FINANCIAL AID STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY AT BLINN COLLEGE

According to Federal regulations, in order to be eligible to receive financial aid a student must be making satisfactory progress in a course of study within an eligible program. The satisfactory academic progress policy must include all course work attempted regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.   The satisfactory academic progress policy applies to all Title IV Aid, State Aid and other institutional aid programs. 

The Standards of Academic Progress are made up of three components.  Failure to meet one of the following three components will result in loss of financial aid eligibility. The three components of the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) Policy are outlined below:

I.  Qualitative Standard – Grade Point Average requirement:

The minimum qualitative standard requires that a student maintain at least an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 2.0 on 4.0 grade point average system and numerical code:

A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0
F = 0.0

The highest grade of a repeated course is used in determining quality, except that a grade of "W" or "WP" does not replace a grade of "F" or higher but a grade of "F" does replace a grade of "W" or "WP."

Grades of "I" (incomplete) and "WF" are treated as grades of "F". A grade of "IP" in a developmental course is treated as a grade of "W." Hours earned in repeated courses count only once in determining quantity.

II. Quantitative Standard – Completion Rate requirement:

Students pursuing a degree or certificate must maintain an overall minimum completion ratio of 75% of all hours attempted at Blinn College. 

III. Maximum Time Frame:

The minimum quantity standard requires that a student complete his/her program of study in not more than 150% of the time normally expected for completion. Therefore, financial aid cannot be received for course work beyond 150% of the semester hours required for the degree or certificate (96 hours). Hours earned and attempted count toward the 96 hours including developmental and transfer courses. In addition, students must complete 75% of enrolled courses.

First-time freshman students:

For entering, first-time freshman students, the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements have been met when the student has:

• been accepted as a regular student in an eligible program. A regular student is defined as someone enrolled in an eligible institution for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate offered by the institution.
• a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, typically a general education development or GED certificate;
  
  or
  
  
  
• passed a Department-approved ability-to-benefit test. [Only students without a high school diploma or GED certificate are required to take and pass the ability to benefit test.]

Transfer students:

Students transferring from another college must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 and a minimum completion ratio of 75% in all attempted hours in order to be eligible to receive financial aid at Blinn College. The qualitative and quantitative standard of transferred work is determined the same as if it had been attempted at Blinn College.

Returning Students:

The satisfactory academic progress will be measured by reviewing the qualitative and quantitative standard for all course work attempted at Blinn College.

Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree students:

Students who have earned an Associate Degree and/or Bachelor’s Degree and continue enrollment at Blinn College are not making satisfactory academic progress and will be placed on financial aid suspension. A suspended student may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

Evaluation Period:

According to Federal Regulations, the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards must be reviewed at a minimum of once per academic year.  To review how frequently the Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed by Blinn College. Click here for more info.

FAILURE TO MEET STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS:

Students who fail to meet the Standards of Academic Progress are considered to be making Non-Satisfactory Academic Progress.  To review the Non-Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Click here for more info.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility:

A student, who has been ineligible, may establish or re-establish eligibility by meeting the minimum qualitative and quantitative standards at Blinn College. Upon establishing or re-establishing eligibility, aid will not be received retroactively for periods of ineligibility.
It is the student's responsibility to notify the financial aid office when he/she believes that satisfactory progress has been regained.

Page Last Updated: May 8, 2008