Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for 2011-2012
Students must meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements to be eligible for federal, state, and
institutional financial aid.
Federal Financial Aid
There are two standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy that are evaluated at the end of each quarter. 1.
Pace of Progression is
measured to ensure students complete their program within the 150 % maximum timeframe. 2. A 2.0 quarterly/ cumulative
Grade Point Average (GPA)
is required to remain in good standing for continued financial aid funding. Students that do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress will be
placed on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension. Students will be notified in writing at the end of the quarter after grades have been posted.
Pace of Progression
Students must complete a minimum of 67% of the cumulative credits attempted and complete their degree within 150% of the program credit requirements.
Transfer credits are included in this percentage. Students may complete two degrees or two certificates, any combination not to exceed four years as long
as they meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements.
Grade Point Average
Students must maintain a cumulative and quarterly GPA of 2.0 (“C” grade) or better to remain eligible for financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Financial Aid Warning will be assigned when a student’s progression is less than 67% or his/her cumulative and quarterly GPA fall below 2.0 at the end
of a quarter. Students on Financial Aid Warning are eligible to receive financial aid for the next quarter of attendance.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students whose aid has been suspended are not eligible for future financial aid (grants, work study or loans). Financial Aid Suspension will occur when:
- A student on Financial Aid Warning or Probation that does not meet 67% progression or does not achieve a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the
consecutive quarter.
- A student officially or unofficially withdraws from all classes. Students that withdraw before the 60% point in the quarter may owe a portion or all
of their financial aid back to financial aid programs.
- A student who has changed their program of study more than 2 times or has reached 150% of their program credit requirements.
Financial Aid Reinstatement
Students whose aid has been suspended may be considered for reinstatement after repaying or making satisfactory arrangements to repay any financial aid
debt owed, and completing at their own expense, the number of credits required to raise their pace of progression to 67%. If it is mathematically impossible
to meet progression requirements, consideration for reinstatement of financial aid will be denied. If a student’s aid was suspended because of low GPA, they
may be considered for reinstatement after achieving a cumulative and quarterly GPA of 2.0. Repayment, pace of progression and GPA requirements must be met to
be considered for reinstatement.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
If extraordinary circumstances prevented a student from meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements, s/he may submit an appeal requesting
reinstatement of financial aid. The appeal must include a letter that explains what prevented the student from successfully completing the quarter,
and an educational plan for success that also identifies the required classes needed to complete the certificate or degree. The Financial Aid Advisory
Committee meets as needed to review appeals. Their decision is final. Students are limited to two Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals.
Financial Aid Probation:
If the Financial Aid Advisory Committee approves a student’s appeal, his/her financial aid will be reinstated in a probationary status.
The Financial Aid Committee may impose conditions as part of the approval. If the student does not meet the conditions of the approved appeal by the
end of the consecutive quarter, his/her financial aid will be suspended.
How is Pace of Progression measured?
Financial Aid will set quarterly enrollment at the end of the fifth day (census) of each quarter. This enrollment will be considered the attempted
number of credits for the quarter. At the end of each quarter, the Financial Aid Office will check pace of progression toward degree completion.
Cumulative completed credits will be divided by attempted cumulative credits to establish the percentage of completion. Students must complete at
least 67% (2/3) of their attempted cumulative credits to remain in good standing with the standards set by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Example 1: Student enrolled in 12 credits; completed 8 credits. 8 divided by 12 = 67% completion. Student is in good standing for the next quarter.
Example 2: Student enrolled in 12 credits; completed 5 credits. 5 divided by 12 = 42% completion. Student’s aid will be offered with a “warning” for
the next quarter.
Example 3: Student enrolled in 12 credits; completed 0 credits. 0 divided by 12 = 0%. Student’s aid will be suspended for the next quarter.
Grades F,U, V,I,W,Y,N (audit) and R (repeat) count as attempted credits. They are not earned.
Washington State Financial Aid
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies are similar in the qualitative standard but differ in maximum timeframe and quantitative standard.
Maximum Timeframe
The state standard is 125% of the length of the program. RTC may use professional judgment to exclude remedial coursework for up to one year based
on a student’s appeal. We do not re-start the timeframe after a change of program.
Quantitative Standard
The state aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requires that RTC evaluate the student’s credits each term and deny future disbursements when
students did not successfully complete at least half of the minimum credits upon which the award was based.
Denied Status/Probation/Appeals
The state aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy considers students to be ineligible following a term they did not complete half of the credits
for which they were awarded. The student will be placed on one quarter of warning if they complete greater than half but less than full credits for
which they were awarded. Probation is limited to one term. RTC may use professional judgment to reinstate eligibility for students with extenuating
circumstances who have appealed.
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