Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Federal regulations require that students receiving Federal financial aid must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the college. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has elected to apply the standards set forth below to all students.
Financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined by three standards of measurement: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Maximum Time Frame.
A. Qualitative Measurement-Grade Point Average (GPA) Rule
The qualitative measurement for financial aid shall be a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
B. Quantitative Measurement-Completion Rate (PACE)
The quantitative measurement will be a completion rate of 67% of all (cumulative) attempted credit hours to meet the minimum standards. Successful completion is defined as receiving a grade of A, B, C, D and P. All classes dropped/withdrawn from outside the official drop/add period will be included in the Completion Rate (PACE) calculation.
C. Maximum Time Frame Measurement
The maximum time frame measurement requires students to complete their primary program of study within 150% of the published length of the program. Pending Board approval, students who pursue a different major will have MTF calculated on new program of study. After two Associate degrees or approximately 134 credit attempts, students on MTF may appeal.
Example: if a program of study requires 64 credit hours to complete a degree, the student may attempt a maximum of 96 hours before the student exceeds his or her eligibility for financial aid (64 X 1.5 = 96).
D. Developmental Coursework
If students fail to meet one of the SAP criteria listed above, they will no longer be eligible to receive additional federal or state aid.
Up to 30 credit hours of required remedial coursework will not be calculated as a part of the attempted hour count. Students who reach maximum time frame SAP status, are not eligible to receive additional federal or state aid unless they successfully appeal their Satisfactory Academic Progress status.
E. Lifetime Eligibility Used
There is a lifetime limit to the amount of federal and state aid students can receive. Students are eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years of full time attendance or 12 full-time semesters of combined enrollment at all institutions. State grants guidelines typically have a more restrictive time frame for eligibility.