Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies

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Skagit Valley College Financial Aid Office

Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies

Federal and state financial aid regulations require schools to set minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress and to hold students accountable for meeting the standards. Satisfactory Academic Progress is checked prior to awarding aid, even if students did not receive financial aid in past quarters. It is also checked at the end of every quarter aid is received. Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured two ways: 1) Qualitative and 2) Quantitative. This document outlines the requirements for financial aid satisfactory academic progress at Skagit Valley College and are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand the standards for satisfactory progress. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout the program and must not owe a refund or repayment on any grants or loans previously received. State and Federal standards for academic progress are different. Students must review this entire document to understand requirements of both programs. Students will be notified of satisfactory progress issues via their MY SVC email account. Faculty and staff other than financial aid staff are not required to know

financial aid policies.

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INANCIAL

A

ID

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TATUS

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EFINITIONS

 WARNING: Students on warning are eligible for financial aid. A student placed on warning must successfully

complete all registered courses (as of the census date for that quarter) in the following quarter while receiving financial aid. Failure to do so will result in termination from financial aid and the student will no longer be eligible to receive financial assistance.

 DROP/TERMINATION: Students on drop status are not eligible to receive financial aid funds. Review “Earning

Reinstatement” below for information on how to submit an appeal if you were dropped due to exceptional circumstances.

 PROBATION: Students on probation are students who have been dropped from financial aid and have had an

Appeal for Financial Aid Reinstatement approved. Students reinstated to probation are required to maintain the quantitative and qualitative minimum standards for the continuation of financial aid. Failure to meet these conditions during the probationary period will result in termination of student financial aid for all future quarters.

 PACE OF PROGRESSION: Refers to student’s percent (%) rate of progression toward completing his/her degree

requirements at Skagit Valley College. This pace is determined based upon reviewing the quarterly and annual cumulative credits completed versus cumulative and annual credits attempted each quarter/year.

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UALITATIVE

(G

RADE POINT AVERAGE

)

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TANDARDS

~Quarterly, annual and/or self-reinstatement review~

Applicable to State and Federal Aid Recipients

All students must be in good standing with the college and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better each quarter. Students failing to meet this standard may be placed on “warning” status for one quarter. A failure to attain a 2.0 GPA after the warning period will result in a termination of financial aid eligibility for future quarters.

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F

EDERAL

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UANTITATIVE

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PACE OF PROGRESSION

)

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TANDARDS

~Quarterly Review~

(Applicable to FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID Recipients)

Students must complete at least 67% of the credits for which they are registered as of the census date for the quarter to meet pace of progression requirements. Pace of progression is evaluated at the end of each quarter and at the beginning of each new financial aid award year.

Quarterly pace of progression reviews are based on the following progression rates:

Number (#)

of credits

attempted

# Completed Credits

for GOOD

STANDING

Number (#) of

Completed credits for

WARNING

Number (#) of

Completed credits for

TERMINATION

1-5 credits All credits attempted

N/A, must complete all credits attempted

Any less than all credits attempted

6 credits 4-6 credits 3 credits 0-2 credits

8 credits 6-8 credits 4-5 credits 0-3 credits

To remain in good standing, students must meet a minimum of a 67% completion rate for their program each quarter. Student’s who fail to meet this pace of progression status standard, but complete more than 50% of their credits, may

be placed on “warning” status for one quarter. A failure to attain a 67% pace of progression quarter after the warning period will result in a termination of financial aid eligibility.

Students completing fewer than 50% of their credits for the quarter (or all credits for a less than half-time enrollment level) will be placed on termination status and will be ineligible for further aid.

*Grades of “E” (failure)“I” (incomplete), “Y” in progress), “N” (audit), “V” (unofficial withdrawal), “W” (official withdrawal) and “Z” (no credit) do not count as completed credits. Only credits completed by the end of the scheduled quarter will count as “completed” for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

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NROLLMENT

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EVEL

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“C

ENSUS

”

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OLICY

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EFINITIONS

Financial aid amounts are initially awarded assuming full-time enrollment in a 12+ credit level. Financial aid is available at levels below full-time. Students “MUST” notify the Financial Aid Office for any enrollment status that will be less than full time. Failure to notify the Financial Aid Office of a reduced credit load will result in tuition being unpaid and balance checks being late.

To receive aid at this enrollment level  You must be registered for:

Full-time 12 or more credits*

Three-quarter time Between 9-11.99 credits*

Half time Between 6-8.99 credits*

Less than ½-time Between 1-5.9 credits*

Financial aid eligibility is based on the number of credits enrolled in as of the end of 3rd day of day classes. (CENSUS DATE). This date is published in the College’s Academic Calendar and can be found online at: www.skagit.edu Go to current students then Academic Calendar.

Enrollment levels will be checked at the end of the 3rd day of the quarter. Award amounts will be adjusted to reflect the correct enrollment level as of this deadline. If a student’s aid was disbursed at an incorrect enrollment level, or for classes that were not required to complete the student’s degree with Skagit Valley College, he/she will owe a repayment of financial aid to the college and will be billed accordingly. It is your responsibility to check with the financial aid office

to verify how schedule changes may affect your financial aid. Faculty and staff other than financial aid staff are not

required to know financial aid policies.

* Audit status, Running Start, high school completion, ESL, ELP, Basic Skills, Tech Prep, continuing education credits, and pre-requisite credits required to transfer to another school if a student does not have elective room in his/her program are not financial aid eligible and do not count towards a student’s enrollment level and funding amounts.

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UANTITATIVE

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PACE OF PROGRESSION

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TANDARDS

~Annual/Self-reinstatement Review~

Annual/Self-reinstatement pace of progression/self-reinstatement reviews are based on the following

progression rates:

Prior to each new financial aid award year (award year runs Summer quarter to Spring quarter) or self-reinstatement

approvals, the financial aid office will review your pace of progression to determine if a student can mathematically complete their degree based on their current pace of progression. If it is determined that the student cannot complete their degree within the maximum credit limit the student will not be eligible for any financial aid funding. This decision is not appealable. To determine if the student will remain eligible for financial aid funding the following process will be used.

1. Determine the number of credits required for the degree times 150% (State funds are 125%)

2. Using a transcript evaluation or class plan determine the number of credits that are still required to complete the degree.

3. Review the academic transcript and transcript evaluation to determine the number of college level credits that have been attempted.

4. If the total of #2 and #3 is less than or equal to #1 the student will continue to be eligible to receive federal funding for financial aid. As soon as the total of #2 and #3 is greater than #1 the student is no longer eligible for financial aid. *Grades of “E” (failure)“I” (incomplete), “Y” (in progress), “N” (audit), “V” (unofficial withdrawal), “W” (official

withdrawal) and “Z” (no credit) do not count as completed credits but will count in the number of attempted credits.. Only credits completed by the end of the scheduled quarter will count as “completed”..

NOTE:Washington State Need Grant (SNG) and State Work Study (SWS) recipients have different completion

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M

AXIMUM

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IME

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IMIT

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EQUIREMENT

Students must complete their program of study within a maximum time frame in order to receive financial aid. Classes taken at Skagit Valley College must be necessary degree requirements. Taking classes that are not degree requirements may result in a financial aid repayment and will cause students to reach their maximum time limit more quickly and may

prevent them from completing their intended degree.

Associate Degrees and Certificate Programs:

Students will no longer be considered eligible for financial aid when the number of credits they have attempted equals 150% (or 125% for Washington State Need Grant or State Work Study funds) of the credits required for their degree, rounded down to the nearest whole credit. All attempted courses are counted, including incompletes, withdrawals, unofficial withdrawals, hardship withdrawals, failed courses, audit classes, repeated courses, and transfer credits.

Please note: Washington State Need Grant will not be awarded to any students who has attempted 125% or beyond of the

credits required for their program, regardless of a whether a time limit petition is approved. ******************************************

Running Start, transfer credits accepted from other institutions or form other programs count toward the time limit requirement. Transcripts should be requested from all prior institutions and a transcript evaluation requested.

The following courses do not count toward the time limit requirement:

Basic Skills, ESL, high school completion, non-credit courses, and up to 45 credits of developmental courses (developmental courses are for-credit English, Math, and Human Development courses below the 100 level)

Excessive Credit/Time Limit Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office, or via the website at:

www.skagit.edu then to go current students, financial aid, printable forms

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EVELOPMENTAL

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OURSES

For financial aid purposes, “for-credit developmental courses” are English, and Math courses which are below the 100 level. Developmental courses are included in GPA/qualitative and Pace of Progression/quantitative standards.

A maximum of 45 developmental credits will be excluded from the maximum time-limit requirement. Non-credit developmental courses are not counted

towards the maximum time limit requirement nor are they counted towards the quantitative or qualitative limit.

CHANGING YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDY

If you want to change your program of study (once) you may do so at any time up to 40 college level credits. At 40 or more credits a petition for change of major must be

submitted. Previously attempted credits that are degree requirements will count toward the maximum allowed for

your new program if it is approved. Students within 25 credits of completing their current program of study will not be permitted to change programs and receive financial

aid funding.

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EPEATED

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OURSEWORK

The retake of coursework using financial aid may be permissible under exceptional circumstances. All coursework that is be retaken must be a requirement to complete your intended degree at Skagit Valley College Coursework may not be retaken using financial aid if the class was previously taken (regardless if financial aid was used) and a passing grade (D- or better) was earned, except when a pre-requisite requirement of “C” is needed to advance to the next course in the sequence. “I” and“P” grades may not be repeated.

Classes that are repeated with a passing grade to earn a better grade will not be covered if repeated (except in the case of a pre-requisite course-see above).

A reduction or elimination of financial aid may be required if it is determined that a student is repeating a course that does not qualify to be repeated.

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If you are terminated from financial aid eligibility for reasons other than having reached the time limit requirement, you can earn reinstatement one of two ways: (Approved reinstatement/academic plan is always contingent on meeting pace of progression and GPA requirements in future quarters)

a) Earn Reinstatement on Your Own

Register and take classes/credits at Skagit Valley College at your own expense until you meet the

GPA/qualitative and Pace of Progression/quantitative requirements needed to complete your degree (see pace of progression standards above). For example, both your cumulative GPA is above a 2.0 and the total attempted credits versus your completed credits must be 67% or greater. Once a student meets the requirements to reinstate under this option, reinstatement is not automatic. Students must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing, using the Financial Aid Reinstatement form, stating that he/she is believed to have earned reinstatement. Reinstatement will not be granted until a complete review has been performed by the Financial Aid Committee.

b) Earn Reinstatement on a “Probationary” Status via the Appeal Process

Submit a Petition for Reinstatement to the Financial Aid Committee, and receive notification via My SVC email account that the petition has been accepted. The appeal should be based on documented unusual or

extraordinary circumstances beyond your control. Appeal forms are available on line at the www.skagit.edu

website or in the Financial Aid Office. If you were terminated after being on probation, you can include in your petition any unusual or extraordinary circumstances, if applicable, that led to your being placed on probation. If you submit an appeal and it is denied, you must earn reinstatement on your own (option “a”, above).

NOTE: You cannot appeal any balance that is owing to the College as a result of Financial Aid Repayment/Return of

Title IV Funds Policy or Enrollment Level Policy.

If you are terminated from financial aid eligibility because you have attempted the maximum number of credits allowed, there is a separate appeal process. Excessive Credit/Time Limit Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office or on the SVC website.

W

ASHINGTON

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TATE FINANCIAL

A

ID

E

XCEPTIONS

(Applicable to Washington State Need Grant & State Work Study Recipients)

Qualitative Standards: Same standards as for federal aid. See above under “Qualitative Standards”

Quantitative Standards: See chart below for acceptable completion rates per quarter to maintain State Need Grant and SWS eligibility. This will be monitored separately from your continued eligibility for federal funding.

If You Enroll: You Must Successfully _Complete: You Will Be Placed On _{WARNING If You Only Complete:}

Financial Aid Will Be

SUSPENDED If You Complete Less

Than:

Full Time (12 or more credits) 12 credits per quarter 6-11 credits per quarter 6 credits per quarter

Three Quarter Time (9-11 credits) 9 credits per quarter 5-8 credits per quarter 5 credits per quarter

Half Time (6-8 credits) 6 credits per quarter 3-5 credits per quarter 3 credits per quarter

Less Than Half Time (1-5 credits) All credits per quarter Not Applicable All credits per quarter

Grades of “E” (failure) “I” (incomplete), “Y” (in progress), “N” (audit), “V” (unofficial withdrawal), “W” (official withdrawal) and “Z” (no credit) do not count as completed credits. Only credits completed by the end of the scheduled quarter will count as “completed” for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Warning Status: A student will be considered on “warning” status if he/she completes greater than one-half, but less than the full number of credits within the enrollment status for the quarter. The student will have one quarter to regain SAP by completing 100% of the credits for the enrollment status on which that quarter’s award was calculated. Consecutive quarters in warning status will result in the termination of financial aid funding.

Termination Status: A student is considered ineligible for SNG or SWS for future quarters if:

a) The student fails to complete at least 50% of the credits associated with award level in any quarter.

b) The student fails to complete 100% of the credits associated with award level in any warning status quarter. c) The student has more than three total quarters in warning status.

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Skagit Valley College is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, national origin, citizenship status, age, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, or genetic information. All Skagit Valley

College materials are available in alternative formats and can be requested by contacting the Human Resources office.

STATE NEED GRANT (SNG) RECIPIENTS AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING MUST ALSO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING:

1. You are a domiciled resident of the State of Washington in accordance with RCW residency guidelines.

2. You do not owe a refund or repayment on a State Need Grant (SNG), a Pell Grant, or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, nor are you in default on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under the Perkins, National Direct, or Federal Family Education Loan programs. In addition, you are not in default on a loan made through a state conditional loan or conditional scholarship.

3. The State Need Grant is awarded to assist you in meeting your educational expenses. If you withdraw from classes before the end of the term, repayment of all or part of the grant may be required.

4. You are not pursuing a degree in Theology.

5. You may choose to voluntarily make financial contributions to the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) in recognition of this SNG. All voluntary contributions will be used to provide financial assistance to other students. 6. You understand that the offer of a State Need Grant is subject to and conditioned upon the availability of funds. Further,