Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Students who receive federal financial assistance must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as described below.

1. All students attending Howard College and receiving federal or state financial aid funds will have a time frame in which to complete their degree requirements. Students are expected to complete their degree or educational objectives within a reasonable number of semesters. This time frame is the equivalent of 150 percent of the published length of the individual program. (For example, if a certificate program requires 30 hours, a student will be paid up to 45 hours to complete the program or if an associate degree program requires 64 hours then a percent will be paid up to 96 hours to complete their degree.) This time frame will include any semester that the student was enrolled even if the student did not receive financial aid and/or transfer work that is applied to the student's program of study and posted to their transcript. Periods of enrollment may be converted to semesters for non-consecutive enrollment. (Students that have earned 30 credits or more may be asked to keep an updated degree plan at the Financial Aid Office.) Additionally, this degree plan should be reviewed with the academic advisor and the student each semester to ensure that the student is remaining on track to completing the approved degree plan. Students taking courses outside of their degree plan may exhaust financial aid eligibility prior to completion of degree.
2. Students who have previously attended Howard College are making Satisfactory Academic Progress if the following conditions are met. If any or all are not met, the student will be on financial aid probation.
   1. Full-time Students Semester/Credit Hours: A full-time student will be expected to complete one-sixth (10 hours) of the work required for his/her degree each semester. Grades of "I", "W", and "F" will not satisfy the course completion requirements.
      Clock Hour Programs: To remain eligible for financial assistance, students pursuing certification in clock hour programs (i.e. Cosmetology) will be allowed a time frame to complete the program that is the equivalent of 150% of the published length of the program.
   2. Part-time Students Semester/Credit Hours: Part-time students will be expected to complete nine hours for three-quarter time, six hours for half-time attendance, and all courses originally enrolled in for less than half-time each semester. Grades of "I", "W", "F" will not satisfy the course completion requirements.
      Clock Hour Programs: Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 50% of the clock hours required to complete the program by the end of the mid-point of the 150% time frame.
   3. All students will be expected to acquire a 2.0 grade point average on all work completed each semester to remain in good academic standing.
   4. A course previously completed with a grade of "D" or above cannot be used when determining financial aid eligibility, enrollment status, or satisfactory progress. EXCEPTION: An exception can only be made if the repeat is required by the program of study as documented by the faculty advisor/counselor. Only one repeat is allowed under these circumstances.
   5. Students enrolled in the same course three or more times will not receive financial aid funding for that specific course.
   6. Students who have earned 30 credits or more may be asked to submit an updated degree plan to the financial aid office.
   Note: Students who are required to take preparatory course work will be limited to 30 semester hours of financial aid eligibility for these classes.
   
   Students Not Meeting Conditions Listed Above May Be Placed On Financial Aid Probation.
3. Students who do not meet the above requirements during the next semester of attendance following their financial aid probation will be placed on financial aid suspension. This suspension will last during the next semester of enrollment and no federal or state awards will be made. After the student has achieved satisfactory academic progress, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the semester immediately following suspension.
4. There may be occasions in which an exception to the definition of Satisfactory Academic Progress should be made. The Director of Financial Aid will review all pertinent information regarding the situation and may grant an exception to the standards. If a student feels that an exception should be made, he/she should submit a written explanation of the circumstances surrounding the semester in question to the Director of Financial Aid for consideration. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Financial Aid Director, the case may be referred to the Financial Aid Committee for a decision. Final decision will then be left to the Financial Aid Committee.
5. Return of Title IV Funds - Under federal law students attending Howard College / SWCID who receive Title IV aid (Pell, SEOG, Federal Student Loans) and completely withdraw before the sixty percent (in time) in the period of enrollment will be required to return any unearned funds. Unearned Title IV funds are the percentage of term not attended times the Title IV aid. Students who cease attendance, do not withdraw, and receive all falling grades (F's) for a semester will be considered "unofficially withdrawn"; these students will be subject to a review of their attendance records. If it is determined that a student ceased attendance before the 60% point in the semester, the student will be required to return those unearned funds. In some instances, the student may owe both the federal government and the college. Students owing either the government or the college will be ineligible for any further aid until funds are repaid.