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 course work attempted at the college is considered when determining satisfactory progress regardless of whether the student previously received financial aid.

Students must meet minimum satisfactory academic progress standards in order to initially receive and to maintain eligibility for Title IV funds. These satisfactory academic progress standards apply to all students, including transfer students and students who did not previously receive financial aid. To make satisfactory academic progress, a student must:

1. Pass a minimum percentage of all courses attempted;
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA); and
3. Complete a degree or certificate program within a maximum time frame.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Associate Degree Students

The Office of Financial Aid evaluates student satisfactory progress on the basis of grade point average (GPA), credit hour completion, and maximum time frame. Satisfactory progress will be measured at the end of each semester. Students receiving Financial Aid must maintain a 2.0 grade point average on all college level credit hours earned at TC in order to remain eligible for Financial Aid.

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

Students must complete an associate 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. Example: A student working toward an A.A. 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. 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, he/she is no longer eligible to participate in financial aid programs without appeal.

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

Students receiving financial aid must complete 75% of all hours taken at TC. Note: Students not meeting criteria 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.

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 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.

Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Process

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. Appeal forms are available on the Financial Aid webpage or in the Financial Aid Office. Forms must be completed and returned to the Financial Aid Office by the appropriate deadlines listed below.

Reasons for Appeal

A 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 if
• Maximum time limit has been met because a change of major caused the student to exceed time limit.

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.

The Financial Aid staff shall evaluate individual mitigating circumstances and will notify students of the decision regarding their appeal within three weeks of receiving the appeal.

FINANCIAL AID APPEAL DEADLINES

Fall 2011 – August 18th

Spring 2012 – January 6th

Summer 2012 – May 24th

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 within 10 days of receiving notification of the decision denying the original 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 WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE POLICY.

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