• Learn the Basics
• Eligibility
• Financial Aid & Loans
  • Federal Grants
  • State Grants and Scholarships
  • Work-Study
  • Student Loans
• Armed Services and Veterans
• Transfer Students
• Tuition and Fees
  • Estimated Cost of Attendance
• Consumer Information
• Terms and Conditions
• Standards of Academic Progress Policy
• Standards of Academic Progress Appeal Guide

Standards of Academics Progress

Financial Aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Effective July 1, 2011

Federal regulations require the College to establish and apply reasonable standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The programs subject to this rule include but are not limited to: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), and Federal PLUS (Parent) loans, TEACH Grant and some State and Institutional aid. Failure to meet the requirements listed below will result in the suspension of financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at least annually and at the end of the Spring Term for programs of study longer than one year. Students admitted to a program of study that is one year or less in length will be evaluated at the end of every term. All periods of the student's enrollment are counted, including periods in which the student did not receive Federal Financial Assistance. Transfer credit hours will also be counted for determining the number of credits the College accepts towards the student's degree or eligible certificate program.

The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy includes two components:

QUALITATIVE (GPA) – The qualitative standards consist of the grade point average necessary to meet academic progress towards program completion. The chart below shows the required minimum GPA based on the total annual credits attempted (follows the College grading policy for courses taken/retaken within the SAP calculation threshold at the end of the Spring Term).

QUANTITATIVE STANDARDS (Completion Rate and Maximum Time Frame) - The quantitative standards measure the completion rate as well as the total courses attempted overall. You must complete 67% of all courses attempted and your financial aid eligibility is limited to 150% of the credits required to complete a degree.

Credit Hour Completion Rate (67% Rule) - You must successfully complete 67 % of all attempted credits each academic year. The chart below shows how the credit hours attempted are measured to determine Completion Rate (attempted credits X 67% = required credits).

Maximum Time Frame - The maximum time frame for students to complete their academic program may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program, measured in academic years. For example, if the length of an AA or AS degree program is 60 credit hours, the maximum period to receive Financial Aid may not exceed 90 (60 X 1.5 = 90) attempted credit hours. The chart below shows the maximum number of credit hours allowed for completion of a program of study. Students who have reached the maximum time frame will become ineligible for financial aid.

Sample Calculations for the 150% rule:

Additional Standards of Academic Progress Requirements and Information:

• Students must be enrolled in a Financial Aid approved academic degree or certificate program.
• Attempted credit hours include all courses for which a student is registered as of the end of the drop/add period.
• The following grades are used to calculate the cumulative GPA: A, B, C, D, F, and U.
• The following grades are counted as attempted credit hours when calculating completion rate but will not count as earned credits: F, U, W, I, and NR
• The following grades do not affect the cumulative GPA, but will be counted as attempted credit hours: I, S, P and NR, and all withdrawals (or their equivalents from transferring institutions).
• The College's Academic Amnesty policy does not apply to the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for Federal Financial Aid eligibility.
• There is a 30 credit hour maximum limit for remedial courses.
• Remedial and repeat courses are eligible for Financial Aid, as long as the courses are required by the student's selected academic program, do not exceed the maximum number of credits allowed, and the student is otherwise maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Multiple changes to your program will negatively impact your academic progress status.
• Courses not applicable towards your current degree will negatively impact your academic progress status.

APPEAL PROCESS:

To petition the reinstatement of Federal Financial Aid, submit the following:

(Click here for a step by step guide on completing your Standards of Academic Progress Appeal)

• Standards of Academic Progress Appeal is available:
  http://www.mdc.edu/main/financialaid/NewsTools/ImportantForms.aspx
• Statement indicating reasons for failure to meet the Financial Aid Standard of Academic Progress and the changes that will assist in assuring satisfactory progress at the next evaluation
• Degree Audit
• Degree Audit Update Form
• Supporting Documentation
• Individualized Educational Plan (Academic Plan)

The Campus Financial Aid Review Committee shall review and validate the documentation attached, to determine if the student has met the conditions for reinstatement, or if extenuating circumstances of the students should be taken into consideration for reinstatement.

Students, whose eligibility for Federal Financial Aid is approved for reinstatement on a probationary* basis by the Campus Review Committee, will be awarded effective with the academic term for which the reinstatement is requested, if funds are still available for the current academic term/year. Approval will not be retroactive to prior terms. If it is determined that you did not follow the approved academic plan at the end of the first term or by the next official evaluation period (end of Spring) all future aid will be removed due to failure to meet the plan. All costs of attendance incurred during the period of time the student was suspended are the sole responsibility of the student. Upon student's request, denied appeals may be reviewed by the Campus Financial Aid Director or designee for final review of decision.

*Financial Aid Probation - assigned to students who are failing to make satisfactory academic progress and whose appeal was approved. Progress will be reviewed at the end of the Probation Period and at the next official evaluation period.

All students with an approved appeal must follow the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Failure to follow the Plan may result in the loss of financial aid.

Students who are unable to follow the Individualized Educational Plan must contact the Financial Aid and Advisement and Career Services Office.