Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Preface
Taft College is dedicated to providing financial aid to those eligible students who are achieving consistent progress toward a specific educational objective. The student is responsible for setting an objective, achieving adequate grades and completing the courses required.
In order to be eligible to receive financial aid, students are required to enroll in a course of study leading to a degree, a transfer program (Ex: to a 4-year institution), or a vocational certificate, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and have not reached their lifetime eligibility limit. Effective with the 2012-2013 Academic Year new federal regulations defines the lifetime eligibility limit as six (6) full time years for Pell Grants. Recipients in all Federal, State, and Institutional programs are determined to be making satisfactory academic progress under the following circumstances.
Introduction
Federal regulations require schools to establish satisfactory academic progress standards for students applying for and receiving federal aid. These regulations require the Financial Aid Office to review all periods of a student’s enrollment history, regardless of whether financial aid was received, to determine if a student is making satisfactory academic progress towards an educational objective. A student’s progress will be evaluated at the end of the fall, spring and summer semesters by the standards outlined below. All periods of enrollment will be evaluated regardless of whether or not financial aid was received. Any official academic transcripts from other colleges received by Taft College will be utilized in the review of our Satisfactory Academic Progress standards once the transcript has been evaluated and units have been posted to the Taft College transcript.
These standards apply to all students who apply for and receive financial aid from the following programs:
- Cal Grant B and C and the Full Time Student Success Grant
- Federal Work Study
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Institutional Work Study Program (IWSP)
- AmeriCorps
- Chaffey Grants
Satisfactory Academic Progress Criteria
In order to satisfy Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, financial aid recipients must:
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all classes attempted. Grade symbols of A, B, C, D, P, or CR earned during fall, spring or summer will be considered as acceptable for courses completed and Satisfactory Academic Progress consideration.
Courses completed with an F, FW, I, NC, NP, IP, or W will not be considered acceptable for satisfactory academic progress. Courses completed with a MW (withdrawal for military service) are excluded from the determination.
Grade Point Average
Grade symbols of A, B, C, D, F or FW will be used in grade point average calculation. Courses completed with a P, NP, CR, NC, I, IP, UG or W will not be used in grade point average calculation. However, please note non-passing grades, which are not used to determine grade point average, will be used to determine minimum unit requirements. Additionally, even though a “D” is considered a passing grade, the total cumulative GPA must not fall below 2.00 for each semester. Repeated courses may be considered in the GPA calculation.
Pace of Progression
Federal regulations require institutions to measure a student’s pace toward his/her educational objective to ensure completion within the maximum time length for his/her program.
For a student pursuing an Associate Degree or Certificate the pace cannot be less than 67%.
67% of the cumulative units attempted for each pay period (fall, spring and summer) must be completed with a passing grade. The total number of successfully completed units must be equal to or greater than the calculated total of attempted units multiplied by .67.
Maximum Time Length
Federal regulations require institutions to establish a maximum time period or unit total for a student to complete an educational objective (degree/certificate) if financial aid is received. Financial aid recipients will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they complete their educational objective in the time frame indicated below. Students must not have completed 90 or more non-remedial/basic skills units. The educational objective as indicated by the student’s choice of major/program of study will be used for this determination.
- For an undergraduate program measured in credit hours, a period no longer than 150 percent of the published program length.
- For an undergraduate program measured in clock hours, a period no longer than 150 percent of the published program length, as measured by the cumulative number of clock hours the student is required to complete and expressed in calendar time.
All
English as a Second Language classes and up to 30 units of remedial course work are deducted from the units attempted when determining satisfactory academic progress for maximum time.
Educational Objective
Students receiving financial aid at Taft College must be enrolled in a course of study leading to an A.A. or A.S. degree or a certificate.
Associate Degree: This requires completion of a minimum of 60 units. Students must complete their objective by the time they have attempted 90 units.
Certificate: Taft College offers a number of certificate programs each requiring a specific number of units for completion. Students enrolled in certificate programs must complete their objective by the time they have attempted 150% of the number of units required for the specific requirement. For example: a student enrolled in an 18 unit certificate program, must complete their objective by the time he/she has attempted 27 units.
Transfer Students to Taft College: Students are encouraged to submit official transcripts from all previous colleges attended to Taft College’s Admissions and Records office. Degree applicable units posted on the Taft College transcript and will be included in academic progress calculations.