Types of Financial Aid Available
State Grant & Scholarship Programs
HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) is a program for Georgia residents that provide financial assistance in degree, diploma, or certificate programs at any eligible Georgia post-secondary college. There are three financial aid grants available through this program at WGTC.
The HOPE Grant is available to Georgia residents who are pursuing a certificate or diploma. There is no high school graduation date, grade point average, or income restriction to receive this grant. The primary requirement is Georgia residency for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to enrollment; some exceptions may apply. HOPE Grant covers 95 credit hours of tuition and $50 of mandatory fees and provides a book allowance of $50 for 5 or less credit hours and $100 for 6 or more credit hours per quarter.
The HOPE Scholarship pays for degree level classes and is available to Georgia residents who graduated from a Georgia high school in 1993 or later and deemed a HOPE Scholar upon graduation. Beginning July 1, 2008, all students not graduating from a Georgia High School must be a Georgia Resident for 24 consecutive months before being eligible for the HOPE Scholarship program. Georgia residents who do not meet these requirements may become eligible for the HOPE Scholarship after completing 45 hours of degree level courses that will transfer into their program of study and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the degree level coursework. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office and complete a HOPE Evaluation form to determine if they qualify as a Nontraditional HOPE Scholar. HOPE Scholarship pays for 190 credit hours of tuition, $50 of mandatory fees, and provides a book allowance of $50 for 5 or less credit hours and $100 for 6 or more credit hours per quarter.
Continued eligibility is checked at the end of each 45-hour segment (45, 90, 135 credit hours) and at the end of spring quarter. There will also be a three-term check point for all HOPE Scholar First Tier students who are enrolled for less than 12 hours for three consecutive quarters. Students who have already earned a Bachelor’s degree are not eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship.
The HOPE GED Voucher is a one-time $500 award given to Georgia residents who earn a General Education Development (GED) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia. This award can be used toward tuition, books and other educational costs at any eligible Post-secondary college in Georgia. Any funds not used for books or supplies will be refunded to the student during the quarter. The HOPE GED Voucher recipient must have a HOPE application or FAFSA on file to be eligible. HOPE GED VOUCHER recipients are eligible for the HOPE Grant during the same term. The voucher must be used within 24 months of its issuance.
The HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservist and their Offspring Scholarship) that is a non-need based and afforded to members of the Georgia National Guard (GNG) and US Military Reservists (USMR) who served in combat zones outside the US along with their children and the surviving spouses of such members. Students must be HOPE eligible and have served 181 consecutive days in a combat zone after May 3, 2005. Children of USMR or GNG must be under 25 years of age to qualify. The award may be used for any educational expense. An award of $2,000 yearly for a maximum of $8,000 is available to full time students and prorated for school terms for less than 12 hours. A military form DD214 or other documents certifying eligibility along with the HERO Application is to be submitted to the Financial aid Office.
The LEAP Grant (Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership) is an academic award given to students who are residents of Georgia and enrolled in 6 or more hours. Student must be eligible for Pell. LEAP is not paid summer quarter.
The Georgia Public Safety Memorial (GSPSM) Grant program provides non-repayable grants to eligible Georgia residents who are dependent children of Georgia law enforcement officers, prison guards, fire fighters, or emergency medical technicians who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. The amount of the award covers the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received by the student. The student applicant must be the natural or adopted child of a public safety officer who meets the eligibility requirements of the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Georgia Board of Public Safety on the date of the accident or event from which death or permanent disability resulted.
The GPSM Grant is payable during the normal academic year, and also during the summer term. Recipients are eligible for a maximum of 12 quarters of attendance.
The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant program provides non-repayable grants of $2,000 per academic year to eligible Georgia residents who are dependent children of Georgia law enforcement officers, prison guards, or fire fighters who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. The student applicant must be the natural or adopted child of a law enforcement officer, prison guard, or firefighter who was employed by the State of Georgia or any county, municipality, department, board, bureau, branch, agency, commission, authority, or political subdivision of the State on the date of the accident or event from which death or permanent disability resulted. The accident or event must have occurred while performing the duties he or she was assigned in the normal course of employment.
The LEPD Grant is payable during the normal academic year. The maximum aggregate amount a student may receive from this program during his or her undergraduate study is $8,000.
Federal Grants & Work Programs
The PELL Grant is a federal need-based grant. PELL is awarded depending on income reported on the various IRS 1040 tax forms, the number of people in the student’s household, number of students in college and the number of classes taken at the college. Eligible applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to receive any federal grants. A program of study must have 480 contact hours to be eligible for PELL, which eliminates many certificate programs.
PELL awards are calculated based on the number of credit hours. Students must attend classes for 60% of the quarter before they are eligible for the full PELL award. Dropping classes before the 60 percent timeframe reduces the award to the percentage that the student attends. Attending 20 percent of the quarter will reduce the PELL award to 20 percent of the original award. This reduction may cause students to owe a refund to WGTC should they totally withdraw from WGTC before the end of the quarter. PELL refund checks representing any left-over federal funds not needed for college charges are traditionally paid within the first four weeks of the quarter. If a student’s PELL File is not complete due to missing information or verification requirements it may take an additional 2 weeks to complete the PELL process.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant available to PELL eligible students. Funds are limited and are awarded to students with the greatest financial need
(those having a 0 EFC number). A separate application must be completed in the Financial Aid Office.
The Academic Competiveness Grant (ACG) is awarded to PELL eligible students that graduated from High School after May 2005. The student must have graduated from a rigorous high school curriculum as defined by the Georgia Department of Education. After high school graduation, the student must be enrolled in at least six hours of credit in a certificate, diploma or degree program at WGTC. Students are eligible for ACG for $750 in their first year of classes to a maximum of 47 hours, while ACG2 offers $1,300 for the next year of classes (48-96 hours).
The Federal Work Study program (FWS) is a federal work program that allows eligible students with demonstrated financial need to earn money for educational expenses. Funds are limited and awarded on a first come, first-served basis. Pay rates vary depending upon work experience with students allowed to work on average 150 hours per quarter. A separate employment application must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. The Career Services office places students in available positions and the Human Resources Department at WGTC processes new students for payroll. Students working in a reading tutor role will be required to complete a criminal background check.
Other Types of Financial Assistance
Veteran Education Benefits
Veteran Education Benefits are provided through the Montgomery G. I. Bill, Survivors and Dependents Benefits and Veterans’ Rehabilitation Benefits. Most of West Georgia Technical College’s programs are approved for Veteran Educational Benefits with several certifying officials available in the Financial Aid Department for veterans’ needs.
Veterans and other eligible students receiving Veterans Administrative (VA) educational entitlements are required to comply with the admissions, academic, and attendance regulations that have been established for all students at WGTC. In addition, those receiving VA benefits must:
1. Seek credit for all previous training or experience that could be applicable to their chosen program of study. VA regulation 14253 requires all previous training be evaluated for possible credit. A transcript or other documentation of training must be submitted with the individual’s eligibility papers. The school will give written notice granting or denying such credit.
2. Once admitted to WGTC, the veteran must comply with the college’s attendance regulations and report any schedule changes that could affect their status with the VA. Such changes include notifying the certifying official of the following:
- Dropping or adding courses
- Transferring from full- to half-time status or vice versa
- Changing programs of study
- Withdrawing from school without filing the proper withdrawal forms in Admissions.
Applications and Forms are readily available in the Financial Aid Office. Certifying Officials in Financial Aid will provide counseling and help filling out any forms. Students receiving VA benefits must adhere strictly to their program of study. Program change forms 22-1995 or 22-5495 and enrollment change of status forms 22-1999b must be filed promptly to avoid personal liability resulting from over-payment of VA benefits.
VA benefits are based on the number of credit hours taken per quarter, 12 hours is full time:
12 or more…… 100% payment of monthly
9-11 ……………. 75% payment of monthly
6-8 ……………… 50% payment of monthly
1-5 ……………… 25% payment of monthly or the cost of tuition and fees
For more information regarding VA Education Benefits view the website www.gibill.va.gov or contact the VA hotline at 1.888.442.4551. Contact WGTC’s VA Certifying Official at (770) 947-7263.
Vocation Rehabilitation
Funds provided may cover the cost of training at WGTC for students with certain permanent disabilities that prevent employment. Vocational Rehab offers services which may include counseling and guidance, college or university training, work readiness and on the job support. A student who is eligible for Vocational Rehab funds must also meet WGTC’s admission requirements and must apply for financial aid.
Apply at the following offices of Vocational Rehabilitation:
- Carrollton Office (770) 836-6681
- Newnan Office (770) 254-7210
- LaGrange Office in the DFACS building on 1220 Hogansville Road, (706) 298-7270
Dislocated workers may be eligible for additional benefits through the Trade Readjustment Act/Trade Assistance Act (TRA/TAA). Contact your local Department of Labor for more information.
Georgia Fatherhood Program
The Georgia Fatherhood Program provides assistance to non-custodial parents (male or female) for job placement, educational workshops, career counseling and some financial assistance.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps Education Awards are accepted at WGTC.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Economically disadvantaged students or displaced homemakers may receive financial assistance with technical skills training.
Contact the WIA representative or the local Department of Labor Offices for eligibility.
- Region I—Coosa Valley RDC, (770) 824-5246 — includes the following counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield.
- Region III—Atlanta Regional Council, (404) 463-3327 — includes the following counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale. Douglas County residents may call for an appointment to meet with someone in Douglasville at (770) 806-2020.
- Region IV-West Georgia Region WIB, (770) 229-9799 — includes the following counties: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson. Carroll and Coweta residents also call the DOL Career Center in Carrollton at (770) 836-6668.
Local Scholarships
Local scholarships are available each quarter for students at West Georgia Tech. Applications for West Georgia Technical College local scholarships are available in the Student Affairs Office and on the scholarship bulletin boards located at each campus. Scholarships and the award amounts vary from quarter to quarter. If a student is awarded a scholarship and does not enroll during the quarter the scholarship is granted, the scholarship will be forfeited.
Book Awards
Federal and State financial aid awards will be credited to the student’s account at the time of registration. HOPE Book funds will be in the bookstore one week prior to the first day of classes for students who have registered during the early registration period and whose financial aid file is complete.
Students may charge against their PELL grant award (50% of award minus any tuition and/or fee charges) to help them pay for books and supplies in the bookstore.
Overaward and Disbursement
Students with a credit on their account after all tuition, fees and books have been paid will receive a refund of their credit balance by the end of the fourth week of the quarter. Pell refunds are mailed to students beginning the 4th week of the quarter and every 14th day thereafter. Should a Pell student withdraw from all classes before the 60% time frame entitlement period, he or she will be required to pay back funds they have not earned. All refunds are issued from the Business Office. All refund checks will be mailed and are not available for pickup.
Overaward and Indebtedness
It is expected that every student will discharge any indebtedness to the college as quickly as possible. When at all possible, WGTC will attempt to resolve the overpayment during the next term(s). If the overpayment is due to student error and cannot be resolved, WGTC must report the overaward to the National Student Loan Data System. Students who are in overaward status are ineligible for financial assistance at any postsecondary college until the overpayment is resolved and will be prohibited from attending classes in future quarters at WGTC. Students are required to repay the over payment received even if it was due to school error. Most awarding errors are due to the dropping of courses, non-attendance or inaccurate information on the financial aid application.
Refund & Repayment Requirements
Recipients of financial aid who withdraw, drop out or otherwise fail to complete the period of
enrollment for which they were charged tuition and fees are subject to Federal refund and repayment requirements. The refund and repayment requirements apply to Federal aid programs. One hundred percent (100%) of the financial aid award will be returned to specific financial aid programs for students who do not attend through the three-day, drop-add period.
Students receiving Federal Title IV Funds financial assistance (PELL, ACG, and FSEOG) who completely withdraw from all classes during the quarter are subject to a refund of a portion of the award. The percentage of the award to be refunded will depend on the student’s formal withdrawal date, or the last recorded date of class attendance provided by their instructor, if the student drops without filing the drop formal paperwork.
If the student drops before the 60 percent point in time of the enrollment period for which they were awarded, the amount refunded must be calculated using the Federal R2T4 withdrawal refund calculation.
For example, if the student completes 30 percent of the payment period of enrollment, then the student has earned 30 percent of the originally scheduled financial assistance. Once more than 60 percent of the enrollment period is completed, a student is entitled to the full amount of the award. The Business Office will distribute refund checks to eligible students.
Student must repay any and all debts to the college before they are allowed to register for classes in future quarters at WGTC.
