National Association of Student

Financial Aid Administrators Presents…

Pell Calculations and

Recalculations
for
Term-based Programs with
Compressed Courses
Fred Sellers
Office of Postsecondary Education

1
 Overview
 Student eligibility and receipt of SAR or ISIR
 Initial calculation of Federal Pell Grant
 Recalculation: required for changed enrollment status
 Recalculation: institutional options for changes in
enrollment status
 Recalculation: receipt of a valid SAR or valid ISIR and
new EFC
 Recalculation: case studies
 Effective enrollment status for R2T4
 Summary of Key Points
 Additional information:
Additional case studies
Questions and answers
2
 Student Eligibility
and
Receipt of SAR or ISIR

3
 Student Eligibility
 Regulations – Rule changes published
November 1, 2002
 All Title IV (except PLUS)
§668.164(g)(2)(i) – receipt of SAR or ISIR with an
official EFC processed by the Secretary before
the student ceases to be enrolled
§668.164(g)(3)(i) – must make any
postwithdrawal disbursement required under
Return of Title IV
§668.164(g)(3)(ii) – must provide an opportunity
to receive aid for successfully completed
payment period or period of enrollment
 Federal Pell Grants
§668.164(g)(4)(iv) – receipt of valid SAR or valid
ISIR by published deadline 4
 Student Eligibility

 SAR or ISIR with an official EFC may or

may not be a valid SAR or valid ISIR.
 Valid SAR or valid ISIR is one on which all
the information used to calculate a
student’s EFC is correct.
 An institution can rely on a student’s
certification of the accuracy of the
information unless it has conflicting
information.

5
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of SAR or ISIR
with an official EFC
 Establishes student’s Title IV eligibility for the
award year
 Must still meet all other student eligibility
requirements
 Must disburse an eligible student’s Title IV aid
For Pell see also §690.61(a) of Pell regulations
 For 2004-2005, must be received, i.e.,
processed, by the earlier of:
Student’s last day of enrollment, or
September 23, 2005.
6
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of SAR or ISIR
with an official EFC

 Use date labeled “Processed Date” on the

ISIR as date of receipt
 Do not use other dates provided in the
ISIR, such as:
Date ISIR Received
Transaction Receipt Date
Application Receipt Date
 Do not use an institutional receipt date

7
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of SAR or ISIR
with an official EFC
 SAR or SAR Acknowledgement may document
a processing date. For example, the institution
is not listed on the CPS transaction processed
prior to the student ceasing to be enrolled.
 Student may obtain a copy of the appropriate
SAR transaction electronically using his or her
PIN or call 800 4FED AID.
 The processing date on each record is:
For a SAR, the date above the EFC on the first page.
For a SAR Acknowledgement, the date labeled
“transaction process date” in school use box. 8
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of Valid SAR
or Valid ISIR

 Must still receive a Valid SAR or Valid ISIR

in addition to one with an official EFC
 May receive after student ceases to be
enrolled, even if not verified
 If a late disbursement, must pay on –
The EFC of the valid SAR/ISIR if not verified
Higher EFC regardless of EFC of valid
SAR/ISIR if verified: both ED- and school-
selected (§668.60(c)(1))

9
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of Valid SAR
or Valid ISIR
 For 2004-2005, except late disbursements,
must receive valid SAR or valid ISIR by the
earlier of –
Student’s last date of enrollment, or
September 23, 2005
 For late disbursements (§668.164(g)(4)(i)),
must receive valid SAR or valid ISIR by the
earlier of –
120 days after ceases to be enrolled (unless
Secretary approves later date), or
September 23, 2005 10
 Student Eligibility
Receipt of Valid SAR
or Valid ISIR

 For 2004-2005, after verification (ED- or

institution-selected), must receive valid
SAR or valid ISIR, by the earlier of –
120 days after ceases to be enrolled; or
September 23, 2005
 Are no approvals of late, late
disbursements beyond these dates

11
Initial Calculation
of
Federal Pell Grant

12
 Initial Calculation of Pell Grant

 An initial calculation is the first calculation

of a student’s Federal Pell Grant award.
 It may occur prior to, during, or after
attendance in classes.
 The institution must use the current,
documented enrollment status (may be a
projected status).

13
 Initial Calculation of Pell Grant

 For Pell, documentation of enrollment

status may be:
Some indication from student, e.g., admissions
application
Assumption by the institution, e.g., institution
knows most students enroll full-time

Note for FFEL/DL: When an institution has

compressed courses or modules, it must have
documentation, e.g., registration or preregistration,
that the student is enrolled at least half-time at the
time of disbursement.
14
 Initial Calculation of Pell Grant
Date of Initial Calculation

 Earliest possible date: date of receipt of an

EFC from an ED product, such as:
SAR or ISIR with an official EFC (processing
date)
FAA Access EFC
FAFSA on WEB EFC
 No necessity for a valid SAR or valid ISIR
 Not an initial calculation: use of a non-ED-
generated EFC, e.g., a Federal Methodology
EFC generated by a private vendor
15
 Initial Calculation of Pell Grant
Date of Initial Calculation
 Upon receiving initial ED-product EFC, must
confirm any previous calculation using data
from other sources and must use current
enrollment status
 For example:
Use vendor data in May based on projected full-time
status
Receive an initial ISIR with an official EFC and
processing date of September 10
On September 10, determine that student is half-time
Must use half-time as enrollment status for initial
calculation

16
 Initial Calculation of Pell Grant
Date of Initial Calculation

 If no date documented, the date of the

initial calculation is the later of :
Processed Date of the initial SAR or ISIR, or
The date the student enrolls. Additional clarification

 If date documented for a student, the

date of initial calculation is:
Date use an ED-product EFC, or
A later date.
Reminder: if an institution is packaging
other Title IV aid and has an ED-product
EFC, it is also performing a Pell calculation.
17
 Initial Calculation Case Study #1
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30

6 3 3
hours hours hours

Jan 12 March 8
Receive ISIR

 Conditions
Spring semester has compressed coursework over three
sessions.
Institution has a January 12 census date for the term.
At the beginning of the term, student enrolls for 9 hours:
6 hours in session A and 3 hours in Session B.
Student’s initial ISIR is received on March 8, and school
makes initial calculation.
Student subsequently registers for 3 hours in Session C.

18
 Initial Calculation Case Study #1
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28
6 3 3
hours hours hours

Jan 12 March 8
Receive ISIR
Initial calc

 Results
At the time of the initial calculation the student is three-
quarter-time.
The institution cannot recalculate to take into account
the additional 3 hours of Session C as it is past the
census date.

19
 Initial Calculation Case Study #2
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28
6 3 3
hours hours hours

Jan 12 March 8
Receive ISIR

 Conditions
Spring semester has compressed coursework over three
sessions.
Institution has a January 12 census date for the term.
At the beginning of the term, student enrolls for 9 hours:
6 hours in session A and 3 hours in Session B.
Student’s initial ISIR is received on March 8.
Student subsequently registers for 3 hours in Session C.

20
 Initial Calculation Case Study #2
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28
6 3 3
hours hours hours

Jan 12 March 8 April 20

Receive ISIR Initial Calc

 Conditions (cont.)
The institution does not make the initial calculation
upon receipt of the ISIR because it is verifying the
student’s information.
The institution confirms that the March 8 ISIR is valid on
April 20 and makes the initial calculation of the
student’s Pell.

21
 Initial Calculation Case Study #2
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28
6 3 3
hours hours hours

Jan 12 March 8 April 20

Receive ISIR Initial calc, if
document

 Results
If the institution documents that the initial calculation is
on April 20, student is full-time.
If the institution does not document the April 20 date of
the initial calculation, the initial calculation is
considered to have occurred on the processing date of
March 8, and the student is three-quarter-time.

22
 Recalculation:
Required for Changed
Enrollment Status

23
 Required Recalculation For Changed
Enrollment Status

 §690.80(b)(1) – changes between terms

 §690.80(b)(2)(ii) – never begins attendance
in one or more classes

24
 Required Recalculation For Changed
Enrollment Status

 §690.76(b) – lump sum payment according

to work completed in prior payment
periods:
Must use final enrollment status of prior terms with no
disbursements
If final enrollment status for the term is different from
initial calculation, must recalculate
Include in enrollment status only courses completed
(includes earned F’s and incompletes)
Cannot include drops or withdrawals in enrollment
status

25
 Recalculation:
Institutional Options for
Changes in Enrollment Status

26
 Institutional Options for
Recalculations for Changes in
Enrollment Status

 Institutional Options
Recalculates for all changes in enrollment status during
the term
Does not recalculate for changes in enrollment status at
any time in a term after initial calculation
Does not recalculate after a census date

27
 Institutional Options for
Recalculations for Changes in
Enrollment Status

 May have a census date

For term
By course – a student’s ultimate census date for the
term is the census date of the last course the student
attends or is expected to attend
 If a student drops, withdraws from, or
adds a class before census date, must
recalculate based on any change in
enrollment status through that census
date

28
 Institutional Options for
Recalculations for Changes in
Enrollment Status

 An institution’s policy must –

Be in writing
Be applied consistently to all students
Require recalculations for both increases and decreases
in awards

29
 Recalculation:
Receipt of a Valid SAR or
Valid ISIR and New EFC
(after an initial calculation)

30
 Receipt of Valid SAR or Valid ISIR
and New EFC
(after initial calculation)

 No disbursements have yet been made

If receive a valid SAR or valid ISIR in a term:
must use the effective enrollment status for that term
under the institution’s policies for recalculations.
If receive a valid SAR or valid ISIR in a subsequent term:
disbursement for a prior term is based on the
enrollment for the work completed in the prior term.

31
 Receipt of Valid SAR or Valid ISIR
and New EFC
(after initial calculation)

 Disbursements have been made

If receive a valid SAR or valid ISIR in a term:
must use the effective enrollment status for that term
under the institution’s policies for recalculations.
If receive a valid SAR or valid ISIR in a subsequent term:
must use the effective enrollment status under the
institution’s policies for recalculations for a prior
term with a disbursement.

32
Recalculation:
Case Studies

33
 Recalculation Case Study #1
FALL SPRING

12 12
hours hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from

Calc 6 hours

 Conditions
A student’s initial calculation is based on full-
time for the fall and spring semesters.
After the September 9 census date, the student
drops to half-time.
The institution never disburses for fall because
it is resolving conflicting information.
34
 Recalculation Case Study #1
FALL SPRING

12 12
hours hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from Jan. 12 Withdraws Receive valid

Calc 6 hours from 3 hours ISIR

 Conditions (cont.)
The student enrolls full-time in the spring
semester but drops to three-quarter-time after
the January 12 census date for spring.
Then a valid ISIR is received with a new EFC.

35
 Recalculation Case Study #1
FALL SPRING

12 12
hours hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from Jan. 12 Withdraws Receive valid

Calc 6 hours from 3 hours ISIR

 Results
The student is paid as half-time for the fall and
as full-time for the spring.
 Reasons
Fall: No disbursement was made during the
term. Institution must use final enrollment
status.
Spring: The disbursement is being made
within the term. Institution must use the
census date enrollment status. 36
 Recalculation Case Study #2
FALL WINTER SPRING

12 hours 12 hours 12 hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from

Calc 6 hours
Disburse-
ment

 Conditions
A student’s initial calculation is based on full-time
for the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
The fall Pell payment is disbursed, and after the
September 9 fall census date the student drops to
half-time.

37
 Recalculation Case Study #2
FALL WINTER SPRING

12 hours 12 hours 12 hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from

Calc 6 hours Jan. 12 Withdraws from April 5 Withdraws from Receive
Disburse- 3 hours 6 hours Valid ISIR
ment

 Conditions (cont.)
For winter quarter student enrolls as full-time but
after the January 12 census date drops to three-
quarter-time. The institution never disburses for
winter quarter due to resolving conflicting
information.
The student enrolls full-time in the spring quarter
but drops to half-time after the April 5 census date
for spring.
Then a valid ISIR is received with a new EFC. 38
 Recalculation Case Study #2
FALL WINTER SPRING

12 hours 12 hours 12 hours

Initial Sept. 9 Withdraws from

Calc 6 hours Jan. 12 Withdraws from April 5 Withdraws from Receive
Disburse- 3 hours 6 hours Valid ISIR
ment

 Results
The student is paid as full-time for the fall, three-
quarter-time for the winter, and full-time for the
spring.

39
 Recalculation Case Study #2
FALL WINTER SPRING

12 hours 12 hours 12 hours

Initial Withdraws from

Sept. 9 Jan. 12 Withdraws from April 5 Withdraws from Receive
Calc 6 hours
Disburse- 3 hours 6 hours Valid ISIR
ment
 Reasons
Fall: A disbursement was made. The payment is
recalculated using the new EFC and full-time
enrollment status.
Winter: No disbursement was made during the
term. The institution must use final enrollment
status.
Spring: The disbursement is being made within
the term. The institution must use the census
date enrollment status. 40
 Recalculation Case Study #3
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Initial calc Jan. 12 Adds 3

 Conditions hours

Institution has a single census date of January 12.

Student enrolls for, and attends, 9 hours in
Session A.
At the beginning of Session C the student
registers for three additional hours.
Assumes the initial calculation was made prior to
the term.
 Result
At census date student is a three-quarter-time
student and remains so for the term. 41
 Recalculation Case Study #4
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Initial calc Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

Registers
for 3 hours
 Conditions in C

Spring semester has compressed coursework

over three sessions.
Institution has a census date for each session:
January 12, March 8, and April 12.
Student enrolls for 9 hours at the beginning of
the term in Session A.
In March the student registers for 3 hours in
Session C
Case assumes the initial calculation was made
prior to the term. 42
 Recalculation Case Study #4
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Initial calc Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

Registers
for 3 hours
in C
 Results
The institution must recalculate the student’s
award based on the April 12 census date.
If the student is attending Session C on April 12,
the student’s effective enrollment status for the
term is full-time.
If the student does not start class in Session C
or drops the class before April 12, the student
remains three-quarter time.
43
Effective Enrollment Status
for R2T4
(Return of Title IV)

44
 R2T4

 Use enrollment status as of date a student

withdraws
 Must take into account required
recalculation for any courses never
attended
 Is no R2T4 if a student completes a
compressed course within a term

45
 R2T4

 If, after withdrawing for the term and

without completing a course, a student
reenrolls for a course later in the same
term—
The amount earned under R2T4 remains the
same,
If applicable, the student’s award is
recalculated under the institution’s policies,
and
Any amount in excess of the amount earned is
disbursed to the student.
46
 Spring
R2T4 Case Study #1
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

12 hours
3 hours

Initial Jan. 12 March 8

calc April 12
Withdraws Reenrolls

 Conditions
Has term length and compressed courses
Uses census date by last class: January 12 for term-
length and Session A; March 8 for Session B; and
April 12 for Session C
Enrolls for 12 hours of term length courses
Receives $1,000 Pell for semester
Withdraws completely on February 20 at 40 percent of
term; must determine R2T4
Reenrolls for 3 hours in Session C
47
 Spring
R2T4 Case Study #1
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

12 hours
3 hours

Initial Jan. 12
calc April 12
Withdraws Reenrolls

 Results
The effective enrollment status at the time of
withdrawal is full-time.
The student earns $400 under R2T4.
When the student reenrolls for Session C, the
effective enrollment status is less-than-half-time.
Student’s payment for the payment period is now
$250.
No further action taken because student has
already received more than $250. 48
 Spring R2T4 Case Study #2
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

3 hours 6 hours 6 hours

Initial Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

calc Withdraws Reenrolls

 Conditions
Has term-length and compressed courses
Uses census date by last class: January 12 for term-
length and Session A; March 8 for Session B; and April
12 for Session C
Enrolls only for 3 hours in Session A
Receives a cash disbursement of $250 Pell for semester
Withdraws completely on January 15; must determine
R2T4
Reenrolls at beginning of Session B for 6 hours in each
of Session B and Session C 49
 Spring
R2T4 Case Study #2
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

3 hours 6 hours 6 hours

Initial Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

calc Withdraws Reenrolls

 Results
The effective enrollment status at the time of
withdrawal is less-than-half-time.
For purposes of R2T4, the payment period is
considered only the time the student is expected
to attend, session A: 55 days. 11/55 = 20%
The student earns $50 under R2T4 and must return
$100 – repay or satisfactory arrangements.
(Assumes there are no institutional charges.)
50
 Spring
R2T4 Case Study #2
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

3 hours 6 hours 6 hours

Initial Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

calc Withdraws Reenrolls

 Results (cont.)
When the student reenrolls for Session B, the
effective enrollment status is full-time.
Student’s payment for the payment period is now
$1,000.
The institution disburses the appropriate balance
to the student, assuming earlier overpayment is
resolved.
51
Summary of Key Points

52
 Summary

 Initial receipt of SAR/ISIR and student eligibility

 Initial calculation tied to
Date of receipt of initial SAR/ISIR with an official EFC, or
Other, documented date using ED-product EFC
 Required recalculation
 Recalculation options
 Additional recalculation option -- census date
based on student’s last course expected to attend
in the term

53
 Contact Information

Fred Sellers
(202) 502-7502
[email protected]

OR

Jacquelyn Butler
(202) 502-7890
[email protected]

54
 Additional
Case Studies

55
 Case Study #1
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30

6
hours
ISIR Jan. 12
received

 Conditions
Institution has a single census date of January 12.
Institution received ISIR with January 5
processing date.
Student subsequently enrolls for 6 hours in
Session C.
At the beginning of Session C, institution initially
calculates the award and documents that date.
 Result
At the initial calculation, the student is half-time. 56
 Spring
Case Study #2
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6
hours hours

Jan. 12 ISIR
received

 Conditions
Institution has a single census date of January 12
Student initially enrolls, and attends, as a half-time
student with 6 hours in Session A.
Student enrolls for, and attends, 6 hours in Session
C.
Institution receives initial ISIR with April 10
processing date.
 Result
As an initial calculation cannot be made until April
10, the student is full-time. 57
 Case Study #3
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

 General Conditions
Spring semester has compressed coursework
over three sessions.
Institution has a single census date for the term
of January 12 and does no recalculations after
census date.
Student enrolls for 12 hours at the beginning of
the term: 9 in session A and 3 in Session C
Case assumes the initial calculation was made
prior to the term. 58
 Case Study #3
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Withdraws Jan. 12
from 3
hours

Scenario One
 Condition
Student withdraws from 3 hours prior to
January 12 and later attends Session C.
 Result
At census date student is a three-quarter time
student.

59
 Case Study #3
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 Withdraws
from 3
hours
Scenario Two
 Condition
Student withdraws from 3 hours after January
12 and later attends Session C.
 Result
At census date student is a full-time student.

60
 Spring
Case Study #3
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Withdraws Jan. 12 Never

from 3 starts
hours

Scenario Three
 Condition
Student withdraws from 3 hours prior to January
12 and never attends Session C.
 Result
At census date student is a three-quarter time
student. However, the award must again be
recalculated but as a half-time student when the
student never starts attendance in the three
hours of Session C. 61
 Spring
Case Study #3
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 Withdraws Never

from 3 starts
hours
Scenario Four
 Condition
Student withdraws from 3 hours after January
12 and never attends Session C.
 Result
At census date student is a full-time student.
However, the award must be recalculated as a
three-quarter-time student when the student
never starts attendance in the three hours of
Session C. 62
 Case Study #4
Spring
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

 General Conditions
Spring semester has compressed coursework
over three sessions.
Institution has a census date for each session:
January 12, March 8, and April 12.
Student enrolls for 12 hours at the beginning
of the term: 9 in session A and 3 in Session C
Case assumes the initial calculation was made
prior to the term.
63
 Spring
Case Study #4
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 March 8 Never April 12

starts

Scenario One
 Conditions
Student never attends Session C.
 Result
The award must be recalculated as a three-
quarter-time student.

64
 Spring
Case Study #4
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 March 8 April 12

Student
withdraws

Scenario Two
 Conditions
Student withdraws from the 3 hours of Session
C on April 15.
 Result
The student remains full-time for the term
unless Spring disbursement is made after April
30, the end of the term.

65
 Spring
Case Study #4
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 Student March 8 April 12

withdraws

Scenario Three
 Conditions
Student withdraws from 3 hours of Session A
but later attends Session C.
 Result
At the April 12 census date the student is three-
quarter-time for the term. The student’s award
must be recalculated.

66
 Spring
Case Study #4
Semester
Session A Session B Session C
Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

9 3
hours hours

Jan. 12 Student March 8 April 12

withdraws

Scenario Four
 Conditions
Student withdraws from 3 hours of Session A
and never attends Session C.
 Result
At the April 12 census date the student is a
half-time student for the term. The student’s
award must be recalculated.
67
 Case Study #5
Fall Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6 9 3
hours hours hours hours

Student starts but Jan. 12 Initial ISIR

Sept. 9
withdraws received

 Conditions
Census dates of September 9 and January 12
for each term.
Student enrolls for fall as full-time and starts,
but does not complete, last six hours of
classes.
Registers for 12 hours in spring and starts the
first nine hours.
Initial ISIR is received in February. 68
 Case Study #5
Fall Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6 9 3
hours hours hours hours

Student starts but Jan. 12 Initial ISIR

Sept. 9
withdraws received

 Result
Student is paid as half-time for fall to pay for
coursework completed and full-time for spring
upon receipt of the ISIR.
If the student does not attend spring Session
C, award is recalculated as three-quarter-time
for the spring term.

69
 Case Study #6
Fall Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6 9 3
hours hours hours hours

Student earns F’s Jan. 12 Initial ISIR

Sept. 9
for last 6 hours received

 Conditions
Census dates of September 9 and January 12
for each term.
Student enrolls for fall as full-time and earns
F’s after completing the last six hours of
classes.
Registers for 12 hours in spring and starts the
first nine hours.
Initial ISIR is received in February. 70
 Case Study #6
Fall Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6 9 3
hours hours hours hours

Student earns F’s Jan. 12 Initial ISIR

Sept. 9
for last 6 hours received

 Result
Student is paid as full-time for both terms
upon receipt of the ISIR.
If the student does not attend spring Session
C, award is recalculated as three-quarter-time
for the spring semester.

71
 Fall
Case Study #7
Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30
Jan. 5 – Feb. 28

6 6
hours hours
Initial ISIR Student provides
Student withdraws received SAR for 01
Sept. 9 after commencing transaction
 Conditions last 6 hours

Census dates of September 9 and January 12 for each

term.
Student enrolls for fall as full-time but starts last six
hours of classes and then withdraws from the
institution.
Initial ISIR listing the institution is received in January
with a processing date of January 3 but is an 02
transaction.
01 transaction with an official EFC was processed on
September 6, and student provides the 01 SAR to
institution on January 10.
72
 Case Study #7
Fall Spring
Semester Semester
Session A Session B Session C Session A Session B Session C
Sept. 2 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 23 Nov. 24 –Dec. 19 Jan. 5 – Feb. 28 Mar. 1 – Apr. 4 Apr. 5 – April 30

6 6
hours hours
Initial ISIR Student provides
Student withdraws received SAR for 01
Sept. 9 after commencing transaction
last 6 hours

 Result
Student is paid a late disbursement as half-time for
fall to pay for coursework completed.

73
Questions
and
Answers

74
 Q’s and A’s
1. Question: If the SAR is reprocessed for the
student to add another institution, will the
“PROCESSED DATE” change?
Answer: Yes. For example, adding your school
to a student’s record creates a new transaction
with a new processing date on the ISIR.
2. Question: Will this process differ if the student
used their PIN to add this other institution?
Answer: No. A student and institution can
document an earlier processing date by the
student obtaining a copy of his or her SAR
transaction processed on an earlier date (student
can use PIN or call 800 number). 75
 Q’s and A’s
3. Question: Does the student still have the ability
to reject their Pell Grant award – even though
§668.164 indicates that you “must” make any
postwithdrawal disbursement?
Answer: Yes, if you document that the student
declined the award. We have identified a number
of appropriate reasons including the student
reenrolling elsewhere, having religious reasons,
or receiving greater aid from another source by
declining a Pell Grant. Note that an institution
cannot refuse to pay, e.g., summer term that is
treated as the first term of an award year, unless
the institution documents that the student
declined the award.
76
 Q’s and A’s
4. Question: Can an institution establish a
verification deadline as an institutional policy
limiting the amount of time that the student had
to submit verification documents?
Answer: An institution must follow the deadlines
published in the Federal Register (Table A) for the
Federal Pell Grant Program. For campus-based,
DL, and FFEL, the institution may establish its
own deadlines but no later than those published
in the Federal Register.
(see §668.60(b) and (c) of the Student Assistance
General Provisions regulations)
77
 Q’s and A’s
5. Question: An institution packages student for a
summer award based on a valid SAR/ISIR, the
student fails to start during summer A, the
census date expires and student is not enrolled.
If student enrolls in summer B – you are still
within the term, you can pay for summer B – as
long as the student begins attendance for the
summer B term. Is “packaging” considered to be
the calculation of the student’s initial Pell Grant
award?
Answer: Since you are using a SAR/ISIR with an
official EFC, in this case a valid SAR/ISIR, the
initial calculation occurs at the time of packaging.
For example, as a full-time student with 6 hours
in A and 6 hours in B. As of the census date, 78
 Q’s and A’s
Answer (cont):
the student never attended the 6 hours of classes
in A. Assuming the student is still registered or
otherwise documented as expecting to attend
summer B, the institution would recalculate the
student’s award as a half-time student. If this
student had registered only for A, never attended,
and subsequently registers for summer B after
the census date, the student is not eligible for a
summer Pell award.

79
 Q’s and A’s
6. Question: Does a packaged Pell Grant award
mean that the institution completed the initial Pell
Grant award calculation?
Answer: Yes, if the institution has an EFC from
an ED product.
7. Question: If the institution does not package
until they have a “verified updated ISIR” and are
packaging the student AFTER the census date,
would the student be eligible to be paid for
courses for which they register after the census
date up to the time of the initial calculation?
Answer: Yes. But the institution must document
the date of the initial Pell Grant award calculation.80
 Q’s and A’s
8. Question: If an institution is not “packaging”
until after all verification has been completed,
how does the timing impact the recalculation
process?
Answer: If no calculation of the student’s Pell is
done until the institution has a valid SAR or ISIR,
then that calculation is the initial calculation (this
answer, of course, assumes you have not
packaged any Stafford loans or campus-based
aid). It would be a recalculation for any
subsequent calculation of the student’s Pell
Grant.

81
 Q’s and A’s
9. Question: What is the result if a student never starts
attendance in the last class if the institution has a
policy of setting a census date by the last class in
which the student enrolls?
Answer: The student is expected to enroll in the later
class, and, therefore, the census date for that later
class is the census date for the term. For example, a
student registers at the beginning of a semester for 9
hours in session A and 3 hours in session C. After
the census date for session A, the student withdraws
from 3 hours. The student never starts class for
session C. The session C census date is the
applicable date for this student, and the student's
effective enrollment status for the term is half-time for
purposes of determining the student's Pell Grant. 82