Financial AId updates & alerts

       

Time to file your 2021/2022 FAFSA OR dREAM app for SPRing 2022 & Summer 2022

AND 2022/2023 FAFSA OR dREAM app  FOR FALL 2022, SPRING 2023 & SUMMER 2023. 

The Academic and FAFSA year for San Diego Mesa College is Fall to Spring, then Summer.  The window to file your FAFSA opens in October each year for the following school year.  

IRS Data Retrieval Update

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) electronically transfers your Federal Tax Return information directly into your FAFSA.

IRS Tax Transcript 

Students that do not use the IRS Data Retrieval when completing their FAFSA online, and who must verify their tax and income information, must provide an IRS Tax Transcript to our office. We can no longer accept copies of federal tax returns (1040EZ, 1040A, 1040). To request an IRS Tax Transcript, students can call 1-800-908-9946 or order it online at www.irs.gov/transcript .

UPDATE FROM IRS

“As an increased security measure, the IRS has implemented the ID.me process for individuals to register on the IRS website for IRS services such as obtaining tax transcripts using the Get Transcript Online service. Starting in summer 2022, the ID.me process will require a photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or passport card. It will also require a selfie with a smartphone or a computer with a webcam. This will limit access to the Get Transcript Online service for students without such forms of ID or smartphone/webcam access.”

IRS Get Transcript Online Tool

Taxpayers can now request their IRS Transcripts directly from www.irs.gov/transcript .

Step 1          Go to www.irs.gov/transcript

Step 2          Click on Get Transcript BY MAIL or Get Transcript ONLINE

Step 3          Verify your purpose by accepting the U.S. Government authorized use disclaimer

Step 4          Enter your information.  After a successful authentication a successfully you may be asked the following: Choose a reason for requesting transcript. For higher education/Student Financial Aid you will select Return Transcript.

Step 5           If ordered by MAIL: Once the IRS Tax Return Transcript arrives in the mail, submit to the Financial Aid Office. If ordered ONLINE: Print the IRS Tax Return Transcript provided to you and submit to the Financial Aid Office.

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Scholarship Alert

Before filling out personal information for scholarship applications look for the privacy information disclosed on their webpage. Using that piece of information decide what is in your best interest. We have received notification that:  “ ScholarshipPoints” and its owner, “Edvisors”, are among a growing number of companies that collect and then sell prospective students’ personal information by offering them a chance at scholarships, or even simply links to other people’s. Known by the sales term 'lead generators,' these companies pass along email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses to marketing partners, such as colleges and textbook companies, and students soon find themselves getting calls and emails they didn’t know to expect.

FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS!!

CSAC Statewide Cash for College Webinars - Virtual Schedule 

the California Student Aid Commission (Commission)
announces upcoming series of Statewide Cash for College Webinars aimed to
provide information to help students and families complete the 2023-24 Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application
(CADAA).

These FREE webinars will be held on:

·   October 5, 2022 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·    November 16, 2022 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·    December 14, 2022 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·   January 12, 2023  5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·   January 25, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·    February 8, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·   February 22, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·    April 12, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·    August 9, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·   August 16, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar
·   August 23, 2023  5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Register for this webinar

The webinars are open to all students and families applying for financial aid. We
will have volunteers answering general questions throughout the session via
chat box. Please share this opportunity with your students. 

 

CA Dream Act 2022-23

Be prepared to complete your Dream Act:

• DREAM ACT user ID/password
• SOCIAL SECURITY number and/or
  INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION number (ITIN) if applicable
• Student and parent taxes for 2020

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 APPEAL WINDOWS & WORKSHOPS - updated December 2021

• Fall 2022 Semester Appeal Submission Window: 7/12/22 thru 11/18/22
• Spring 2023 Semester Appeal Submission Window: 11/14/22 thru 5/05/23 
• Summer 2023 Session Appeal Submission Window: 5/08/23 thru 7/21/23

Completed appeal forms (including all documentation) are due no later than Noon on the end date posted above or your last day of classes for the semester – whichever comes first.  Incomplete appeal forms will not be considered. 

 

 ~CLICK HERE for APPEAL PROCESS WORKSHOP DATES & TIMES

The Financial Aid Office of San Diego Mesa College offers Financial Aid Appeal workshops during each semesters' Appeal Submission windows. The Financial Aid Office highly recommends attending one of these workshops that focuses on the Financial Aid Appeal Process.

Please Note: Attendance at a workshop is not mandatory nor does it guarantee an approval, but may help give you a better understanding of the Financial Aid Appeal process as a tool for potential re-instatement. The information you will learn by attending a workshop prior to submitting your Financial Aid Appeal (such as key terminology, what may constitute an extenuating circumstance, detailed written statement and required supporting documentation), may help you to submit a more thorough appeal or come to an understanding if you don’t have a case for which to appeal.

* * * * * *

Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID replaced FSA PIN
You must create a new FSA ID (Username and Password) to access the Federal Student Aid websites. Click this link, FSA ID, for more information and instructions on how to create your FSA ID.

FAFSA or CA Dream Act required for CCPG Fee Waivers
To receive a CCPG Fee Waiver, you must complete and submit either a FAFSA application or a CA Dream Act application.

Exception: If you are eligible for a CCPG Fee Waiver under Method A (SSI, Cash Aid, General Assistance) you can still submit a paper CCPG Fee Waiver application along with the current qualifying documentation (dated within 60 days) to verify your status. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for other exceptions.

New Consumer Information Webpage
We have a new Consumer Information webpage that provides all of the required disclosures for students as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). Click on this link, Consumer Info to go the webpage.

Course Repetition and Receiving Federal Aid
Students can only receive financial aid for up to 1 repeat of any course with a passing grade (“D” grades are considered passing for purposes of repetition), if the program requires a passing grade of higher than a "D" for transfer or graduation.

Disclosures

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy has changed as of the 2015-2016 school year. The SAP standards have been strengthened and the appeal process is now enforced more rigorously. Please click here to review the new standards.

Certificate Programs (Gainful Employment)

Federal regulations require institutions to provide students with Gainful Employment information for specific certificate programs offered at our college.  Please click on the this link, Certificate Programs, to view the information for each program at San Diego Mesa College.

State Licensure Disclosure Requirement

California State Law AB2086 requires that participating Cal Grant institutions provide prospective students with links to the California State agencies that disclose the passage rate for students required to be licensed in order to work. The following programs offered at San Diego Mesa College require a state license:

• Dental Assisting
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Radiologic Technology

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Please see the headlines below for important information about protecting your financial aid and enrollment status.

Please be wary of phishing for Student Financial Aid

Early one morning a student at Mission College (Santa Clara), reported receiving a phone call from "GrantUniversity.Com.", instructing her to sign-up for Direct Deposit for faster disbursement of her aid. The student gave all of her personal identification and banking info to the caller. Immediately after hanging up, the student second guessed the call contacted the Financial Aid Office and closed her bank account. PLEASE BE AWARE, That at no time will a San Diego Community College District professional call a student and request banking information for Direct Deposit.

• This type of call is NOT authorized, nor is contact information provided by Mesa College Financial Aid or any SDCCD personnel.
• You will NEVER pay the SDCCD to have grants or scholarships awarded to you.
• The SDCCD has developed a Direct Deposit system. Sign into MySDCCD and follow the prompts to sign up for Direct Deposit.

 

*ALERT 6/18/2014 * Cal Grant Scam!

There have been reports to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) that students are being contacted by individuals claiming to be from CSAC and asking for money in order to receive or reserve their Cal Grant award. This is a scam. CSAC will never ask for money or credit card information. Do not provide any information if contacted.

If you have been a victim or target of this scam, please contact the proper authorities such as College Police or the California Attorney General's Office at 800-952-5225.

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Student Health Fees

ALL students are required to pay the student health fee. Students who do not pay their health fee by the due date will be dropped for nonpayment.

The only exceptions to this policy are as follow:

1. Students or students with parents who receive SSI/SSP [not to be confused with benefits from the Social Security Administration], TANF/CalWorks, or funds from the General Assistance Program. If you feel that this may apply to you, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (619) 388-2817.
2. Students who depend solely on prayer for healing. If you feel that this may apply to you, please contact the Admission’s Office at (619) 388 – 2686.

Students enrolled in online classes and residing out of state

Students with a legal or mailing address that is located outside of California and that are enrolled in online (web) classes only, will not be allowed to enroll and will be dropped and as a result will not eligible for federal financial aid. Students that reside in the following U.S. States or Territories are not allowed to enroll:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Washington D.C.
• Wyoming
• American Samoa
• Guam
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• N. Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico

students enrolled in online classes must verify their identity prior to disbursement

Students enrolled in substantially all online classes will be required to provide proof of identity in person at the Financial Aid Office in order to clear their first Grant or Loan disbursement. Students that reside outside of San Diego County may provide proof of identity with an original notarized form and signatures which must be delivered to the Financial Aid Office. Failure to provide proof of identity will result in a hold on all financial aid disbursements.