Office Hours
Summer
May 22, 2017 – August 10, 2017
Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Fridays
Regular
August 14, 2017 – May 18, 2018
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Office hours are subject to change
Important Information
Fall 2016 BOG Fee Waiver Changes
The Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver is available for eligible students at California community colleges and will waive the per-unit enrollment fee at any community college throughout the state.
Once students have qualified for the BOG Fee Waiver, it is important to meet the academic and progress standards in order to avoid losing the fee waiver.
Academic – Sustain a GPA of 2.0 or higher
If the students cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two (2) consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters), students may lose fee waiver eligibility.
Progress – Completion of more than 50% of your coursework
If the cumulative number of courses students successfully complete falls below 50% in two consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters), students may lose fee waiver eligibility.
Combination of Academic and Progress Standards
Any combination of two consecutive terms of cumulative GPA below 2.0, and/or cumulative course completion less than 50% may result in loss of fee waiver eligibility.
How will I be notified?
Students will be notified within 30 days of the end of each term if students are being placed on either Academic (GPA) and/or Progress (Course Completion) probation. The notification will include the information that a second term of probation will result in loss of fee waiver eligibility. After the second consecutive term of probation, the student may lose eligibility for the fee waiver at the next registration opportunity.
FSA ID
The FSA ID – a username and password – has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you may create one when logging in to fafsa.gov. You can use your FSA ID to sign a FAFSA right away. Once the Social Security Administration verifies your information in 1-3 days, or if you have linked your PIN to your FSA ID, you will be able to use your FSA ID to access U.S. Department of Education websites. For help, visit StudentAid.gov/fsaid or call 1-800-433-3243.
E-mail Communication
Throughout the financial aid process, the Financial Aid Office will e-mail students to notify them of the status of the FAFSA application, unsatisfied requirements, a change in financial aid eligibility status and awards. Most of our notifications are sent directly to the student’s e-mail. Students may view the preferred e-mail address in CougarTracks. Please be sure to keep the e-mail address current and check the inbox, spam or junk mail regularly for messages from the Taft College Financial Aid Office. There will be instances when the office will send paper notifications to a student’s mailing address. To assure prompt delivery of your information, please be sure the mailing address is kept current in CougarTracks.
Pell Eligibility
The Federal Government recently established new regulations which reduce the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant from 18 full-time semesters (of it equivalent) to 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). This provision applies to all Federal Pell Grant eligible students effective July 1, 2012.
What does this mean?
Beginning with Fall 2012, a student has 6 years (12 full-time semesters) of total Pell Grant eligibility. This includes all the years the Pell Grant was received prior to Fall 2012. All the years the student has received the Federal Pell Grant will be counted toward the 6 years, regardless of when the student began receiving aid. Students will receive a notice if you are getting close to your limit. If students, have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
