The Bursar's Office is the centralized billing and collection point for student accounts. The primary function of the Bursar's Office is managing all student accounts, including processing payments and installment plans, applying waivers, generating bills, coordinating collection efforts, and processing refunds.
Important Billing Information
Gateway Community College no longer sends out paper bills. Students will receive email notification to their college email address when they have a new billing statement to view. Then, they can view their bill online through their myCommNet account.
Does someone else help you with the bills? You can authorize your parents, employer, or anyone you choose to view your bill, make payments directly on your account, and even sign up for a Tuition Installment Plan. Any student can give permission to an Authorized User, even those not enrolled in a Tuition Installment Plan.
It’s easy to give someone access. All you need is a valid email address. Follow the steps below:
While GCC reserves the right to cancel unpaid registrations, as long as your name is on an official roster your account will be charged and you will earn a grade for the course—whether you attended it or not.
If you change your mind about taking a course(s) after you register, you are required to officially drop it whether or not you have made payment or have attended. DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DROPPED FOR NON-PAYMENT. You will continue to be held responsible for all charges until you officially drop the class, regardless of your payment status. Dropping is the only way to ensure that your account will not be charged! Without exception, once your registration is cancelled you won’t be able to re-register unless there is space available in the class.
For more information regarding drop and withdrawal deadlines: Refund Policies
Summer 2022
Students have through the day before the first day of the session to drop summer courses and receive a full refund or cancellation of charges.
Fall 2022
• Installment Plans for the Fall 2022 semester will be available online via myCommNet, beginning 3/29/22. The Tuition due date for Fall is July 15, 2022.
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FAFSA Fridays
FAFSA Help
Need assistance completing your 2021-2022 FAFSA application?
On Friday’s, a financial aid advisor will be available to provide one on one assistance to help students complete the FAFSA application virtually.
If you are planning to start:
Fall 2021 Spring 2022 Summer 2022
NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE YOUR 2021-2022 FAFSA!
View the list of required documents
For the 2021–2022 school year, you will need 2019 information. You would need:
Your social security numbers
Your driver’s license (if any)
Your W-2 forms and other records of earnings for 2019
Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2019 Federal Income Tax Return – IRS Form 1040, 1040 Telefile, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia. Your parents’ 2019Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
Your parents’ social security number(s). You and/or your parents’ 2019 untaxed income records, Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans’ benefits records
Your current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
Your Alien Registration Card (if you are not a U.S citizen)
You and/or your parents’ business and/or farm records, if applicable
The purpose of Financial Aid is to assist students in meeting educational costs and other related expense. Excess Financial Aid can be initially used to buy books and supplemental materials for courses listed on your registration form.
If you have unspent money on your my.CommNet account, you may be issued a refund by mid-August.
It is possible that you may have to pay for some books if your Financial Aid Award is not enough. Remember, books returned to the bookstore in “perfect condition” will be accepted for return. Books marked in any way, are returned as “used”, at considerable loss to you. Shrink-wrapped books must be returned in their original packaging.
*On Monday, August 9th, 2021 students will be allowed to begin using some of their Financial Aid award to purchase books and supplies at the bookstore.
*On Friday, September 17th, 2021WILL BE THE LAST DAY TO USE FINANCIAL AID TO PURCHASE BOOKS AT THE BOOKSTORE.
***PICTURE IDENTIFICATION (ID) AND SCHEDULE MAY BE NECESSARY FOR PURHCASING BOOKS WITH THE FINANCIAL AID AWARD!!
PLEASE ADHERE TO THE BOOKSTORE HOURS AND POLICY.
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Financial Aid Booking
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Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?
Students who received federal financial aid (called Federal Title IV) and state aid are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards the completion of a certificate or degree program of study. SAP is an assessment of your cumulative academic record at the college, and has two parts:
Maintaining a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA), and
Completing a minimum number of courses without withdrawing or failing
Certificate Standards
Attempted Credits
Minimum GPA
Minimum % Pace
0 - 11.99
0.0
0.00%
12+
2.0
67.00%
Minimum GPA and Completion Rate Required for SAP under a degree program is:
CREDITS ATTEMPTED
MIMIMUM CUMULATIVE GPA
MIMIMUM COMPLETION PACE
0-11.99
0
0%
12-30.99
1.7
50%
31-49.99
2.0
50%
50-59.99
2.0
60%
60+
2.0
67%
All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in this calculation, including final grades, incomplete courses, course withdrawals, course repetitions, noncredit remedial courses, and transfer credits. Too many Is, Rs, Xs, Ns, Ws, NCs (NO CREDIT) may affect your eligibility.
What happens if I don't make SAP?
Your cumulative academic history will be evaluated prior to each term's financial aid disbursement. If you do not maintain the minimum GPA (see above) you will be placed on Warning or you will not be eligible for aid the following semester. If your aid is terminated, you will only be reinstated by showing SAP during the next semester.
How can I keep track of my SAP progress?
The Financial Aid Office will verify that you meet SAP requirements before it declares you eligible to receive aid. If you do not, you will be notified in writing. You may request information and advisement concerning SAP at any time.
Explanation of Terms
Financial Aid Warning Occurs when a student fails to meet the minimum SAP criteria. Those on Financia Aid Warning:
Will be notified by the college that they have been placed on Warning for the following semester of enrollment
Must achieve the minimum SAP by the end of the Warning period to have aid reinstated
Failure to meet the minimum SAP during the Warning period will result in loss of eligibility for future aid from the College. The Financial Aid Office will communicate the termination status to the student and provide Reinstatement and Appeal instructions.
Maximum Credit Hours A student may receive aid for any attempted credits in his/her program of study that do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student's educational program at the college. Examples include:
A student enrolled in a 60-credit degree program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 90 attempted credit hours
A student enrolled in a 30-credit certificate program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 45 attempted credit hours.
All credits attempted will be included in the calculation, including extra courses that result, who pursue a double major or have already earned a degree.
Reinstatement A student may request to be reinstated after termination from aid by going through the appeal process. Reinstatement will only be granted once. In order to be reinstated, you must:
Apply for an appeal
Pay for and successfully complete the same amount of credits of non-progress (not necessarily the same classes)
Earn at least a 2.0 grade point average
Achieve an overall completion record of 66% of all classes attempted.
Appeal Process Students may appeal any decision under the SAP Policy. Appeals will be considered for emergency or extenuating circumstances, including:
Illness or hospitalization
Incapacitation
Death or illness of a family member
Other extenuating circumstances.
You must provide the Financial Aid Office with a written description of your reasons for appeal. You should also provide any supporting documents that may support your case.
Withdrawal from Classes Students in danger of not maintaining SAP should meet with the Financial Aid Office for counseling and/or adjustment to their award before withdrawing from any courses. Failure to meet with a financial aid representative may result in Warning or termination from financial aid until we have confirmation that SAP has been met for the semester. Students in danger of not maintaining SAP should meet with the Financial Aid Office for counseling and/or adjustment to their award withdrawing from any courses. Failure to meet with a financial aid representative may result in or suspension from financial aid until we have confirmation that SAP has been met for the semester.
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Paying for Books
Paying for Books
Financial aid students who have enough eligibility can charge books to their account once all their financial aid information is complete. Students may buy books and supplies at the Gateway Community College Follett Company Bookstore. Student financial aid can only be used at the Follett Bookstore located in the Gateway Community College’s North building, first floor.
To start charging books on your financial aid account, you will need to bring the following with you when you go to the bookstore:
A copy of your class schedule
Photo identification (ID)
When can I start charging books on my account?
You may begin charging books at the bookstore on January 6, 2023, for the Spring 2023 semester. Students have until February 24, 2023, to charge books at the bookstore with Financial Aid.
Note: Financial Aid will not exceed the end date for purchases.
Bookstore Purchasing Procedures
The purpose of financial aid is to assist students in meeting educational costs and other related expenses. It is possible that you may have to pay for some books if your financial aid award is not enough. The bookstore will establish individual accounts for students.
The procedure for purchasing at the bookstore is as follows:
You may only buy books and supplemental materials for courses that are listed on your registration form
Do not buy books for courses you are planning to add/drop
A reasonable amount of supplies may be purchased after all texts books have been purchased
Items which may not be purchased during this time are:
Sundries
Food
Clothing
Cell phones, headphones, iPads, and other small electronics are not considered supplies
Items, which may be bought after all textbooks are purchased must be school related
The bookstore cannot take back a book that has been "used;" for example, your name is written in it
Do not write in or on books until you are certain you will not change your program of study or your classes
If you have unspent money on your account, you will be issued a refund check sometime in late October
Remember, only books returned in "perfect condition" will be accepted for return. Books marked in any way, are returned as "used" at a considerable loss to you. Shrink-wrapped books must be returned in their original packaging.
Update for Students with Financial Aid
Financial Aid students may pre-order their books for pick-up at the Follett Bookstore. Please visit the bookstore to obtain a copy of the form.
Instructions
Submit the form and a copy of your final schedule to the bookstore in Room N109 (please check the bookstore for semester submission timeline)
After you have submitted your form, you will receive a phone call from the bookstore notifying you that your order is ready to be picked up
Students must come in person to pick up their book order. Your student ID and signature will be required to pick up your order
Your books will only be held until seven (7) business days after classes start
Please contact the bookstore manager for business hours, return/exchange policy, any issues, or questions at (203) 865-5614
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Return of Title IV Funds
Return of Title IV Funds
Gateway Community College maintains a fair and equitable refund policy, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Education’s regulations. These refund and repayment rules only apply to students who withdraw completely and/or otherwise fail to complete the current period of enrollment.
Federal Title IV regulations require a calculation for the Return of Title IV Funds which are not earned by a student in their period of enrollment. This regulation requires Gateway Community College to determine the amount of return using the following parameters:
Official date of withdrawal
Unofficial date of withdrawal (see catalog for details)
Total number of days in the semester
Percentage of Title IV funds earned and unearned
Amount of funds to be returned by the student.
Gateway Community College will notify the student within thirty (30) days of the determination of return of funds. The student has 45 days to retain Title IV eligibility by returning the amount in full or making satisfactory arrangements to repay the funds to the U.S. Department of Education. Failure by the student to do either within the 45 days obligates the college to report the overpayment to the U.S. Department of Education. Afterwards, the student will lose eligibility for Title IV funds on the 46th day.
The student must return the unearned funds for which they are responsible to the appropriate loan programs in accordance with the terms of the loan, and to grant programs as an overpayment. Grant overpayments are subject to satisfactory repayment arrangements with the school, or overpayment collection procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Order of Return of Student Financial Aid Program Funds
Funds credited to outstanding loan balances for the payment period of enrollment, for which a return of funds is required, must be returned in the following order (not to exceed the original enrollment from each source):
Unsubsidized Direct Loans
Subsidized Direct Loans
Federal Pell Grants for the payment period for which a return of funds is required
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) for the payment period for which a return of funds is required
Your application was selected by the U.S. Department of Education for review in a process called “Verification.” Please
complete, sign, and submit this form with any other required documentation to the financial aid administrator at your
college.
