According to 34 CFR 668-16 (e), there are two major components of satisfactory academic progress: the qualitative component (cumulative GPA) and quantitative component (timeframe for completion).
A. Qualitative Requirement (Cumulative GPA) - All students receiving Title IV federal financial aid will be required to meet the same Standards of Academic Progress applicable to all ESCC students. Each student will be required to meet or exceed the following minimum cumulative GPAs based upon total hours attempted at ESCC:
| Semester Credit Hours Attempted |
Cumulative GPA |
12-21 |
1.50 |
22-32 |
1.75 |
33 or more |
2.00 |
B. Quantitative Requirement (Timeframe for Completion) – Each student receiving aid will be expected to complete his/her program of study within a period of time not to exceed 1.5 times the normal length of his/her program. Students must successfully complete two-thirds of all hours attempted in order to complete a program of study within the time allowed. Students enrolled in the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, and the Associate of Applied Science degrees may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of 90 semester hours attempted. Credits transferred into a program of study will be counted toward the maximum number of hours attempted.
C. Return of Title IV Funds (Complete Withdrawals ) – According to 34 CFR 668.22, if a financial aid recipient completely withdraws from classes prior to completing 60% of a given term, he/she is required to repay all unearned federal financial aid funds. The repayment will not exceed more than half of any grant funds received, and each student who owes a repayment will be notified in writing by the ESCC Business Office of the requirement to repay Title IV funds. The student will then have 45 days to repay or to make satisfactory arrangements to repay the funds. The failure of a student to repay unearned Title IV funds or make satisfactory arrangements within the 45 day period will be reported to the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS). This action will result in the termination of eligibility for federal financial aid at any institution, not just at ESCC. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS CONSIDERING A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL TO DISCUSS THE DECISION WITH A MEMBER OF THE FINANCIAL AID STAFF BEFORE WITHDRAWING FROM ESCC!
If a student completely withdraws after completing 60% of the term, no refund is required as the student is considered to have earned 100% of the financial aid awarded for the term.
D. Remedial Coursework - Students are eligible to receive Title IV Federal financial aid for up to 30 semester hours of developmental coursework. Students will not be eligible for financial aid for any remedial courses in excess of the 30 semester hour limit.
E. Appeals Process - Any student whose eligibility for financial aid has been suspended may appeal his/her status. The appeal form is available online at www.ESCC.edu/adminoffices/finaid/FAForms.htm. All appeals must be submitted to the Director of Student Financial Aid in writing within two weeks following the date the student receives notification of the suspension. All appeals should include the reason(s) the student failed to make satisfactory progress and any other documentation that supports the appeal. The decision of the Appeals Committee regarding the appeal is final.
F. Attendance Policy - Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered. Students are not eligible to receive financial aid for classes they never attend, or for audited classes. ESCC instructors are responsible for reporting the names of all students who never attend a given class at the end of the drop/add period.
G. Refund Policy - The College's Refund Policy may be found in the section of the ESCC Catalog which deals with tuition and fees.
EVALUATION OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)
Student academic progress will be evaluated at the beginning of each academic year. If a student fails to maintain the required GPA, or has failed to successfully complete the required two-thirds of the hours attempted in the previous year, he/she will have failed to make satisfactory academic progress, and will not be awarded aid for the succeeding year. The student will then be ineligible to receive additional financial aid until such time as the cumulative GPA and/or hours completed comply with the established SAP standards listed above, or until an appeal of the suspension is approved.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Enterprise State Community College reserves the right to revise its standards of academic progress as it deems necessary. Some aid programs (i.e. Presidential, Academic/Career, and Foundation scholarships) may require students to maintain higher academic standards than those listed in this section. See individual program guidelines for details. | 