Admissions & Aid

Rights and Responsibilities

 

You Have the Right to:

  • Know what financial aid programs are available;
  • Know the deadline for submitting applications for each of the programs available;
  • Be informed of financial aid policies and procedures;
  • Know how your financial need was determined and what resources (such as your income, assets, parental contribution, and other financial aid) were considered in the calculation of need;
  • Know how much of your financial aid eligibility has been met as determined by the Financial Aid Office;
  • Know what portion of your financial aid must be repaid, and what portion is gift or aid received from work;
  • Know how the financial Aid Office determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress and what the consequences are if you are not;
  • Know that the SMC Financial Aid Office strictly adheres to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)--which protects the privacy of student educational records. (Parents may request information as to which records FERPA allows them to inspect and review).
  • Know that SMC Financial Aid strictly guards the confidentiality of your information.
  • Request an explanation of the various programs in your financial aid package;
  • Know the terms of any loans you receive, and your deferment, cancellation, and forbearance rights;

You Have the Responsibility to:

  • Complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time;
  • Provide correct information. Misrepresentation of information on financial aid applications is a violation of Federal law and may be a criminal offense;
  • Return all documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application in a timely manner;
  • Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign and keep copies of them;
  • Accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign;
  • Repay all loans including the interest on those loans;
  • Perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a Federal Work-Study award in a satisfactory manner;
  • Be aware of refund and repayment procedures;
  • If you are a recipient of a student loan, notify your lender and Santa Monica College of any changes of address, name and/or enrollment status;
  • If you have a loan, attend an annual Loan Exit Interview;
  • File all required student loan deferment or cancellation forms on time;
  • Report any change in the information used to determine your eligibility, including name, family size, or financial resources;
  • Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if you withdraw from school or reduce enrollment.
  • Have transcripts sent directly to the Financial Aid Office. Student issued transcripts even if sealed WILL NOT be accepted

This information can also be found in the Santa Monica College, Financial Aid Handbook