Quick Links:

Library Academic Calendar Adult Basic Education Arts & Entertainment Athletics Blackboard Bookstore Campus Directions Campus Map CCGS Resources College Now / Dual Enrollment Co-op/Career Services/Transfer Affairs Credit Free Programs Disability Services Employment at STCC Faculty/Staff Directory Faculty/Staff Resources Final Exam Schedule Our Plural History Website Parking/Transportation Request a Transcript Scholarships and Awards Shays' Rebellion Website STCC Alert STCC'ler Site Map Student Accounts Student Services Student Handbook Veteran's Affairs

Translate

• Future Students
• Current Students
• Foundation & Alumni
• Business & Community Resources
• About STCC
• News and Events

Financial Aid Home Eligibility Requirements How to Apply Helpful Hints for Completing the FAFSA Determining your Eligibility Financial Aid Programs Forms Loans Federal College Work Study Tuition & Fees Satisfactory Academic Progress (Current) Satisfactory Academic Progress
(Effective End of Fall 2009) Disbursements Withdrawing & Refund Policies Frequently Asked Questions Student Information Privacy Policy (FERPA) Helpful Links/Outside Scholarship Info Contact Us

 

STCC Financial Aid - Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

In order to be eligible for federal or state financial aid, you must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.  Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each academic period to ensure you are meeting the minimum regulatory requirements. This policy applies to all day and evening financial aid recipients enrolled in a degree granting or eligible certificate program.  Satisfactory Progress is measured by qualitative and quantitative standards that are cumulative and include all periods of enrollment whether or not you received financial aid.

Minimum Standards for Satisfactory Progress

• Maintain the minimum QPA based on the number of attempted credits
• Not on Academic Suspension
• Cannot exceeded 150% of the total number of credits required for your program
• Successfully complete 67% of courses attempted during the payment period

Qualitative Standards

You must maintain the minimum cumulative quality grade point average in order to receive financial aid.  The Financial Aid Office evaluates all attempted courses when calculating your cumulative QPA.  Credits earned while attempting a prior degree, courses forgiven under Fresh Start Status, remedial, and repeated courses (see below) are included in the cumulative QPA.  You will receive a notice of probation for the first 12 credits earned if your QPA is less than 1.5 but greater than or equal to 1.0.

• Your QPA is evaluated on the following earned credits:  A, B, C, D, and F

Total # of credits attempted	Minimum cumulative QPA
12	1.0 – 1.499  (financial aid probation)
13 +	1.5
27 +	1.7
42 +	1.9
60 +	2.0

Academic Standing

In order to graduate from STCC, you are required to meet certain minimum standards in your program of study. This academic policy is administered through the Student Success Center and applies to all students enrolled in a degree or certificate program through the day division.  If you do not meet these requirements you will be placed on academic probation.  If you don't raise your QPA to meet the minimum requirements, you will be placed on academic suspension and you cannot enroll for day classes.

• You are not eligible for financial aid if you are on Academic Suspension.  Suspended day students who enroll for classes in the evening are not eligible for financial aid.

Quantitative Standards

You must demonstrate that you are progressing towards graduation by completing your program of study within a reasonable length of time.  The maximum time frame allowed cannot exceed 150% of the published length of your program, measured in the number of attempted credits hours.  For example, you are enrolled in a degree program that is 60 credits in length.  60 credit hours X 150% = 90 credits. You can attempt up to 90 credits before you lose financial aid eligibility. Remedial, transfer, incomplete, withdrawn, and repeated courses are included in the total number of credits attempted.  Credits earned while attempting a prior degree and courses forgiven under Fresh Start Status are included in the total number of attempted credits.

To ensure that you are making progress throughout your course of study, you must successfully complete at least 67% of the credits attempted during each academic period.  If you enroll for less than 6 credits you are expected to successfully complete all of the courses attempted.  You will receive a warning notice the first semester you fail to meet these minimum standards. If you do not complete at least 67% at the end of the next semester, you are no longer eligible for aid.

• Grades of A, B, C, D are considered successful grades.
•  Grades of I, F, FA, W are not successful grades.

Fresh Start Status

If you are returning to STCC after a two-year absence, you may apply for Fresh Start status as part of the admissions process. All prior credits attempted at STCC that meet the degree and grade requirements of the current program will be changed to a grade of P and you start with a new quality point average.

Please be aware that this status does not apply to financial aid eligibility. For purposes of financial aid all courses attempted at STCC, whether or not you received financial aid, must be evaluated for Satisfactory Academic Progress.  If you are accepted for Fresh Start status you are not exempt from this policy.

Treatment of Remedial Coursework

You can attempt up to 30 credits of remedial coursework.  Additional consideration will be given to students who attempt remedial ESL courses.

Repeated Courses

The Financial Aid Office will follow college guidelines for repeated courses.

Multiple Programs

If you are an Inter-College Transfer, or graduated and returning in a new degree or certificate program, credits previously attempted will be counted toward the maximum of 150%.

Calculating SAP Status

At the end of each semester the Financial Aid Office will run SAP. If your status is 'Unsatisfactory', your financial aid will be cancelled and a letter of notification mailed.  Processing on an incomplete financial aid file will stop if we determine your status is unsatisfactory. You will also be notified if your status is 'Warning', 'Probation', or Continued Probation.  You may continue to receive financial aid during the probationary, continued probation, or warning semester. If you are not in good academic progress after the following semester, you are no longer eligible for aid. 

Warning, Probation, and Continued Probation

Warning: You will be given a Warning notice the 1st semester you fail to complete 67% of the courses attempted in the semester.  You must complete at least 67% of your attempted courses at the end of the next semester.

Probation: You will be given a Probationary notice if your QPA for the 1st 12 credits attempted is at least 1.0 but less than 1.5. You must meet the minimum QPA standards by the end of the next semester.

Continued Probation: Your term QPA is at least 2.25 but your overall QPA remains below the minimum requirements.

Appeal Process

You may file an appeal if you lose financial aid eligibility. You must explain in detail why you failed to meet the minimum standards and explain how your issues have been resolved.  Examples of extenuating circumstances may include:

• Medical reasons
•  Personal or family problems
•  Change of major
•  Military service

Please attach all supporting documentation, including letters from 3rd parties such as a counselor or health care provider, to the Appeal Form and submit the form to the FAO within one week from the date of the notification letter. No action will be taken on an incomplete Appeal Form.

If you attempt more than 150% of the published length of your program, you must meet with your Advisor. Please have your Advisor complete and sign the Plan of Study Form.  Attach the Plan of Study Form and a copy of your Degree Audit to the Appeal Form.  If your Advisor is unavailable please contact the Department Chairperson. The Plan of Study must include the number of credits needed to graduate and the anticipated graduation date.

If you are on Academic Suspension, you must file an appeal with the Academic Review Committee in the Student Success Center. The Financial Aid Office will be notified if the appeal is approved.

Notification

You will receive notification regarding the status of your appeal.  If the appeal is approved, your financial aid will be reinstated or processing on your file will continue.  The Financial Aid Office has the right to limit the number of credits for which you may enroll.  If your appeal is approved based on a Plan of Study, you may only receive financial aid for those courses listed on the Plan of Study and not to exceed the expected date of graduation.  You must notify the Financial Aid Office if you subsequently change your major.

If there are restrictions placed on your appeal, you must sign and return the 'Appeal Contract'.  Failure to agree to the terms of the contract may result in aid being cancelled.  If your appeal is approved and you do not maintain satisfactory progress for the subsequent semester, you will lose financial aid eligibility.  Action may not be taken on a second appeal if you fail to meet satisfactory progress standards.  If your appeal is denied, you are responsible for your own educational expenses.