Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Academic Eligibility Standard

The U.S. Department of Education has published regulations that require institutions to measure satisfactory progress toward program completion for students who receive federal aid. The College monitors satisfactory academic progress (SAP) of financial aid recipients at the end of each term. To maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student must comply with the following standard:

• Must have a program GPA of 2.0

• Must have a program completion rate of 67% at the end of each term. The rate is calculated by dividing the total number of hours the student has successfully completed by the total number attempted. Successful completion of a course is defined as earning a grade of A, B, C, or D. Grades of “F”, “AU”, “I”, “W”, and “WF” are not considered as successful completion. The rate also includes transfer credit hours that are accepted toward a student’s educational program.

• Must complete a program of study in a time frame not to exceed 150% of the published length of the program. This is measured in credit hours (e.g., if the academic program length requires 60 credit hours, maximum time frame cannot exceed 90 credit hours attempted). Financial aid eligibility is limited to the 150% maximum time frame of a program’s credit length even if the program is not completed. Change of major or program may not be sufficient reason to extend the credit limit. Financial Aid/ Multiple Major policy: Effective Summer Semester 2013, students may major in more than one program. For Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) determination, a student may only have one 150% time frame calculation, regardless of multiple eligible programs. The longest credit hour program will be used to determine the student’s 150% time frame calculation.

Failure to meet any of the standard requirements may result in denial of federal financial aid at Martin Community College.

If a student fails to meet these eligibility standards, an automatic WARNING status (see below) is enforced. Grades of A, B, C, and D only will be evidence of successful completion of course work for purposes of calculating institutional percentage completion rates.

Measurement Point/Times Standard Applied

The financial aid academic eligibility standard will be evaluated at the end of each term for financial aid applicants. Eligibility for receipt of financial aid can be denied at any measurement point if any standard is not met.

Good Standing Status

Financial aid applicants who meet a program GPA of 2.0 and a program completion rate ≥ 67% , and have a time frame not exceeding 150% of their calculated hours at the time of evaluation are considered to be in GOOD STANDING and are otherwise eligible for aid.

Warning Status

When a student in GOOD STANDING fails to meet the eligibility standards for either completion rate and/or GPA, an automatic WARNING status is enforced. The student will be notified in writing of this change in status and the potential impact it may have on aid eligibility. If a student in WARNING status fails to meet the minimum standards for another term, he/she becomes ineligible for aid. The student has the option to appeal after becoming ineligible (see appeal procedures).

Failed Status

Students who do not meet the program requirements at the end of the warning term will be suspended from financial aid but may appeal their eligibility. If the appeal is approved, students would be on PROBATION status for one more term. At the end of the PROBATION term, students would not be eligible for aid unless they are meeting the program requirements.

Financial Aid regulations also give the appeal committee the option to develop an academic plan for students who would not be able to meet program requirements in one semester. Students who are given an academic plan are required to meet SAP program requirements by a certain point in time established by the appeal committee.

Reinstatement of Aid Eligibility

A student may apply for a re-determination of eligibility through the APPEAL process. A student may submit an appeal for reinstatement on the basis of 1) mitigating circumstances or 2) after successfully rehabilitating the program 2.0 GPA or better, completion rate of 67%, and maximum time frame of 150%.

Appeal Procedures

Reinstatement of aid is never automatic. A student must apply for re-determination of aid eligibility by completing a Martin Community College Financial Aid Appeal form. A student may use the appeal process to petition any financial aid action that the law allows. Appeals are made through the Financial Aid Office (Financial Aid Director) on the official form and will require the following: an explanation and documentation regarding why the student failed to make SAP and a statement and documentation as to what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to meet SAP in future terms. Appeals are reviewed by the Appeal Committee. Students will be allowed one appeal after failing SAP minimums. If the appeal is approved, the student’s transcript will be re-evaluated and they will be given the following: 1) an academic plan of action that allows them adequate time to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), or 2) one semester of financial aid that allows them to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Appeal eligibility will be reviewed on a case by case basis and it will be determined by the Appeal Committee on what is the best alternative for the student.

Probation Status

Successful appeals will allow a student to be placed in PROBATION status. Students must meet the conditions outlined in the appeal decision. If a student is unable to meet these conditions, the student will be ineligible for aid until the program GPA is at least 2.0 and the program completion is at least 67%.

Transfer Student Requirements

Course work taken at another institution that is accepted and officially transcribed as transfer credit by Martin Community College will count toward the 150% maximum time frame calculated hours as well as the cumulative completion rate. If the limit is exceeded, the student must submit an appeal to determine aid eligibility. GPAs from other schools are not considered in Martin Community College’s financial aid satisfactory progress policy.

Consortium Agreements

Students enrolled in more than one institution under consortium agreements are subject to the home institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

Developmental Course Work

Students will be allowed a maximum of 30 credit hours of developmental course work in addition to the credit hour maximum. Developmental course work is defined as course numbers below 100.