Federal and State Academic Eligibility
Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Determining Eligibility for Federal Aid
In order to receive funding under any of the financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act (Federal PELL, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans, or Federal Parent Loans), a full-time matriculated student must maintain academic progress. These standards are measure by using 3 components:
- Academic progress(GPA)
- Pace (completion of certain credits attempted)
- Maximum time frame (must complete degree in certain period of time) See below.
Maximum Time Frame
Federal financial aid regulations require that students complete their 2-year degree within the equivalent of six (6) full-time semesters. See chart below.
| Number of credits required to complete degree | Maximum number of attempted credits allowed in order to remain eligible for federal financial aid at FLCC |
|---|---|
| 68 | 102 |
Financial Aid Implications for Students Not Meeting Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Financial Aid Warning
When a student fails to meet the College’s academic Standards of Progress a student will be placed on academic probation. If the student is receiving federal financial aid, they will also be placed on a Financial Aid Warning. A student on a Financial Aid Warning will be eligible for only one (1) more semester of federal financial aid. At the conclusion of the semester on financial aid warning, the student may
- Move to academic standing if progress is achieved and continue to receive federal financial aid
- Continue to be on academic probation but lose eligibility for federal financial aid
- Be academically dismissed and lose federal financial aid eligibility
Financial Aid Probation
When a student loses eligibility for federal financial aid (see #2 and #3 above), the student may submit a Financial Aid Appeal of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Aid
. A committee will review the appeal and, if accepted, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. During the semester for which the student is granted Financial Aid Probation, they are eligible to receive federal financial aid.
Not Receiving Degree in Maximum Time Frame (6 semesters)
If a student reaches 102 credits and has still not received a degree, the student is no longer eligible for federal financial aid. A student may appeal this decision if they have extenuating circumstances that have prevented them from completing a degree in this time frame. Students interested in appealing must submit a letter of appeal to the Director of Financial Aid. The letter of appeal should provide a detailed explanation as to why it has taken the student more than the equivalent of six semesters to complete a degree. Students should address dropped courses or semesters and include their expected graduation date. The fact that a student is pursuing two degrees at the same time is not grounds for an appeal.
Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purpose of Determining State Aid (TAP)
Pursuit of Program
Program pursuit must be determined independently from the College's Standards of Progress. Satisfactory program pursuit is defined as receiving a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of a full-time course load each term an award is received. The percentage increases from 50 percent to do the minimum full-time course load in each term of study in the first year an award is received, to 75 percent of the minimum full-time course load in each term of study in the second year an award is received, to 100% of the minimum full-time course load in each term thereafter (refer to the table below). Students may not receive more than six (6) semesters of TAP in their pursuit of an Associate's Degree unless they are Educational Opportunity Program students.
Minimum full-time course load: 12 credits
| Semester of Award* | Student Must Complete |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 credits |
| 2 | 6 credits |
| 3 | 9 credits |
| 4 | 9 credits |
| 5 | 12 credits |
| 6 | 12 credits |
| 7** | 12 credits |
| 8** | 12 credits |
| 9** | 12 credits |
| 10** | 12 credits |
*The credits are prorated for students receiving aid for Part-time study.
**Applicable to Educational Opportunity Program students only.
Standards of Good Academic Standing
A student must be able to meet the College's Standards of Progress, Pursuit of Program requirements, and the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards to remain eligible to receive State aid. Some of the programs affected are the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), Child of Veteran Award, and Aid for Part-time Study (APTS).
The following chart should be used for students in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) or students who first received TAP in 2007-08 through and including 2009-10.
| Before Being Certified for Payment # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Credits | 0 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 75 |
| Min. GPA | .0 | .5 | .75 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
The following chart should be used for students who first received TAP in 2010-2011 or later and are NOT in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
| Before Being Certified for Payment # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Credits | 0 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 39 | 51 |
| Min. GPA | .0 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Waiver for Reinstatement of State Financial Aid Eligibility
Students who lose their eligibility for State financial aid (Tuition Assistance Program/TAP, Aid for Part-time Study/APTS) for failing to make Pursuit of Program and/or Standards of Good Academic Standing (noted above) may apply for this waiver to have their State financial aid eligibility reinstated. Such a waiver can be granted only one time in a student’s undergraduate academic career. In order to apply for a Waiver for Reinstatement of State Financial Aid Eligibility, the student must demonstrate that an unusual/extenuating circumstance existed while the student was enrolled at FLCC and had affected his/her academic performance; that the circumstance is now resolved or no longer exists; and provide documentation of the circumstance.
TAP/APTS and Courses within a Degree Program
Full time students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours within their degree program each semester to be eligible for a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award. If a student is receiving a TAP award and wishes to enroll in coursework outside his/her degree program, the course(s) must be above and beyond the minimum full time load of 12 credit hours. An exception is made for students who are entering their final semester (that is, the semester the student is scheduled to graduate). In the final semester, the student is not bound by the requirement and is permitted to enroll in coursework outside of his/her degree program in addition to the courses necessary for graduation to receive a TAP award.
Part time students receiving Aid for Part Time Study (APTS) can only be funded for those courses pertaining to their degree program.
TAP/APTS and Repeat Courses
In determining a student’s eligibility for State aid, repeating a course in which a student earned a ‘D-’ grade or better cannot be counted toward full-time or part-time course load, unless it is required by the student’s curriculum. Full time students must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours, not including the repeat course, to be eligible to receive a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award. Part time students receiving Aid for Part Time Study (APTS) will not receive payment for the portion of the award that would be used to cover the repeated course.