BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY PROGRESS STANDARDS POLICY
To
initially receive or to continue to receive aid, all financial aid
recipients are required to maintain satisfactory progress toward completing
a degree, diploma, or certificate. Eligibility for financial aid is not
affected by whether or not the student previously received such aid. The
following standards are applicable to all financial aid programs including
the federally sponsored Title IV programs.
1.
Qualitative Standard (Grade Point Average) - Students must maintain the
required cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in order to be eligible to
receive assistance.
2.
Quantitative Standard (Completion Rate) - Students must earn 67 percent of
the total cumulative credit hours attempted. The number of hours attempted
is defined as the number of hours for which the student is enrolled at the
10% point of the semester. Hours earned are those for which the student
received a grade of A, B, C, D, P (passing), and CE (credit by exam). Grades
of F, W (withdrawal), I (incomplete), AU (audit), R (re-enroll) and IP (in
progress) are not considered a successful completion of coursework.
3.
Maximum Time Frame – Students must complete a program of study within
a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the published length of the
program. For example, if your degree requires 64 credit hours to graduate,
you are eligible to receive financial assistance until you have attempted 96
credit hours. Additional time needed to complete the degree beyond the
maximum stipulated must be entirely at the student’s expense.
Special Notes
The
maximum time frame begins when the student first attends the college and
continues until that student successfully completes a program of study
regardless of the number of years that may elapse between enrollment
periods. Since the time frame is cumulative, students may lose financial
aid eligibility by switching programs before successfully completing the
initial program. Once a student completes a program successfully, the
student becomes eligible for a new time frame if he/she plans to pursue a
second certificate, diploma, or degree. The hours attempted for the
completed program are counted toward the time frame for a new course of
study.
Course
withdrawals and grades of “Incomplete,” will be counted as
hours attempted. The student is responsible for planning class
schedules carefully with the guidance of the student’s academic advisor.
Registering for more courses than a student is capable of completing, having
to withdraw from classes, taking courses in error, etc., all impact the time
frame and could result in losing financial aid eligibility before completing
a program of study.
Students are permitted to repeat courses and only the most recent
course grade is counted in the GPA calculation. However, the previous hours
attempted and earned will continue to be counted in the total hours
attempted and earned.
Developmental education courses
are not counted toward the maximum time frame. However, developmental
coursework is included in calculating the qualitative and
quantitative standards. Developmental credits in excess of 30 semester
hours cannot be counted toward enrollment status for federal and state based
aid.
Review Process
The student is responsible for maintaining awareness of his/her academic
progression.
At the end of each semester, including summer, the Financial Aid Office will determine whether students receiving financial aid are making academic progress. Both grade point average and rate of completion are measured. Students failing to make academic progress will receive a Financial Aid Academic Warning.
Financial Aid recipients on academic warning will be granted one semester, following their first semester of failure, to regain satisfactory progress. During this warning period, students can continue to receive financial aid, provided they are otherwise eligible.
To regain aid eligibility, students must achieve the minimum required standards during the warning period: a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and a 67% completion rate. If, at the end of the warning period, satisfactory progress has been reestablished, the warning is lifted. Students failing to regain satisfactory progress during the warning semester are ineligible for aid until their progress is again satisfactory.
Appeal Process
Students with mitigating circumstances are encouraged to use the appeals
process. The circumstances being appealed must be properly documented and
will be evaluated by the Director of Financial Aid. The Director of
Financial Aid shall inform the student in writing of financial aid
termination.
If the
student desires to appeal the termination of financial aid, a written
request must be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid within five (5)
school days of the date of the letter informing the student of the
termination. The student must give the reasons why he/she did not make
satisfactory progress and why financial aid should not be terminated
(examples: extended illness, hospitalization, accident, death of immediate
family member). Documentation to support the appeal is required.
Appeals regarding poor satisfactory academic process due to immature decisions and/or behavior on the part of returning students may be considered. However, decisions made by the Financial Aid Office are based on several factors, including but not limited to: attendance and performance at other post-secondary schools, current academic performance, and financial aid history associated with previous academic performance.
The Director of Financial Aid will review the appeal to determine whether or not termination of aid is justified. Students who successfully appeal are placed on probation and are eligible for financial aid during the probationary semester. Students on probation are required to complete the minimum qualitative and quantitative policy standards for that semester and/or may be required to fulfill specific terms and/or conditions such as taking a reduced load. You will be advised in writing of the decision, terms and/or conditions.
A student wishing to appeal the decision of the Director of Financial Aid may do so by writing to the Financial Aid Committee, c/o the Financial Aid Office within five school days of receipt of the decision. Subsequent appeals may be made to the Dean of Student Services and finally through the student Due Process Procedure, if deemed necessary by the student.
Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
If financial aid eligibility is terminated for failing to meet the satisfactory progress definition, termination will continue until the student enrolls for subsequent academic terms at their own expense, complete the term, and satisfy the satisfactory progress definition. Once the satisfactory progress definition is met, eligibility is reinstated for the subsequent academic term. In addition, financial aid eligibility will immediately be reinstated for all appeals upheld. Retroactive payments of financial aid for terms when students were on suspension are prohibited by federal regulations.