SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY

Federal regulations require Coahoma Community College to define and institute standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving Title IV student assistance.  Title IV student assistance may be in the form of a Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or Federal Work-Study.  Coahoma Community College does not participate in Federal student loan programs.

Students receiving financial aid at Coahoma Community College must conform to the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) set by the College.  These standards encourage students to progress successfully toward the completion of their degree, diploma, or certificate.

This policy uses the following definitions:

Academic Progress:  The measurement of a student’s achievement based on a comparison of the cumulative number of credits earned to the cumulative number of credits required.

Academic Standing:  The measurement of a student’s quality of performance based upon a four point grading scale.

Credits Attempted:  Credits for which a student registers and maintains beyond the first week of classes.

Credits Earned:  Credits for which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, or D.

General Overview of Requirements:

• Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing according to the college’s standards and must be making satisfactory academic progress according to the standards of this policy in order to be eligible to receive federal Title IV financial assistance.
• Students’ records are reviewed annually after the Spring Semester of each academic year as required by federal regulations before any awards are made for the ensuing academic year.
• Students entire academic history at the college is reviewed in accordance whether or not financial aid was received with all four (4) standards set forth herein to determine a student’s eligibility.
• Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress results in the cancellation of a student’s Title IV financial assistance, but does not prohibit the student from continuing enrollment with his/her own resources or other non-federal financial resources.

FOUR STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS:

STANDARD I.  TIME FRAME OF DEGREE COMPLETION

The College requires all students receiving federal or state financial aid to complete their program of study within the following maximum time frames.  This time is measured by credits.  The time frame evaluation involves a comparison of a student’s credits earned to credits attempted.

This expected progress ratio grid is found below.  Grades of A, B, C, & D are considered both “attempted” and “earned.”  Grades of F, W, I, IP, Z, & R are considered “attempted” only.

Expected Progress Ratio Grid Instructions:  Students must earn the minimum number of credits earned compared with the credit hours attempted. 

STANDARD  II:   GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must maintain a level of performance consistent with the college’s standards for graduation as measured at the midpoint of the maximum allowable attempted credits for an associate degree.  This means a student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average after having attempted 48 or more credits.

STANDARD III:  ATTEMPTED CREDITS LIMITATION
Students are not eligible for Title IV financial assistance once they have attempted 96 or more credits without obtaining a degree or certificate.  If a student pursues a second degree or certificate, the student must indicate the number of credits needed and must indicate the expected date of completion on the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Form.

STANDARD IV:  REMEDIAL/DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL COURSE  LIMITATION

Financial aid cannot be awarded to students who audit or take non-credit courses.  However, if the non-credit courses are part of the Developmental Studies Program, the courses do qualify for financial aid.  Developmental Studies are not considered in the timeframe ratio computation.  Federal regulations governing students in developmental studies do not allow students to attempt more than 30 equivalent credits in these courses. 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Transfer Students:  Transfer students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress at the time they enroll.  All credits transferred are considered in the credits attempted/credits passed grid for timeframe computations.

Re-Entry Students:  Students who were enrolled at Coahoma Community College and who return after an absence of one calendar year may appeal for reinstatement to satisfactory academic progress status.

Second Degree/Certificate:  The Office of Financial Aid will apply restrictions to a student pursuing a second degree/certificate after having exceeded the Standard for Credits Attempted Limitation (96 credits).  The student will have to present documentation from an advisor listing the credits needed for the second degree/certificate.  Financial Aid will be limited to the number of credits required (plus 50%) for the second degree/certificate.  The student will still have to maintain compliance with all other applicable satisfactory academic progress standards.

PROBATION AND SUSPENSION:

Probation is a warning period imposed each time that a student fails to meet the satisfactory academic requirements.  Students not meeting the satisfactory academic standards at the end of a semester will be placed on academic probation the following semester of attendance.  Students on academic probation are eligible to receive Title IV assistance.

Students not meeting the required satisfactory academic progress after being on academic probation will be placed on academic suspension the following semester of attendance.  Students on academic suspension are ineligible to receive Title IV assistance.

Students who lose Title IV eligibility because they are no longer meeting the college’s satisfactory academic standards can regain eligibility once they again meet the required academic standards.  The Academic Dean will notify each student of his/her probation or suspension status in writing.

APPEAL PROCESS:

Students on academic suspension during any semester of enrollment may appeal in writing to the Academic Dean’s Office.  In the appeal, the student should describe and document any extenuating circumstances contributing to the reason for suspension.  Each appeal will be considered on its own merit, taking into account the student’s full academic record.  Possible reasons for appeals might include:

• Chronic illness or debilitating condition, which must be verified by a medical Physician
• Other extenuating circumstances occurring over the history of the student’s enrollment as determined by the Academic Appeals Committee

The Academic Dean will respond in writing to all appeal letters.