Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Standards

Federal regulations require that a college develop a standard of satisfactory academic progress. This satisfactory academic progress standard must have both a qualitative standard (grade point average) and a quantitative standard (course completion) after each semester or term. If the student fails to meet either of these two standards, he or she will first be given a probationary term. If the student fails to meet either of the satisfactory academic progress standards during the probationary term, the student will be suspended from financial aid. Students who have been suspended from financial aid due to these standards, may receive financial aid again after they have met the satisfactory academic standards or by successfully appealing the loss of aid. Appeal procedures for the loss of financial aid may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. 

Students bear primary responsibility for their own academic progress and for seeking assistance when experiencing academic difficulty. Students are encouraged to keep a file of their grades and transcripts.  

The following Academic Progress Standards must be met:  
 

Qualitative Standard 
Students are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all coursework including withdrawals, incompletes and non-credit courses. For repeated courses, the highest grade achieved will be used for the GPA. Transfer credits do not affect the student’s GPA. 

Quantitative Standard 
Students are required to complete 66.67% of the cumulative credits attempted based on their enrollment status. All credits attempted will be calculated into the completion percentage. This includes courses that are designated with a withdrawal, incomplete, non-credit courses and courses that have been repeated. Any coursework that has been accepted as transfer credit toward current program completion will also be included in progress made toward the current program.  

Maximum Timeframe 
All students are expected to complete their program within an acceptable period of time. Financial aid recipients meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements may receive aid until they complete their program or until they have attempted 150% of the required coursework in their current program/declared major. All credits attempted at Saint Paul College count toward the maximum timeframe. This includes withdrawals, incompletes, non-credit courses, and courses that have been repeated. Credits taken under a previous major and transfer credits will count toward maximum timeframe. 

Implementation 
Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of each semester or term (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) including periods when students do not receive federal financial aid. A student who fails to meet cumulative progress requirements will be placed on financial aid warning or suspension. Academic progress will be monitored as follows: 

1. Satisfactory Academic Progress monitoring begins with the first credit. All students with registered credits during a term will be evaluated at the end of the term. 
2. Any student who fails to meet cumulative GPA and/or completion rate satisfactory academic progress requirements for one term will be placed on Warning for the subsequent term and will be notified by email. Students are still eligible for financial aid while on warning status.  
3. A student on Warning who fails to meet the required cumulative standards will be suspended from financial aid and notified by email. 
4. Upon evaluation, if Saint Paul College determines that it is not possible for a student to meet the minimum cumulative standards prior to completing a degree, diploma, or certificate for their declared major, the student will be suspended from financial aid and will be notified by email. 
5. A student who has exceeded the maximum time frame will be placed on suspension from financial aid and will be notified by mail. 

Suspension for Extraordinary Circumstances 
Saint Paul College may immediately suspend a student in certain circumstances, such as but not limited to: 

• a student who was previously suspended and whose academic performance falls below acceptable levels during a subsequent term 
• a student who demonstrates an attendance pattern that abuses the receipt of financial aid. 

Financial Aid Appeals 
A student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and is suspended from financial aid, has the right to appeal based on unusual or extenuating circumstances which may include but shall not be limited to (e.g., death in the family, student’s injury or illness). 
 
Appeal Process for GPA/Completion Percentage Suspension 
Appeals must be submitted on the Satisfactory Academic Progress / Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form available online or from the One Stop. The appeal must include a thorough explanation of the circumstances that affected academic progress. If applicable the appeal must include supporting documentation beyond the written explanation. Appeals must be submitted to the college to evaluate for an approval or denial. A decision on the appeal will be emailed to the student. 
 
Probation 
If the appeal is approved, the student will receive financial aid for the next term of enrollment and will be considered on probation. During the next term of enrollment, the student must bring their cumulative GPA above 2.0 and have a completion percentage above 66.67% to come off probation and return to good standing. If the student is unable to reach the cumulative standards, the student can continue on probation for another semester if a 2.5 GPA and 100% of courses are completed during the term. If the term requirements are not met, and the student does not meet required cumulative standards, the student will be suspended from financial aid eligibility. 
 
Appeal Process for Maximum Timeframe Suspension 
Students interested in appealing must complete the Maximum Timeframe Suspension Appeal eForm available on the college website. Appeals are either approved in full, partially approved, or denied. Students must be in a declared major and registered for classes to be reviewed. Appeal decisions are emailed to the student.  
 
The following also will affect Academic Progress Standards: 
 
Reinstatement 
Students will have financial aid reinstated upon an approved suspension appeal. 
 
Treatment of Grades: Please see the Academic Standards section of the College Catalog. 
 
Audited and Credit by Exam Courses 
Audited and Credit by Exam Courses are not eligible for Financial Aid. 
 
Consortium Credits 
Credits for which financial aid is disbursed under a consortium agreement will be recorded as consortium agreement credits and will be included in the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid. 
 
College Readiness and ESOL/EAP Courses 
College Readiness and ESOL/EAP courses are included in the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and completion rate. ESL courses and up to 30 credits of College Readiness coursework are excluded from the 150% maximum time frame calculation. 
 
Repeated Courses 
Repeated courses are allowed for financial aid eligibility for “F”,”W”, “FN”, or “FW” grades, or if the program requirements require a higher grade. The cumulative GPA will use the highest grade achieved. Courses repeated a third time require registration permission from the Dean of the academic area. The cumulative completion rate includes all repeated courses. 
 
Transfer Credits 
Credits taken at previous schools accepted for current program requirements will be included in the 150% maximum timeframe calculation. 
 
Withdrawals 
Coursework designated with a Withdraw (W) are included in calculations for the cumulative completion rate and maximum timeframe. Coursework designated with a Failure to Unofficially Withdraw (FW) are included in calculations for Grade Point Average (GPA), cumulative completion rate, and maximum timeframe. 
 
Developmental Credits 
Credits awarded for coursework below 1000 level. These credits are included in the GPA measurement, and excluded from the completion percentage measurement for satisfactory academic progress. For the maximum timeframe calculation, 30 developmental credits are excluded. 
 

 Reference: Minnesota State 2.9  
 Rev. 3.00 
 

Students bear primary responsibility for their own academic progress and for seeking assistance when experiencing academic difficulty. Students are encouraged to keep a file of their grades and transcripts. 

Qualitative Standard 
Students are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. 

Quantitative Standard 
Students are required to complete a minimum 66.67% of the cumulative credits attempted based on their enrollment status. Credits attempted will be calculated at the end of each add/drop period. 

Maximum Timeframe 
All students are expected to complete their program within an acceptable period of time. Financial aid recipients may receive aid until they complete all of their required coursework or until they have attempted 150% of the required course work in their program. All course work attempted at Saint Paul College – A Community & Technical College counts toward maximum timeframe. Any transfer in credits will be subtracted from the number of required credits needed to complete the program. 

Implementation 
A student will be placed on academic suspension for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Academic progress will be monitored as follows: 

1. All students with registered credits during a term will be evaluated at the end of the term. 
2. Any student who fails to meet minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements for one term will be placed on probation for one term, commencing immediately. 
3. A student on probation who fails to meet minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements for a consecutive term will be subject to suspension, commencing immediately. 

Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard will automatically be suspended from the Federal Family Education Loan Program. 
 
The College may immediately suspend a student in certain circumstances such as: 
 

1. A student who was previously suspended and whose academic performance falls below acceptable levels during a subsequent term; 
2. A student who registered for but does not earn any credits for two consecutive terms; 
3. A student who demonstrates an attendance pattern that abuses the receipt of financial aid. 

Financial Aid Appeals for GPA/Completion Percentage Suspension 
Appeals must be submitted on the Satisfactory Academic Progress / Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form available online or from the One Stop. The appeal must include a thorough explanation of the circumstances that affected academic progress. If applicable the appeal must include supporting documentation beyond the written explanation. Appeals must be submitted to the college to evaluate for an approval or denial. A decision on the appeal will be emailed to the student. 
 
Reinstatement 
A student who has been suspended from financial aid may return to the college after an appeal has been approved. The student remains on probation. 
 
Financial aid Appeals for Maximum Timeframe Suspension 
Students interested in appealing must complete the Maximum Timeframe Suspension Appeal eForm available on the college website. Appeals are either approved in full, partially approved, or denied. Students must be in a declared major and registered for classes to be reviewed. Appeal decisions are emailed to the student.