Academic Catalog

Financial Aid – Satisfactory Academic Progress

I. Introduction

All students receiving federal and state student financial aid must adhere to the college’s Student Financial Services Office policy on standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The intent of this policy is to ensure that students who are receiving federal and/or state financial aid are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree or certificate program in a reasonable period of time.

II. Scope

This policy applies to those students applying for or receiving federal and/or state funds. To reasonably measure a student’s satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the degree, certificate or diploma in which the student is enrolled. The student’s total academic record will be evaluated. This includes all academic work attempted at MTC and any transfer hours from other schools attended that are accepted at MTC. As recipients of federal or state financial assistance, students have certain rights and responsibilities. Students’ failure to fulfill their responsibilities to make satisfactory academic progress as described may result in the cancellation of their awards, and any funds already received may have to be repaid.

III. Monitoring Procedures

At the end of each semester, the Student Financial Services office will monitor satisfactory academic progress for all students receiving federal or state financial aid to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward program completion. The standards defining satisfactory progress are outlined below.

To meet satisfactory academic progress, students must successfully complete at least sixty-seven (67) percent of the credit hours they attempt and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Warning Status: Students who do not satisfactorily complete at least sixty-seven (67) percent of attempted hours will be placed on warning status. Students who have not attained 67 percent satisfactory completion by the next semester of enrollment following the warning period will no longer be eligible for federal or state assistance.

Fresh Start: Be advised that federal regulations require that all courses attempted must be included in evaluating a student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

Course Withdrawals, Incompletes, Repetitions, Remedial or Developmental: Students who receive federal or state financial aid must be aware that repeated courses, noncredit remedial courses and grades of W, WF, I and NC will be considered in assessing progress toward completion.

Administrative or Medical Withdrawals: Students who receive federal or state financial aid must be aware that courses with administrative or medical withdrawals will be considered in assessing progress toward completion.

Developmental Studies and Remedial Coursework Standards of Progress: Financial aid recipients may take a maximum of 30 credit hours in Developmental Studies (DVS) and remedial course work.

Transfer Students: All transfer students will be evaluated to determine if they are making satisfactory academic progress prior to being packaged for financial assistance. The evaluation process is based on all hours attempted at MTC and all transfer hours accepted by MTC.

Change of Major(s): Students who change their majors are still responsible for maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the procedure as outlined. A review of satisfactory academic progress will be based on the student’s current program of study at the end of each term enrolled. If the student has changed majors prior to the end of the semester, eligibility will be assessed against the new program of study.

A student changing from an associate program into a diploma or certificate program of study may lose federal and state eligibility immediately upon making the change if the attempted hours are equal to or in excess of 150 percent of the hours required for the certificate or diploma program.

IV. Standards

Length of Eligibility

The Office of Student Financial Services monitors the satisfactory academic progress of all students receiving federal and state aid. Financial aid recipients are eligible for assistance until they have attempted up to one and a half (150 percent) times the number of semester hours required for the program of study currently enrolled in.
Financial assistance will be limited to a maximum of 180 hours attempted.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students who fail to earn the required cumulative college GPA of 2.0 will be placed on  warning during the next semester they enroll in the college. Students in all programs of study who are placed on probation will be reviewed at the end of the semester. Students who fail to attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater will lose federal and state aid eligibility. Developmental coursework grades will not be calculated in the cumulative GPA requirement.

V. Notification

Following a review, a student who has failed to meet satisfactory academic progress will be notified by email of the resulting ineligibility for federal or state funds. Future awards will be canceled upon becoming ineligible. To receive consideration for reinstatement of federal or state assistance, a student will need to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal form to the Office of Student Financial Services.

VI. Re-Establishing Eligibility for Financial Aid

Students will be reinstated for financial aid eligibility when they have successfully completed 67 percent of attempted hours, have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, and are still under their maximum time frame period for degree completion as set forth in this policy.

VII. Appeal of Financial Aid Ineligibility

A. An ineligible student may appeal by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to the Student Financial Services Office indicating reasons why minimum academic standards were not achieved and what actions have been taken or what changes have occurred to resolve the problem. Each appeal will be considered on its own merit. Individual cases will not be considered as precedent. Examples of extenuating circumstances may include but are not limited to the following:

• Death in the student’s immediate family that has been documented.
• Personal illness requiring a loss of the equivalent of more than five consecutive class days that can be supported by a letter from a physician.
• Serious illness in the student’s immediate family that can be supported by a letter of documentation from the family member’s attending physician.
• Change in job schedule/responsibilities required by the employer and documented by the employer.
• Circumstances regarding approval of Academic Fresh Start, if applicable.

B. The appeal of financial aid will be reviewed and a determination made. The student will be advised in writing of the decision by email to the student’s official college email account.

C. If the appeal is approved, the student will be assigned an academic improvement plan with which they must comply. Students must continue to meet the terms of this plan each semester until they have achieved a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate. Students in violation of the 150% rule must continue to meet the terms of their academic Improvement plan to receive financial assistance at the college. Should the student fail to comply with their academic improve plan, the student’s future awards will be cancelled.

D.  Decisions on appeals are final and cannot be appealed at any other college or federal level.