Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that all federal financial aid recipients must be enrolled in a degree- seeking program and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree to maintain eligibility. We monitor each student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA), completion rate, and maximum time frame for completion of a degree. The federal financial aid program at John A. Gupton is held to this policy.
Students must make satisfactory academic progressto receive financial aid. The college is required to apply standards that are both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative – Students must be accepted for admission and be eligible to enroll for classes. In addition, students must achieve and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average based on the information in the catalog and student handbook.
Quantitative- All students must earn a cumulative minimum of 66.7% of all hours attempted. Students cannot receive federal aid after attempting 150% of the hours required for completion of their academic program. The federal government expects a student to pass at least 66.7% of all attempted hours, not earned hours. Attempted hours include all W’s and F’s, and/or dropped courses.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed by the Financial Aid Office at the end of each semester in which a student receives Title IV aid. Students placed on Federal Financial Aid Warning or Probation will be notified by email to their email address in the Sonis System. Students on Warning must meet the 66.7% of their total attempted hours in the semester in which they are currently enrolled. If the student does not, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will not be eligible for aid.
All probations may be appealed in writing by completing a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form (located in the Financial Aid Office). All appeals must include documentation of any unusual circumstance that contributed to the probation. A plan must be in place to ensure success of the student for the following semester and future minimum SAP requirements and be signed by a faculty member (or appropriate instructor). Federal Financial Aid Warning or Probation is not the same as John A. Gupton’s Academic Probation or Suspension. If a student receives a grade change or satisfies an incomplete grade after Satisfactory Academic Progress is confirmed, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office during the appeal process.