Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Introduction
Each institution that receives Title IV funds is required by the U.S. Department of Education, Section 132 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1976, to define and enforce standards for satisfactory academic progress, Satisfactory Academic Progress measures a student’s performance in the following three area/criteria: cumulative completion rate, cumulative grade point average (GPA) and maximum time frame. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for ensuring that all students applying for or receiving federal, state of Colorado, or designated institutional financial aid funds, are meeting these standards. The Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress apply for all applicable financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work Study (FWS, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Family Education Loans (Stafford and PLUS), as well as assistance from the state of Colorado and the college.

Purpose

In order to be eligible to receive financial aid, the student must be making satisfactory progress towards a certificate or degree, as identified in the quantitative (the completion rate of credit hours attempted) and qualitative (the GPA) standards section of this policy. Progress will be reviewed at the time an application is processed (including Federal Pell, Federal Stafford and Federal PLUS Loans if submitted separately) and at the end of each term. The maximum timeframe allowed in which a student is expected to complete his/her certificate and/or degree program is 150% of the number of credit hours required for the specific program. The standard of satisfactory academic progress must include a student’s total academic history at Northeastern Junior College regardless of whether he/she has previously received financial assistance.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Criteria

In order to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements for terms in which assistance was received, financial aid recipients must:

Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above for all classes attempted; and
Successfully complete at least 67% of their cumulative attempted credit hours.

Review of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be done shortly after the stated due date for grades at the end of each term. Credit hours attempted through consortium agreements will be included in the review of this criterion. Students who fail to meet either the cumulative GPA or 67% cumulative attempted credit hours will be placed on financial aid probation or suspension and will be notified in writing of their status.

Grade symbols of A, B, C, D, S, S/A, S/B AND S/C earned during the Fall, Spring, Summer will be considered acceptable for courses completed and satisfactory Academic Progress consideration.
Grades of F, U, I, W, AW, Z, U/D, U/F, SP, and AU earned during the Fall, Spring and Summer will not be considered acceptable for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Courses repeated by students are counted for all qualitative and quantitative measurements, as is coursework removed from the permanent transcript through the Academic Renewal process.

Maximum Time Length

Once students have attempted 110% of the number of credit hours required for their degree or eligible certificate program, they will be required to submit a degree completion evaluation with the signature of an academic advisor or counselor in order to be considered for continued financial aid eligibility.

Federal regulations allow financial aid recipients to receive financial aid for a maximum number of attempted credits. Students attempting credits in excess of 150% of the required number of credits to complete their program of study will be suspended. If at any point in time it is determined that a student cannot complete their program of study with 150% of the program length, financial aid eligibility will be suspended.

Transfer credit hours are included in the calculation of allowable maximum time frame.

Attempted credit hours under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned credit hours.

Clarification from the U.S. Department of Education (Federal Student Aid Handbook, Volume 1—Student Eligibility 2008-2009, Chapter 1, p.1-4) states that up to 30 credit hours of “for credit” remedial coursework are allowed when determining enrollment status. Therefore, as a policy statement of CCCS, up to 30 credit hours of remedial credits will not be included in the calculation when determining if the student has exceeded the maximum time length (150% of the hours required) for the declared program of study, provided that the courses are not applicable to the declared program of study.

The U.S. Departement of Education (Federal Student Aid Handbook, Volume 2 Program Eligibility 2008-2009, Chapter 4, p. 2-46) states that institutions are required to define the effect of ESL courses on SAP. As a policy statement of CCCS, ESL classes will only be ignored in the maximum time length (150% of the hours required) calculations for SAP.

Definitions of Satisfactory Academic Progress Status
Review of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be done shortly after the stated due date for grades at the end of each academic term. Students who fail to meet either the quantitative or the qualitative criteria will be placed on financial aid probation or suspension according to the following guidelines and will be notified electronically or in writing of their status.

Good Standing: Student is eligible to receive all types of aid.

Student has a cumulative GPA at or above 2.0. Some scholarship programs may require a cumulative GPA higher than 2.0 for continue eligibility.
Student has cumulative completion rate at or above 67%.
Student has not attempted more than 150% of required number of credits for enrolled degree or certificate program and the student can mathematically complete the program of study within 150% of the program length.
Student has attempted 110% or more of the required number of credits for their degree or certificate and has submitted an approved degree or certificate completion evaluation.

Financial Aid Probation: Student was previously in Good Standing but failed to meet one of the SAP criteria stated above. Student will continue to receive aid while on probation.

Student has cumulative GPA below 2.0 and/or.
Has cumulative completion rate below 67%.

Financial Aid Suspension: Student has failed to comply with stated SAP criteria while on probation. Student is not eligible to receive financial aid (federal, state or designated institutional aid).

Student has failed to meet 2.0 GPA and/or 67% cumulative completion rate requirements.
Student has attempted 110% of required number of credits and has not complied with a degree or certificate completion evaluation require and/or.
Student has attempted 110% of required number of credits and has failed to maintain progress towards timely completion of their stated degree or certificate program.
Student has attempted more than 150% of required number of credits needed for degree or certificate program.
It has been determined that a student cannot complete their program of study within 150% of the program length.

Financial Aid Appeals
Each institution is required to have a primary and a secondary process for students to appeal a suspension. All decisions made at the secondary level are final. The primary and secondary level will be defined by the institution. A student may appeal when they have been placed on financial aid suspension. These appeals must be submitted to the financial Aid Office with a completed appeal form and supporting documentation.

An appeal form may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or from the institution’s website. The student is responsible for presenting sufficient information and documentation to substantiate the existence of extenuating circumstances.

Appeals may be filed for extenuating circumstances, such as:

Medical problems (family illness)
Family emergency (death of a family member)
Other documented extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control

Students may also appeal on the basis of:

Extension of the maximum allowable credit hours for the currently enrolled program, or
Funding for an additional degree and/or certificate

Appeals of this nature will require the student to meet with an academic advisor or counselor to discuss the number of attempted credit hours beyond the degree requirements and/or the educational purpose of a subsequent degree and/or certificate. A degree completion evaluation signed by an academic advisor or counselor must be submitted with the appeal. This evaluation must list only the courses needed for the student to complete the degree.

Student will be notified of the outcome of their appeal. If classes are in session, the student with a successful appeal will be placed on probation for the current term. For appeals approved between terms, the student will be placed on probation for the next current term. Under no circumstances can probation be assigned to a prior term.

Reinstatement

Students who lose financial aid eligibility because they are not meeting the school’s satisfactory academic progress standards will regain eligibility when they are again meeting the qualitative and quantitative standards as set previously in this policy. They may also regain eligibility by successfully appealing a determination that they were not making satisfactory progress. Upon successful reestablishment of eligibility, the student will be awarded financial aid based on the availability of funds at the time of reestablishment. Students may, or may not, receive all funds awarded prior to the loss of eligibility.