STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Federal and State regulations require that all financial aid recipients maintain specific academic standards called “Satisfactory Academic Progress” or SAP. Except for some private and institutional funds all forms of financial aid (grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships) are affected by this policy. These standards are applied to a student’s entire academic history at Greenfield Community College including periods when financial aid was not received. 

The financial aid office measures student academic progress in three ways, following the posting of grades for each completed semester:

1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): The student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
2. Progression Rate (%): The student must receive a passing grade in at least two-thirds (67%) of all credits attempted. All program credits, including transfer and remedial credits will be taken into consideration whether or not aid was received.
3. Maximum Timeframe: Students may receive financial aid funds for up to 150% of the required credits for the degree. (For example, if the published length of your credit program is 60 credits, the maximum time frame is 90 credits (that is, 60 X 1.5). This means that you receive financial aid during the period of time you are attempting up to 90 credit hours only (including transfer credits). Once the student has attempted 150 percent of the credit hours allowed in their program, they are no longer eligible for financial aid at Greenfield Community College.

Credits registered at the time of disbursement:	You will remain in good standing if you successfully complete:
Full Time (12 -18 credits)	12 credits per semester
3/4 Time (9-11 credits)	9 credits per semester
1/2 Time (6-8 credits)	6 credits per semester
Less Than 1/2 Time (1-5 credits)	All attempted credits per semester

Letter grades of "F" (Failed), "I" (Incomplete), "W" (Withdrawal), "NC" (No Credit), and "O" (insufficient) are all non-passing grades. They will negatively impact a student's Progression Rate and Maximum Timeframe, and they may also negatively impact GPA.

Financial Aid Warning

The financial aid office evaluates the student’s academic progress at the end of every semester.  Failure to meet any one of the three Standards of Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress (SAP) is unsatisfactory financial aid progress, and the student will be put on Financial Aid Warning.  If you are placed on Financial Aid Warning, you will receive a letter explaining this status. This serves as a reminder of the Standards of Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress, and provides steps that the student can take to remain in good standing. Students who are on Financial Aid Warning can still receive financial aid at GCC, and their progress will be evaluated at the end of each period of enrollment.

If a student is still not making Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of a subsequent academic period, a second semester of Financial Aid Warning is typically allowed, although all decisions regarding SAP are made on a case-by-case basis.

Financial Aid Probation

After a third academic semester, students failing to meet all three measures of SAP will be required to file a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal, if they wish to continue receiving financial aid funds. Until an appeal is submitted, and a decision made, the student is in "Unsatisfactory" status, and ineligible for aid funds. With the appeal form, a student is expected to provide a narrative explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented academic progress, along with the steps they will take toward academic success, like working with Academic Advising, or Peer Tutoring.

At GCC, if the appeal is approved the student will be placed on financial aid probation with an academic plan.  The conditions of the academic plan will be outlined for the student on a case-by-case basis and may include some of the following conditions:

• Successfully complete all the classes (100%) for which you are enrolled for the semester, without withdrawal.
• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 for each class during that semester.
• Enroll less than full-time, or for a specified maximum number of credit hours.

Students placed on financial aid probation can still receive financial aid, but during that academic term, they must meet the requirements of the plan, in order to remain on financial aid.  If, at the end of this probationary term, all conditions have been met, they will continue to receive financial aid. Students remain eligible as long as all three Standards of SAP continue to be met.

Financial Aid Suspension

If you fail to meet the conditions of probation, you will be placed on automatic Financial Aid Suspension, also known as Denied status.  Students on Financial Aid Suspension are no longer eligible to receive financial aid at GCC but can submit an appeal form for consideration.  Students are informed about their financial aid suspension in writing.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal Process

Appeals are evaluated on an individual basis.  If a student has extenuating circumstances, they have a right to appeal (in writing) explaining why they didn't make Satisfactory Academic Progress, and provide the steps that they will take to ensure future progress. Examples of extenuating circumstances include medical, personal, or family problems, change of major, or military service.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal forms are submitted to the Office of Financial Aid, and are reviewed by the Director of Student Financial Services and/or the Financial Aid Coordinator. Please be aware that the review period may take up to two weeks. However, due to the limited time between semesters, the student may not receive notification of a change in status prior to the start of the following semester.

GCC does not have a deadline for students to submit the Financial Aid SAP Appeal, but it is recommended to submit the appeal within 30 days of the ensuing semester.  Student Financial Services cannot guarantee financial aid for appeal forms that are submitted late, or after the semester has already begun.

If a student is currently receiving financial aid, or their FAFSA application is being reviewed, their application and/or aid will be placed on hold until a decision is made on the appeal. A student with a pending SAP status change must make their own payment arrangements.

If an appeal is denied, the student is disqualified from receiving financial aid at GCC, but may continue to take classes at his own expense. The students are always notified in writing of the decision on SAP appeals. Appeal decisions may be posted as an Advising Note to a student's MyGCC account, or sent by US Mail to a student's mailing address on file with the College.

Reinstatement
In some instances, a student's appeal decision will include parameters for how to regain financial aid eligibility in the future, such as taking and passing with a "C" grade or better, a defined number of credits. Successfully completing these additional credits at your own expense, for as many terms as needed to rehabilitate the academic record, will allow for a reevaulation of eligibility, with the filing of a subsequent appeal.  Student Financial Services will review official transcripts from the GCC Registrar to determine if a student qualifies for re-evaluation.  Students who are eligible for reconsideration will be notified in writing.

 Maximum Time Frame Warning

Once the student has reached 110% of her program length, they will be sent an alert notifying them that they are approaching the maximum length of time for financial aid eligibility.  The student is still eligible to receive financial aid at this point in time, but may be required to enroll in only those classes that fulfill degree requirements. An academic plan may be sent to the student to discuss with their Academic Advisor.

Students approaching 150% maximum time frame may be place on a Warning or Probationary status.

Tips to Help You Avoid Financial Aid Warning and Probation

1. Have an academic plan in place. Following an academic plan will help you know which classes are required to earn a degree or certificate at GCC. Also, become familiar with the College Catalog. It contains important college policies every student is required to abide by, and lists all degree or certificate requirements.
2. Focus on degree requirements. Focus on your academic requirements. Work with an Academic or Faculty Advisor to ensure progress on academic requirements and elective credits needed to earn you the degree.
3. Attend class on a regular basis. Excessive absences lead to missed assignments and falling behind on coursework.
4. Complete the semester. Completion of all courses in which a student is enrolled is important for maintaining financial aid eligibility. Multiple Withdrawals and Incomplete ("IN") grades will have a negative impact on your ability to receive financial aid at GCC.
5. Talk to someone in Student Financial Services before you withdraw. Extenuating circumstances happen, and sometimes withdrawal cannot be avoided. Student Financial Services can give guidance about your financial aid status, to help make good decisions around academic progress concerns.

Repeated Course Work

Students who have received a passing grade in a course, and wish to repeat that course, are not eligible for financial aid. One-time financial aid eligibility is allowed for courses in which a non-passing grade was earned. Credits for repeated courses count only once in a student's GPA; however, these credits are counted as attempted credits when assessing if the student meets the quantitative SAP standard. The most recent grade for any repeated course is used in calculating GPA.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits accepted by GCC are not included in the rate of completion, but are counted toward the maximum timeframe. These are considered attempted credits when determining the student's minimum GPA.