Satisfactory Academic Progress

Revised March 2009

In order to receive financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) as amended, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in her or his course of study according to the standards and practices of the College described below. Student academic records will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine that each student is making satisfactory academic progress. Two measures will be used, each bearing equal weight in determining the student’s status.

1. Qualitative Measure:

This is a measure of the student’s grade point average and is reviewed at the conclusion of each semester. The qualitative measure is not affected by full or part-time enrollment status. Students will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester if they do not meet the following cumulative GPA requirements. Students who fail to regain satisfactory academic status for a subsequent semester will be placed on financial aid suspension and lose their financial aid.

Financial Aid Probation

(No probationary status for 1-11 credit hours)

Cumulative GPA of:

1.51 to 1.74 for 12 to 23 attempted credit hours

1.75 to 1.90 for 24 to 35 attempted credit hours

or 1.91 to 1.99 for 36 or more attempted credit hours.

Financial Aid Suspension

Cumulative GPA of:

1.50 or less for 12 to 23 attempted credit hours,

1.51 to 1.74 for 24 to 35 attempted credit hours,

1.75 to 1.90 for 36 to 47 attempted credit hours,

and 1.91 to 1.99 for 48 or more attempted credit hours.

2. Quantitative Measure:

The maximum time for matriculated students to complete a program and receive financial aid must be no more than 150% of the length of their academic program. Students who continually withdraw from classes after the drop period may be negatively impacted by this measure.

In order to meet this measure, the student should successfully complete 66% of the “Attempted Credits” in each semester. For example: if you attempt 15 credits in the Fall semester and receive aid, you should pass 10 of the 15 credits.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Students must complete the required number of credits in the appropriate semester of the time frame, with corresponding grade point average, in order to be in good standing for financial aid purposes. If a student has been placed on Financial Aid Suspension, he/she must meet these minimum standards before financial aid can be reinstated.

If you plan to withdraw from any classes, do so before the end of the drop period (as published on the Academic Calendar).

Students will be evaluated at the end of each semester to determine id they are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP will be applied to all students, regardless of full- or part-time status.

A credit is defined as attempted when it is on the student’s enrollment schedule at the end of the official Add/Drop period.

Transfer Credits, Advanced Placement Credits and Credit by Examination will be included in the cumulative qualitative total calculations when the credits are officially transferred to fulfill YCCC requirements. These credits do not carry quality points and are not included in the qualitative analysis of satisfactory academic progress.

An “Incomplete” grade will be monitored by the SAP process once a letter grade has been established. Remedial work in developmental courses may qualify for financial aid if the courses are measured in credit hour and are required as part of the student’s planned program.

Repeated courses due to failure, or having obtained a grade lower than required for a particular subject also affects SAP. It is included in both qualitative and quantitative evaluations in the academic year in which it was taken. The subsequent grade, credit earned and removal of the original grade are evaluated qualitatively at the completion of the repeated course. The original credits attempted remain in the quantitative evaluation. In other words, a repeated course may improve the student’s GPA, but it does not extend the allowable attempted credits toward degree completion.

Appeals:

Appeals for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility lost by students not meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements may be made by students. Appeals must be received in writing by Debra Dumond, Assistant Dean of Students, within fifteen working days of the date of written notification to the student.

Mitigating circumstances which a student believes to have affected his or her ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress should be documented as part of the student’s appeal. The following mitigating circumstances that will be considered will include, but are not limited to:

• Illness or injury to the student or close relative

• Death of a relative or associate

• Family emergency.

NOTE: If a student withdraws from the College in an academic term during which they are ineligible for financial aid due to not maintaining satisfactory academic progress, they remain ineligible for financial aid until such time that he or she once again makes satisfactory academic progress. In other words you may not re-enter the College with new financial aid eligibility if at the time you withdrew you were not meeting the satisfactory academic progress requirements.