Students receiving financial assistance through a federal, state or institutional aid program must be making satisfactory progress, both qualitatively and quantitatively, towards a degree. The Office of Financial Aid monitors all students receiving financial aid through a cumulative review that begins upon entry into college.
IMPORTANT:
The Financial Aid SAP Policy should not be confused with the Institutional SAP Policy.
Evaluation Period
All aid recipients will be evaluated before making an award to a student and at the end of each semester of enrollment.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A qualitative measurement of progress is a student’s grade point average. Students who have attempted at least one semester (or a minimum of six credit hours) of coursework must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Completion Rate
A quantitative measurement of progress is a student’s completion rate.All students must satisfactorily complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours from ALL colleges. Grades of F, I, FR, DR, and W are not considered satisfactory and may endanger a student's eligibility for aid in future terms. This means for every 9 credits of enrollment the student must complete 6 credits successfully.
Maximum Time Frame (MTF)
A student may receive financial aid up to 150% of the published program length. For example, a student enrolled in a 60 credit hour program is eligible until 90 (60 X 150%) credit hours are attempted. Transfer hours and repeated coursework may be included when assessing the MTF. A student can receive federal financial aid up to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters or 180 credit hours.
Developmental Course Work
Financial aid recipients may take a maximum of 30 credit hours of developmental course work consisting of English 090, Reading 097, 098 and Math 095, 099. These courses count toward the hours attempted and will be considered in determining MTF.
Transfer Credits and Course Repeats
Transfer credits and course repeats are counted toward a student’s MTF. A student can repeat a course only one additional time after it has been completed successfully.
Appeals Process
Appeals are accepted based on cases of extreme and unusual circumstances. Students whose eligibility for aid has been terminated may provide a written appeal to the Director of Financial Aid. The appeal must include the reason why the student failed to make SAP; and what has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the end of the next evaluation period. Supporting documentation is highly recommended. The Director will evaluate the student’s appeal based on a combination of the student’s circumstances, supporting documentation and in some cases, administrative counsel. The student will be notified of the decision. Students whose aid is reinstated will be placed on probation (see below).
SAP Statuses
- Warning - Title IV aid recipients who do not meet the minimum standards of academic progress will be placed on Warning. A Warning status will allow the student to continue receiving financial aid for one additional semester giving them the opportunity to correct their academic performance.
- Termination/Suspension- Title IV aid recipients who do not meet the minimum standards of academic progress after the “warning” period will be placed on suspension. No additional aid will be offered unless the student appeals and through this process the student’s aid is reinstated.
- Probation- Through the appeals process, the Director of Financial may choose to reinstate a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The Director may seek counsel from the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the student’s advisor or other available resources. The reinstatement will require that students meet specific conditions in subsequent semesters or until the student meets the minimum standards of academic progress. The conditions will be based on the need of the student and will provide direction for the student to ensure the successful completion of his/her program. Students whose aid has been reinstated with conditions will be placed on probation. Aid is typically available to students with this status.
Financial Aid Definitions
- Attempted credits - any courses that a student signs up for and attends through the drop/add period. A grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+,C, C-,D+, D, D-, F, I, CS, W, P, DR, or FR will be received. Attempted credits may include coursework taken at other colleges.
- Earned credits - any courses for which a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+,C, C-,D+, D, or D- is received.
- Successful grade - an A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+,C, C-,D+, D, D-, CS, or P (exceptions exist for grades of D+,D,D-)
- Unsuccessful grade - an F, I, W, DR, or FR
- Non-factored grade - an K, NC, or AU
- Developmental courses - courses beginning with a zero (i.e. MA 090) and do not count towards graduation for the student’s degree but are counted in the student’s attempted and earned credit hours.
