Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Each semester a recipient of Title IV financial aid (i.e., Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work Study (FWS), Federal Stafford Loan Program, Federal Parental Loan to Undergraduate Students (FPLUS)) must complete a predetermined percentage of the credit hours for which the recipient originally registered.  W (withdrawal), I (incomplete), NR (not recorded), U (unsatisfactory), and F (failure) are considered not completed.  Students successfully completing R (repeated) courses are making satisfactory progress.  A repeated course with a grade of D, F, I, U, NR, or W is considered not completed.

The minimum completion rate is:

Number of Semester Hours Completed	Required Minimum Completion Rate	Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average
0-29	50%	1.60
30-43	60%	1.75
44 or more	70%	1.90

A recipient will be determined ineligible for subsequent aid if the recipient does not complete the above minimum required percentage of semester credit hours for each range of completed semester credit hours.  A recipient may regain eligibility by completing, at the recipient's own expense, the required number of credit hours needed to meet the minimum required completion rate for the next semester.  This satisfactory progress requirement includes all academic terms a recipient has attended LCCC.

The maximum time frame in which a student must complete his/her educational program must be no longer than 150% of the published credit hour length of the educational program.  Example:  a recipient must complete an associate degree requiring 65 credit hours for completion in a maximum time frame of 98 credit hours; a recipient must complete a certificate of proficiency requiring 34 credit hours for completion in a maximum time frame of 51 credit hours or lose the Title IV financial aid.  A recipient may be eligible to complete more than one associate degree and/or certificate program at LCCC pending approval through the appeal process from the Satisfactory Progress Review Committee.  A degree audit will be required, and the 150% time frame policy will be applied to the remaining credit hours required to complete additional degrees.  The time frame policy includes all academic terms a recipient has attended LCCC plus all transferred credit hours.

The Minimum Grade Point Average for continued receipt of Federally-funded financial aid is established by the Committee on Admissions and Scholastic Standing.  Requirements are based upon LCCC's policies on Academic Probation and Dismissal with the exception of eligibility for student loan programs.  As part of LCCC's loan default management efforts, a LCCC minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average is required for eligibility in the Federal Family Education Loan program at the time of processing and at each loan disbursement.  On all non-loan Title IV aid, the Financial Aid Office monitors Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average and defers to the Committee on Admissions and Scholastic Standing any student who falls below the Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average.

APPEAL PROCESS:  If a student feels there is a valid reason why the required minimum percentage of hours was not completed, the academic program was not completed within the maximum time frame, or why they are pursuing an additional degree(s); the student may plead their case to the "Satisfactory Progress Review Committee".  The student must submit in writing to the Financial Aid Office all relevant information to have their situation reviewed by the Committee.  The Committee will determine if "forgiveness" is in order and which academic terms will be forgiven.