Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students must make satisfactory academic progress in order to continue receiving federal funding. Failure to complete the semester in good standing could result in the loss of financial aid funding. The Financial Aid Office will monitor federal financial aid recipients at the end of each semester.
To maintain academic eligibility for financial aid:
- Maximum Timeframe: Financial Aid recipients must complete his/her specified degree program within 150% of the published length of the program. Once a student has reached the maximum time frame, he/she will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid without an approved Timeframe Extension Request. (Effective Summer 2016.)
- Credit Hour Completion (Quantitative): Complete 67% of attempted credit hours each semester.
- Grade Point Average (Qualitative): Maintain the required cumulative grade point average (GPA) listed below based on total hours attempted.
| Total Hours Attempted | GPA Required |
| 0 - 15 | 1.50 |
| 16 - 30 | 1.70 |
| 31 - 44 | 1.90 |
| 45+ | 2.00 |
Repeating Coursework
Students may receive federal funding for ONE repetition of a previously passed course. For example, if a student passes a course once and then is repaid for retaking the course, the student cannot be paid to take the course a third time. Students may be paid repeatedly for a failed or withdrawn course.
Dropping Classes
Dropping classes can affect the student’s financial aid eligibility for specific programs, prevent student’s from meeting the satisfactory academic progress requirements as well as student’s being responsible to owe a portion or all of the student’s financial aid funding. Before dropping courses, it is strongly recommended to contact the Financial Aid Office.
Transfer Hours
Transfer credits accepted from other colleges and universities will be included in the TRC calculation for eligibility following completion of the initial semester in which financial aid was paid.
Withdrawn Courses
Withdrawn courses will not be included in the student’s GPA.
Remedial Courses
Remedial courses will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation for financial aid purposes.
Incomplete Courses
Incomplete grades will not be included in the GPA calculation until a final grade is assigned.
SAP Notification
Students are notified of the SAP policy in the TRC College Catalog and website. Paper copies are available upon request.
Financial Aid Warning
The first time a student does not meet satisfactory academic progress, he/she will be placed on a warning status. During the warning status, a student may continue to receive federal financial aid. If students fail to complete satisfactory progress during the warning semester or any subsequent semesters, federal aid will be suspended. Students will be notified of the warning status via their college student email account.
Suspension
Financial Aid Suspension is a status assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress for any subsequent semesters following the warning status. Students who are on suspension are not eligible for federal funding. The student will be notified of the suspension status via their college student email account. A student may submit a Suspension Override Request for review to determine if financial aid may be reinstated.
Financial Aid Probation
Financial Aid Probation is a status assigned to a student when the Suspension Override Request has been approved. Students on probation may continue to receive aid; however, if they fail to meet satisfactory progress in subsequent terms, federal aid will be suspended. A student may submit another Suspension Override Request for review to determine if federal financial aid eligibility may be reinstated; however, generally will be considered for extenuating circumstances only.
Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not be limited to: personal illness, injury or accident, serious illness or death of close family member, unforeseen, undue hardship, and demonstrated academic improvement. Circumstances under which a request may not be granted include, but are not limited to: poor choice of classes, employment obligations, financial difficulties, loss of transportation, relocating, childcare difficulties, loss of internet service and lack of motivation or interest.
Financial Aid Suspension Override Request Process
- Students have the right to request an override of his/her Financial Aid Suspension by completing the Suspension Override Request form.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester once all grades are received and students will receive notification by email of unsatisfactory progress.
- Students should submit their Financial Aid Suspension Override Request for Fall and Spring to the Financial Aid office 2 weeks before the start of the term to allow sufficient time for the committee to review prior to classes beginning. Requests for Summer should be submitted within 48 hours of student being notified of ineligibility. Summer requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
- The request and required documentation should be attached in order for the override to be considered. Failure to provide all requested documentation could result in the request not being reviewed or denied.
- Documentation:
- Completed Suspension Override Request Form
- Typed or neatly written summary answering the following questions:
- What extenuating circumstances prohibited you from meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress?
- o What changes have occurred that will enable you to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress?
- Supporting documentation that verifies the circumstances referenced in the request
- The Financial Aid Suspension Committee will review the requests regarding financial aid suspension.
- Exceptions to the college’s SAP policies are not made lightly and will generally be considered only for extenuating circumstances. Decisions will be based on an individual’s extenuating circumstances, supporting documentation, and academic history.
- Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not be limited to: personal illness, injury or accident, serious illness or death of close family member, unforeseen, undue hardship, and demonstrated academic improvement. Circumstances under which a request may not be granted include, but are not limited to: poor choice of classes, employment obligations, financial difficulties, loss of transportation, relocating, childcare difficulties, loss of internet service and lack of motivation or interest.
- If your request is denied, you will need to pay by other means until you regain satisfactory academic progress and then resubmit a Suspension Override Request for additional review. Exceptions are not made lightly.
- If the committee approves your request, your status may be reinstated under certain conditions as outlined by the committee.
- Financial Aid will notify the student via email of the committee’s decision.
- Students who are granted an override of their Financial Aid Suspension may be asked to meet with an advisor to evaluate their educational plan. Suggestions may be made to reduce course load, eliminate online course work, or repeat failed course work.
- Students who are denied an override of their Financial Aid Suspension and are pre-registered for classes will be dropped from classes if payment arrangements are not made by payment due date.
- The decisions regarding Financial Aid and Academic Suspension are separate processes. A student can be approved by one committee but denied by the other. If a financial aid suspension is overridden but the academic request is denied, the student will not be able to register for classes.
- The decision of the review committee may be appealed by completing a Student Intake Form and submitting it to the Dean of Student Services Office.
Students who have been denied for reinstatement of their Suspension Override Request may be reinstated once the student has paid for coursework and regained satisfactory academic progress. Once this has been completed, the student will need to submit another Suspension Override Request for review.
Financial Aid Timeframe Extension Request Process
- Students may submit a Timeframe Extension Request when they are beyond 150% of hours required for his/her degree program.
- Progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester once all grades are received and students will receive notification by email.
- Students should submit their request for Fall and Spring to the Financial Aid office 2 weeks before the start of the term to allow sufficient time for the committee to review prior to classes beginning. Requests for Summer should be submitted within 48 hours of student being notified of ineligibility. Summer requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
- The Financial Aid Committee will review the requests regarding financial aid suspension.
- Financial Aid will notify the student via email of the committee’s decision.
- Students who are denied an override of their Timeframe Extension Request and are pre-registered for classes will be dropped from classes if payment arrangements are not made by payment due date.
- The decision of the review committee may be appealed by completing a Student Intake Form and submitting it to the Dean of Student Services Office.