Student Rights and Responsibilities

Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a CNM student receiving financial aid.

Education after high school costs time, money and effort. It is a big investment, and you should carefully evaluate the school you are considering. To help you make a good choice, you should have information on a school's academic programs, facilities, cost of education, refund policy, and financial aid programs.

Student Rights

You have the right to ask:

  • The names of CNM's accrediting and licensing organizations. You also have the right to ask for a copy of the documents describing CNM's accreditation or licensing.
  • About CNM's programs, laboratory and physical facilities, and its faculty.
  • About its job placement rates as a means of attracting students and what information it has to back up its claims.
  • The cost of attending CNM and what its policy is on refunds to students who drop out.
  • What financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state, local, private and institutional financial aid programs.
  • Who CNM's financial aid personnel are, where they are located, and how to contact them for information.
  • What the procedures and deadlines are for submitting applications for each available program.
  • How CNM selects financial aid recipients.
  • How CNM determines your financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal and miscellaneous expenses are considered in your cost of education (or budget) at CNM. It also considers other resources (i.e. parental income and assets, your income and assets, and other financial aid) in calculating your need.
  • How much of your financial need, as determined by CNM, has been met.
  • How and when you will receive your financial aid.
  • For an explanation of each type and amount of assistance in your financial aid package.
  • What the interest rate is on any student loan you have, the total amount you must repay, the length of time within which you have to repay, when you must start repaying, and what cancellation or deferment (postponement) provisions apply.
  • If you are offered student employment--what kind of job it is, what hours you must work, what your duties will be, what the rate of pay will be, and how and when you will be paid.
  • For reconsideration of your aid package if you believe a mistake has been made, or if your enrollment or financial circumstances change.
  • How CNM determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not.
  • What special facilities and services are available to students with disabilities.

Student Responsibilities

It is your responsibility to:

  • Read, review and consider all information about CNM's programs before you enroll.
  • Pay special attention to your application for student financial aid, complete it accurately, and submit it on time to the right place. Errors can delay or prevent you from receiving aid.
  • Know all the deadlines for applying or reapplying for aid and meet them.
  • Provide all documentation, corrections and/or new information requested by either CNM's Financial Aid and Scholarship (FASS) office or the agency to which you submitted your application.
  • Notify the FASS office of any information that has changed since you applied for financial aid.
  • Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you are asked to sign.
  • Repay any student loans you have. When you sign a promissory note, you are agreeing to repay your loan.
  • Attend an exit interview if you have a Stafford Loan, PLUS, Perkins Loan, or New Mexico Nursing Student Loan.
  • Notify the CNM FASS office and Records office of a change in your name, address, major, or enrollment status (half-time, three-quarter time, or full time). If you have a loan, you must also notify your lender of these changes.
  • If you have a student employment job, you must satisfactorily perform the work agreed upon.
  • Understand CNM's financial aid refund policy. If you withdraw from school, you may be due a refund. If you are due a refund and you received Title IV funds, the FASS must return a portion of that refund to the applicable Title IV programs.
  • Understand CNM's financial aid repayment policy. If you received financial aid for living expenses and you withdraw from school and the cash you received is greater than the cost of your living expenses up to your withdrawal date, you must repay a portion of the amount you received.