Billing and Finances for AY Blocks Away
PROGRAM FEES: While tuition for a semester includes tuition for off-campus blocks, the travel expenses for the off-campus block is not included in a student's tuition, room & board charges. These costs are paid through a program fee specific to each off-campus block course. This fee covers travel-related expenses such as local housing, excursions, entry fees, guest speakers, local transportation, etc.
Program Fees for AY Off-Campus Blocks do not include airfare to/from the program destination or meals during the block (except for planned group meals). It is your responsibility to understand what is included in the program fee and what is not covered.
MEALS: Students who live on campus and have a standard meal plan will receive a refund of that meal plan for the block they are away. These funds can then be used to cover meal costs while away on the off-campus block. Students living off-campus are expected to pay for meals while on the off-campus block, just as they do for on-campus courses.
AIRFARE: Airfare is not included in the AY Off-Campus Block program fee, however the cost of airfare is calculated and included in financial aid awards for the block away for students who qualify for a block away aid award (see below).
WITHDRAWAL & REFUND OF PROGRAM FEES: Each Academic Year Off-Campus Block has a set Student Withdrawal Deadline, which is listed on the Blocks Away website. Withdrawal charges for Academic Year Blocks are defined by the withdrawal date as it relates to this deadline as well as the program departure date.
1. Withdrawal prior to the published deadline for the program will incur no charges.
2. Post-deadline withdrawal will incur charges ranging from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of 100% of the program fee.
3. The withdrawal charge increases to a minimum of 25% of the program fee for any withdrawal occurring within the block prior to departure.
The total amount of the program charge to be billed will be determined by the course faculty and Global Education and will consider both nonrefundable expenses paid by the college on your behalf and costs shared by all participating students to support the structural expenses of the program.
Financial aid awards cannot be used to cover withdrawal charges. Students may have a portion of these charges waived with appropriate documentation that the withdrawal was attributable to medical necessity.
DEPOSIT: While CC used to require a program deposit, this has been removed in an effort to ensure equity between students of higher and lower financial need. At present the Program Fee Agreement, which acknowledges the student's understanding of the program fee and withdrawal policies is used as a placeholder in lieu of a deposit and is a binding agreement between the student and the college to follow the policies stated within the agreement. This agreement becomes available on Summit when a student is approved to join a program. It is a required document needed to obtain the codes used to register for the course on Banner.
Financial aid for AY blocks is awarded at the conclusion of the two annual Application Windows. The primary Application Window is from February through March, with specific dates announced each year as part of the reveal of the next year's block offerings. This is the only App Window for Blocks 1-6. Students applying for Block 7-8 programs are also encouraged to apply at this time. A second application and aid window for Block 7-8 programs is also open in each Fall during Block 1. Because the amount of aid in the Fall App Window depends upon the number of applicants who received Block 7 or 8 aid in the March window, it is recommended that students applying to Block 7-8 programs do so in the earlier window, when the aid pools are fully stocked.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY: Aid is available to all Colorado College students who have completed their first semester of study and who are currently on need-based financial aid at the College (FAFSA for U.S. students and CSS Profile for international students). If you have previously received a financial aid award for a CC AY Block Away (Blocks 1-8) you are not eligible to apply again. Note that AY aid awards are separate from CC Summer Block Away aid awards, so if you've been awarded a summer award before, you CAN apply for an award towards a block during the academic year. Each CC student is eligible for one summer award and one AY award during their degree program.
AWARD SELECTION & COMPOSITION: Awards are granted at the conclusion of each application window. Several factors are used to determine the awarding of aid. These are:
- Eligibility: Student receives need-based aid and has not received an AY Block Away Aid Award in the past.
- Program Status: Aid is awarded after program rosters have been selected. Students approved for a program are eligible for aid. Students who are waitlisted for a program are also waitlisted for aid consideration until they are invited to join a program. They then may receive an immediate award or, if no aid remains available, are moved into a waitlist for aid.
- Academic Year: Preference is given to upper division students as they have fewer future opportunities to join a block away.
- Need Level: Preference is given to students with higher financial need designations as defined by the Financial Aid Office.
Because the Off-Campus Block Aid Pool is limited, CC cannot guarantee aid to all students for any particular program. We try to accommodate as many students as possible, but it is not uncommon for students with low need or who are in the early years of their CC career to be waitlisted for aid due to a large number of rising seniors or juniors eligible for aid awards.
The amount awarded is based on your level of financial need. AY Financial Aid Awards take into account the total course costs, including the program fee, estimated airfare, and any additional costs such as a required visa. Aid awards are determined based on the program fee plus the estimated cost of round trip airfare to/from the program destination. All aid awards cover a percentage of this estimated total cost, ranging from 20% of coverage to 90% of coverage. No award will cover 100% of the estimated program cost.
AWARDS & STUDENT ACCOUNTS: If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, no award will be made until the balance is cleared. Awards are not transferable; if you drop your course you must re-apply for an award for a different course (unless your original course was canceled).