FINANCIAL AID ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF PROGRESS (SAP)

TThe Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, mandates institutions of higher education to establish a standard of satisfactory academic progress for students who receive financial aid. This standard must apply to the student’s entire academic history, whether Title IV financial aid was received or not. In order to remain eligible to receive aid students must meet the standard specified for acceptable academic performance and for satisfactory progress toward completion of their eligible program of study. This standard should not be confused with Probation or Good Standing as defined by academic regulations, nor is satisfactory progress affected by “academic fresh start”.

1. Academic Standard Component: Galveston College uses the 4.0 grade point average system and numerical code:

A=4.0 B=3.0 C=2.0 D= 1.0 F=0

*Students are expected to maintain an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 based on the number of semester hours attempted at Galveston College to be eligible for all federal and state financial assistance.

2. Maximum Time Frame - Complete a degree program (certificate, associates, or bachelors) in a maximum time frame of no more than 150% of the average length of the program.

3. Rate of Completion: a student's overall completion rate (percentage of credit hours attempted) is required to be at least 75%.

Change of Major

A student may change from one major to another during attendance at the Galveston College. Students who change from one major to another are still expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete the coursework within the time frame or hour limitation stated unless an appeal is approved. All attempted hours from a prior major(s) are included in the total maximum attempted hours.

Review Procedure

1. Academic Standards and Incremental Progress

The Financial Aid Office staff will determine each semester/session whether or not a student has successfully completed at least the minim um expected percentage of hours with the required grade point average and shows progress toward the educational objective for all completed coursework.

The following will be considered as semester hours successfully completed:

"A" through "D" and "CRA, CRB, or CRC" grades

The following shall be considered as semester hours not completed:

2. Repeat Courses

Students may receive financial aid for repeating failed courses pending that they are meeting SAP standards Students who receive a passing grade for a course and decided to repeat the course to receive a higher grade may only receive financial assistance or the first repeat of the passed course. Students are not eligible to receive financial aid for two or more repeats of a passed course. For repeated courses, only the latest grade earned is included in cumulative grade point averages, but both courses will remain as a part of the aggregate hours attempted Financial aid will not be provided for courses taken by audit, credit hours earned by placement tests, or continuing education courses.

3.

Time Frame

Complete a degree program (certificate, associates, or bachelors) in a maximum time frame of no more than 150% of the average length of the program. The maximum number of attempted hours for the bachelors program is 180 hours. The maximum number of attempted hours for an associates program varies depending on the length of the program (90-98 hours). The maximum number of attempted hours for a certificate program varies depending on the length of the program (24-68 hours).

4. Developmental Classes

Federal regulationlimits financial aid for developmental classes to 30 attempted hours. Students who enroll in developmental hours in excess of 30 hours will not be considered in calculating eligibility for federal aid which includes Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Federal Direct Loans and Stafford Loans; no exceptions may be made.

Sap Statuses

Financial Aid Warning

Students who are in violation of one or more of the above-mentioned SAP components for their first offense will be placed on a WARNING SAP status for their next term of enrollment, with the exception of time frame. While on “Warning”, students are eligible to receive financial aid and must bring themselves into SAP compliance by the end of the “Warning” term. If the student is not meeting SAP at the end of the term, the student will be placed on SAP “Suspension” in which the student is no longer eligible to receive financial aid.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress during the semester of attendance while on “Warning” will be placed on Suspension and denied further funding. Students may appeal their suspension status to the Financial Aid Office to regain financial aid eligibility.

Reestablishing Aid Eligibility

A student whose financial aid has been suspended may also bring themselves back into compliance with the satisfactory academic progress requirements at their own expense; with the exception of time frame. To do so, you must take at least 6 credit hours toward your eligible degree or certificate program and pass with a “C” or better (“CR” for developmental courses). If you choose to take more than the recommended 6 hours, all hours enrolled will be taken into consideration to determine your eligibility. Courses taken outside of your eligible degree or certificate program will not qualify you to regain financial aid eligibility.

Financial Appeals

A student whose financial aid has been suspended may submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal must include a typed statement with supporting documentation regarding extenuating circumstances. The Satisfactory Academic Appeal Team will review the appeal within 10 working days of receipt. Appeals are considered for extenuating circumstances such as injury, illness, death in the immediate family, or undue hardship that can be supported through documentation. Students who have their appeals approved by the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Team will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.

To address an appeal denial decision made by the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Team, the student must respond to the decision within 10 working days of the receipt of the decision. The rebuttal appeal must be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid via the Financial Aid Office. The Director of Financial Aid will forward the appeal decision to the student within 10 working days of the receipt of the rebuttal appeal.

To address an appeal denial decision made by the Director of Financial Aid, the student must respond to the decision within 10 working days of the receipt of the decision. The rebuttal appeal must be submitted to the Associate Vice President of Student Services via the Counseling Center. The Associate Vice President of Student Services will forward the appeal decision to the student within 10 working days of the receipt of the rebuttal appeal.

To address an appeal denial decision made by the Associate Vice President of Student Services, the student must respond to the decision within 10 working days of the receipt of the decision. The rebuttal appeal must be submitted to the Galveston College President. Rebuttal appeals at minimum must include a written reason for the appeal or a statement of the problem and/or complaint, and the expected resolution. The President may, at his sole discretion, choose to allow oral arguments on the petition. The President may act to affirm, modify, remand, or reverse the decision. If no action is taken within sixty (60) days, the Galveston College President’s decision will be affirmed. The appeal process ends with the decision of the President.

Financial Aid Probation With Academic Plan

Students whose appeal was approved by the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Team, Director of Financial Aid, Associate Vice President of Student Services, or Galveston College President will be placed on Financial Aid “Probation with an Academic Plan” for the duration of the approved appeal. Students will be required to adhere to an academic plan set forth by the student and their academic advisor in an effort to bring them into SAP compliance. Students who fail to meet the terms of their Financial Aid “Probation with an Academic Plan” by bringing themselves into SAP compliance will be placed on Financial Aid “Suspension”.