51-19 Financial Aid: Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Procedure Description

Purpose

Students receiving financial aid at Florence-Darlington Technical College must meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined by the US Department of Education regulations. All students receiving federal and state student financial aid must adhere to Florence-Darlington Technical College's Financial Aid standards of satisfactory academic progress. These standards have been established to meet the requirements. These standards intend to ensure that students who are receiving federal and state financial aid are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree, diploma, or certificate program in a reasonable period of time. These standards are separate from the institution's standards of progress and are monitored each semester for all enrolled students who have applied for financial aid.

Satisfactory academic progress must include both a qualitative component, grade point average (GPA) and a quantitative (completion rate and maximum time frame). The following three criteria/rules are applied to determine progress at Florence-Darlington Technical College:

1. The maximum length of time for which the student may receive financial aid (150 Percent) of the published time frame for the program.

2. Students must cumulatively complete 67% of all attempted credit hours.

3. The minimum financial aid grade point average (GPA) the student must maintain. (2.0 Minimum GPA)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Scope

These standards apply to all students applying for or receiving federal grants, loans, federal work- study and state funds. To reasonably measure a student's satisfactory academic progress toward completion of his/her degree, diploma, or certificate, the student's total academic record will be evaluated. This includes all academic work attempted for any FDTC program and transferred credits accepted from any other schools attended.

As the recipients of federal or state financial aid, students have certain rights and responsibilities. Students' failure to fulfill their part of the agreement as described may result in the cancellation of their awards, and/or repayment of any funds already received.

Procedure

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester for all students who have a financial aid record and are enrolled. Results of that review will be used to determine the subsequent semester's eligibility for financial aid. Students are responsible for ensuring they maintain the minimum cumulative financial aid GPA of 2.0 and to ensure that they meet the minimum cumulative completion rate of 67%. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained even during semesters in which financial assistance is not received.

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Monitoring Procedures

The Financial Aid Office will monitor satisfactory academic progress for all students receiving federal or state financial aid to ensure that they are making progress toward program completion. Associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of each term of enrollment. The standards defining satisfactory academic progress for Florence-Darlington Technical College students are outlined below.

Course Withdrawals, Incomplete Courses, Repetitions, Remedial or Noncredit Remedial:

Students who receive federal or state financial aid must be aware that repeated courses, noncredit remedial courses and grades of F, W, WF, and I will be considered in assessing their progress toward completion. Students who do not satisfactorily complete at least 67 percent of all cumulative attempted hours for two consecutive semesters will no longer be eligible for federal and/or most state assistance (i.e. South Carolina Need-Based Grant).

Transfer Students:

All transfer students will be considered to be making satisfactory progress based on the number of credit hours accepted toward their program of study. Each academic record will otherwise be reviewed at the end of the required period of enrollment (i.e., at the end of each enrolled term).

Change of Major(s):

Students will be allowed two changes in their curriculum. Any requests for additional changes will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A student who changes majors is still responsible for maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the procedure as outlined. A review of satisfactory academic progress will be based on the student's current program of study. A student changing from an associate program into a diploma or certificate program of study may lose federal and state eligibility immediately upon making the change due to the 150 percent completion rule.

Fresh Start that may be granted through Registrar Services:

Federal regulation excludes federal student aid from a school’s fresh start policy and requires the Financial Aid Office to track students' academic progress from the first date of enrollment, whether or not financial aid was received.

Students approved for the Fresh Start Program should be aware that financial aid requirements regarding prior attendance and cumulative eligibility must be considered from the first date of enrollment. Federal and state regulations prohibit the awarding of financial assistance beyond 150 percent of the published program length.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Length of Eligibility (Completion Rule) The Financial Aid Office monitors the satisfactory academic progress of all students receiving federal and state aid. Financial aid recipients are eligible for assistance until they have attempted up to one and a half (1.5) times the semester hours required for the program of study in which they are currently enrolled.

Examples of Maximum Timeframe

ACADEMIC PROGRAM---------- HOURS REQUIRED -------- MAX. ALLOWABLE ------------------------------

-------IN PROGRAM -------------ATTEMPTED HRS(150%)

Assoc. in Nursing Degree----------------68---------------------(x 1.5) = 102

Assoc. in Arts Degree--------------------62---------------------(x 1.5) = 93

Early Childhood Development-----------42--------------------(x 1.5) = 63

Students pursuing multiple programs of study through Florence-Darlington Technical College will be limited to a maximum timeframe of 150 hours attempted. In all instances, financial assistance will be limited to a maximum of 150 hours attempted. At the time it is determined that a student cannot complete their program of study without reaching 150 hours, the student becomes ineligible for financial aid.

Academic Progress (minimum cumulative financial aid GPA and 67 percent rule)

In order to remain in good academic standing, students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate who are enrolled in regular curriculum classes must maintain a minimum Cumulative Financial Aid Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0. Students are also required to have earned at least 67 percent of credit hours attempted cumulatively to have continued federal and state eligibility for financial assistance. All Developmental Studies courses will be included in the calculation.