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Federal Student Aid Consumer Information

As a school participating in Federal Student Aid programs, Sessions College is required to disclose certain consumer information to all current and prospective students. This page provides a directory of required consumer information. Paper copies also are available on request.

If you have a question about anything relating to financial aid or your Sessions College application, contact an Admissions Advisor.

Academic Programs

Accreditation and Licensure
Sessions College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSA-CSS) and licensed by the Arizona Board of Private Post-Secondary Education. Click here to view school approvals and recognitions.
Academic Programs
For more information on eligible programs, visit these pages:
  Degree Programs:

Undergraduate Certificate:

Faculty
Sessions College has a faculty of nearly 30 industry-leading artists and designers. Click here to view a directory of Faculty teaching eligible programs.
Admissions Policy

Applying to a Sessions College program is a convenient online process. Visit Degree Program Admissions or Undergraduate Certificate Admissions for more information.

Credit Transfer
Click here to access the full credit transfer policy for Degree and Undergraduate Certificate programs.
Graduation and Retention Rates
Schools who administer Federal Student Aid are expected to publish annual completion or graduation rates. An eligible program student shall be counted as a completion or graduation if the student earns a degree within 150 percent of normal time for the student’s program. Graduation rates are reported based on the percentage of first-time, full-time degree students who have completed by August 31 in a year once 150% of their normal program completion time has elapsed. These data are reported in the annual IPEDS Graduation Rate Survey, with the results published at the College Navigator site. If the information is requested by a prospective student, it must be made available prior to the student’s enrolling or entering into any financial obligation with the institution. Definitions:

  • First-time students = Students who have never attended college.
  • Full-time students = Students who attend on a full-time schedule (12 credits/semester) in their first semester.
Cohort Default Rates
The Cohort Default Rate (CDR) is the percentage of Federal student loan recipients who enter repayment of loans during a financial year. The most recently available three-year cohort default rate for Sessions College for the fiscal year 2016 is 15.7. The national average CDR is 10.1.
Notice of Availability
As a participant in the Federal financial aid system, Sessions College is required to provide consumer information to the Department of Education in the annual IPEDs survey. This information is displayed at the College Navigator site. Data reported includes:

  • General school information
  • Faculty information
  • Tuition, fees, and estimated student expenses
  • Financial aid
  • Net price of attendance
  • Enrollment
  • Admissions
  • Retention and graduation rates
  • Programs/majors
  • Accreditation

Upon request, this information will be made available to any prospective student prior to his or her enrolling in the program.

Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Programs
Several types of Federal Student Aid programs are available to eligible students: Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal PLUS loans. Click here to find out more.
Eligibility Requirements
Visit our Financial Aid page to find out the requirements to be eligible for Federal Student Aid.
Student Financial Arrangements
Students must make financial arrangements with the Financial Aid Office in regards to completion of the FAFSA application, scholarships, tuition payment, or payment plan prior to enrolling. Enrolling students are provided copies of the Sessions College catalog containing all policies on academic progress and attendance, which they are required to read and understand before signing an enrollment agreement confirming their enrollment.
Definition of an Academic Year
An academic year is the measure of the academic work to be accomplished by a student each year as defined by a school. In Sessions College credit-bearing programs (Associate Degree and Undergraduate Certificate) the academic year is defined as 24 credits and 30 weeks of instructional time. The number of weeks of instructional time is based on the period that begins on the first day of classes in the academic year and ends on the last day of classes or examinations.
Cost of Attendance
As a participant in Federal Student Aid programs, Sessions College is required to calculate the cost of attendance for each academic year, including tuition and fees, and provide any estimated costs for computer, software, supplies, and any indirect costs. Click here for information on cost of attendance per academic year,
Textbook Information
Schools who administer Federal Student Aid are expected to disclose ISBN numbers and other publisher information as well as and retail course pricing for any required or recommended textbooks or supplemental materials.

No textbooks are required for Sessions College programs. All coursework and materials required to complete credit bearing programs are provided in an online learning environment, including orientation materials, lectures, exercises, critique and discussion forums, videos, multimedia tools, and an online library. All tuition includes a digital materials fee for updates to course or program content.

Net Price Calculator
As a school participating in Federal Student Aid programs, Sessions College provides a Net Price Calculator as a guide to assist in early financial planning for college. The goal of this calculator is to provide an initial estimate of federal and institutional aid eligibility.

Important: The net price calculator provides an estimate based on what first-time, full-time students paid towards total cost of attendance in a prior year. Based on Federal regulation, the net price calculation does not include transfer students: students who enter a program with prior college credit. Most Sessions College students are transfer students.

For complete information on costs and financial aid eligibility, please to our Admissions pages or talk to one of our Admissions Advisors.

Click here to access the Net Price Calculator.

Verification Policy
As a participant in Federal Student Aid programs, Sessions College is required to check the accuracy of all FAFSA applications selected by the Federal Central Processing System (CPS) for verification.

Being selected for verification doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. Verifications may be requested based on inconsistencies or errors, or simply be a result of random sampling. Sessions College must verify any application information that it has reason to believe is incorrect or discrepant.

If an application is selected for verification, five major data elements must be verified:

  • Household size
  • Number enrolled in college
  • Adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • U.S. income tax paid

Certain untaxed income and benefits can be verified:

  • Social Security Benefits
  • Child Support Received
  • IRA/Keogh deductions
  • Foreign income exclusion
  • Earned income credit
  • Interest on tax free bonds
  • Welfare benefits including TANF

During verification, the data reported on the verification worksheet, federal tax returns, and other supporting documentation provided is checked against the data on the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).

Students selected for verification are sent a letter including instructions regarding any documents that should be submitted to Sessions College within 10 days. No award will be made until the requested documentation has been received and reviewed. (Exceptions are granted for students that are only eligible for unsubsidized Stafford loans, and PLUS loans as these applications do not have to be verified.)

If new information provided conflicts with the original information presented on the FAFSA, corrections, updates, or adjustments may be needed and a new Expected Family Contribution (EFC) may need to be calculated. The new EFC can be calculated by the school and only needs to be submitted to CPS for students eligible for Federal Pell Grants.

Other Types of Available Aid
In addition to Federal Student Aid, several types of financial assistance are available to eligible students entering Associate Degree and Undergraduate Certificate programs.

Disability Policy
Sessions College is committed to providing qualified students who have a disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits of educational programs and activities in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Accommodations are provided to qualified students with disabilities. Students who believe they require accommodations should contact their a Student Advisor at advisor @sessions.edu or call 800-258-4115 Option 2.

Student Confidentiality and Privacy Policy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the confidentiality of student education records. FERPA requires that schools provide a written policy protecting student privacy rights. Student privacy rights at Sessions College are as follows:

“Student” status applies immediately upon access to the individual’s first course at Sessions College. All students are covered under FERPA while attending Sessions College and upon exiting Sessions College for any reason.

Students have the right to request access to their education records, have their education records provided within 45 days of student request, and challenge the contents of their education records. The request for access must be in writing, by email to registrar@sessions.edu, by fax to 866-308-9411, or by mail to Sessions College for Professional Design, Main Campus, 51 West 3rd St, Suite E-301, Tempe, AZ 85281.

Amendments or challenges to the education record must be presented in writing to the Registrar, who will review the request and notify the student of the decision.

A student’s education records are only released to outside parties (such as spouses, parents, or employers) with written consent of the student, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Students’ education records are disclosed to Sessions College officials with legitimate academic interests.

Sessions College collects general “directory information” about students that may be disclosed or published publicly. For a full guide to the kind of information considered “directory information” under FERPA, visit this ED.gov page. Students may opt out of release of directory information. The complete directory information policy and opt-out form is available from the Financial Aid Department.

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by a school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

SAP Policy
All students in Sessions College Associate Degree and Undergraduate Certificate programs must meet the college’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards in order to receive financial aid during their programs. Click here for more information.
Withdrawal Policy
Any student withdrawing from a program may be entitled to a refund subject to the school’s Withdrawal and Refund Policy. Click here to access the Withdrawal and Refund Policy.
Return of Title IV Policy
If you withdraw before the end of a payment period, Sessions College is required to determine the portion of aid that you earned and calculate any Federal student aid funds that should be returned to the U.S. Department of Education or disbursed to you as a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Click here to view the school’s Return of Title IV policy.

School Code of Conduct
Sessions College officers and employees may not receive directly or indirectly, points, premiums, payments, stock or other securities, prizes, travel, entertainment expenses, tuition payment or reimbursement, the provision of information technology equipment at below market value, additional financial aid funds, or any other inducement from a guaranty agency or eligible lender in payment for securing applicants for loans.

Sessions College or its employees may not provide names and addresses and/or e-mail addresses of students or prospective students or parents to eligible lenders or guaranty agencies for the purpose of conducting unsolicited mailings, by either postal or electronic means, of student loan applications.

Sessions College will not allow any employee of the guaranty agency or eligible lender to perform any school-required function for a school participating in the program.  The institution will not permit guaranty agencies to conduct fraudulent or misleading advertising concerning loan availability, terms or conditions.

Sessions College will not permit an employee to enter into a consulting arrangement or other contract with an eligible lender. The school will not permit an employee working in the student financial aid office to serve on an advisory board for an eligible lender.

Complaint Policy
FILING OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS

Individuals who have exhausted institutional grievance procedures and wish to file a complaint with appropriate authorities may do so at the following Web pages:

SARA COMPLAINTS

The Arizona SARA Council has jurisdiction over Arizona SARA-approved institutions and may be approached with any non-instructional complaint. Prior to registering a non-instructional complaint with the Arizona SARA Council, the student/complainant must complete the Sessions College and the Arizona Board of Private Postsecondary Education complaint process outlined above. Non-instructional complaints may be made at this SARA page: http://azsara.arizona.edu/complaint-process.

Students may also contact state authorization or accrediting agency contacts for specific issues. For online students who are residents of states outside of Arizona, complaints may be directed state consumer protection agencies listed in this document: https://www.sessions.edu/downloads/complaint_process_links2.pdf.

Facilities and Campus Policies

Campus Security
Postsecondary institutions participating in Federal Student Aid programs are generally required to disclose campus crime statistics and security information, consistent with the safety and security provisions of the Clery Act (1998) and Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008). As a fully online school, Sessions College is exempt from this requirement because it does not operate physical locations at which students are expected to enroll, seek guidance, study, work, or intern, etc. SAFETY AND SECURITY Sessions College provides students and employees with a safe and secure environment for its students and employees. The school’s offices are open for employees during published opening hours and secured at other times. If a student or employee is aware that a crime is being committed or has been committed on school property or in its online learning environment, he or she should report the crime immediately to the local police and/or school administrators. The local police department can be reached in an emergency by calling 911. TIMELY WARNING AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION In the event of a confirmed immediate threat to public health and safety in the immediate vicinity of school facilities, Sessions College will issue an emergency alert to employees. School employees receive regular tests in emergency evacuation procedures provided by local authorities, consistent with local fire and disaster preparedness codes. During an emergency, any necessary information will be provided to employees via telephone and email. If any emergency situation is judged a potential threat to students or otherwise affect school activities, a notice will be prominently posted on the school Web site.
Copyright Policy
The reproduction or copying of a work subject to copyright protection typically requires the permission of the copyright owner. Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including peer-to-peer file sharing, is prohibited in the Sessions College learning environment and may subject violators to civil and criminal penalties. Copyright law recognizes that in certain situations, copyrighted work may be reproduced without the copyright owner’s consent. One such situation is where the doctrine of “fair use” applies. The following four factors must be considered for determining “fair use”: The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work, the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. While copyright law may permit fair use of content without permission in specific circumstances including criticism, comment, news, reporting, or teaching, students, faculty, and administrators should be aware that most sharing of music, videos, software, and other copyrighted materials is unlikely to be considered “fair use.” Students who wish to report a copyright issue should contact their Student Advisor. Claims of copyright infringement will be investigated by academic and technology directors, and violations of school policy will be dealt with appropriately. SUMMARY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. Anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be order to either pay actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, at its discretion, also assess costs and attorney’s fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright office at www.copyright.gov.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program
Sessions College is committed to creating a drug and alcohol free environment for students, faculty, and staff. The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs or alcohol on property owned, leased, used or rented by Sessions College is strictly prohibited. The school has a drug and alcohol abuse prevention program that is distributed annually to students, faculty, and staff. Consistent with the Higher Education Act, any student receiving federal financial aid program funds who is convicted for any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs will lose eligibility for any federal student grant, loan, or work-study assistance. Sessions College will provide any student so convicted a timely notice of loss of eligibility and the required steps to restore eligibility.
Voter Registration
Democracy begins with registering to vote, and Sessions College encourages all students who are United States citizens of voting age to exercise their right to vote. For information on voter registration for your state of residence, visit this page at the United States Election Assistance Commission site: http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx.
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