Rights, Responsibilities & General Information

Rights:

As a student receiving financial aid at College of the Desert:

• The information given to the Financial Aid Office at COD will be treated confidentially as mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Information regarding financial assistance is available, including all federal, state, and institutional aid programs.

• Information regarding the methods by which financial assistance disbursement will be made to the students and the frequency of the disbursements.

• Information regarding the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards that you must meet to receive financial aid and how to re-establish aid eligibility.

• Information on College of the Desert's book voucher program.

• Information on College of the Desert's refund policy and the federal Return to Title IV policy will be made accessible to the student.

• The procedures and deadlines for submitting applications for financial aid will be known to the student.

• All terms of any employment program you participate in will be known to the student.

Responsibilities:

A student receiving financial aid at College of the Desert is responsible for:

• Providing accurate information to the Financial Aid Office.

• Reapplying for financial aid each and every year.

• Completing applications correctly and on time.

• Meeting appropriate deadlines.

• Reading and understanding all materials from the Financial Aid Office and all forms you are asked to submit and sign.

• Requesting assistance if you have questions or do not understand the information provided to you.

• Checking your MyCOD email and Student Self-Service regularly.

• Notifying the Financial Aid Office of any name or address change.

• Knowing and complying with the rules governing your financial aid awards.

• If you will not attend COD, you must drop all classes through Self-Service by the last day to drop full-term classes and qualify for a refund (see Class Schedule), or you will be liable for your fees. After the first day of the semester, you must go through the withdrawal process with the Admissions and Records Office. A student who withdraws during the semester and has received financial aid may be required to repay the funds received.

• Compliance with College of the Desert's refund policy and Federal Return to Title IV Aid policy, should you withdraw from the college (either officially or unofficially).

• Paying registration fees if you do not receive financial aid to cover your institutional charges in full. Failure to pay your remaining balance on time may result in being dropped from your courses and/or inability to register for future terms.

• Being admitted to a degree or certificate program that is eligible for financial aid funds. Certificate programs less-than 16 units and adult basic education are ineligible to receive financial aid.

• Withdrawing with the Admissions and Records Office if you stop attending a class. Withdrawal from one or more courses may result in cancellation or  repayment of all or part of your aid.

General Information:

• College of the Desert reserves the right to review, adjust or cancel financial aid awards at any time due to changes in federal, state, or COD availability of funds.

• Your financial aid offer will be void and/or cancelled if it is based on any error in determining eligibility for aid whether you or the Financial Aid Office made the error.

• Your award may be adjusted or cancelled due to changes in financial aid need, new aid received after you have been initially awarded, unit enrollment at census, state residency, dependency, marital or academic status, or failure to comply with state, federal and institutional regulations.

• Your eligibility for financial aid programs is contingent upon your meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies.

• The amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive is based on your unit enrollment.

• If your financial aid is greater than your total fees, the Business Office will disburse the excess funds to you based on the refund preference you selected.

• If you withdraw from COD, any fee refund due may be returned to the appropriate financial aid program.

• Receipt of federal, state or institutional aid authorizes College of the Desert (COD) to apply your financial aid disbursement(s) to pay for your institutional fees and other educationally-related charges. This authorization will remain in effect through your entire period of enrollment at the College. You may rescind this authorization at any time by contacting the Financial Aid Office.

• Federal regulations allow the College to apply a student’s financial aid automatically to his/her account for allowable institutional charges, such as, tuition and fees.

• Regulations governing financial aid are subject to change at any time without notice.