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 evaluates student academic progress at the end of each semester based on three criteria: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), Maximum Time Frame, and the Progression Rate (%).

• Grade Point Average (GPA): the student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Maximum Timeframe is measured to ensure students are taking required courses to complete their certificate or degree within 150% of the credits required for the program of study

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 her program, she is no longer eligible for financial aid at Greenfield Community College.

Rate of Progression: Students must complete all credits each semester at a rate of 67% of their attempted cumulative credits. All program credits, including transfer and remedial credits will be taken into consideration whether or not aid was received.

Grades F/FA (Failed), IN (Incomplete), W (Withdrawal), NC (No Credit), and O (insufficient) will count as attempted credits.