Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress to Qualify for Financial Aid
Federal and state regulations require all colleges to establish a policy to determine whether a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward his or her educational goal (AA/AS, Certificate or Transfer). This policy must apply to all students whether or not they were recipients of financial aid previously at Crafton Hills College or any other college.
All students receiving Title IV aid required to meet the following standards:
- Be enrolled in an eligible program for the purpose of completing an AA/AS or AA-T/AS-T degree, transfer requirements, or an approved certificate of achievement program. It is the student’s responsibility to enroll in courses that lead toward his or her educational goal.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA). Grades received for a maximum of 30 units of remedial coursework will not be used in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
- Successfully complete at least 2/3 or 67% of all units attempted.
- Complete their educational goal within 150% of the published unit requirement.
Frequency of Evaluation
Students will be evaluated at least once per semester to determine if they are meeting the standards listed above. Students in non-term programs will be evaluated at the completion of half of their coursework each academic year.
Grades
Grades of “W”, “NP”, “I”, “IP”, “RD”, “RP” and “F” (if unearned) will not count as units completed, but will count as units attempted. Federal financial aid is not available for credit-by-examination courses. The Financial Aid Office will assume that students who receive “F’s” in all of their classes actually withdrew from those classes and therefore the units for those classes will not be considered as units “completed.” Students will not be paid retroactively for those units. If the student did in fact complete these classes and earned “F’s,” the student is required to have their instructors certify this. “EW” grades do effect a student’s Federal Financial Aid satisfactory academic progress.
Course Repetition
Course repetition within college policy as stated in the Crafton Hills College Catalog will be allowed; however, the credits from all attempted units, including repeated classes, must be included when calculating the maximum time frame. (See Maximum Time Frame for Completing Educational Goal Section below).
Financial Aid Warning
Students who do not meet the units completed standard or the GPA standard will be placed automatically on Financial Aid Warning for the subsequent semester. When placed on Financial Aid Warning, student coursework is monitored for one semester. During the warning semester, the student is eligible to receive financial aid. At the end of the semester, progress will be reviewed to determine if the student now meets the standards (2.00 cumulative GPA and 67% completion of all units attempted). If the student successfully satisfies both conditions outlined above, they will be removed from Financial Aid Warning.
Unsatisfactory Progress Dismissal
Students who fail to satisfactorily complete a period of warning will be placed on Unsatisfactory Progress Dismissal. Students are not eligible to receive financial aid (except the Promise Grant Fee Waiver) while on Unsatisfactory Progress Dismissal. In order to be considered for reinstatement, students are required to bring their GPA and percentage of units completed up to meet the standards without the assistance of federal financial aid.
Appeal Process
You have the right to appeal a financial aid Satisfactory Academic Program (SAP) or unit cap termination by presenting a written appeal with a personal statement and documentation of mitigating circumstances. Petition for reinstatement forms are available in the Financial Aid office. The SAP Appeals Committee/Financial Aid Director evaluates all SAP appeals considering such factors as your personal statement, your academic history, your documented extenuating circumstances and your ability to achieve academic progress in the future.
Extenuating circumstances do not include the following:
- Applying for an additional degree or certificate
- Changed your mind about your current degree plan
- Did not like the instructor; had conflicts with the instructor; did not like the course
- Death of anyone other than an immediate family member
- Illness of anyone other than you or your immediate family member
- You were young and unaware of the importance of an education
Maximum Time Frame for Completing Education Goal
All students receiving financial aid will be expected to complete a degree or certificate program within 150% of the published unit requirements for the chosen program of study. For example, students are allowed a maximum of 72 attempted degree applicable units within which to complete an associate’s degree or requirements to transfer (12 units required x 6 semesters = 72). Students enrolled in programs with less than or more than the standard 60-unit requirement will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Thirty (30) units of remedial coursework will not be counted in the 72-unit maximum time frame. The maximum time frame is based upon units attempted. The use of a unit standard to measure maximum time frame permits variations in a student’s enrollment status to be taken into consideration within the academic year increment.
Maximum Time Frame Dismissal
Students will be placed on Maximum Time Frame Dismissal once they reach or exceed 72 attempted units (AA/AS and transfer students). Students in certificate or non-term programs will be placed on Maximum Time Frame Dismissal once their attempted unit total reaches 150% of the published time frame. If a student wishes to continue to receive federal financial aid, he or she must submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office. The Director of Financial Aid and/or the Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review these appeals. The student will be notified by mail of the outcome.
Appeal Process
Students placed on Maximum Time Frame Dismissal or Unsatisfactory Progress Dismissal may appeal for reinstatement of their eligibility by completing an SAP Appeal Form. Appeals must include dates, details and documentation of any extenuating circumstances, such as proof of serious illness or injury. Note, students placed on Maximum Time Frame Dismissal must meet with an academic counselor and submit an updated Education Plan.
The appeal will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Director and/or an Appeals Committee to determine if the student’s circumstances warrant full reinstatement, probationary reinstatement, or continued dismissal. For additional information regarding these standards, please contact the Financial Aid Office located in CCR-126 or call 909.389.3223.