Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards

In order to maintain eligibility for receiving financial aid, federal regulations require Pellissippi State Community College to implement Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies to ensure that all Title IV aid recipients make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) towards completing their degree programs.  Satisfactory Academic Progress will be monitored for all periods of enrollment whether or not you have received financial aid.  The SAP policy applies to all Federal, State and institutional aid including Federal and State loan program.  Privates loan that require school certification are also subject to SAP policies.  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.  Financial Aid status includes all previous academic history, even if the student did not receive financial aid.   It is the students responsibility to monitor academic progress.  The Financial Aid office sends notification to the student via their myPellissippi account informing them of their status.  Students who do not meet standards will be ineligible for financial aid even if they do not receive notification.  Below is a detailed listing of all the SAP requirements that must be met to maintain Title IV financial aid eligibility:

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

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.
• 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 the appeal is denied the student is not eligible to receive financial aid. 

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 the appeal is denied the student is not eligible to receive financial aid.

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 credits 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.

Remedial (Transitional Studies/Developmental) Courses: 

These courses will be included to determine the financial aid student grade point average (GPA) and completion rate and may be funded up to a maximum of 30 hours.   Financial aid will only pay for a maximum of 30 remedial hours.  This time limit cannot be appealed.

Repeated Coursework:

If you have taken and passed a course (with a grade of D or higher), federal financial aid will now only pay for you to repeat this course one time. Should you decide to repeat a course for a second (or more) time, federal financial aid will not cover the cost of that course. If you are currently enrolled in a repeated course for the second time, and you passed the course the first time you enrolled in it, your financial aid may be revised. You should consider dropping the course and adding another course you have not taken before.

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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. Submitting an appeal does not constitute approval.

Forms:

• Financial Aid Appeals are now accessible by logging into myPellissippi and clicking on the "Financial Aid" tab.

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 via your myPellissippi account.  Include a 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. If the appeal is for maximum hours, the student must first complete the Appeal for Hours Attempted Toward Degree (90 Hour Appeal) and meet with an advisor. For complete instructions please see the appropriate appeal.

• After completing the appropriate appeal via your myPellissippi account, submit appropriate documentation supporting reason stated to the financial aid office.

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 load or enrolling in specific courses.

Important Facts about SAP:

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

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility:

If your appeal is denied, you will need to complete your coursework at your own expense without financial aid until you can meet SAP standards.  Students return to good standing only after achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 AND a minimum cumulative completion rate of 67%.

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Definitions:

Financial Aid Good Standing

Student has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, student is completing two-thirds (66.67%) of all attempted credits each term, and student is able to graduate within the 150% maximum time frame limit.

Financial Warning Status

Student’s cumulative GPA dropped below 2.0, and/or student did not complete two-thirds (66.67%) of all attempted credits in a term, and student is able to graduate within the 150% maximum time frame limit.  A student is able to receive financial aid while on a warning status, but must meet SAP standards at the end of the term of enrollment to remain eligible.

Financial Aid Suspension Status

Student did not meet SAP standards while in warning or probation status, or it is determined that the student will not be able to graduate within the 150% maximum time frame limit, or a student in academic plan status fails to follow the plan.  Student is not eligible to receive financial aid while on financial aid suspension.

Probation

This status is granted upon the approval of a Financial Aid SAP Appeal.  Student may receive financial aid as long as SAP standards are being met.

Academic Plan

The student is eligible to receive financial aid as long as the student maintains a GPA of 2.0 and completes 100% of the hours attempted each semester while enrolled.  Failure to comply with these terms and conditions will result in loss of financial aid eligibility.

Denied

SAP appeal has been denied and student is not eligible to receive financial aid.  Review your federal student loan debt online at www.nslds.ed.gov to keep track of when your student loans will become due.

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Frequently Asked SAP Questions

Q.  What is SAP?

A.  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.  Students must complete 67% of attempted credits each semester, together with the appropriate grade point average (GPA) of a 2.0, in order to continue to receive financial aid.  In addition, federal regulations require the student be on pace to complete their degree before reaching the 150% maximum time frame limit (90 credit hours). 

Q. I received a “Warning” status, does this mean I need to submit an appeal?

A.  No, students receiving a “Warning” status do not need to file an appeal as no action is necessary.  It will be necessary for the student to meet SAP standards to remain eligible for financial aid eligibility.

Q.  How will I be notified if I fail to achieve SAP?

A.  At the end of each semester the Financial Aid office sends notification to the student via their myPellissippi account informing them of their status.

Q.  What happens when a student fails to meet SAP and has been placed on suspension? What options are available to regain eligibility for financial aid?

A.  You can pay for classes on your own and work towards meeting SAP standards or submit an appeal providing documentation of the extenuating circumstance that prevented you from meeting SAP. 

Q. My appeal has been denied, what is my next step?

A.  The student is not eligible to receive financial aid and must use alternative means to pay their bill.

Q.  I have exceeded the two appeal rule, what can I do?  Can I ever regain eligibility?

A.   A student who has lost eligibility to participate in federal and state programs because of academic progress can regain that eligibility by returning to good standing only after achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a minimum cumulative completion rate of 67%. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility to meet SAP standards.

Q.  How do I file an appeal?

A.  Students complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal form online via their myPellissippi account.  Once this process is successfully completed, the SAP Committee will review the appeal and make a decision.  The decision is final.  Students are notified via their myPellissippi account as to the outcome of their SAP appeal. 

Q.  What exactly constitutes an extenuating circumstance?

A.  Examples of extenuating circumstances include personal and family critical illness (both physical and mental illness), natural disaster impacting the student or family’s home, assault, death of immediate family member, etc.   Documentation of the circumstance must be provided.

Q.  What happens if I do not meet my Academic Plan requirements?

A.  The Academic Plan requires the student to complete 100% of courses and maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher.  The student will not be able to submit a subsequent appeal and will be ineligible for federal and state aid.