Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards

In order to maintain eligibility for receiving financial aid, federal regulations require that all Title IV aid recipients make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) towards achieving a degree. Progress is measured by evaluating the student's cumulative grade point average, credits earned in relation to attempted hours, and length of the academic program. Below is a detailed listing of all the SAP requirements that must be met to maintain Title IV financial aid eligibility:

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of each term of enrollment. If the student does not meet the cumulative GPA requirement as stated above, he/she will be placed in a financial aid "warning" status. The student will be allowed to receive financial aid for the next term that he/she attends; however, the student's status will be evaluated after the "warning" term, and the student must meet the required cumulative GPA of 2.0 and be passing a cumulative 67% of attempted hours. If the student does not meet the cumulative GPA requirements or the cumulative completed hours requirement, he/she will be placed on financial aid suspension until either of the following occurs:

• Student completes a future term passing a cumulative 67% of attempted hours AND achieving a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Studentcompletes the appeal process and it is approved.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on probation for one term and will need to reach a 2.0 cumulative GPA and pass a cumulative 67% of attempted hours by the end of the probation period.  If this is not mathematically possible to achieve in one term, the student will be placed on an academic plan.

Attempted Hours vs. Completed Hours

Students must pass at least 67% of attempted hours on a cumulative basis in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. For purposes of attempted vs. completed consideration, passing grades include: A, B, C, D, P. If the student does not meet the attempted vs. completed hours requirement he/she will be placed on a “warning” status. The student will be allowed to receive financial aid for the next term that he/she attends; however, the student's status will be evaluated after the "warning" term, and the student must meet the required cumulative GPA of 2.0 and be passing a cumulative 67% of attempted hours. If the student does not meet the cumulative GPA requirements or the cumulative completed hours requirement, he/she will be placed on financial aid suspension until either of the following occurs:

• Student completes a future term and passes a cumulative 67% of attempted hours and achieves a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Student completes the appeal process and it is approved.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on probation for one term and will need to reach a 2.0 cumulative GPA and pass a cumulative 67% of attempted hours by the end of the probation period.  If this is not mathematically possible to achieve in one term, the student will be placed on an academic plan.

Maximum Hours

Students are allowed to receive financial aid for up to 150% of the required hours in an Associate Degree program.  An Associate Degree program at Pellissippi State is 60 hours.  150% of 60 hours is a total of 90 hours allowed.  Remedial hours are not considered part of an Associates Degree program; therefore, are not considered in the maximum hours calculation.  Students that exceed the 90 hours of attempted work will be placed on financial aid suspension until the following occurs:

• Student completes the appeal process, and it is approved with the student being placed on an academic plan established by an academic advisor, ensuring current associate degree program completion within a specified number of terms.

The maximum hour requirement is reviewed at the end of each term. The following items also apply to the maximum hours requirement:

• Transfer Students: Credits/grades officially accepted by Pellissippi State are included in the cumulative attempted hours limitation as stated above.
• Second Degree Students: Students who enroll to obtain a second degree are subject to the above limitations as well.
• Repeated Courses: These attempted hours are also included in the maximum hour limitations as stated above.
• Withdrawn/Incomplete Courses: These attempted hours are also included in the maximum hour limitations as state above.

Appeal Process

If extenuating circumstances preclude a student from meeting the standards listed above, the student may file an appeal. Documentation must be provided to substantiate the reason for the appeal. Only complete and legible appeals will be considered. Submitting an appeal does not constitute approval.

Forms:

• Appeal for Hours Attempted Toward Degree
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

Appeals will be considered for the following reasons:

• Serious injury or illness of the student
• Death, serious injury/illness of immediate family member (mother, father, sibling, spouse, child)
• Family trauma which occurred during the semester in question
• Other extenuating circumstances

Process for filing an appeal:

Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal form. Include a written statement by the student indicating what occurred that resulted in the unsatisfactory progress and what has changed that will now allow for student's success. (SAP appeal form can be downloaded from the Pellissippi State Financial Aid website). If the appeal is for maximum hours, the student must request that his/her advisor completes the verification of hours form located on the back side of the appeal.

• Attach appropriate documentation supporting reason stated in appeal.
• Submit all information to the Financial Aid Office for review.

The following criteria will be considered when reviewing appeals:

• Academic progress (including grades from other schools)
• Remaining hours in program of student
• Amount of aid already received (including aid from other schools)
• Demonstrated ability to complete the program
• Number of major changes – only 2 major changes while attending Pellissippi State will be considered for an appeal.

Federal regulations allow for the approval of appeals only under the following conditions:

• It has been determined that the student will be able to meet SAP standards after the subsequent term; OR
• An Individual Academic Plan (IAP) containing specific term GPA requirements and specific term completion ratio is developed for a student that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet SAP standards within a determined number of semesters. The option must be approved and monitored by the Financial Aid Office.  Maximum hour plans will be created by an advisor and signed by the student in agreement; however, GPA and/or Completion Rate Appeals will be considered agreed to by the student upon confirmation of courses at the start of their probationary term.

If the appeal is approved under either of the above methods, the student will be placed on "probation" for the next term. The student may be required to fulfill specific terms and conditions such as: taking a reduced course loan or enrolling in specific courses.

Important Facts about SAP:

• Students placed on "warning," "probation," or "suspension" will be notified via their myPellissppi account.
• Students are limited to two appeals during the course of their enrollment at Pellissippi State.
• All decisions made by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee are final and cannot be re-appealed.