Registration

Registration Procedures for College Credit

Registration of Students on Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education developed new regulations, effective July 1, 2011, in response to the rapid growth of enrollment, debt load and student default rates at postsecondary institutions. The regulations are intended to strengthen the integrity of the federal student aid program and to ensure that taxpayer funds are used appropriately. The College is required to abide by these regulations which include (but are not limited to):

• Return of Federal (or Title IV) Funds and Attendance

  Students must earn their grants by sufficient attendance and progress in classes. If a student does not attend or is a "no show," the student is responsible for paying back the grant funds.

• Retaking Coursework

  Students who pass a course, which is required (or allowed) in their declared program of study on file with the College - known as a major or program/plan - and elect to retake the course can receive Title IV (aka “federal”) assistance for retaking that course a maximum of one time. In the eyes of the federal student aid program, a grade of “D” is passing. Note: Some courses have prerequisites of a minimum grade of “C” earned in the prerequisite course.

• Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid

  Federal financial aid is intended to help students attend college with the goal of completing a credential. Recipients are expected to attend classes, make progress toward their credential and do so in a fairly efficient manner. Ongoing eligibility for federal financial aid requires that students demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of the declared program of study. Ongoing eligibility requires the following:
  
  
  1. Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
  2. Successfully complete at least 67 percent of the coursework attempted (students who fail or withdraw from an excessive number classes fail to meet this criterion).
  3. Complete the declared program of study within 150 percent of the published program length.
     
     
  While Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid have long been in effect, the new regulation requires institutions to review the standards more rigorously. For more information, visit the Standards of Progress Web page at www.seminolestate.edu/financial-aid/standards-of-progress.php.

• Financial aid eligibility is calculated based only on courses required or allowed as electives in the student’s declared program of study.

  It is critical that students obtain an educational plan and adhere to it. Financial aid awards will be based only on the required and allowed courses in the declared program of study listed on the student's record.

For more information about the Federal Integrity Rules, visit www.nacua.org/documents/FR_ProgramIntegrityFinalRule.pdf.

Helpful Information for Students

• Students should consult with an educational advisor to obtain an educational plan during their first semester. Only courses required or allowed in the declared program of study listed on a student's record can be used to determine the financial aid award. Taking courses that are not required or allowed for a degree increases costs and can delay earning a credential.
• Attend classes and keep up with coursework. Students should consult with an academic advisor to review the courses required for a program and the amount of course load recommended to complement other responsibilities.
• Students who work full-time should take no more than two classes at a time to prevent withdrawals or course failures.
• Take advantage of the tutoring, academic advising and other student support services available on each campus.

New Registration Process Informs Students if Courses Are Financial Aid Eligible

Beginning Spring Term 2012, students will be alerted during registration with important information about required and allowed courses listed for their specific program of study. Students will receive a message requesting permission to continue registration if a course for which they are attempting to enroll is outside their program/plan. This process will:

• Assist students in avoiding classes not needed for graduation, and
• Alert students to courses that will not be counted in determining enrollment levels for financial aid purposes.

Students who wish to use their financial aid to pay for tuition must accept their aid and sign a deferment request electronically each term of enrollment. They must carefully read the eligibility criteria associated with each financial aid program awarded to determine the required enrollment levels necessary to receive the awards. By signing a deferment, payment for all classes in which a student enrolls, including classes that are not financial aid eligible, will be deferred to the due date. If a student's enrollment at the end of the add/drop period does not contain the minimum number of financial-aid-eligible courses needed for aid disbursement, he/she will be ineligible for aid and will be required to pay for all of the classes.

If a student chooses to enroll in classes that are not financial aid eligible, based on the program of study, he/she should consult with a financial aid specialist or an academic advisor prior to the end of the add/drop period to determine how this will affect his/her aid eligibility and excess hours for the degree or program. For more information, visit www.seminolestate.edu/financial-aid/eligibility-examples.php or  call 407.708.2045.

First-Time-In-College (FTIC) Registration

First-time registration is by enrollment appointment only. Full- and part-time day and evening students follow the same registration procedures. For students to receive a registration appointment, the following documentation must be submitted to the Admissions Office on or before the first day of registration:

1. Application for admission
2. Residency statement
3. Official high school transcript(s) (in a sealed envelope) and/or GED
4. Official college transcript(s) (in a sealed envelope)
5. Placement test scores (ACT, SAT or PERT) that are not more than two years old
6. Documentation of English proficiency (for students whose native language is not English)

12 Hour Rule

State law requires students to enroll in college preparatory instruction, if it is indicated by placement test results, by the time they have registered for their 12th hour of college-credit coursework. Students must continuously enroll in college preparatory courses until they have achieved satisfactory completion of the prescribed remedial coursework.

Attempts per Course

Florida State Board of Education administrative rules limit the number of times a student may attempt a course. An attempt is defined as: student enrollment in a course(s) after the 100 percent refund deadline (add/drop period) date.

Effective with courses taken in Fall 1997 and following terms, students may have only three attempts per course, including the original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals. Upon the third attempt, the student is assessed the full cost of instruction, is not permitted to withdraw and will receive a grade for the course. The student may petition to waive the full cost of instruction due to extenuating circumstances or financial hardship by submitting to the Records and Registration Office an Exemption from Full Cost of Instruction form.

A fourth attempt may be allowed based on major extenuating circumstances. Should the appeal for a fourth attempt be approved, the grades from the third and fourth attempts will be calculated in the GPA and the full cost of instruction will not be waived, per state statute. This is the last opportunity to complete the course, and if the student should stop attending, a grade of "F" will be assigned.

The total attempts limitation does not apply to repeatable courses, such as music, choir and teacher recertification.

Additional Fees for Course Repeats

Effective Fall term 1997, students enrolled in the same college-credit course more than two times must pay fees at 100 percent of the full cost of instruction. Full cost of instruction is equivalent to the tuition fees assessed to non-Florida residents. Upon the third attempt, the student is assessed the full cost of instruction, is not permitted to withdraw and will receive a grade for the course. The student may petition to waive the full cost of instruction due to extenuating circumstances or financial hardship by submitting an Exemption from Full Cost of Instruction form to the Records and Registration Office.  A fourth attempt may be allowed. However, the full cost of instruction will not be waived, per state statute.

Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens

The District Board of Trustees waives any or all tuition and fees for one college credit course per semester (up to four credit hours), for persons 60 years of age or older who are residents of the State of Florida. This privilege will be granted only if such college credit classes are not filled (space-available basis) during the add/drop period of registration. Courses in which students have earned a grade of C or higher may not be repeated unless the course has been designated as repeatable. The College may limit or deny this privilege for courses in programs for which the board has established selective admission criteria. Courses may be taken for credit or audited.

Courses that have selective admission criteria or courses offered through the vocational non-credit or online third party providers are not included under this program. Senior citizen students are financially responsible for appropriate laboratory fees. Only college credit classes qualify for senior citizen waivers and laboratory fees must be paid separately.