Financial Aid Freeze Information

Financial Aid Freeze Date

The Office of Financial Aid will “Freeze” hours on the “Census Date” of each semester.  Students may reference the Academic Calendar for the exact date. Any courses added after this date will not be included in a student’s enrollment status for disbursing federal and state financial aid and the student will be responsible for any additional charges. Therefore, if a currently enrolled student is receiving financial aid, and adds a course to his/her schedule, you must do so prior to the census date. This does not apply to any NEW students enrolling for the first time after the census date.

Please read our Policy below in reference to our Financial Aid Freeze Dates.

Financial Aid Freeze Policy

In accordance with federal regulations, Louisiana Delta Community College’s Office of Financial Aid establishes a “freeze date” each semester to determine a student’s enrollment status for disbursing federal and state financial aid. Financial Aid freeze dates are dates when the student’s enrollment status is frozen or "locked” for financial aid purposes. The freeze dates for fall and spring is the Census date or 14th class day and the 7th class day for Summer. On these dates, a "snapshot" is taken of the student’s enrollment status to establish "official enrollment" for reporting purposes and financial aid eligibility. Also during this time, financial aid is adjusted for the term to reflect current enrolled credits that are eligible to receive financial aid. For example, if a student registered for full-time status at the beginning of a term and then dropped, added, or withdrew from credits before the freeze date, financial aid is revised to match eligibility, based on the new number of enrolled credits as of the freeze date. Credits added after the Freeze Date cannot be used to increase financial aid eligibility.

Students must plan accordingly to register for courses in their program of study and for the correct number of credit hours before the financial aid freeze dates. Otherwise, their aid may require repackaging which also may affect their student account.

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AID FREEZE DATES

• Information or corrections to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted after the Freeze Date may affect financial aid.
• If students increase or decrease their course load before the freeze date, financial aid is adjusted accordingly. Students are responsible for payment of any balance on their accounts due to reduced financial aid created by reduced course load.
•  Adding credits after the Freeze Date does not increase financial aid received.
• Taking courses that begin after the freeze date may affect financial aid. For example, after the freeze date, the Federal Pell Grant is not disbursed until after courses have started. The grant is reduced accordingly, if students fail to begin attendance in all classes.
• Enrollment status (full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, less than 1/2 time) is locked for financial aid; actual courses are not locked.
• Please note that students enrolled in programs that do not lead to an Associate degree must adhere to the Clock to Credit Hour Conversion. Because of this, a student’s financial aid will be based on the converted financial aid credits and not the student’s enrollment status. You may reference our website for information on the “Clock to Credit Hour Conversion”.