Academic Debt Relief Policy

To improve accessibility to education for all students, Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) created the ‘Academic Debt Relief’ program policy that enable students with outstanding balances due from prior semesters to enroll in future semesters with the outstanding debt forgiven if conditions are met. After review, approval, and successful completion of the semester(s), the student’s prior semester’s debt will be removed and the debt will be considered satisfied in full.

How to Apply:

1. Student must complete and submit the Tuition Appeal Form or Tuition Appeal Form (Non-Single Sign On) to the Business Office with the “Debt Relief” checkbox marked.
2. The Tuition Appeal Committee meets bi-weekly to review submitted applications.
3. Students are notified via email of any next steps.
4. Students are required to complete an Academic Debt Relief Success Plan as outlined in Procedures below. Upon plan completion, an Advisor will assist students with course selection and registration.
5. After successful completion of conditions (as listed below), the College will mark satisfied the students’ outstanding debt.

Conditions and Requirements:

• This is a one-time debt relief initiative – students cannot reapply.
• Students must enroll in a minimum of two courses (6 credits) and successfully complete the courses in the semester they return with a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Students must have a completed FAFSA on file to ensure they are aware of and accessing available grant funds. Students will not be required to accept student loan funds but will have the option to do so to assist with paying their tuition.
• Payment in full, payment plan or authorized financial aid must be in place prior to the start of the current terms’ payment due date to ensure the student has the means to pay for the current semester attending.
• Upon completion of these requirements, the College will forgive the remaining debt owed to the College by the student.

Application process and steps:

1. The Tuition Appeal Committee meets bi-weekly to review submitted applications.
2. Students are notified via email of the next steps.
   1. The Business Office adds code(s) in Banner and sends an email to approved students outlining their next steps. Advising and the Coordinator of Coaching Commons are copied in the email.
   2. An ARGOS report is created to include the following information: student name, L#, status of Academic Success Plan, registration status and end-of-term GPA.
3. Students are required to work with a success coach and complete an Academic Debt Relief Success Plan.
   1. Success coaches will guide students through the success plan and refer students to appropriate college resources (tutoring, disability support, advising, etc.).
   2. Students must meet with their success coach a minimum of three times in the semester.
   3. Upon completion, the Dean of Academic Support & Success informs the Business Office that will apply the Debt Relief (DR) hold.
   4. Once the DR hold is placed, an Advisor will assist students with course selection and registration (minimum of 6 credits or 2 courses).
4. After successful completion of coursework conditions and requirements, the College will mark satisfied the students’ outstanding debt.
   1. The Business Office ends the DR hold.
5. . If the student does not successfully complete coursework and does not meet the conditions and requirements of the Academic Debt Relief policy, the Business Office will remove the hold and collection efforts will resume. This is a one-time debt relief initiative – students cannot reapply.