Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students are required to be making satisfactory academic progress at the time they receive federal and state financial aid. All recipients of financial aid must be enrolled in a program of study leading to an associates degree, a TC certificate, or transferable toward a baccalaureate degree. The assessment will be made regardless of the number of semesters attended or the number of hours attempted during the year.

Grades of A,B,C,D,F,CE,CA,CR,W,X, XF and I are considered hours completed. Drops, withdrawals, and course repeats are counted as hours attempted. All college level course work attempted at the College is considered when determining satisfactory progress regardless of whether the student previously received financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Associate Degree Students

Qualitative Standard (Hours Earned and Grade Point Average) for Associate Degree Students
Satisfactory academic progress will be measured according to the chart below:

Cumulative Semester Hours Attempted*	Cumulative Grade Point Average	Minimum Percentage of Semester Hours Passed
1-6	1.00	50%
7-12	1.25	50%
13-18	1.50	50%
19-30	1.75	60%
31-41	1.90	67%
42 and above	2.00	70%

*Academic history is reviewed for all students applying for financial aid, regardless of whether financial aid has been previously received. House attempted includes all coursework on the transcript, including transfer credit and grades of I, W, WP, WF, and forgiven courses.

Quantitative Standard (Maximum Time Frame for Eligibility)


Students must complete a degree or certificate program within a certain time frame. Federal regulations allow a maximum time frame of 150% of the number of credits needed to complete the degree or certificate program. This time frame is effective for all students, even those that have not previously received financial aid. The 150% rule applies to all classes attempted by the student, including vocational, developmental and transfer hours. Once a student earns an associate degree from TC, they are not eligible to participate in financial aid programs without appeal.

Example: A student working toward an AA. degree needs 64 hours to graduate. Once that student completes 96 hours (64 hours x 1.5), he/she is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Grade Point Average for Certificate Students


Satisfactory progress will be measured at the end of each semester. Students receiving financial aid must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average on all college level credit hours earned at TC in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

Completion Rate for Certificate Students
Students receiving financial aid must complete 75% of all hours taken at TC.
Note: Students not meeting criteria at the end of each fall semester shall be sent an email informing them that they need to improve their GPA and/or completion rate or they may lose their eligibility for financial aid for the next semester.

Maximum Time Frame


Generally, students may receive federal or state financial aid up to 150% of the time it takes to complete their educational objectives either an Associates degree or Certificate. This includes all transfer credit hours and excludes developmental/remedial course work. Students who have attempted less than the 150% of course work at the beginning of a given semester may receive an award for that semester. Students who have attempted more than the 150% of course work may not be eligible to receive federal or state financial aid.

Note: There is a limit of 27 semester hours of developmental course work for any individual student. Developmental hours attempted beyond this 27 hour limit will not be included in course load for payment purposes.

Repeated courses shall not be included in determining course load unless the course(s) being repeated is (are) required and/or will produce additional college credit hours required to achieve the students' educational objective.

Financial Aid Probation

A student who does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria will be placed on financial aid probation. If the student does not meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria at the end of his/her probationary period, the student will be suspended from receiving financial aid.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students placed on financial aid suspension, although they may continue to enroll at the College, must pay for their own expenses.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Financial aid eligibility will be reinstated after a student meets the Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria (listed above), both the completion rate and GPA.

Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Process

Reasons for Appeal
AA student may file an appeal for the following reasons:
Medical condition or death in the family was a factor in the student not making satisfactory progress; or
Maximum time limit has been met; or change of major caused the student to exceed maximum time limit.

Download Appeal Forms

	Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal - (.pdf)
	Title IV Time Limit Appeals Document - (.pdf)

Documentation such as that listed below is required. The documentation must provide proof of the claim being made and originate from a verifiable source.

Examples of proper documents might include verification from a doctor, a copy of a death certificate, and letters from instructors, counselors, or others to support the appeal request or other verifiable documentation that substantiates the student's claim.

A student who has been denied financial aid for failure to meet the satisfactory progress requirements outlined in this policy may appeal by completing an appeal form, explaining mitigating circumstances, and providing the documentation to support their claim. The Financial Aid staff shall evaluate individual mitigating circumstances and will notify students of the decision regarding their appeal within three weeks.

Students may appeal to the Director of Financial Aid if they feel that they have not been treated fairly according to this policy. This appeal must be completed and turned in within 10 days of receiving notification of the decision denying the appeal.

Exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the Director of Financial Aid. All awards from financial aid programs funded by the federal or state government are administered according to laws and regulations governing those programs. This policy is subject to change as required by federal or state guidelines and/or by the College.

THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE SEIZES EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF THE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY. THEREFORE, THE POSITION THAT ONE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE POLICY IS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFENSIBLE ARGUMENT. PLEASE CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE POLICY.

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