Return to Title IV (R2T4)
Delta College is required to follow rules set forth by the U.S. Department of Education through Code of Federal Regulations - CFR 668.22 and Program Integrity Regulations, which govern the treatment of Title IV Federal funds when a student completely withdraws or fails to pass class(es) from a semester.
Title IV Federal Aid (i.e. Pell Grant, SEOG and Direct Loans) is based on the number of registered, eligible credits* a student is enrolled in as well as the successful completion of those credits. If, for any reason a student is unable to successfully complete or attend all their classes for a semester, Title IV Federal Aid will be evaluated based on the R2T4 calculation. The information listed below will cover attendance information as well as the R2T4 process.
*Eligible credits are credits that are part of a student program of study. If a student is registered in classes that are not part of their program of study, these classes will not be part of the federal aid package and will not be considered in the R2T4 calculation.
If students experience any extreme circumstances preventing them from completing their class(es), we encourage them to contact their instructor and the Financial Aid Office prior course(s) withdrawal/making an enrollment change.
Who is considered for a R2T4
Students will be evaluated for a R2T4 if they completely withdrawal or receive a combination of F, W, WI, I or NC grades in a semester.
Types of withdrawals that fall under the R2T4 regulations:
- Official Withdrawals
Student has completed the formal drop process with the Registration Office. - Unofficial Withdrawals
Student begins to attend class, then ceases attendance without providing official notification to the college is considered an "unofficial withdrawal." For Title IV purposes, the withdrawal date for students who unofficially withdraw is the instructor’s reported last date of attendance. - Module Withdrawals
A module/accelerated class is defined as a class that is shorter in length than the length of the semester. If a student withdraws from a module that was used in determining a student's federal aid, an R2T4 calculation may need to be performed. *
* Module exemptions from the R2T4 process:
- If student successfully completes Title IV eligible classwork in a module or combination of modules that includes 49% or more of countable days in the semester.
- If student successfully completes Title IV eligible classwork in a module or combination of modules that is equal to or greater than half time enrollment (6 or more credits).
- If student completes all requirements for graduation.
- If student confirms attendance in writing (for a Title IV eligible class) for a later starting module in the semester, which begins no later than 45 calendar days after the end of the module they ceased attending.
Refund Policy
Delta College’s refund policy does not affect the amount of federal aid a student earns through attendance.
Leave of Absence Policy (LOA)
Delta College has a Leave of Absence Policy that you can review. A student considering a request for a leave of absence will receive assistance from Delta College’s Coordinated Care Network.
Determining the withdrawal date
The withdrawal date is critical for completing a R2T4 in a correct and timely manner. For a student that completes a withdrawal form, the determination date will be the date the withdrawal form was completed. For an unofficial withdrawal it will be the last date of attendance.
Steps to determine the amount of Federal aid to be returned upon withdrawal:
When a student is considered to have withdrawn from a semester and received Title IV Federal financial aid, Delta College is required to determine the amount of earned and unearned Federal aid based on attendance. The determined unearned Federal aid must then be returned to the appropriate federal aid program(s). Students that have attended more than 60% of the semester are considered to have earned their full amount of aid and funds are not required to be returned.
- Determine last date of attendance for all classes, which is reported by the instructor. The latest date of all semester classes will be used as the last date of attendance. For successfully completed module classes, the end date of the class determines last date of attendance.
- Determine percentage of semester attended by student. Divide the number of days attended
by the number of days in the semester. If the calculated percentage exceeds 60%, the
student has earned all of their federal aid.
- Breaks of five calendar days or more are not counted in the days attended or the days in the semester.
- Calculate the amount of Federal aid earned. Multiply the percentage of the semester attended by the total federal aid disbursed or could have been disbursed (as defined by conditions for a late disbursement 34 CFR 668.164(j)(2)).
- Determine amount of unearned aid to be returned to the applicable Federal aid programs. Subtract the amount of earned federal aid from the total amount of federal aid disbursed. The difference is considered “unearned” and must be returned to the appropriate federal aid program(s).
- Return of Title IV funds by institution and student:
- Delta College will return unearned Title IV Federal aid up to an amount that is equal to the total institutional charges (tuition, fees, books & supplies as of the date of the withdrawal) for the semester multiplied by the percentage of the federal aid that was unearned.
- The student will be responsible for the balance of unearned federal aid.
- If the student’s portion of unearned aid is a loan, Delta College will restore the loan funds to the appropriate federal account, and the student will be responsible for repaying Delta College for the loan overpayment. The terms of the original loan repayment agreement will apply. If the student's portion of unearned aid is a grant, Delta College will restore the grant funds to the appropriate federal account and the student will be responsible for repaying Delta College for the grant overpayment.
Post Withdrawal Disbursement (PWD)
In compliance with 34CFR 668.22(a)(6), a post withdrawal disbursement occurs when the amount of Title IV aid earned by the student (based on the R2T4) exceeds the amount of Title IV aid disbursed as of the withdrawal date. PWD funds will be made from grants prior to loans funds (if applicable).
Eligibility for PWD
- Must have earned more Title IV aid than what was disbursed prior to withdrawal.
- All conditions of late disbursement must be met in accordance with 34 CRR 668.164(j).
Authorization requirements
- Pell grants do not require student authorization. Funds will be applied to account to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies (direct cost)
- Loan requires written confirmation from student/parent prior to disbursement. Delta
will notify student/parent and must allow for at least 14 days to respond. No response
will result in funds to be returned to Department of Education.
- Notification will include: amount and type of aid, explanation of loan obligations, right to decline funds, and deadline to respond.
- Notifications must be sent within 30 calendar days of the R2T4 determination.
Disbursement timeframes
- Grants must be disbursed as soon as possible, but not later than 45 days from date of R2T4.
- Loans must be credited to the student/parent within 180 days of the student’s withdrawal date, if authorized.
Unearned Title IV Funds will be returned to federal programs in the following order:
- Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
- Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Example of a Title IV Return of Funds calculation for a Federal aid recipient who is considered to have withdrawn*:
Institutional Charges – $5,000
Title IV Federal Loans – $2,000
Title IV Federal Grants – $1,000
Total Title IV Federal aid – $3,000
Student withdrew on 35th day of a 110-day semester,
Percent of semester attended: 35/110 = 32%
Percent Unearned 100% - 32% = 68%
Amount of Federal aid unearned $3,000 x 68% = $2,040
Delta College is responsible for returning the lesser of unearned Federal aid ($2,040 from above) or unearned institutional charges ($5,000 x 68% = $3,400). Delta College will return aid as follows:
- Title IV Loans – $2,000 (student's remaining loan debt = 0)
- Title IV Grants – $40
*Every student situation is different based on enrolled classes, and the example shown may not apply to every student. Questions regarding the Return of Title IV Funds process for students should be addressed to the Financial Aid Office.
The student's responsibility is the amount of aid unearned ($2,040) less school responsibility ($2,040), which is zero. Students are responsible for paying Delta College any unearned aid and must make arrangements with the Student Billing Office to repay the funds in full.
If you purchased books with Federal aid through the Delta College Bookstore that are not needed because of dropped/canceled classes, refer to the Bookstore’s refund policy.
Delta College reserves the right to amend the Return to Title IV (R2T4) process at any time to comply with Federal regulations.
Attendance information
Delta College is an attendance taking school.
Financial Aid may be adjusted for the following circumstances:
- Never Attended
Federal financial aid will be adjusted down for classes the student does not begin attendance or is reported as never attended by the instructor. Classes dropped prior to its start date may also result in aid being reduced, which also applies to classes canceled by the institution due to lack of prerequisite or for other reasons. - Complete Withdrawals
If a student completely withdraws (all F, W, WI, NC & I grades) from a semester without one passing grade, a recalculation of federal aid may have to be done. Attendance for each class will be evaluated based on the last date of attendance reported by the instructor. Students that do not attend their classes for more than 60% of the semester may be required to pay back a percentage of their aid received but not earned. - Module/Accelerated Class Withdrawals
If a student withdraws from a module class and has later starting class(es) that have not begun and are within 45 calendar days after the end of the module they ceased attending, written confirmation is required to confirm attendance in the later starting class(es). If written confirmation is not received federal aid may be adjusted down, and the student may be required to pay a percentage of their aid received but not earned back.
What is considered attendance in class?
Academic attendance and attendance at an academically related activity must include academic engagement, which includes, but is not limited to:
- Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students.
- Submitting an academic assignment.
- Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction.
- Attending a study group that is assigned by the institution.
- Participating in an online discussion about academic matters.
- Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.
Academic engagement is active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student's course of study that includes, but is not limited to:
- Attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students.
- Submitting an academic assignment.
- Taking an assessment or an exam.
- Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction.
- Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution.
- Interacting with an instructor about academic matters.
What is not considered attendance?
Attendance is not:
- Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation.
- Participating in academic counseling or advisement.
Implications for not attending a class
Federal Aid cannot be awarded for a class that has not been attended. Federal aid will be removed for any class(es) that are reported as never attended, or do not have an attendance date reported. If federal aid has already been disbursed or been used to pay tuition/fees for a class and is later reported as never attended, aid will be adjusted, and student will be billed for any balance owed.
Repayment process after a R2T4 or aid adjustment from never attended class
If aid is reduced or cancelled based on a R2T4 or never attend adjustment, a letter, along with a billing statement will be sent to the student address on file with the college. Students can either pay the full balance or set up a debt repayment plan with the Student Billing Office. Students who do not make timely payment arraignments may have their bill sent to collections. As a result, additional fees will be incurred. Students may be restricted from future registration during any period that a balance is owed to Delta College.
Impact of withdrawing with federal student/parent loans
If enrollment is less than half-time (six credits) during the semester, the grace period on any federal direct loan will begin at the time of the withdrawal date. Once the six-month grace period expires student/parent loans will go into repayment. Loans must be repaid per the terms of the borrower’s promissory note. Students/parents should reach out to their lender for assistance with repayment options. Lender information can be found by logging into Federal Student Aid.
How a withdrawal affects future financial aid eligibility
For more information, refer to Delta College’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Financial Aid Office Contact Information
For more information regarding Delta College’s R2T4 process contact:
