Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
NIC is required to monitor that students are making Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) towards completion of their degree. Students who do not
meet the SAP requirements may lose their financial aid eligibility.
What do I need
to do to keep my Financial Aid?
Satisfactory Academic Progress: The Department of
Education requires students to maintain satisfactory academic progress to
continue receiving financial assistance. Carefully read the Satisfactory
Progress Regulations listed below.
Enrollment Changes: Students should
notify the Financial Aid Office when they add or drop credits up until the 4 th
day of class (Census Date), or if they make a complete withdrawal from NIC.
Avoid problems in the future by notifying the Financial Aid Office of all
credit changes.
What is
Satisfactory Progress?
Satisfactory Progress Regulations:
To be initially eligible for Federal financial aid, a student
must be pursuing a degree or certificate program at NIC.
To continue receiving Federal financial aid, a student must be making
satisfactory academic progress towards that degree or certificate.
At NIC, satisfactory academic progress will be measured by a combination of
grade point average (GPA) and
credits completed as compared to credits attempted (quantitative &
qualitative).
The Financial Aid Office will review grades and credit progress at the
beginning of each semester in which the student plans to enroll.
Qualitative: The qualitative standard relates to GPA and
is verified by the Financial Aid Office. You will be notified by the
Financial Aid Office if you fall below the minimum GPA required. To continue
eligibility for aid, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
for all NIC credits. If a students GPA falls
below a cumulative 2.0 they will be placed on suspension.
Quantitative: The quantitative standard is based
on the number of terms attended, regardless of whether or not financial aid was
received. A student must maintain a
cumulative completion rate of 70% of credits attempted versus credits
completed. For example, if a student
attempts 10 credits but only completes 6, the completion rate is 60% and would
be placed on suspension. (An incomplete
(I) or withdrawal (W) counts towards credits attempted. If an incomplete
becomes a grade within the allowed time, the student must notify the Financial
Aid Office so their status can be reevaluated).
In addition, a student will be ineligible for Federal aid when
they have attempted credits equal to 150% of the credits required to complete
their degree or certificate. Transfer
credits are also included in this calculation.
(see below)
Once a student meets or exceeds the maximum credits, they would be required
to appeal if additional semesters are needed to receive their degree.
The credits required for your specific program can be located in the NIC 2009-2010
Catalog.
Please note: if a student completes zero credits during
any semester, regardless of whether the credits were because of failing grades and/or
withdrawals, the student is put on suspension.
150% Timeframe/Maximum Attempted Credit Limit
Federal regulations are set with the expectation that you complete your
degree in a timely manner. In order to receive financial aid funding throughout
your degree, you must complete your degree within a 150% timeframe.
Example: If you are in a degree that requires 64 credits to graduate,
you must complete that degree within 96 attempted credits.
If you are unable to complete your degree within the 150% timeframe, you will
be placed on suspension.
Term Count
The
Financial Aid Office looks at the overall number of terms in which the student
has been enrolled to determine continued eligibility for financial aid.
After 18 terms of full-time enrollment or the equivalent as a part-time
student, no additional financial aid will be granted.
Transfer students
Transfer students are eligible for continued aid based upon the number of
full-time semesters completed at the time of transfer. In determining this
amount,
the number of transferable credits are divided by 12 to arrive at the
number of semesters exhausted. For example, if a student is credited
with 36 transfer credits,
he/she has used six (3) semesters of eligibility and has 15 semesters
remaining.
Change of academic major
The
pursuit of a double major or minor does not extend eligibility for financial
assistance.
Repeating
Courses and Financial Aid
Students will be allowed to receive Federal Financial Aid one time when repeating a course they
previously received a grade of D, F, or I.
What might
jeopardize my financial aid in the future?
Denial of Financial Aid
Students who do not maintain the required GPA and/or do not complete 70% of
attempted credits.
Students who have reached 150% of credits attempted as allowed for their
stated degree or certificate.
Students who are on a financial aid contract and fail to meet the terms of
the contract.
Students who have completed zero credits during a semester; regardless of
whether the credits were because of a withdrawal and/or failing grades.
What is the
appeal process?
Students who are denied Federal Financial Aid due to lack of satisfactory academic progress
will be given the opportunity to file a written appeal with the Financial Aid
Office.
If the appeal is accepted, the student will be placed on a Financial Aid
contract that will outline the conditions the student must meet in order to
continue to receive financial aid.
The contract must be signed by the student, and must be submitted to the
Financial Aid office in order to receive Financial Aid.
During the course of education at NIC, two satisfactory progress
appeals will be considered.
What if I
dont complete a semester?
Return of Title IV Funds - Federal law affects refund
procedures for students who do not complete the semester.
Withdrawal Date -
if a student enrolls in classes but decides not to continue attending classes
at NIC, they must complete an official withdrawal from classes immediately.
Repayment Obligations - if a
student receives financial aid and does not attend classes, they need to repay
all financial aid. If a student attends classes, NIC calculates
repayment based on their withdrawal date or last date of attendance and the
type and amount of Financial Aid they received.
Refund Amounts -
regulations provide for calculation of the amount NIC must return to Title IV
programs. The student may need to repay NIC for amounts the College is required
to return to Federal Financial Aid programs. This amount may be in excess of
the amount that the student owes to the Federal programs. The portion of the
NIC refund that is greater than what must be returned to scholarships/U.S.
Department of Education will be given to the student.
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