Student Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to: 

• Privacy (FERPA). All records and information submitted with your application for financial aid are confidential and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information. 
• Know the correct procedures for applying for financial aid each academic year, reviewing your cost of attendance, and be familiar with the types of aid available. 
• Know how financial need is determined, what criteria has been established for awarding aid, how satisfactory academic progress is determined, and what you have to do to continue receiving aid. 
• Understand the type and amount of aid you will receive, how much of your need has been met, and how and when you will receive your aid funds. 
• View the contents of your financial aid file, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. 
• Know the conditions of any loan you accept. 
• Know the terms, conditions, and pay rate for any work study position you accept. 
• Appeal any decision with our office in regard to your application. 
  Expect notification of your financial aid offer and any adjustments to it. 
• Know where to find information on loans you borrowed, repayment options, and debt management strategies. 
• Certain consumer information. Federal regulations require that institutions provide specific consumer information about the school and about financial aid to enrolled and prospective students. 
• Cancel all or part of your federal loan award and/or disbursement.

You are responsible for: 

• Reading all notifications provided to you by the Financial Aid Office, studentaid.ed.gov, NSLDS.gov, studentloans.gov, PHEAA.org and other awarding agencies. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you sign. 
• Completing and correcting application materials to the appropriate agencies within required or recommended time frames. 
• Knowing and complying with the rules governing the aid you receive.
• These rules include but are not limited to: one, you must not be in default on any prior educational loan and two, you must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) due to repayment or adjustment. 
• Providing requested documentation, federal tax return transcripts, W-2s, and any additional information requested by our office. 
• Complying with the conditions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign. 
• Aid may be adjusted based on the number of credits for which you are enrolled as of the Census Date. 
• Using student financial aid solely for direct educational costs and related living expenses. 
• Knowing the financial aid implications of dropping a course or withdrawing from Westmoreland County Community College. 
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress. 
• Keeping your local and permanent addresses current with the Registrar’s Office. 
• Reporting any change in your status, including informing the Financial Aid Office and your loan servicer of changes to your name, address, social security number, and graduation date. You must notify your loan servicer if you transfer to another school, withdraw from school, or drop below half time enrollment in any term. 
• Providing complete and correct information on applications and in response to requests from our office or other awarding agencies. 
• Begin attendance in all of your classes for which you receive financial aid. If you withdraw from or fail a class you did not begin attending, your federal financial aid may be reduced or canceled. Academic attendance includes physically attending class, submitting academic assignments, taking exams, or participating in online discussions that are part of the course delivery. 
• Repay all loans according to your repayment schedule and to contact your loan servicer immediately if you can't make a requirement payment. Should you default on a federal loan you will not be eligible for financial aid. 
• Continue to monitor your financial aid at MyWestmoreland to ensure accuracy in receipt of all information, requested documentation or revised awards.