Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) as established by the college. In general, a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. The registrar monitors minimum GPA and will take action according to college academic policy.

MINIMUM CREDITS COMPLETED

To establish and maintain eligibility for financial aid, students must pass a minimum number of credits each quarter and a minimum number of credits for the academic year, whether or not they receive aid. Generally, students must pass half-time credits for each quarter and the equivalent credits related to enrollment/financial aid status by the end of the academic year.

Completion of credits

Grades of I (incomplete), N (audit), V (unofficial withdrawal), F (fail), W (withdrawal) and NP (no credit) do not count as completed credits.

a) Quarterly: Students are expected to complete the credits for which they enroll. Credit completion progress will be reviewed each quarter and status will be determined according to the chart above. (Two consecutive probationary quarters will result in termination of aid.)

b) Annual: The annual requirement is based on the student’s enrollment and aid received. Generally, a student who attempts full-time enrollment all three quarters must pass at least 36 credits by the end of spring quarter. Students who receive aid as full-time students for four quarters (fall through summer) increase their annual credit requirement by one-third.

All credits attempted, (except for ABE and ESL course work) including credits attempted before the student applied for or received financial aid, will be monitored at the end of each academic year, or before financial aid is awarded for the academic year.

For more information on the annual credit requirement see below in additional information.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME

Students can receive financial aid to complete their program of study, up to 125% of the published credits required to complete the program. All attempted courses are counted, including: incompletes, withdrawals, repeated courses and transfer credits. When students have completed their program, or have attempted 125% of the credits in their program, they will be ineligible for financial aid. Students in programs with additional required courses to complete the degree or who have exceptional circumstances that prevented them from completing their degree within the time frame can submit an appeal.

In cases where students need to take required prerequisite credits and other preparatory or developmental courses needed to enter classes in their program, an exception to the time frame can be made by submitting an appeal to the financial aid office. Please note that the financial aid office and registration office have separate policies and appeal procedures. ESL and credits below level 090 are not counted in the maximum time frame limit.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

Probation

When students are on probation status for unsatisfactory academic progress, they must make satisfactory progress in their next quarter of enrollment. Students must complete the credits for which they receive financial aid (see chart above), a minimum of six credits with a 2.0 cumulative GPA. For example, if a student on probation receives financial aid for 12 or more credits, the student must complete at least 12 credits to be considered as making satisfactory progress. While a student is on probation they may receive the following quarter’s financial aid, but must make up credits within the academic year in order to satisfy year-end requirements.

Cancellation-Termination

Students who have two consecutive probationary quarters, or who fail to complete the minimum number of credits for which they have registered (see chart above), will be canceled from financial aid. Students who lose eligibility must reinstate their eligibility using one of the two options described below.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

When aid has been canceled due to unsatisfactory progress, students may use one of the following options to reinstate eligibility in their next quarter of enrollment:

1. Successfully complete at least six credits, with at least a 2.0 GPA without financial aid (the student will need to notify our office at the end of the successful quarter); or

2. Students who believe that exceptional circumstances, beyond their control, prevented them from making satisfactory progress may submit an appeal for reinstatement of eligibility. Students must attach supporting documentation to their appeal before it can be considered. In some cases students may request an automatic reinstatement if they have been out of school for three years or longer and their circumstances have now changed that will allow them to successfully complete the credits they enroll for.

If an appeal is denied, students must use option #1 (above) to reinstate their eligibility. However, students have the right to re-appeal if their appeal is denied. The appeal should be submitted in writing and include any additional information or documentation that was not submitted with the original appeal.

After students reinstate their eligibility, they will be on probation status in their next quarter of attendance. On probation, students must make satisfactory progress as specified in the chart on the first page.

Reinstatement-125% Maximum Timeframe

Students who have attempted the maximum timeframe of 125% of the required credits but have not completed their program are considered to not be making satisfactory progress and they are ineligible for additional aid. Students with exceptional circumstances may submit an appeal for additional eligibility along with an Educational Plan from their academic adviser. The appeal must explain the exceptional circumstance that prevented them from completing the program within the maximum number of credits. An Educational Plan signed by the adviser and listing the remaining courses required to complete the degree is helpful in making a determination and in some cases may be required. Appeals will be considered only for the remaining required coursework.

Additional Information

Annual Credit Requirement

The annual credit requirement is for all students that are receiving financial aid or wish to apply for financial aid. The annual credit requirement is based on an expectation for successfully completed credits according to the student’s enrollment or the aid received. Students who attempt full-time enrollment all three quarters in the regular academic year (fall, winter and spring quarters) must pass at least 36 credits by the end of spring quarter; students who enroll for fewer than three quarters (but are full-time) must pass the appropriate fraction of the full year expectation. Students who receive aid as full-time students for four quarters (summer through spring) increase their annual credit requirement by one-third. To meet the annual credit requirement, students are expected to have passed full time (12) credits for any quarter attempted as full time (regardless of the aid received), plus nine credits for any three-quarter time student receiving Federal Pell or State Need Grant for the quarter, plus half-time credits (6) for each quarter attempted as half-time, plus all the credits attempted for each quarter of less than half-time enrollment. The credit requirement is based on enrollment or the aid received, whichever carries the greater requirement each quarter, but will not exceed 36, unless the student receives more than three full-time quarters of aid.