Disability Access

Financial Aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The Financial Aid Office at Western Piedmont community College (WPCC) is required by federal and state regulations to monitor the academic progress of students who apply for and/or receive federal and state financial aid.  Financial aid applicants must comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy as a condition of eligibility.  These standards are applied to a student’s entire academic history at WPCC, including periods when financial aid was not received.  

Financial aid programs which are affected by the SAP Policy include (but are not limited to) Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Work-Study (FWS), North Carolina Community College Grant, North Carolina Student Incentive Grant, North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship, North Carolina Community College Short-Term Loan Program and institutional aid. 

The standards against which applicants for and receipts of financial assistance are measured include qualitative and quantitative measures.  SAP will be monitored at the end of each semester.        

Qualitative Measure:  Cumulative grade point average requirement.

• The student must maintain a grade point average at or above the minimum on the following chart:>

  Credit Hours Attempted	Minimum Grade Point Average
  1-7 SHC	1.00
  8-15 SHC	1.25
  16-23 SHC	1.50
  24-31 SHC	1.75
  32 +  SHC	2.00
  Graduation	2.00

Quantitative Measure:  Completion rate requirement.

• The student must successfully complete 66% of the hours attempted to meet the minimum requirement.  Successful completion is defined as receiving a grade of A, B, C, D, or SC.

 Maximum Time Frame:  The maximum number of hours students may attempt for their program of study.

• The student’s maximum time frame to complete a program is 150% of the published length of the program.  For example, if 64 semester hours are required to complete a degree, the student may attempt a maximum of 96 hours before the student exceeds his/ her eligibility for financial aid (i.e. 64 x 1.5 = 96).  The student may add up to one academic year of credit (30 semester hours) for required developmental course work.  After attempting 150% of their degree credit requirements without completing their degree, the student will have their financial aid suspended.

Treatment of Selected Grades: 

 Incompletes:  Credit hours in which a student receives an “I” (incomplete) are included in the number of hours attempted, but do not count as successfully completed hours.

 Withdrawals:  Credit hours in which a student receives a “W” or “IW” are included in the number of attempted hours, but do not count as successfully completed hours. 

Transfer Credits: Students transferring from another institution will be considered making satisfactory progress at the time of enrollment.  The student’s maximum time frame to receive financial aid will be reduced by the equivalent transfer of credit hours towards his/her degree.  Transfer credits are included in the total number of attempted hours for the measurement of maximum time frame.

 Repeated Classes:  In the case of a course that has been repeated, only the grade points and credit hours earned in the most recent attempt will be used in the computation of the grade point average to evaluate satisfactory academic progress.  All attempts will be counted toward the quantitative requirements

 Audits and Credit by Examination:  An audit (AU) grade is not considered attempted course work.  It is not included in the grade point average calculation or completion rate determinations.  The student cannot receive financial aid for courses that he or she audits or receives credit by examination (CR).

Eligibility Statuses:

1. Satisfactory:  Satisfactory status is achieved when both the grade point average and the hours earned components are fulfilled.

2. Probation:  Students who fail to meet either the grade point average of hours earned component of the SAP policy are placed on probation.  Students placed on probation are eligible for aid during the subsequent semester.

   * Students that are placed on probation and continue to earn a semester grade point average of 2.0 and successfully complete 66% of the credit hours attempted, will remain on probation.  The student’s status will change from probation to satisfactory once the cumulative grade point average and hours earned components are met.
    

3. Suspension:  Students will be suspended if after a probationary term, the semester grade point average is less than 2.0, and/or the successful completion rate is less than 66% of the credit hours attempted. 

Notification of Financial Aid Probation or Termination:  The Financial Aid Office will mail a warning letter to students placed on probation, or a suspension letter to any student who is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Regaining Eligibility:  Students who attend school (without federal financial aid) may regain financial aid eligibility by attempting six (6) credit hours or more and completing at least 75% of the attempted hours, and, maintain a minimum semester grade point average of 2.0.  A student may request reconsideration of eligibility for financial aid by submitting a written request to the Financial Aid Office once all requirements for satisfactory progress are met. 

Students who exceed the maximum allowable time frame to complete a program of study must appeal by using a student petition and provide a graduation plan signed by their academic advisor.  If the plan is considered reasonable, the student will receive financial aid on probation for one or more semesters until the degree is completed. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

Students who fail to meet the standards and lose eligibility for financial aid may appeal that decision to the Financial Aid Office.  The appeal must be submitted by using the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form stating the reason(s) for failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress.  The appeal must also explain what the student will do to ensure that they will meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in the future.  Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Forms may be found in the Financial Aid Office or on the Forms section on the Financial Aid Office website. 

Appeals may be based on:

• A death in the immediate family.

• Serious injury or illness of the student or a member of the immediate family.

• Other extenuating circumstances clearly beyond the control of the student which affected their ability to meet academic progress standards.

Appeals can take up to two weeks to review.  Students should be prepared to pay tuition and fees by the payment deadline.  If the appeal is approved after tuition and fees are paid, students will be reimbursed if they meet all other eligibility requirements.

All denied appeals are automatically referred to the Financial Aid Subcommittee for a second review.  All decisions made by the Subcommittee are final.

Students who exceed the maximum time frame to complete a program of study must appeal by using a Student

Petition and provide a graduation plan signed by their academic advisor.  If the plan is considered reasonable, the student will receive financial aid on probation for one or more semesters until the degree is completed. 

□          Making Up Deficiencies Without Financial Aid

In the event that the student’s appeal is denied, he/she may be eligible to have financial aid reinstated by taking the following actions:

• Enroll in a minimum of six credit hours at WPCC or another accredited college.

• Successfully complete 100% of the credit hours attempted.

• Earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average for the semester, and

• Notify the Financial Aid office when the above requirements have been met.