Educational Loans
(Laredo College does not participate in federal William D. Ford Direct Program, State or Private students loans since the fall 2012) All students who have borrowed a federal educational loan must perform an exit counseling in order to stay compliant for federal funding. For more Student Loan information, repayment options and to perform an exit counseling, please visit: www.studentloans.gov or www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Laredo College is committed to support students in succeeding in their federal student loan repayment. To assist, the institution has contracted HigherEDGE® Default Aversion Solutions, (HigherEDGE), an organization that provides borrowers with loan information and support, resources during grace period and throughout repayment.
What is Loan Science?
Loan Science is an organization designed specifically to serve borrowers with federal and private student loans.The benefits of working with Loan Science, a company with significant experience in both federal and private student loan default management include:
The ability to make contact attempts on a more frequent basis, creating more opportunities to provide the personalized assistance your borrowers need.
Industry-leading analytics that allow Loan Science to tailor outreach efforts to specific at-risk populations and provide you with enhanced reporting to illustrate success.
A track record of success when working with institutions with very high cohort default rates.
Loan Science has taken steps to comply with the Department of Education third party servicer regulations.
It's staff understands the repayment process, and their employees are trained to offer help for all types of borrowers, no matter the circumstance. Loan Science is a third-party service provider, not affiliated with any loan servicer or loan holders.
How can Loan Science help you?
Loan Science serves as your guide during grace period and repayment. Loan Science counselors answers student concerns, questions and explains options available to students. Students interested in knowing their servicer, wanting more information about repayment plans, or have concerns about making payments, Loan Science will assist. We have begun working with Loan Science, the leader in federal student loan debt management counseling, and default prevention.
Have questions?
Contact Loan Science at:
Phone: 866.311.9450
Email: contact@loansciences.com
Mailing: Loan Science
P.O. Box 81671
Austin, Texas 78708-9921
Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4)
In accordance with federal law, if a student who has been awarded Title IV aid withdraws, is withdrawn, stops attending, or fails to earn a passing grade in a semester, Laredo College must calculate the amount that must be returned by the institution and/or student to Title IV programs.
If the amount awarded to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, unearned funds must be returned. If the amount awarded to the student is less than the amount the student earned, and for which the student is otherwise eligible, the student is eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement of the earned aid that was not received.
Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Public Law 105-244 (the Amendments of 1998)
Students who completely withdraw from classes and who received federal or state financial assistance MUST refund to the appropriate program(s) a percentage of their aid AFTER tuition, fees, institutional short-term loans and other institutional charges or credits have been paid.
This Return to Title IV (R2T4) refund policy comes into effect when the student completely withdraws at or before the 60% point in time (of the semester) or approximately nine (9) weeks into the semester or four (4) weeks into the summer sessions.
Students who receives an "F_" as a grade for all courses will also be considered for a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation, unless the student can provide documentation of attendance throughout the full 60% of the semester. The Student Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Service Center makes every effort to verify the student's attendance, but ultimately it is the student's responsibility to provide the Student Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Service Center with evidence that he/she attended the class(es).
Failure to return the funds will result in an administrative "hold" being placed on all student records and ineligible for future financial assistance at any institution.
Please refer to the Student Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Service Centers Handbook in the Laredo College's student portal; PASPort (PASPort website) under the "STUDENT" tab in the "LC Financial Aid Forms", for the specific calculation used in determining the amount required to be refunded to the federal government.
Attendance Regulations
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of each student in every class. Responsibility for class attendance rests with the student. A student absent from class bears full responsibility for all material covered in class.
Attendance records will be kept for the first 12 class days during the fall semester and the spring semester, the first two days during Maymester, first four class days during the summer session. Students who fail to attend class during this period will be administratively withdrawn from the course by the instructor. No formal attendance is required after the official census date except in cases where a program is required to keep attendance records by their respective accreditation agency.
Students have the right and the responsibility to initiate a drop request from any course. Requests for withdrawal from a course may be submitted online or at the Office of the Registrar and Admissions.
Students on financial aid will be required to return financial aid funds if a non-participatory grade is received for all classes.
Non-Participatory Grading:
F_ - Failing
NC_ - No credit
NP_ - No pass
NPDV - No pass developmental
NCDV - No credit developmental
Department of Education (DOE) Definitions of Failing grade:
When students are awarded an F or F_ at the end of the semester. The difference is as follows:
- F (Failing) is awarded to students who complete the course but fail to achieve the course objectives or earn a passing grade.
- F_ (Non Participatory Failure) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities.
Department of Education (DOE) definition of Academically Related Activities:
Face to Face Courses:
- Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
- Submitting an academic assignment;
- Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction;
- Attending a study group that is assigned by the school;
- Participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and
- Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studies in the course.
Distance Education Courses:
- Documenting that a student has logged onto an on-line class is not sufficient by itself.
- School must demonstrate that a student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity such as contributing to an on-line discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course related question.
Other Grades (for documentation purposes only):
- NC (no credit) is awarded to students who complete the course but fail to earn credit.
- NC_ (no credit for non-participation) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities.
- NP (no pass) is awarded to students who complete the course but fail to earn credit.
- NP_ (no pass for non-participation) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities.
- Due to the current grading history the developmental courses underscore is opposite of the F grade.
- NP_DV (no credit developmental course) is awarded to students who complete the course but fail to earn credit.
- NPDV (no credit developmental for non-participation) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities.
- NC_DV (no credit developmental course) is awarded to students who complete the course but fail to earn credit.
- NCDV (no credit developmental for non-participation) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities.
Withdrawals
Students are responsible for withdrawing from courses after the official reporting day.
In order to assist with attendance issues faculty may choose to include participation as part of a course grade.
For more information related to Return to Title IV (R2T4) visit the Student Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Service Center at the Fort McIntosh or South Campus.