Financial Aid: Eligibility

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

To receive federal financial aid, students must meet the following academic requirements referred to as Standards of Satisfactory Progress (SAP). SAP requirements apply to all terms, including summer, and to all students (both aid and non-aid recipients). SAP requirements are measured in the following three areas:

Grade Point Average (GPA):

**2 to 4 Year Programs**
Semester	Cumulative GPA
1st Semester	1.4
2nd Semester	1.6
3rd Semester	1.8
4th Semster	2.0
All Subsequent Semesters	2.0

9-Month Programs
1st Semester	1.8
2nd Semester	2.0

Completion of Attempted Credits: Students must successfully complete 67% of the credits they attempt each semester. This percentage is determined by dividing the total number of successfully completed credits by the total number of credits the student was registered for on the last day to add classes. The last day to add classes is listed on the Academic Calendar and generally falls in the second week of the semester.
Maximum Time Frame: All students are required to complete their degree within 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if a program requires 63 credits to graduate, the student would be allowed 95 attempted credits (63 x 150% = 95).

Students who do not meet SAP for 1. GPA or 2. Completion of Attempted Credits will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester of enrollment. Financial aid will be received during the semester of probation. Students who meet SAP during the semester of probation will automatically be removed from probation at the end of the term. During the semester of probation, students are encouraged to seek assistance for help with academic or personal problems. Student Support Services has tutoring services available and the Retention Officer has a Resource Guide listing contacts for other needs. At the end of the semester of probation, the student must again be meeting SAP requirements or he/she will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students who have reached 3. Maximum Time Frame will have their federal aid discontinued. Students may extend the Maximum Time Frame by changing to certain programs or by filing an appeal for one final semester of federal funding if he/she will be eligible to graduate at the end of the requested semester.

Financial Aid Probation means:

During the next semester of enrollment, the student will receive federal financial aid, but must meet all SAP requirements at the end of the semester. If he/she does not, the student’s federal financial aid eligibility will be suspended.
While on Financial Aid Probation, no appeal or reapplication for aid is necessary.

Note: Financial Aid Probation is not the same as academic probation.

Financial Aid Suspension means:

The student has lost eligibility for federal student aid until he/she successfully completes one term at TMCC (see the SAP chart that defines the required GPA and Completion of Attempted Credits)
If the student experienced extenuating medical or emotional circumstances that negatively impacted his/her academic performance, the student may appeal the suspension (refer to Appeal Process)

If no extenuating circumstances were experienced or an appeal is not desired, he/she may attend TMCC without funding.

Note: Financial Aid Suspension is not the same as academic suspension.

Types of Aid Affected

SAP regulations cover the following programs: Pell Grant, ACG, SEOG, State Grant, Tuition Waiver, and Work Study. Most scholarships are not governed by SAP requirements but may have their own academic requirements that could affect continued consideration.

Successful Completion

Successfully completed credit hours include grades of A, B, C, D, P or S. Credit hours that do not count as successfully completed include F (Fail), W (Withdrawal), U (Unsatisfactory) and I (Incomplete). All grades (A, B, C, D, P, S, W, U, I, and repeated courses) are counted as attempted hours and are used in computing the Maximum Time Frame SAP requirement.

Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who receive all failing or incomplete grades in a semester are considered to have unofficially withdrawn from the college and will be placed on financial aid probation or progress to suspension based on the student’s current financial aid status. Federal regulations require that a refund calculation be done for all students receiving state and federal funds, unless an official last date of attendance can be documented beyond the 60% point in one of the student’s classes. The calculation and return of these funds may result in the student owing a balance to the college.

Dropped Courses and Official Withdrawals

Classes that a student drops or withdraws from count toward the cumulative credits attempted if they are dropped or withdrawn from after the last day to add classes for the semester.

Program Changes

Students who have changed their program of study will have their transcript evaluated to determine the number of attempted credits that will transfer into the new program of study. All credits attempted for an Associate of Arts are counted as attempted credits for an Associate of Science and all credits attempted for an Associate of Science are counted as attempted credits for an Associate of Arts degree.

Military Duty

Students who are required to withdraw from TMCC after the last day to add classes for military reasons will not be placed on Financial Aid Probation or Suspension. The student will be required to submit proof of military activation orders.

Notification Process

Students will receive notification of their SAP probation and/or suspension at the end of each semester after grades are posted. Notification will be made by mail in a written letter. Students are encouraged to keep the college updated on their current mailing addresses. Non receipt of a SAP notification letter does not change the student’s financial aid status.

Academic Bankruptcy

Students who have been granted academic forgiveness cannot exclude previously attempted credits and GPA for federal student aid SAP requirements.

Appeal Process

Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal their status if they experienced extenuating medical or emotional circumstances that negatively impacted their academic performance. Examples of situations that are acceptable include hospitalization, illness, depression and death in the family. Situations that are not acceptable include working too many hours, not committed to college expectations or dislike of course material or instructor. Students who have exceeded their maximum time frame may also appeal for one final semester if they can graduate upon completion of the requested semester. If placed on Financial Aid Suspension, the provided appeal form must be submitted along with documentation and a letter of explanation from the student. All information must be received by the deadline date. Students will be notified of the decision reached by the Financial Aid Committee in a written letter.

Deadlines

Deadlines for submitting an appeal are applicable each semester.

Reinstatement of Aid

To have financial aid eligibility reinstated, the student must make up the credit hour and/or GPA deficiencies without the receipt of federal aid.

It is the student’s responsibility to know and adhere to SAP requirements.