that level of enrollment. Any change in enrollment or housing status may result in a modified award package.
20. Student's enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by King College may be considered enrollment at King College for the purpose of applying for Title IV assistance.
21. Students should have enough cash on hand to pay for books and living expenses for the first few weeks or months of the semester even if a refund is expected from financial aid funds. No refund is given until the drop/add period is over for each semester. Refunds are not given until all paperwork is finalized, including receipt of student aid reports, receipt of state grant check, receipt and endorsement of student loan, completion of verification, etc.

Satisfactory Progress Policy

This standard shall be applicable to all students who receive Title IV aid or institutional aid or tuition remission as an employee benefit. The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended by Congress mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of "satisfactory progress" for students receiving financial aid. King College makes these standards applicable to all institutional funds as well as to all Title IV funds.

Enrollment Status Financial aid recipients must be regular degree seeking students at King College, working toward an undergraduate Bachelor degree or toward teaching certification. Students must be enrolled at least half time (6 hours) to receive financial aid unless exceptions are made by Title IV regulations for specific federal programs. All students must complete satisfactorily (D or better) a minimum number of hours per year to be considered eligible for financial aid for the next year.

Cumulative GPA Requirement

In order to maintain financial aid eligibility the student must maintain a cumulative grade point of:

1.6 at the end of the freshman year

1.8 at the end of the sophomore year

2.0 at the end of the junior year and consistently each year until graduation

Please note:

• Satisfactory grades are considered to be A, B, C, D, and P
• Unsatisfactory grades are F, W, I, CP, NC, NG
• An incomplete is counted as no hours completed and the attempted hours are calculated as an F.
• Courses repeated to raise a previous passing grade do not count toward hours required for the semester in which the course is being repeated.
• ESOL students, if otherwise eligible, can receive financial aid for a maximum of two years. The ESOL Department evaluates ESOL students for Satisfactory Progress.

The Process

Students are reviewed and notified at the end of each semester. Aid is generally not removed during the second semester, unless the student is on financial aid probation and fails to meet the terms of this probation or the terms of a previous approved appeal. Students will be warned at the end of the first semester if deficient in hours and/or cumulative GPA. At the end of the spring semester a cumulative evaluation is made, based on both fall and spring semesters. Failure to achieve the required hours and/or GPA results in removal of financial aid for the next semester.

Reinstatement of Aid/Making up Deficiencies

1. The student may enroll at his or her own expense in summer terms to make up the deficiency. Hour deficiencies may be made up at another college and transferred back to King College with permission from the King College registrar. The GPA can be raised by courses taken at King College.
2. The student may enroll the next semester at King College at his or her own expense to make up the required number of hours and/or raise the GPA to the required level.
3. The student may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Committee - (see number nine below).

Additional Information

1. Satisfactory Progress requirements are minimum requirements and are not adequate for promotion to the next class level. (See General Academic Information for promotion requirements.)
2. Financial aid will be provided for a maximum of 11 semesters to full time students seeking a degree. Eligible semesters for part time students will be prorated. Tennessee's State Assistance Award is never offered for more than four years.
3. Transfer students who are accepted for admission as conditional because of their previous college record will enter their first semester at King College on Financial Aid Probation. They will be required to make satisfactory progress during their probationary semester - 12 hours completed with satisfactory grades and a cumulative GPA in keeping with the standard for their class level. Semesters of enrollment at the previous colleges will count toward the 11 semesters above (see number two).
4. A freshman accepted conditionally will not be considered to be on Financial Aid Probation.
5. A student who fails all courses attempted in any semester will be removed from financial aid without a probation period.
6. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the Satisfactory Progress Standard, which is printed in the catalog. Students with concern about their status should contact the Financial Aid Office for specific personal consultation.
7. Students at risk academically can receive assistance through college sponsored counseling, tutoring, career guidance, and advising through the LINKing Center.
8. Renewal of financial aid is also dependent on punctual, accurate reapplication and availability of funding sources.
9. If aid has been removed, an appeal can be made to the Financial Aid Committee and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. Appeals should be made in writing within 30 days of the removal of aid OR immediately if removal occurs between the first and second semesters. Appeal may be based on such circumstances as serious illness or accident, death in the immediate family, or change of majors, etc. Supporting documents may be attached (e.g.: doctor's statements). The appeal should be well presented with attention to spelling and grammar and it should include the student's assessment of the problem and the reasons why it will not happen again.