|
Student Services is an administrative, service-oriented unit within MGCCC. The Student Services department provides many facilitating and developmental activities and programs for its students.
Online student services such as financial aid, registration, academic transcripts, mid-term and final grades, and other areas are available for individual students at our website www.mgccc.edu under the web services link.
The major areas of Student Services are outlined below:
- Advisement: MGCCC conducts a comprehensive advisement system to aid students in selecting an educational major, exploring educational goal, selecting courses and scheduling classes. This advisement process begins in the Counseling Center at orientation prior to student’s first semester at MGCCC. This relationship is then continued with the assigned faculty advisor pertinent to the student’s major. The student should meet with their assigned faculty advisor during pre-registration each semester to select coursework and updated career and transfer information.
- Orientation: Entering first-time freshmen are required to attend a scheduled Student Success Seminar prior to the beginning of the semester. The Student Success Seminar is a process of welcoming students to the college. Explanations of policies, procedures and programs take place at this time. Students will also be required to attend 4 additional one-hour seminars prior to the completion of 24 credit hours.
- Placement Assessment: Since entering freshmen may differ in their academic preparation, the college makes every effort to determine the appropriate level of beginning instruction for each student. Students are placed in courses appropriate with their ability levels and academic background, based on the ACT scores or the COMPASS Assessment.
- Counseling: Counseling and guidance services are provided to students through the Student Services Department. Emphasis is placed on providing information concerning educational and career opportunities, personal and social development, orientation to college life and decision making skills.
- Assessment Centers: Campus assessment centers provide a variety of proctored testing services. Some of the services provided by the assessment centers will include proctored testing for on-line courses, Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) testing for students seeking entrance to the Nursing programs.
- Veterans Educational Services: Each campus Veterans Affairs Office assists former service personnel, National Guard and Reservists, and dependents who are eligible for benefits. Students requesting VA educational benefits must complete admissions requirements prior to certification. All students receiving VA educational benefits must contact the campus VA Office each semester to request certification; students are required to report any schedule changes to the Veterans Affairs Office to minimize personal liability from over payments of VA benefits.
- Financial Aid: MGCCC offers financial assistance for students from federal, state, and institutional sources. Since most of these programs are funded by various local, state, and federal activities, appropriate agency guidelines must be followed. (July 21, 1976) The college shall attempt to help students who are in need of financial assistance meet their educational expenses. Programs available include various loans and grants and on-campus jobs, all of which are administered by the dean of student services. Eligibility for these programs is primarily based on financial need. These include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work Study
- Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
- Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
- Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
- MGCCC Academic Scholarship
- MGCCC Foundation/Alumni Scholarship
- MGCCC Performance Scholarships
Students should contact the campus Financial Aid Office for additional information on the financial aid program and application process.
Student Awards and Scholarships shall be designated and determined by the administration and faculty of each campus. Scholarships may be made available to students through the college. The amounts and the manner in which they are awarded and the recipients of these scholarships shall be determined by the administration and faculty of each campus. (May 19, 1982)
RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS: Return of Title IV Funds regulations require a return of unearned financial aid to the appropriate student financial aid programs when a student completely withdraws. If an eligible Title IV recipient withdraws, the school must calculate the Return of Title IV Funds.
Effective 2000-2001 academic years, MGCCC will implement the Return of Title IV Funds provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. The following factors will be considered when calculating the Return of Title IV Funds:
The withdrawal date is based on the official withdrawal notice and the last date(s) of attendance reported by instructors. In the case of unofficial withdrawal, the withdrawal date will be determined based on the documented last date(s) of attendance reported by instructors.
The percentage of the term completed is determined by dividing the number of calendar days completed through the withdrawal date by the total number of calendar days in the term or payment period.
The amount of Title IV aid the student earned is determined by multiplying the percentage of the term completed by the total amount of Title IV aid disbursed (or could have been disbursed). If a student completes more than 60% of the term, the percentage of Title IV aid earned is assumed to be 100%.
The amount of Title IV aid the student did not earn is determined by subtracting the amount of Title IV aid earned from the amount of Title IV aid disbursed.
If a student received more Title IV aid than he or she earned, the student must repay unearned funds to Title IV programs in the following order:
- Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Students will be notified in writing of any unearned funds, which he or she must repay to a Title IV program. Overpayments will be reported to the Department of Education and the student must satisfy payment arrangements with the Department to re-establish eligibility for student financial aid.
- Learning Resources Center
- Learning Lab: The Learning Lab is a comprehensive, yet comfortable, academic tutoring facility open to all students that provides one-on-one instruction, small group instruction, and technology-enhanced instruction in English, mathematics and science. Additionally Internet accessible computers and listening/viewing stations for VHS tapes and DVDs are available. (See individual campus section for specifics)
- Library: The library is a pleasant, comfortable, well-lit facility that contains a large reference and general collection. Immediate linking from any campus or remote site to the more than 100,000 books and videos housed in the 3 campus libraries is provided by the Sirsi system, our iBistro. Advanced electronic capabilities through MELO, MAGNOLIA, and our college resources enable our library to provide up-to-date Internet access for online and campus student research. (See individual campus section for specifics)
- Media: Media services are a component of the Learning Resources Center and provide faculty and students with audiovisual technology, equipment, materials, and support for classroom and academic projects. (See individual campus section for specifics)
|
