Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must declare a major and be working toward the completion of that major in order to receive financial aid. In order to receive aid, a student must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) regardless of whether he or she has previously received aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured at the end of each semester of enrollment after grades have been posted at J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College. Students are required under federal regulations to maintain certain standards of progress depending on the number of hours they have attempted in college. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand all policies associated with financial aid funding.

SAP includes three basic components: qualitative Grade Point Average (GPA), quantitative Hours Completed (completion rate), and timeframe.

The GPA is computed based on a 4.0 scale, with a 2.0 or higher GPA required for graduation.

GPA requirements for long-term certificate and degree seeking students:

If student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA
If student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 1.75 GPA
If student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA

GPA requirement for short-term certificate (24 – 29 credit hours):

If student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA
If student has attempted 13 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA

The completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted.

Completion rate (attempted hours) required by long-term certificates and degree seeking students:

If student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
If student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 62% completion rate.
If student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Completion rate (attempted hours) required by short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours).

If student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
If student has attempted 13 or more hours they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Federal regulations require that students must complete their educational objective within a maximum time frame of one and one-half times the length of the program in which they are enrolled, since the purpose of the Federal Title IV financial aid programs is to assist students in meeting their educational expenses while they progress toward timely completion of their educational objectives.

A student is only allowed 150% of the respective program length to complete the degree or certificate.
For example, a degree-seeking student can attend Drake State three years, which is 150% of a two-year major.
Failure to complete within allotted timeframe will result in loss of eligibility.
All hours attempted, as well as transfer hours accepted, will be included in the maximum timeframe calculation. (ex: course forgiveness, academic bankruptcy, developmental, and incompletes).
A change in major or academic program does not reset the 150%.

Additional regulations relating to SAP include the following:

If a student does not meet any of the requirements listed he/she will be given one warning semester to attempt to get back in good standing in which he/she will be eligible to receive aid.
After attending one warning semester, the student must have the required GPA and completion rate to continue receiving financial aid assistance.
If a student loses eligibility, he/she may appeal----given student has mitigating circumstances that caused unsuccessful coursework. If appeal is approved by appeals committee then the student will be granted one additional probation semester to establish satisfactory academic progress. If student is not granted a probationary semester, then the student must be a cash paying student until satisfactory academic progress is achieved. At that point, the student could re-establish eligibility.
Additional information as to the treatment of repeated, incompletes, withdrawals, transfer credit, academic bankruptcy, course forgiveness, and transitional (remedial) classes is as follows:

Repeat classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations. In addition, a student can only repeat a successfully-passed class utilizing federal aid once.
Student may receive financial aid for up to 30 attempted remedial credit hours. If this number is exceeded, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. If the student enrolls in the same remedial course more than three (3) times, financial aid will not apply for any subsequent enrollment(s) in this course.
Incompletes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations. Incomplete (I grade) coursework must be completed by the end of the next term. At the end of the next term, all unfinished coursework will be calculated as an F.
Withdrawals will not be factored into the GPA calculations but will be included in the completion rate and maximum timeframe calculations.
Transfer credits will not be factored into the GPA calculation but will be included in the completion rate and maximum timeframe calculations. Only passed classes designated as a "C" or higher will be transferred in from other accredited institutions.
Bankrupted (Academic Bankruptcy) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculation.
Forgiven (Course Forgiveness) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations. Transitional (remedial) classes will be factored into the GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe calculations.
After a grade change (except an Incomplete) has been instituted for a prior term, SAP will be recalculated at that time. When an Incomplete grade is updated to a final grade, it will be factored into the SAP calculation at the time of the next formal evaluation. Dropped courses during the add/drop period will not be factored into GPA, completion rate, or maximum timeframe calculations.

In some cases, a student who is not meeting SAP may regain eligibility for Title IV aid. Options may include a) paying for classes or b) successfully appealing.
The lifetime eligibility for receiving federal financial aid is 12 full-time semesters which equals 600%. A student’s percentage used can be viewed on NSLDS and compared to the Banner form RNASLXX. (If student has less than full-time enrollment, the percentage will be prorated).

Information regarding financial aid appeals include the following:

A student may submit a Financial Aid Appeal if he/she can provide documented proof of mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances are those that are beyond the student’s control. If student files an appeal due to exceeding the MAX timeframe, he/she must be meeting other two components of the SAP calculation (GPA and pace).
A student must submit the appeal and all documentation pertaining to the appeal, by the published appeal deadline. Submitting a Financial Aid Appeal is NOT an automatic approval.
Appeal Form
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will meet each semester to consider completed appeals. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. Only one appeal per academic year will be considered.
A student will be notified of the decision made by the Committee by email. Students may check Self Service Banner for academic progress status.
A student must follow the terms of his/her appeal if approved or lose financial aid eligibility.
An academic plan may be instituted for a student as an opportunity to restore the student to proper Satisfactory Academic Progress at a specified future point in time. The plan can be voided if the student changes majors or does not follow the prescribed academic plan. This plan is used specifically for students that exceeded MAX time frame and granted an appeal.