Payment Periods and Disbursement Procedure For Vocational Certificate (Clock Hour) Programs
The College has defined the clock hour academic year for awarding and disbursement purposes as 900 clock hours and 32 weeks. Federal PELL Grant funds may be used to pay the balance of fees. Federal PELL Grants may also be used to purchase required books and supplies or equipment through the bookstore. Any credit balance remaining will be disbursed to the student via his or her student account in two or more payments, depending on the number of academic years defined in the program. The first payment period begins at the start of the program and ends at the halfway point of the defined academic year.
Prior to the second and all subsequent payments, the student’s hours completed and satisfactory academic progress will be verified. Direct loan disbursements are subject to a 30-day delay prior to disbursement. A student whose Direct loan eligibility has been verified may process a deferment of fees based on the anticipated federal student loan disbursement for first time borrowers. A student whose program of study is a one (1) year certificate have a maximum loan eligibility of 1 1/2 years of subsidized loan eligibility.
Program instructors are responsible for documenting the number of hours of participation, excused and unexcused hours of absence, and the student's satisfactory academic progress during their weeks of attendance. Aid disbursements are based on this reported information.
Federal PELL Grant credit balances are normally disbursed within the first fourteen (14) days of each payment period after student participation in the clock hour program has been documented by the instructors. Depending on the program ,there are two or more payment periods. Programs with one academic year will have two payment periods, while programs that have a second academic year will have more than two payment periods. The student may access his or her Fee Details and Financial Aid Summary screen via the secure login to Spyglass at www.pensacolastate.edu.