As outlined by federal regulation, students must be matriculated in a degree program and must maintain a minimum grade point average sufficient to show satisfactory progress toward their educational objectives as outlined below:
- 1-15 semester hours attempted: 1.6 cumulative GPA or above
- 16-30 semester hours attempted: 1.7 cumulative GPA or above
- 31-45 semester hours attempted: 1.8 cumulative GPA or above
- 46-60 semester hours attempted: 1.9 cumulative GPA or above
- 61 or more semester hours attempted: 2.0 cumulative GPA or above
Credit Hours Earned: Regardless of the number of hours attempted, a student must successfully complete and earn cumulative hours as follows:
- First Year – 20
- Second Year – 40
- Third Year – 60
- Fourth Year – 80
- Fifth Year – 100
The above standards will be prorated for part-time students.
Repeating a course will count toward hours earned if: (1) a passing grade was received, and (2) the course had not been counted previously toward hours earned.
Review and Appeal Procedure. Students may establish an academic plan with approval of the Director of Academic Success, and with the Student Financial Planning Office. Based on approved forward-progress goals, satisfactory academic progress for financial assistance may be approved and aid re- established. The following procedure is required and is separate from academic procedures:
- An academic plan and appeal letter should be established (as noted above) and sent to the Director of Student Financial Planning by the end of the second week of the semester in which the student’s SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) probation begins. Exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the institution.
- The student’s satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each academic/payment period to ensure forward progress is being made and academic goals are met. In the event the academic plan goal is not reached, the student will not be permitted to receive Title IV funding. The Director will review the appeal and notify the student accordingly.
Re-establishing Satisfactory Progress. To have financial assistance reinstated, students must take the hours required to bring them up to the standard at their own expense.