Expenses and Financial Aid

In addition to usual registration expenses, other expenses may be incurred by students during the semester. The following are examples of charges that may be payable when incurred:

Credit Card/Online Payment

Hinds Community College accepts cash, check, Hinds Debit Card, American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa for tuition and fees. Students may pay tuition and fees online at My.Hinds, in person at a Hinds Business Office, or set up an automatic payment plan in My.Hinds. A payment is plan is available for fall, spring, and summer semesters/terms. See Your Way to Pay for more information.

Payment of Registration Expenses Required according to the date set by the college:

The payment of charges for tuition, fees, room, and board is part of the registration process. All fees are due according to the scheduled date set by the college. Thus, Hinds requires each registered student to have completed one of the following steps:

1. Paid fees in full or
2. Entered into a payment plan for the current outstanding account balance on My.Hinds. For log-in instructions, visit www.hindscc.eduor
3. Have completed all financial aid forms and have a financial aid award amount that can pay all outstanding fees.

Failure to complete one of these steps may result in deletion of your class schedule. A student will then have to re-register for classes which may result in inconvenient times, sections, or locations once payment is made.

Web Payment at My.Hinds on the College website at www.hindscc.edu:

My.Hinds allows students to use the latest technology to complete business transactions with the College at any time. Students may check their account balances or pay tuition and various fees by using a credit or debit card. Parents wanting to access this feature must obtain the student’s login ID and password for the My.Hinds site from their student.

Method of Payment:

Payment of fees may be made online using Hinds Debit Card, American Express, Discover, Visa or MasterCard on My.Hinds. At each campus you may visit the business office which accepts credit cards, money orders, travelers checks, paper checks (subject to approval by Telecheck), and cash.

Payment Plan:

Hinds offers a tuition and fees payment plan which helps in budgeting college costs but requires financial planning by students and their families. Full-time students and part-time students with more than 3 hours will qualify to enroll in the monthly payment plan which will include the cost for tuition, fees, housing, and meals. The deferred payment plan requires the student to:

1. Be enrolled in at least 6 hours
2. Have a valid FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on file (not yet awarded)
3. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students are required to pay all previous term balances to complete the registration process. Students who elect to participate in the payment plan must log in to their My.Hinds account to enroll and complete the necessary documents. See Financial Aid on the College website for more information.

Once the monthly agreement is completed, the student will be immediately charged a $25 set up fee (per semester non-refundable service fee) along with the down-payment amount. Payments thereafter are processed on the 5 th of the month and continue until the balance is paid in full. The deferred agreement will be charged a $25 set-up fee along with the first scheduled payment on the 20 th of the month and continue until the balance is paid in full.

Failure to make timely payments according to the agreement will result in the student’s restriction from future class registration, possibly having the account assigned to a collection agency, and non-release of transcripts.

Clearance of Obligations:

All financial or other obligations to the College must be cleared prior to the end of each semester or term. An outstanding balance for a prior semester or term must be paid before the student will be allowed to register for subsequent semesters or terms. Failure to meet financial obligations to the College could subject the student to additional late payment charges, as well as collection costs.

Withholding of Funds:

If there is an outstanding account balance, and the College has in its possession any funds payable to the student, the College reserves the right to withhold funds necessary to pay the outstanding balance and cover any collection costs incurred. Once accounts are paid, any remaining balance will be refunded to the student.

Student Loans:

Student loans are disbursed in two (2) equal amounts each semester or term. All student loans are disbursed electronically.

Student Financial Aid Refunds:

Each registered Hinds student will receive a BankMobile letter that will include a website and a unique personal code for the purpose of selecting their disbursement method. After all charges are paid, the balance of a student’s refund is credited to their refund selection in quarterly payments during each semester. If a student selects the Hinds Debit Card, it will be mailed to the student, using the address on file with the College, approximately 3 or 4 weeks into the semester. To receive any refunds from the College, a student must have a refund selection. During the activation, the student will choose how to receive his or her refund money. Students have the following options:

1. Once the College releases the funds, they can be directly deposited (ACH) to a third party bank account of the student’s choice (2 - 3 business days)
   If students choose to have their refund electronically deposited to an already existing bank account, the transfer may take 2-3 business days from the day the College releases the funds. Students will receive an e-mail once their refund has been processed. In order to have a refund deposited to their bank account, students will select the preference ACH, a third party bank choice at www.refundselection.com.
2. Once the College releases the funds, they can be directly deposited to the student’s Vibe Account (1 day or less)
   The Vibe account from BankMobile is a fully functioning FDIC insured free checking account that allows students quick and easy access to their refunds. The Vibe account has no minimum balance, no monthly fees, and free internet banking features. With the Vibe account, students can use their Hinds Debit Card to make purchases anywhere Debit MasterCard is accepted. Students will have the option to receive an e-mail when their refund has been directly deposited to their Vibe account. Students may view detailed activity of their Vibe account by accessing their Vibe account statement online at www.refundselection.com.
3. Once the College releases the funds, if the student has not selected a refund disbursement method, a check will be issued by BankMobile and sent to the student address on file.

Regardless of how students want to receive their refunds, they use their personal code online at www.refundselection.com to make that refund delivery choice.

Withdrawals and Refunds:

Complete withdrawal:

Prior to Classes Starting

Students officially withdrawing prior to the start of a term will not be held liable for fees (other than nonrefundable fees). Students who have paid tuition can use My.Hinds to remove themselves from all classes.

After Classes Have Started

Students must complete an official withdrawal form in the appropriate counseling office. In addition, the student must be current on their payment plan or pay any fees owed within 14 days of billing. Withdrawal from classes may result in the loss of financial aid previously applied. Students receiving Federal Title IV funds (Pell Grants, FSEOG, and William D. Ford Loans) that withdraw from school will earn only a percentage of their award based on the last day of attendance through 60% of the semester. If the amount disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, the student may owe money back to Hinds. The liability for fees will not be excused for withdrawals effective after the start of the semester.

Refunds:

Students having made prior payment will be refunded the amount paid less their liability (the amount owed) after the withdrawal. Students suspended for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for refunds or reductions in liability. Refunds will be applied to any outstanding obligations and to any scholarship, grant, or loan received for the semester. The refund policy is as follows:

Tuition and Fees:

• 100% refund if complete withdrawal is initiated before the start of On-Campus/MSVCC courses.
• 75% refund if complete withdrawal is initiated during the drop/add period of the student’s first course start date of On-Campus/MSVCC courses.

• 75% refund before the sixth calendar day after On-Campus classes begin
• 50% refund before the eleventh calendar day after On-Campus classes begin

• Students withdrawing from residence halls during the semester may be refunded all full weeks remaining on the meal ticket period upon properly checking out of the residence halls.

Students who are Placed in Active Military Status:

Any student who has enrolled at Hinds Community College under the governance of the Board of Trustees, who is a member of the Mississippi National Guard, or one or more units of the Mississippi State Guard, or who is a member of any of the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States, and who has been placed in active duty status by orders of the President of the United States, or who has been drafted into any component of the armed forces of the United States, may be allowed to withdraw as a student of the college without academic penalty, with a full tuition refund, out-of-state fees (if applicable), student fees and any special fees, with room and board fees prorated pending the approval of the President.

The College will use distance learning technologies and other educational methodologies, to the extent possible, to enable active duty military students, under the guidance of faculty and administrative staff, to complete their course requirements.

Any student who has completed at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the semester and is in good standing with the college, and who needs only to take the final examination to complete the semester, has the option to leave the College pursuant to this policy, without their class standing affected, and without refund of any of the above fees or tuition. However, within ninety (90) days after release from active duty, the student must make arrangements to take the final examination. The score on the final exam plus the finished semester’s work will constitute the student’s final grade.

Change in Regulations or Expenses:

All financial regulations, fees, or charges are subject to change as conditions warrant.

Financial Aid

General Requirements

Financial assistance is provided to students who have met admission requirements of the college and is to be used for educational purposes. For the student to be eligible to continue receiving Federal financial aid, he/she must file a yearly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In order to receive financial aid from any Federal or Mississippi Student Financial Aid Program, the student must make satisfactory progress in his/her program of study according to Hinds Community College Policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress. A student with an “unsatisfactory” status with Financial Aid, in student loan default, or owing a Federal overpayment is not eligible for Federal, State or Institutional financial aid.

Funds for financial aid come from Federal Government Programs, Hinds Community College, the State of Mississippi, individuals, and local civic organizations. The amount of money available for each award year depends upon the amount of money made available for the institution from these sources.

Federal Financial Aid Only Available to High School Graduates and High School Equivalency (GED ® , HiSET ® , TASC ™ , or Mississippi Competency-Based High School Equivalency) Graduates

Students without a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (GED ® , HiSET ® , TASC ™ , or Mississippi Competency-Based High School Equivalency) are welcome to enroll in career programs once admission requirements are met. Federal financial aid may be available to students who complete the “ability to benefit” requirements for career pathway programs. Students that are in high school and take dual-credit/dual-enrollment classes are not eligible for financial aid.

How to Apply

To be considered for any type of financial aid listed below under Federal or State Programs, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov. The Office of Financial Aid will electronically receive the results of the FAFSA approximately three to five days after the student applies, provided Hinds’ Title IV school code 002407 is submitted on the FAFSA. The student will be notified by mail and email if any additional documents are required. Financial Aid will be awarded to each student based on the individual’s need. Each student is considered for all types of aid and awarded accordingly. Early filing of the FAFSA will ensure sufficient time to study the needs of each student.

Return of Title IV Funds

Special rules apply when students withdraw from classes after receiving Title IV financial aid funds from any of the following federal programs:

• Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• William D. Ford Direct Loan Program* (Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans)
• Federal PLUS Loan (borrowed on the student’s behalf)

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 define “Withdrawals” as failure to complete the period of attendance for which federal aid eligibility was based and “Unofficial Withdrawals” as when students simply stop attending class. Therefore, this policy affects not only those students who complete the formal withdrawal process, but also those students who simply stop attending classes. In either case, when a recipient of Title IV financial aid funds ceases attendance during a term, the College must calculate how much aid was earned and unearned by the student.

These rules are federally mandated and the amount of aid a student has earned for the enrollment period is based on the length of time the student remained enrolled for that period. If a student withdraws on or before the 60% point of the enrollment period, the student may not have earned all of the financial aid that they received. Excess financial aid funds must be returned to Title IV within 45 days of the date the school determined that the student withdrew. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point of the enrollment period has earned 100% of the federal grant aid for that period. Hinds Community College will return all unearned Title IV financial aid funds to the Department of Education. The amount of returned funds will be charged back to the student’s college account in the Business Office. Funds will be returned to the applicable Title IV financial aid programs in the following order:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Loan
2. Subsidized Loan
3. PLUS Loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

All withdrawals (official and unofficial) are determined by the institution utilizing a routine report that identifies all Title IV financial aid recipients that have received a grade of “WP” or “WF”. The Return to Title IV calculation will be completed using the student’s last date of attendance in all classes. After this calculation has been completed, the student may be entitled to a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be sent to the student within 45 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew. This type of disbursement is received after the student has withdrawn from school but has earned a greater percentage of aid than has been disbursed to them.

*Students must be enrolled and attending at least six (6) semester hours in order to receive a loan disbursement.

Federal Programs

Mississippi Student Programs

PLEASE NOTE:
Beginning with the Fall 2017 term, all undergraduate students will receive state grant aid through only one state grant program. Students who were previously eligible for aid through multiple programs will be awarded through the single program that awards the largest amount. Therefore, students eligible for both the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grand (MESG) and the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grand (MTAG) will receive MESG only. Similarly, students eligible for both the Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students Grant (HELP) and MTAG will receive HELP only.

Also beginning with the Fall 2017 term, academic eligibility will be reviewed at the end of every term, not only at the end of the academic year, for all programs. Students must establish and maintain the required GPA every term to continue to receive state aid. A 3.5 cumulative GPA is required for continued receipt of MESG, and a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for continued receipt of HELP as well as MTAG.

If you have any questions, please call 800.327.2980 or email via the contact form at www.msfinancialaid.org

Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress

To receive and maintain federal financial assistance, students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward the completion of an eligible academic or career-technical program of study. Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress will result in the termination of the student’s federal financial aid. SAP is checked at the end of each semester.

Students must pass a minimum percentage of all courses attempted and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) as determined and calculated by the Office of Records.