Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Title IV Financial Aid

Federal Title IV Aid

According to Federal regulations two standards are needed to maintain satisfactory academic progress for all matriculated students, even if they do not receive Federal Title IV financial aid. Future Federal Title IV financial aid eligibility is determined at the end of the Spring semester.

Section 668.16(e) of the final regulations governing the Student Assistance General Provisions requires institutions to establish, publish, and apply reasonable standards for eligible students. These provisions apply to the satisfactory progress for the receipt of Title IV student financial aid.

These regulations establish a maximum time frame in which students must complete their educational objectives. The maximum time frame can be no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program. At SUNY Ulster, that means students have three full-time equivalent semesters to complete a one-year program of study, and six full-time equivalent semesters to complete a two-year program of study, including remedial/developmental coursework.

Quantitative Standards: Pursuit of Program

Students must be successfully pursuing their program of study within the six semesterfull-time equivalent time frame. By the end of the time frame, students must completethe necessary courses for graduation (required number of credits for graduation varies by program). The chart indicates the minimum number of credits a student needs to complete.

Pursuit of a program is defined as having cumulative credits with grades of A, B, C, D, or S greater than, or equal to, 18 credits multiplied by the cumulative full-time equivalent years of enrollment.

Qualitative Standards: Good Academic Standing

Students must also maintain good academic standing as measured by the cumulative grade-point average. Students are evaluated and are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average based on their course work attempted at Ulster CountyCommunity College as follows:

Transfer Credit - Federal

The number of credits accepted for transfer from other institutions will be included in the number of credits attempted to determine the student’s eligibility status.

Repeated Courses

For NYS aid students can only repeat classes they have already passed if the catalog lists a requirement of C or better. Federal SAP regulations allow for one repeat of a previously passed class provided that the repeat isn’t the consequence of failing other coursework.

Incomplete Courses

A grade of incomplete for a course is included in both determining the cumulative grade-point average and pursuit of program. Students who lose their State and/or Title IV financial aid eligibility should contact the Financial

Aid Office after the incomplete grade is changed for a re-review.

Developmental Coursework

Students required to take developmental or remedial coursework will have those courses counted in the maximum number of attempted credits when determining

eligibility.

Title IV Federal financial aid is limited to six semesters for a two-year degree at Ulster County Community College. Students who have exceeded that number as a result of unusual, exceptional circumstances, including the need

for retraining through education, may apply for an appeal (see appeal section).

Losing Title IV (Federal) Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress and Pursuit of Program standards will lose their future Federal Title IV financial aid

eligibility.

Students who lose their Title IV financial aid eligibility have several options:

1. Return and raise their grade-point average, complete the required number of credits, and/or complete the program without Title IV funding; or

2. Apply for and receive an undergraduate appeal from the Financial Aid Review Committee. This appeal is granted because of an exceptional or unusual circumstance and is good for one year (with a review after one semester), or for the completion ofthe degree or diploma, whichever comes first; or

3. Attend another college or other post-secondary institution.

Students can apply on a Financial Aid Appeal Request form and submit the request (with all required documentation) to the Financial Aid Review Committee. The conditions of the appeal are explained to each student receiving one. Students may be required to meet with other college personnel (Academic Advisor, Career Services, Student Support Services, Learning Center, etc.) as part of the appeal approval process.

New York State Standards of
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purpose of Determining Eligibility for Student Aid

To maintain good academic standing, a student must

• Pursue the program of study they are enrolled in, and

• Make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of the program’s requirements.

Successful pursuit of program requires students to enroll in courses that apply to their program of study.

If students do not complete the minimum number of credits in a given term, they are ineligible for State financial aid in the following academic year or until additional hours are completed to reach the minimum level.

Satisfactory academic progress is defined on the following charts for determining eligibility for student aid. This chart is for students enrolled in associate degree and certificate or diploma programs. Certificate and diploma programs must be at least 24 credit hours in length.

Please note: This chart is subject to change.

All First Time TAP recipients receiving aid in 2010-2011 and after

All Remedial Students

Noncredit, remedial instruction can be counted toward a full-time academic load as set forth in 145.2.1 of the Commissioner’s Regulations. The number of credits in this chart refers to work completed toward the degree, certificate, or diploma.

State Education Department regulations allow for one appeal during a student’s undergraduate career. Students may ask for and receive the appeal when documentation is presented to explain the inability of the student to meet minimum standards. The

appeal is not automatically given, and students must consent to its use, if granted.

All students making normal progress toward the degree (completion of a full-time load with a 2.0 average) will remain eligible for State financial assistance. If, however, a student’s grade-point average falls below 2.0, or only a small percentage of courses are completed, State awards may be withdrawn until the deficiencies are remedied.