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Satisfactory Academic Policy 

Look for the 2006-2007 FAFSA for summer school and the 2007-2008 FAFSA for the Fall/Spring semesters

To make satisfactory academic progress, a student must pass a minimum percentage of all credit hours attempted, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA), and complete a degree or certificate program within a maximum time frame.  Federal regulations allow a maximum time frame of 150% of the number of credits needed to complete the degree or certificate program.  This time frame is effective for all students, even those that have not previously received financial aid.  A student who completes all the coursework for their degree or certificate but hasn’t yet received the degree or certificate cannot receive further aid for that program.  However, the student can receive aid if they enroll in another program (seeking a different degree or certificate), provided the student meets satisfactory progress standards. 

If a student has been placed on financial aid suspension for one program, they will not be eligible for aid, regardless, if they change their program of study.  They will have to attend one semester at their own expense for a new program.  If they meet the SAP standards, they are eligible to file an appeal for reinstatement to the financial aid programs at that time.

                Students must pass 67% of all courses attempted and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA as presented in the following table:

*Students enrolled in certificate programs of less than four (4) semesters must maintain a 2.00 GPA at all times.

Any student who fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester.  During this probationary semester, a student will continue to be eligible for financial aid.  Only one semester of probation will be granted to students during their course of study.   However, a student placed on FA probation due to making NO academic progress during a semester, will not be eligible to apply for a student loan or work-study the following semester of attendance.  Upon completion of the probationary semester all financial aid will be suspended unless the minimum SAP standards are achieved.

A student’s entire academic record will be evaluated to determine eligibility for financial aid, regardless of whether financial aid was received for all semesters or if the student was granted an Academic Restart.  Transfer credits earned from other colleges that are placed on the CLCC academic transcript will be included. 

SAP will be checked at the end of the fall semester on all students.  SAP will be checked at the end of the spring semester for students who will be enrolled for the summer semester and/or the following fall semester.  Attempts to notify all students by mail will be made; however, students should be aware of SAP requirements. 

Developmental courses will be treated in the same manner as regular courses since students receive institutional credit and grades for these courses.

Students may repeat a total of nine (9) semester hours without increasing the total number of hours attempted for grade point average computations.  Hours for repeated courses beyond the allowed nine (9) semester hours will be used in computing grade point average.

Any semester in which a student withdraws for any reason will be counted as a semester of attendance and will count towards the number of semesters allowed to participate in the financial aid programs.

If a student receive a grade of “I” (incomplete) in any course, this “I” will be treated as if it were an “F” for financial aid purposes.  If the grade changes to a “C” or above, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the financial aid office to have his/her transcript reviewed to determine financial aid eligibility.

A student is not eligible for financial aid for audit courses, special interest classes, and truck driving.

Students on financial aid suspension must attend at his/her expense and attain the hours and GPA required for satisfactory progress as above indicated.  A student wishing to appeal the decision of the financial aid office may do so by completing a financial aid appeal form available in the Financial Aid Office.  In order to be eligible to file an appeal for financial aid reinstatement, the student must demonstrate that the student’s failure to meet SAP requirements were due to mitigating circumstances such as: 

1. Illness of student
2. Severe injury of student
3. Death of a close relative
4. Undue hardships or other circumstances as determined by the FA Director

The student must submit to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee, in writing, why the aid should not be suspended.  The appeal will then be reviewed and a decision reached as to whether financial aid probation or suspension is justified.  The student will be notified by mail the FA Appeals Committee’s decision on the suspension.  If the student is reinstated, the reinstatement letter will give the conditions the student must achieve per semester or the reinstatement will be terminated.  The reinstatement is in most cases for Pell grant funds only. A student will have to meet the terms of the reinstatement for 2 consecutive semesters before they will be eligible to apply for a student loan. The student will have to sign and return one copy of the letter accepting the conditions.  Financial aid suspension does not prevent students from attending CLCC provided they are not on academic suspension (see College Catalog). 

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for most financial aid is based on financial need.  Students are expected to contribute to their own educational expenses and should not expect financial aid to provide for all living expenses.  Financial aid is to be used only for education-related costs.  Students receiving Title IV funds must not engage in the unlawful use of any controlled substance must not be in default on a federal student loan or owe an overpayment on a federal student grant.  No financial aid will be processed or awarded until all admission requirements are met. If a student has a prior year charge, no more than $200 total from current year federal student aid funds can be used to pay those charges per Federal regulations.

ENROLLMENT STATUS

Financial aid is awarded and paid according to the student’s enrollment status:

                12+ hours = full time enrollment

                9-11 hours = ¾ time enrollment

                6-8 hours = ½ time enrollment

                less than 6 hours = less than ½ time

You must be enrolled full time to receive all scholarships, state grants, and work-study.  You must be enrolled and in attendance in at least six hours to receive a student loan.

RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS

A Title IV federal aid recipient who withdraws, officially or unofficially, from all classes on or before the 60% point of the academic term (10^th week of school) will be subject to repayment based upon the federal “Return of Title IV Funds” calculation.  Federal regulations require that a percentage of the funds disbursed be returned.  Students “earn” federal aid funds in direct proportion to the length of time they remain enrolled.  A student who remains enrolled past the 60% point of the academic term has earned 100% of the Title IV federal aid for the enrollment period.  Pell grant awards are processed based on the student's enrollment status after the add/drop date is past for the semester.

REFUNDS

The FAO will authorize the Business Office (BO) to pay financial aid (except work-study and loans) after the 10^th week of the semester (60% point).  If your financial aid awards exceed assessed tuition and fees, you will receive a refund check from the BO.  If there is a balance due, the BO will bill you.

PELL GRANT AWARD LETTER

After all required documentation has been received and processed, an award letter for financial aid will be mailed.  The student is required to sign and return one (1) copy within 20 days. Students can view their total FA award package at: httsp://access.colin.edu/cgi-bin/fslogin.mbr/login periodically before and during the semester.  By signing the award letter, the student is accepting their financial aid award.  The student is also authorizing CLCC to deduct all applicable charges related to attendance from the financial aid package.  The student's signature also signifies that the student understands that he/she may rescind the authorization at any time in writing and that the student understands that should their financial assistance exceed charges for tuition, fees, room, board and other authorized charges, any refund will be issued in accordance with the BO policies and refund schedules.

ABILITY-TO-BENEFIT (ATB) TEST

If a student doesn’t have a high school diploma or equivalent and was not home-schooled, they are not eligible to receive federal student aid.  They can still qualify for federal aid by passing a Department–approved “ability-to-benefit” test.  CLCC uses the ASSET Program: Basic Skills Tests and ACT COMPASS for ATB purposes.  The passing scores on the ASSET are: Reading (35), Writing (35), and Numerical (33).  The passing scores on the COMPASS are Reading (62), Writing (32), and Numerical (25).