Consortium Agreements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a Consortium Agreement?
   
   
   1. A written arrangement between institutions used to track a student’s total credit hour enrollment when a student is simultaneously attending two different institutions.
   2. It is important to note that a student cannot receive most types of financial aid from more than. one institution during the same semester.
      
      
2. Who is involved in a Consortium Agreement?
   
   
   1. The student and both of the schools are involved in the Consortium. The school where the student is receiving his or her degree is the home school. The school where the student is taking other classes is the host school.
   2. The student initiates the process by contacting the home school’s financial aid office and following their procedures. The home school then contacts the financial aid office at the host school to certify the hours the student is taking.
   3. This process usually takes place by fax and/or email, and the agreement is usually processed by Montgomery College (MC) within 72 hours (only if the visiting student is register and pays his/her bill at MC for the semester) after it is received by the Consortium contact or the student. Otherwise, the Consortium cannot be processed until the above requirements are met by the visiting student.
      
      
3. Who is responsible for the bill at the host school? Does financial aid transfer?
   
   
   1. The student is responsible for the bill at the host school. The bill can be paid by any refund the student receives at the home school or directly by the student. Make sure you calculate your expenses: remember, you are responsible for the bill at the host institution.
   2. If the bill is due before financial aid is processed, the student is still responsible for the bill. Financial aid does not transfer between schools.
   3. The majority of Consortium Agreements have language in them stating the student is responsible for the host school bill, regardless of financial aid.
   4. At Montgomery College class reservations are not provided for visiting students.
      
      
4. Does a Consortium Agreement give me additional financial aid?
   
   
   1. A Consortium Agreement may allow for additional financial aid eligibility. For example, if a student is taking 9 hours at his home school, his/her financial aid will be processed for ¾ time. But if the student is taking 3 hours at another institution the Consortium Agreement will allow the home school to add 3 hours to the 9 hours and process his/her financial aid as full time (12 hours).
   2. The Consortium may increase the cost of attendance of a student if the program at another school has higher expenses (such as study abroad) but it does not guarantee additional aid.

UMUC Alliance Program Participants

1. How is financial aid handled if I am in the UMUC/MC Alliance program?
   1. If the student is taking classes only at MC, we will handle the financial aid. When the student enrolls in classes at UMUC, UMUC handles all aid and will process the Consortium Agreement with MC.
   2. The student must contact UMUC to initiate the Consortium process.

Contact

Michelle M. Samedy, Financial Aid Consortium Counselor
michelle.samedy@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-1348
Fax: 240-567-1692