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New Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

(Effective Fall 2008 Semester)

Satisfactory Academic Progress:

Federal regulations require that financial aid recipients meet certain academic standards to be eligible for federal financial aid (Pell, SEOG, ACG, Federal Work-Study, Perkins Loan, Nursing Loan, Stafford Loan, and PLUS Loan). To ensure financial aid recipients are making satisfactory academic progress, academic transcripts are reviewed at the end of each term to determine eligibility for the next term. All terms of attendance (Fall, Spring, & Summer) are reviewed, including periods in which the student did not receive financial aid.  Financial Aid SAP does not authorize or deny a student’s eligibility to enroll in school.

Evaluation of Academic Progress

A financial aid recipient’s satisfactory academic progress is evaluated after each semester of the academic year (Fall, Spring, & Summer). At that time, a student will either be in good standing, be placed on financial aid probation, or denied financial assistance for future enrollment periods. The student must meet all three progress requirements (Completion Rate, GPA, and be within the Maximum Time Frame) to remain in good standing. Students will be notified by the Financial Aid Office if they are placed on conditional probation or suspension status for financial aid.

Minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The semester grade point average and the percentage of credits completed during the semester are used to determine satisfactory academic progress. In most cases, you may use the below information to determine the expectations related to maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Withdrawal from a class or receiving an Incomplete will not affect your GPA; however, it will reduce your percentage of credits completed. 

Completion Rate Requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 2/3 of all course work (registered credit hours) attempted at DCC.
• Earned A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D or J grades are considered completed credits.
• Remedial & English as a Second Language credits are included in the student’s completion rate requirement.
• Withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), grades of (F) and Repeated courses are not considered completed credits.
• If a student changes course of study, the hours attempted under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours.
• Courses dropped during the 75% Refund Period of the semester are not counted in the calculation. 

Grade Point Average Requirement:

• The grade point average requirement is based on all credit courses that are applicable to your present curriculum.
• Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (a C average).
• Remedial & English as a Second Language credits’ grades are not calculated in the grade point average requirement.

Maximum Credit Limit:

• Students must complete their program within 150 percent of the credit hours required by the program. Students who have reached the maximum time frame will be suspended from receiving financial aid.
• Repeated courses and transfer credits accepted by DCC toward a degree are included in the student's maximum time frame calculation.
• Courses dropped during the 75% Refund Period of the semester are not counted against the calculation. 
• If a student changes course of study, the hours attempted under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours.
• Withdrawals, incompletes, and courses repeated are considered in the calculation of credits attempted.
• Remedial credits are included in the student’s maximum time frame.
• Audits are not included in the calculation of credits attempted. 
• Students may apply for a Maximum Credit Appeal (See Maximum Credit Appeal Below)

Maximum Credit Limit Chart

Fresh Start (Academic Amnesty)

Schools can have Academic Amnesty/Renewal procedures through which a student can apply to have credits attempted and grades earned in previous semesters excluded from the calculation of the student’s grade-point average. The Federal Student Aid program regulations make no provision for the concept of academic amnesty or academic renewal.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards Statuses

REGULAR SAP STATUS (Good Academic Standing)

The student is meeting all three progress requirements (Completion Rate, GPA, and is within the Maximum Time Frame) to remain in good standing. 

SAP CONDITIONAL PROBATION

Students who would otherwise be suspended as a result of not meeting the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be placed on SAP Conditional Probation.  A student will receive federal student aid during their conditional probationary term.  Students exceeding Maximum Time Frame are not eligible for SAP Conditional Probation.

• At the end of the first semester in which a student fails to meet the qualitative or completion rate components of SAP, he or she will be placed on SAP Conditional Probation for the next semester.
• Students on conditional probation are required to complete all attempted hours for the term.  Courses dropped during the 75% Refund Period of the semester are not counted against the calculation.
• Attain a semester overall GPA of 2.5 – no exceptions.
• Students can continue on SAP Conditional Probation Status if they still do not meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements but they have met the SAP Conditional Probation standards.
• If the student fails these progress standards for any term while on Continuing Probation, the student will become ineligible for aid.
• Students on SAP Conditional Probation are eligible for financial aid. No appeal of conditional probation is necessary.

SAP SUSPENSION

Students are suspended from receiving financial aid if they do not meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress or their SAP Conditional Probation requirements by the end of their conditional probationary term. Students on financial aid suspension are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid (Grants, Loans, Student Employment). Financial aid eligibility is reinstated when all the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress are met or students have an appeal approved.

• If the student fails to meet the SAP requirements or their SAP Conditional Probation Requirements at the end of the conditional probation semester, the student will be ineligible for all further federal aid at DCC.
• The student must notify the Office Financial Aid when the requirements for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility have been completed.
• SAP cancellation also applies to students who have exceeded the maximum time frame based on their degree program.

AUTOMATIC SAP SUSPENSION

• Students completing a semester with a 0.00 grade point average are not making satisfactory academic progress.
• This includes students who withdraw from the term, as well as students who remain enrolled, but do not successfully complete any hours (Grades of all F, W, I).
• The student will be suspended from all further aid at DCC.
• There is no provision for probationary status in this circumstance. No additional financial aid will be awarded until the student has either met the minimum Satisfactorily Academic Progress Requirements or has had their appeal approved.  
• The student must notify the Office Financial Aid when the requirements for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility have been completed.

Appeals

Title IV Appeal (Completion Rate & Grade Point Average Requirements)

Students may appeal their denial status by submitting an Appeal Form to the Dean of Student Service Office.  Some circumstances such as medical problems, illness, or death in the family can be considered reasons for an appeal. Students should provide as much documentation as possible regarding their unusual and mitigating circumstances with their appeal so it may be given full consideration.  They must also bring to the Dean of Student Services Office a copy of their academic plan showing what classes they need to graduate and when they plan to take those courses to graduate.  The Dean of Students Services Office will review the appeal and contact the student. The policy does not preclude a student from enrolling in subsequent semesters. Students may have their financial aid reinstated by the Financial Aid Office once all satisfactory academic progress standards are met. 

• Students may only receive one Title IV Appeal.
• The appeal only covers one semester.
• The Title IV appeal grants the student the SAP Conditional Status

Maximum Credit Appeal

If a student has reached their credit maximum they can apply for a Maximum Credit Appeal with the Dean of Student Services Office.  Some circumstances such as medical problems, illness, or death in the family can be considered reasons for an appeal. Students should provide as much documentation as possible regarding their unusual and mitigating circumstances with their appeal so it may be given full consideration.  They must also bring to the Dean of Student Services Office a copy of their academic plan showing what classes they need to graduate and when they plan to take those courses to graduate.  Based on this documentation the Dean of Student Services Office will make a decision to approve or deny the appeal.  Students may only receive a Maximum Credit Appeal for their 1st degree or certificate at Dutchess Community College.  Once a student has graduated from a certificate or degree program they are no longer eligible for a Maximum Credit Appeal. 

• A Maximum Credit appeal for a certificate degree program can allow a student to receive one additional semester to receive federal financial aid as long as they are meeting the other criteria for the minimum requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress. 
• A Maximum Credit appeal for an associate degree program can allow a student to receive up to two additional semesters to receive federal financial aid as long as they are meeting the other criteria for the minimum requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Students can only receive one Maximum Credit Appeal

FINANCIAL AID BULLETIN

NO STUDENT CAN RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID FOR CLASSES THAT DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS

HIS/HER DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE.

According to federal law, if a student is enrolled in courses that do not count toward his/her degree they cannot be used to determine enrollment status unless they are noncredit or remedial courses needed to advance to a college level course.  Federal aid includes Pell Grant, SEOG, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, and College Work Study.  There are also similar require-ments for New York State financial aid including TAP and APTS.

We hope the information at this site is helpful to you. If at anytime you have any questions, or would like to speak with a counselor, please contact the Office Financial Aid at the following:

Dutchess Community College
Office of Financial Aid
53 Pendell Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-8030 Fax: (845) 431-8603
or
Susan L. Mead, Director of Financial Aid

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