1. O Preparatory Coursework
Linda Hayes, Ed.D.
Director of Financial Aid – Operations
September 5, 2019

2. Preparatory Coursework and Program Applicability
What is Preparatory Coursework?
Courses that a student is required to take to be officially admitted into an eligible degree program at KCTCS or at a 4-year Institution
Who qualifies to take Preparatory Coursework (PC) at KCTCS?
KCTCS students who wish to be accepted into a Selective Admission KCTCS program
Students enrolled at KCTCS and plan to transfer to a 4- year institution
Non-degree seeking students taking preparatory courses to be accepted at a 4-year institution
Students who are enrolled at KCTCS and wish transfer to a 4-year institution or be accepted into another program at KCTCS
Students enrolled at KCTCS and plan to transfer to a 4-year institution
Non-degree seeking students taking preparatory courses to be accepted at a 4-year institution

3. Financial Aid Eligibility for Preparatory Coursework
Student may receive certain financial aid to be applied to courses that are not Program Applicable and are defined as PC
Student must meet with their financial aid office at their HOME COLLEGE for aid eligibility
Minimum enrollment for specific federal funds is > 6 credits
State (CAP, KEES) – must be enrolled in a KCTCS Program)
Institutional Award (depending on Home College award criteria)
Limited Federal funds (excluding federal grants) – student must meet federal requirements – (manually awarded by Home School financial aid office)

4. Coursework that DOES NOT Qualify as Preparatory Coursework
Courses taken to raise your GPA
Courses not required for admission to a program
Courses for a program the student is currently admitted to
Dual enrollment coursework
Courses taken to improve chance of acceptance
These courses ARE NOT financial aid eligible under the Preparatory Coursework rule

5. Coursework that DOES apply as Preparatory Coursework
A Student enrolled in courses at KCTCS required for acceptance to a program at KCTCS or a 4-year Institution and,
The Student is not accepted to the program requiring these courses
These courses are financial aid eligible under the Preparatory Coursework rule
Provide examples for each bullet

6. Financial Aid (FA) PC Documentation
FA Preparatory Coursework (PC) form that includes:
Documentation that the coursework is required for admission to a specified undergraduate/professional degree program.
A list of the specific courses required for admission.
Acceptable documentation to meet PC may include any of these, (but is not limited to) as long as it includes the information above required to be in the documentation:
Letter from the 4-year institution the student wishes to enroll in, or
Copy of Institutional Catalog page, or
Copy of a transfer agreement/2+2 program brochure
The courses are required for admission to the program in an undergraduate/professional program, and
A list of the specific courses must be provided that are required for admission
This documentation could be in the form of the following:
The Financial Aid Preparatory Coursework Form completed an advisor or dean at the institution the student wishes to be accepted to
Letter from the institution that outlines the courses required for admission
Catalog page indicating course requirement for admission to the program
A copy of a transfer agreement, or 2+2 program documenting the additional hours and courses outside of the student’s current program required for admission.
Keep in mind that there may be other admission requirements in addition to preparatory coursework

7. Steps for Preparatory Coursework - FA Approval
Provide student with
Student FAQ
Review requirements
Documentation required for approval
Assist student with collection of documentation
Complete FA Preparatory Coursework (FA PC) form
Provide documentation to go with the form
Advise the student to return the FA PC form and documentation to
KCTCS Home College Financial Aid Office
Provide the student with the Preparatory Coursework Student FAQ and the Financial Aid Preparatory Coursework form
Review the requirements on the Financial Aid Preparatory Coursework form
Complete the form
Transfer student - Both student and advisor of the 4-year Institution should complete the form - OR -
Current KCTCS student - Both student and KCTCS advisor should complete the form
Advise the student to return the completed form to their local financial aid office at their KCTCS Home College

8. Please Note
Preparatory Coursework is not eligible for override for Program Applicability
Preparatory coursework is not eligible for federal grants
An override will automatically increase the financial aid credit hours and may cause the student to be over-awarded
Home College financial liability
Student required to repay over-award
The Financial Aid Office understands how to award the student and ensure they are receiving the maximum amount of financial aid for all courses, including Preparatory Coursework.

9. QUESTIONS? Thank you! Dr. Linda Hayes linda.hayes@kctcs.edu