Current News

Current News

Beginning in 2013-2014, some Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs) will be flagged for "unusual enrollment history" by the U. S. Department of Education as a result of the student having received federal Pell Grants at multiple institutions in recent years. Flags "2" and "3" require that the current institution review the student's enrollment history and determine whether or not the student is enrolling only long enough to receive cash refunds of federal student aid.

The NCC Financial Aid Office, in the process of reviewing a student's UEH flag, will check the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or COD to review the name of each school attended and if a Pell Grant was issued during the past three academic years (i.e.2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 academic years).

How to resolve: All students with UEH flag 3 and some students with UEH flag 2 will be required to provide to NCC their academic transcripts or grade reports from all colleges and universities attended during the review period. If Pell Grants were received and credit hours (passing grades: A - D) were not earned at each institution attended during these award years, the student may be determined ineligible for further federal financial aid. The Financial Aid Office has the authority to require an official academic transcript from any/all colleges attended during the review period if the documents submitted are unclear.

Appealing the ineligibility determination: if a student has been determined by NCC to be ineligible for federal student aid on the basis of (or lack of) documentation, he/she may appeal the determination by submitting a written explanation outlining the special circumstances that caused the failure to earn credits and provide third-party documentation supporting the written explanation.

Regaining federal student aid eligibility: Students whose aid eligibility is denied as a result of their UEH can be re-considered for federal student aid after enrolling for Two academic terms, not dropping or withdrawing from (officially or unofficially) any courses after the term begins, and meeting the College's standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

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Important Changes to the FAFSA & Verification Process!

When filling out the FAFSA, NCC strongly recommends all students, parents, and spouses (if applicable) to upload their income tax information to their FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval tool. In order to do so, all parties must have already electronically filed their taxes, at least two weeks prior to filling out the FAFSA.

Students who are selected for verification and DID NOT use the IRS Data Retrieval tool will be required to:

• Complete and submit the Verification Worksheet.
• Submit an official Tax Return Transcript

Why do I need to hand in a ‘Tax Return Transcript’?  There are several possibilities:

• You did not use the IRS data retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA
• You used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool but changed some of the data on the FAFSA afterwards
• You were randomly selected for verification by the Federal Government
• The FAFSA you submitted had estimated, incomplete or contradictory data

 How do I obtain A TAX Return Transcript form the IRS?  There are a few ways to obtain a copy of your (or Parent) Federal Tax Transcript from the IRS, but there are significant delays involved. It is important to plan ahead.

Online request at www.irs.gov :

• In the TOOLS section select “Order a Return or Account Transcript”

 Telephone request:

• Automated attendant – 1-800-908-9946 (recommended)

Location request:

• 999 Stewart Avenue, 1st floor, Bethpage, NY 11714

You will need to provide the tax filer’s SSN, DOB and EXACT street address and zip code as it appears on the tax return.

Be sure to request a TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT. An Account Transcript is NOT acceptable. Nassau Community College is no longer allowed to accept a signed copy of a 1040, 1040ez, 1040a federal tax return to complete the verification process.