Consortium Agreements
Overview
Consortium agreements allow students to use enrollment at two different institutions towards their eligibility for Federal Pell Grants and other financial aid awards. The institution where their degree or certificate program is located is known as the home institution, and the school they are visiting and taking a class or two towards that program is known as the host institution. Since Federal Pell Grants cannot be awarded at two institutions at the same time, a consortium agreement allows a student to pool their units towards their financial aid eligibility at the home institution.
Cuesta College will not process consortium agreements after the freeze date. Enrollment and award amounts will fluctuate as you add and drop classes, but we make a final adjustment on a financial aid census date known as the “freeze date.” After that date your information will not be modified for the purposes of financial aid. Consortium agreements may be considered in the Fall and Spring terms only, and all paperwork must be turned in by the fourth week of the semester.
Cuesta as a Home Institution
As a matter of policy, Cuesta College will not enter into a consortium agreement as a home institution except under very rare and unavoidable circumstances. If you feel your situation warrants such an agreement, please contact the Financial Aid office and make an appointment with the Associate Director. Note that approvals are not automatic and are rarely given; students should not make plans based on a consortium agreement until approval has been obtained.
Cuesta as a Host Institution
Cuesta College will enter into consortium agreements as a host institution on a case-by-case, term-by-term basis. Upon approval by the Associate Director of Financial Aid, each party to the contract will have its own responsibilities. Note that approvals are not automatic and are rarely given; students should not make plans based on a consortium agreement until approval has been obtained.
Students will:
- Provide Cuesta with a fully signed and completed version of the consortium agreement prepared by the home institution;
- Provide Cuesta with enrollment status and cost of attendance at the home institution (that at least includes tuition, fees, and room & board charges); AND
- Inform Cuesta and the home institution immediately when there is a change in enrollment status (e.g. dropping or adding courses at Cuesta);
Cuesta will:
- Provide the home institution with an unofficial transcript at the end of the term;
- Provide the home institution with information about the student's enrollment status, local cost of attendance, and any financial aid awarded; AND
- Provide the home institution with any other information required under the specific consortium agreement;
The home institution will:
- Be responsible for maintaining all information on student eligibility, award calculations, disbursements, and any other relevant documentation; AND
- Be responsible for the institutional portion of any return of Title IV funds in the case of withdrawal or overpayment AND
- Be responsible for updating enrollment information in NSLDS.
