Academic Eligibility For Financial Aid - Satisfactory Progress
In order to become and remain eligible to receive Title IV financial
aid, such as a Federal Pell Grant, a Federal Family Education
Loan (Stafford, PLUS, SLS), a Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS) and/or a
Federal Perkins Loan, a student must:
1. Have been formally accepted into a degree, diploma or eligible
certificate program. Generally, the program must carry a minimum
of 24 credit hours to be an eligible program, or 16 credit
hours for certificate programs. A student must be at least a halftime
student in order to qualify for a Federal Family Education
Loan. In a regular length semester, half-time is the equivalent of 6
credits. Less than half-time students are eligible for a Pell Grant.
2. Make satisfactory progress toward the achievement of their
educational goals. Standards for this progress are both qualitative
and quantitative and are reflected in both cumulative grade
point average (CGPA) and “incremental” progress in terms of
completing a minimum amount of work at stated intervals
Qualitative Standards Are As Follows:
0–13 credits earned. . . . . . 1.50 minimum cumulative GPA
14–27 credits earned . . . . . . 1.70 minimum cumulative GPA
28–40 credits earned . . . . 1.80 minimum cumulative GPA
41+ credits earned . . 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA
Qualitative satisfactory progress is reviewed at the end of each
semester by the financial aid officer.
Qualitative Warning
Students who fail to meet the qualitative standards for satisfactory progress will be placed on satisfactory progress warning for one semester. During this semester they will continue to be eligible for financial aid, but must bring their cumulative grade point average up to the required standard. If a student does not bring his/her GPA to the required standard during the warning semester, the student will be ineligible to receive financial aid for the following semester. Aid can only be reinstated after a student has met the required standards listed above. Withdrawal and readmission do not necessarily change the student’s satisfactory progress status.
Quantitative Standards
Students pursuing financial aid-eligible programs must complete a minimum number of credits each year to conform with satisfactory progress. Completed credits result in grades of A, B, C, D, E, P or PP. Grades of W, I, T, NP, NI, NG, AF, AD AW, AU, SP, SF, WP, F, WF or CS do not fulfill the requirement. All grades are not used at all campuses; refer to your campus catalog or website for additional information.
Credit hours attempted will be cumulative and will include all
hours for which the student was enrolled as of the end of the
ADD/DROP period half-way through the program. For full-time
and part-time students, the formula to determine the minimum
number of credits required is as follows: (Director has discretion
to check/review more often)
# of credits maximum # of credits
in the program = student is allowed to
of study x 150$ attempt and receive aid
# of credits in program of study the percentage of
diveded by maximum # of = credits attempted
credits student is allowed to that student
attempt and receive financial aid must complete
# of credits = # of credits
student attemped student must complete
Example:
72 credits in program x 150% = 180
72/108=67%
If student attempted 30 credits: 30x67%= 20 credits
which student must complete.
Quantitative Warning
Students enrolled in Associate Degree, Certificate, Professional Certificate or Diploma programs who fail to meet the quantitative standards for satisfactory progress will be placed on satisfactory progress warning for one semester. During this warning semester, students will continue to be eligible for financial aid, but must bring their cumulative number of credits earned to the required standard. (Transfer credits can be used to make up deficiencies in credits earned.) If during the semester of warning the student does not bring up the cumulative number of credits earned to the required standard, the student will be ineligible for financial aid the following semester. Aid can be reinstated only after a student has met the required standards listed above. Withdrawal and readmission do not necessarily change the student’s satisfactory progress status.
Appeal Procedure
If a student is ineligible for Financial Aid based on satisfactory progress, the student may appeal for review of that determination. Students claiming extenuating circumstances should first appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Director. Next appeal should be made in writing to the President of the Institution or a designee within 15 working days following the Financial Aid Director’s decision. A successful appeal may preserve the student’s eligibility for financial aid in the following semester.
Regaining eligibility
Students who are denied financial aid for failure to maintain satisfactory progress must regain their eligibility during future semesters at their own expense. Aid can be reinstated only after a student has met the required standards listed above. Withdrawal and readmission do not necessarily change the student’s satisfactory progress status. Suspended students who are being readmitted may not be eligible for financial aid on their return unless they have taken courses in the interim and raised their GPA to satisfy the qualitative and quantitative requirements.
Academic Amnesty
Students who are granted academic amnesty should be aware that previous grades will be used to evaluate Satisfactory Progress (Quantitative and Qualitative) for financial aid purposes even though they are not included in the new academic grade point average.
Audit a course
Financial Aid does not cover any courses a student audits.
Change of Program
Students who change their academic program will be given additional time to complete their requirements based on the number of credits transferred into the new program. Only those courses applicable to the new program will be evaluated for satisfactory progress.
Consortium Agreements
Consortium Agreements are counted as transfer credits. The student needs to comply with the SP rules of the Home College (college at which the student receives financial aid). Credits received via Consortium Agreements count toward the maximum time frame (Quantitative), but do not count in qualitative measure (GPA).
Course Withdrawal
Course withdrawal will affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Please refer to maximum time frame (quantitative) discussion in this Handbook.
Credit by Examination
Financial Aid does not cover courses in which a student earns credit through Credit by Examination. Credit by Examinations count toward the maximum time frame (quantitative) but do not count in qualitative measure (GPA). If a student earns credit by examination, the enrollment status could change, an action which could affect financial aid status.
Developmental/Remedial Courses and ESL Courses
Students taking remedial/developmental or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses should consult with the Financial Aid Office at their home campus to determine how these courses are treated with respect to financial aid.
Experiential Learning Credits
Financial Aid does not cover courses in which a student earns credit through Experiential Learning. Experiential Learning Credits count toward the maximum time frame (quantitative) but do not count in qualitative measure (GPA).
Incomplete Grades
In most cases, financial aid will be withheld until final grades are in. If financial aid is disbursed and the final grades result in a GPA that makes the student ineligible for financial assistance, any Title IV monies received for that ineligible semester must be repaid by the student.
Repeated Course
Students wishing to repeat a course should consult with the Financial Aid Office to re-assess their continuing Financial Aid eligibility status.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits count toward the maximum time frame (Quantitative), but do not count in qualitative measure (GPA).
