[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 34, Volume 3] [Revised as of July 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 34CFR685.303] [Page 870-872] TITLE 34--EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PART 685--WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM--Table of Contents Subpart C--Requirements, Standards, and Payments for Direct Loan Program Schools Sec. 685.303 Processing loan proceeds. (a) Purpose. This section establishes rules governing a school's processing of a borrower's Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan proceeds. The school shall also comply with any rules for processing loan proceeds contained in 34 CFR part 668. (b) General--(1)(i) A school that initiates the drawdown of funds. A school may not disburse loan proceeds to a borrower unless the school has obtained an executed, legally enforceable promissory note from the borrower. (ii) A school that does not initiate the drawdown of funds. A school may disburse loan proceeds only to a borrower for whom the school has received funds from the Secretary. (2)(i) Except in the case of a late disbursement under paragraph (d) of this section, or as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, a school may disburse loan proceeds only to a student, or a parent in the case of a PLUS Loan, if the school determines the student has continuously maintained eligibility in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 685.200 from the beginning of the loan period described in the promissory note. (ii) In the event a student delays attending school for a period of time, the school may consider that student to have maintained eligibility for the loan from the first day of the period of enrollment. However, the school must [[Page 871]] comply with the requirements under paragraph (b)(3) of this section. (iii) If, after a school makes the first disbursement to a borrower, the student becomes ineligible due solely to the school's loss of eligibility to participate in the title IV programs or the Direct Loan Program, the school may make subsequent disbursements to the borrower as permitted by 34 CFR part 668. (iv) If, prior to making any disbursement to a borrower, the student temporarily ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis, the school may make a disbursement and any subsequent disbursement to the student if the school determines and documents in the student's file-- (A) That the student has resumed enrollment on at least a half-time basis; (B) The student's revised cost of attendance; and (C) That the student continues to qualify for the entire amount of the loan, notwithstanding any reduction in the student's cost of attendance caused by the student's temporary cessation of enrollment on at least a half-time basis. (3) If a registered student withdraws or is expelled prior to the first day of classes of the period of enrollment for which the loan is made, or fails to attend school during that period, or if the school is unable for any other reason to document that the student attended school during that period, the school shall notify the Secretary, within 30 days of the date described in Sec. 685.305(a), of the student's withdrawal, expulsion, or failure to attend school, as applicable, and return to the Secretary-- (i) Any loan proceeds credited by the school to the student's account; and (ii) The amount of payments made by the student to the school, to the extent that they do not exceed the amount of any loan proceeds disbursed by the school to the student. (4)(i) If a student is enrolled in the first year of an undergraduate program of study and has not previously received a Federal Stafford, Federal Supplemental Loans for Students, Direct Subsidized, or Direct Unsubsidized Loan, a school may not disburse the proceeds of a Direct Subsidized or Direct Unsubsidized Loan until 30 days after the first day of the student's program of study unless-- (A) The school has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, or weighted average cohort rate of less than 10 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available; (B) The school is an eligible home institution originating a loan to cover the cost of attendance in a study abroad program and has a Direct Loan Program cohort rate, FFEL cohort default rate, or weighted average cohort rate of less than 5 percent for the single most recent fiscal year for which data are available; or (C) The school is not in a State. (ii) Paragraph (b)(4)(i)(A) of this section does not apply to any loans originated by the school beginning-- (A) 30 days after the date the school receives notification from the Secretary of a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, that causes the school to no longer meet the qualifications outlined in that paragraph; or (B) October 1, 2002. (iii) Paragraph (b)(4)(i)(B) of this section does not apply to any loans originated by the school beginning 30 days after the date the school receives notification from the Secretary of a cohort default rate, calculated under Subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, that causes the school to no longer meet the qualifications outlined in that paragraph. (c) Processing of the proceeds of a Direct Loan. Schools shall follow the procedures for disbursing funds in 34 CFR 668.164. (d) Late Disbursement. A school may make a late disbursement according to the provisions found under 34 CFR 668.164(g). (e) Treatment of excess loan proceeds. Before the disbursement of any Direct Subsidized or Direct Unsubsidized Loan proceeds, if a school learns that the borrower will receive or has received financial aid for the period of enrollment for which the loan was intended that exceeds the amount of assistance for which the student is eligible (except for Federal Work-Study Program funds up to $300), the school shall reduce or eliminate the overaward by either-- [[Page 872]] (1) Using the student's Direct Unsubsidized, Direct PLUS, or State- sponsored or another non-Federal loan to cover the expected family contribution, if not already done; or (2) Reducing one or more subsequent disbursements to eliminate the overaward. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840-0672) [59 FR 61690, Dec. 1, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 33345, June 28, 1995; 61 FR 29901, June 12, 1996; 61 FR 60610, Nov. 29, 1996; 64 FR 58971, Nov. 1, 1999; 65 FR 65651, Nov. 1, 2000; 66 FR 34766, June 29, 2001]