SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

U.S. Department of Education regulations require that Hutchinson Community College  establish satisfactory academic progress standards for federal and state financial aid recipients.   Students receiving Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, any W.D. Ford Direct Loan Programs, and/or any other Federal or state aid must meet the following standards to ensure that only those students demonstrating satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of their educational programs continue to receive financial aid. 

 

The standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress measure a student’s performance in three areas:   cumulative completion rate, cumulative grade point average, and maximum time frame.  Satisfactory Academic Progress will be measured at the end of every payment period.  Notification of failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will be mailed to the student’s permanent address at that time.

 

Cumulative completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of cumulative credit hours earned by the number of cumulative credit hours attempted.  Students must earn 75% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.  A student failing to complete 75% of their attempted hours will be placed on warning (see back of this form for details) for the following payment period for which the student is enrolled.  A subsequent payment period of unsatisfactory progress will result in denial. 

 

Attempted hours include any course the student remained enrolled in past the refund period.  Earned hours include any hours for which the student earned an A, B, C, D, P, or CR.  Failures, withdrawals, audits, and incompletes are considered as attempted hours, but not earned hours.    Failing grades in pass/fail courses are considered attempted, but not earned.  Repeated and remedial courses are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours.   

 

Any grades that are not posted at the time of SAP review will be considered as hours attempted, but not earned. You must contact the Financial Aid Office to resolve any discrepancies related to classes with grades posting after the review. 

A student  must also  maintain  a  2.0  cumulative grade point average (CGPA).   A student failing to meet the cumulative GPA standard will be placed on  warning  for the following  payment period for which the student is enrolled.  A subsequent payment period of unsatisfactory progress will result in denial.   

 

A student will be expected to complete their course work  within 150% of the  published length of the student’s program of study.  This includes prior coursework and transfer hours.  A student who fails to complete their program of study within 150% of the published length of the program will be placed on warning  for the  following payment period for which the student is enrolled.  The student will be placed on denial at the end of the warning term. 

 

Example:  A student’s program of study requires 64 credit hours for graduation.  150% of 64 credit hours is 96 credit hours.  A student is expected to complete this program within 96 credit hours. 

Transfer hours from other academic institutions will be taken into consideration when Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of each payment period of enrollment at HCC. 

Students not meeting satisfactory progress for two consecutive  payment periods will be denied financial aid until they  reach the required completion rate  or grade point average to meet satisfactory academic progress policy requirements. Denied students are not eligible for financial aid of any kind, including Federal Direct student loans.  This is not the same as being on academic denial with the College. 

 

A student who has been placed on financial aid warning or denial may have their status adjusted if a subsequent payment period brings them into compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.   The adjustment will be made when satisfactory progress is calculated at the end of the payment period.   

 

Students on denial may also seek reinstatement of financial aid eligibility by filing an appeal  with  the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Appeal Committee will consider each petition individually. Extenuating circumstances will be considered in cases of documented personal emergencies, medical reasons, or other situations. The written documentation should  adequately explain the  reasons why  student failed to complete attempted coursework  or why the minimum CGPA was not met. Supporting statements from doctors,  teachers, counselors,  etc, should be included.   Students filing an appeal must be enrolled in the  payment period  they are appealing aid for.  The student will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision within ten days after the meeting. 

 

Students denied by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee who wish to appeal the committee’s decision must schedule a personal appearance at the next scheduled committee meeting within ten days after receiving written notification of the denial.  Students making an appearance at a committee meeting will be notified of the committee’s decision within ten days after the meeting. 

 

A student, who appeared in person and was denied by the Financial Aid Committee, may further appeal in writing to the Vice President of Student Services.  The Vice President will notify the student in writing of the meeting date.