Eligibility

STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The U.S. Department of Education mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of “satisfactory academic progress” for students receiving financial aid. Gainesville State College applies these standards to all applicants for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Federal Work Study, the Federal Stafford Loan Program, and most GSC Foundation Scholarships.

STANDARDS

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined by careful evaluation of qualitative and quantitative criteria. Determination of SAP will be made at least annually, normally at the time the student initially applies for aid for the school year or when the initial award is made.

A. QUALITATIVE CRITERIA – To be eligible for financial aid, a student must have “the equivalent of a C average”. Any current or former student of GSC must have a minimum institutional grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Transfer students must have a minimum 2.0 transfer GPA. Grades for repeated courses will be included.

B. QUANTITATIVE CRITERIA – Student financial aid recipients must show measurable progress toward earning a degree or certificate by successfully completing sixty-seven percent (67%) of all college level courses they attempt at GSC. This standard will be applied to current students, former students, and transfer students. Semester hours completed will be those college level courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, or D. Semester hours attempted will include all college level courses for which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, D, F, I, W, WF, or NR. Hours and grades for repeated courses will be used in this determination.

C. MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STUDY AT GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE – Federal regulations prohibit a student from receiving aid after they have attempted 150% of the hours (not including Learning Support coursework) required for their degree or certificate. A student pursuing an Associate Degree may attempt a maximum of 96 semester hours of academic credit. A student pursuing a Certificate program may attempt no more than 150% of the required hours in required courses for the certificate. A student accepted into a Bachelor Degree program may attempt no more than 150% of the required hours in required courses for the degree. (Hours for repeated courses and all transfer credit hours accepted by GSC will be included in the total number of attempted hours.) Once a student exceeds the maximum length of study, they will no longer be considered making satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for financial aid.

D. LEARNING SUPPORT/REGENTS’ TEST PROGRAM (ENGL0099, READ0099, MATH0097, MATH0099, RGTE0199, RGTP0199, and RGTR0199) – A student who enrolls in Learning Support (LS) and/or Regents’ Test (RGT) courses and attempts more than 30 semester hours of LS and RGT courses is no longer making SAP and will not be eligible for financial aid. If a student earns a grade of U in ENGL 0099, READ 0099, MATH 0097, or MATH 0099, they are no longer making SAP and will not be eligible for financial aid. The student will not be eligible for financial aid until all required LS courses are successfully completed. In addition, the student must have a 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at GSC.

E. ACADEMIC SUSPENSION – If a student is placed on academic suspension, eligibility for financial aid will be terminated. When a student is removed from academic suspension, they must contact the Financial Aid Office to request a review of their SAP.

F. FINANCIAL AID PROBATION – Failure by the student to attain at least a 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at GSC will indicate the student is not making SAP. In most circumstances, the first time it is established that a student is not making SAP, they will be placed on financial aid probation and will be eligible for financial aid for one semester. The probation will continue each semester if the student meets the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete 100% of all coursework attempted during any probationary semester.

a. Earn grades of A, B, C, or D (or IP in LS courses) in all courses attempted during the probationary term.

b. No withdrawals or incomplete grades are allowed.

c. Grades for LS courses are included during financial aid probation.

2. Receive an overall GPA of at least 2.0 for the probationary term.

Failure to meet these requirements will terminate all financial aid for the student.

G. REESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY – In the event of termination of financial aid, a student will again be considered making SAP once they attain at least an overall 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at GSC. When this occurs, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office to request a review of their SAP. Classes taken after losing eligibility will be at the student’s expense, using funds other than Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Federal Work Study, the Federal Stafford Loan Program, and most GSC Foundation Scholarships. A student who exceeds the maximum length of study at GSC (item C) cannot reestablish eligibility.

H. APPEALS PROCESS – A student who has lost their eligibility may feel there were unusual circumstances that prevented them from meeting the requirements of their financial aid probation (such as severe illness, injury, or death of a family member). Students will be notified in writing of the proper procedure for submitting an appeal. An SAP Appeal Committee will review the submission by the student. Approval of an appeal will place the student on Financial Aid Probation. Denial of an appeal indicates that the student will not be considered eligible for financial aid until they attain at least an overall 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at GSC.

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