Financial Aid Information for BLET Students
Financial Aid for BLET is awarded based on Clock Hours and the number of weeks completed. Understanding this type financial aid disbursement will help students plan and budget for their courses.
Financial Aid Information for BLET Students
BLET - Certificate Program (C55120)
Regulations governing the payment of Title IV Federal funds (including but not limited to the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, and Federal Direct Loans) changed for students enrolling in the BLET certificate program after July 1, 2011. Students enrolling in BLET will have their federal financial aid and possibly state financial aid, disbursed based on clock hours (actual time in class), not on semester hour credit.
For Federal financial aid purposes, an award year consists of a minimum of 900 clock hours and 26 weeks of instruction. Catawba Valley Community College defines an award year for the BLET program as 900 hours and 27 weeks of instruction. Students will be notified through postal mail via their award letter as to the amount of aid that they are eligible for. Aid will be disbursed based on the clock hours and weeks completed.
Payments of Title IV funds based on clock hours are student driven, not semester driven. Payment of tuition and fees, grading and all other aspects of enrollment are based on semester hour credit. Payment dates may vary for students due to enrollment in the certificate program and absences from class.
Students, who return to the program after withdrawing, will have their award year and payment periods calculated individually. This will exclude previous credit and hours completed that count toward the BLET certificate.
Please note: Students cannot be paid for courses that are not required in their program of study.
Title IV funds are awarded under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that they were originally scheduled to receive. If a recipient of Title IV grant or loan funds withdraws after beginning classes, the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance earned by the student must be determined. If the amount disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, the unearned funds must be returned. If a BLET student withdraws prior to the 60% point of the semester, the return of Title IV funds will be calculated based on the clock hour system.
Students beginning the BLET certificate program must complete 643 clock hours and 27 weeks of instruction.
Note: The payments for clock hour programs are not semester-driven. Payments are student-drive, based on each student’s rate of progression.
All clock hour programs must have a defined Academic Year. The academic year determines the period of time for which Title IV aid will be awarded and disbursed. Catawba Valley Community College has a defined academic year for BLET as 900 hours and 27 weeks of instruction.
Award Year 1: 900 hours and 27 weeks of instruction
First payment period or disbursement will be equal to 35.78% times the annual award.
Students will receive their first disbursement (first payment period) at the beginning of their enrollment into BLET. Students will not be awarded funds for the 2nd payment period until 322 hours and 14 weeks of instructional time are completed.
Second payment period or disbursement will be equal to 35.67% times the annual award. This is the student's final disbursement.
Please Note: Financial aid funds do not cover bookstore or uniform costs because these items cannot be purchased from our campus store. Arrangements to cover these costs must be made by the student.