Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients
In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education,
Parkland College is required by federal regulations (Federal
Regulations 34CFR Parts 668.32f and CFR 668.34) to establish satisfactory academic progress standards for federal
and state financial aid recipients enrolled in eligible degree
and certificate programs. These minimum standards ensure
that only those recipients demonstrating satisfactory progress toward the completion of their educational objective
continue to receive financial assistance.
The following are minimum standards required by a student
to be eligible for the following types of student financial
aid regardless if a student has previously received student
financial aid: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study
Program (FWS), Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal
Parental Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), and Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Minimum Standards Regarding Maximum Hours Attempted
Students enrolled in eligible degree programs cannot exceed
150 percent of the number of credits needed to complete
the program. Attempted hours include all Parkland 100–299
level classes, developmental coursework, repeated hours, all
transfer credit, military credit and proficiency exam credit.
Withdrawals, failures, and “N” grades are also considered
attempted hours. Note: Military Withdrawal grades are
excluded from attempted hours.
Students enrolled in eligible certificate programs cannot
exceed 150 percent of the number of credits needed to
complete the program. Attempted hours include all Parkland
100–299 level classes, developmental coursework, repeated
hours, all transfer credit, military credit, and proficiency
exam credit. Withdrawals, failures, and “N” grades are also
considered attempted hours. Note: Military Withdrawal
grades are excluded from attempted hours.
Grades of CR or NC will count as courses attempted for
the evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP.)
They will not affect the minimum GPA requirement, because
no grade is assigned, but they will count toward the pace
completion rule (67%) and the maximum time frame rule
(150%.) All federal student aid recipients are subject to these
rules in order to maintain their eligibility for financial aid.
Minimum Standards for Satisfactory Course Completion Rate
All degree/certificate students must comply with the minimum standards for Satisfactory Course Completion Rate
of 67 percent regardless of the student previously receiving
financial aid at Parkland or any other institution of higher education. The 67 percent Satisfactory Completion Rate
refers to the percentage of cumulative hours successfully completed (earned) in relation to cumulative hours
attempted (including transfer hours). Attempted hours
include all Parkland 100–299 level classes, developmental
coursework, repeated hours, proficiency exam credit, and
transfer hours. Withdrawals, failures, and “N” grades are
also considered attempted hours. Note: Military Withdrawal
grades are excluded from attempted hours.
Successfully completed (earned) hours are those classes
for which there is a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or proficiency
exam credit.
Grades of CR or NC will count as courses attempted for
the evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP.)
They will not affect the minimum GPA requirement, because
no grade is assigned, but they will count toward the pace
completion rule (67%) and the maximum time frame rule
(150%.) All federal student aid recipients are subject to these
rules in order to maintain their eligibility for financial aid.
Example: To meet the minimum completion rate of 67 percent, a student who has attempted 28 cumulative hours at
the end of a semester must have successfully completed
(earned) a minimum of 19 cumulative hours (round up).
Minimum Standards Regarding GPA
Students are required to meet the minimum cumulative college GPA requirement:
Credit Hours Attempted GPA
1–11 inclusive 1.5
12–22 inclusive 1.6
23–32 inclusive 1.7
33–44 inclusive 1.8
45–55 inclusive 1.9
56 and above 2.0
Review Period
At the end of each semester, the record of every student
who has completed a FAFSA and enrolled in courses will be
reviewed to determine if the student has made progress
according to the three minimum standards set by this policy
(i.e., minimum completion rates, GPA, and maximum hours
attempted).
The Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services is NOT notified when a student finishes an incomplete class or receives
a grade change. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility
to notify the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services
when incomplete courses are finished and/or grade changes
are made.
Financial Aid Warning
If a student is not making satisfactory progress under the
minimum completion rate standards, they will be placed on
Financial Aid Warning and allowed the following semester
of enrollment to achieve the minimum satisfactory completion rate of 67 percent of all cumulative hours attempted.
If at the end of that semester the student has not met the
minimum completion rate of 67 percent of all cumulative attempted hours, the student will be placed on Financial
Aid Suspension status.
If a student is not making satisfactory progress under minimum cumulative college GPA requirement, they will be
placed on Financial Aid Warning and allowed the following
semester of enrollment to achieve the required minimum
cumulative college GPA. If at the end of that semester the
student has not met the minimum GPA requirement, the
student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status.
Note: There is no Financial Aid Warning period for degree
or certificate seeking students who have attempted the
maximum of 150 percent of the number of credits needed
to complete the program (immediate financial aid suspension occurs).
Financial Aid Suspension
A student who has not met the minimum completion rate
of 67 percent after one semester on Financial Aid Warning
will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and not eligible
to receive financial aid funds covered under this progress
policy.
A student who has not met the minimum cumulative college GPA requirement after one semester on Financial Aid
Warning will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and
not eligible to receive financial aid funds covered under
this progress policy.
A student enrolled in a degree program who has exceeded
150 percent of the number of credits needed to complete
the program (including all transfer credit hours and military
credit) will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status
without a period of Financial Aid Warning.
A student enrolled in a certificate program who has
exceeded 150 percent of the number of credits needed to
complete the program (including all transfer credit hours
and military credit) will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status without a period of Financial Aid Warning.
Financial Aid Reinstatement
There are two ways a student’s eligibility can be reinstated
from suspension status:
- Meet minimum cumulative completion rate and/or cumulative college GPA requirement standard(s) as set forth
in this policy; or
- Submit an appeal that is approved by the Financial Aid
Appeals Committee placing the student on Financial Aid
Probation or Extension.
Financial Aid Probation Status
A student who submits a Minimum Course Completion Rate
and/or GPA appeal that is approved by the Financial Aid
Appeals Committee will be placed on Financial Aid Probation, and financial aid will be reinstated. While on Financial
Aid Probation, students must complete 100 percent of the
semester attempted hours with a minimum of a 2.0 semester college GPA. Failure to do so will result in Financial Aid
Suspension.
Financial Aid Extension Status
A student who submits a Maximum Hours Attempted appeal
must also submit a graduation audit confirming the ability
to complete their program in one semester. If the appeal is
approved, the student will have aid reinstated and be placed
on Financial Aid Extension for one semester of enrollment.
Appeal Process
Students who fail to meet the Parkland Satisfactory Progress
requirements defined by this policy may submit a written
appeal to the Satisfactory Progress Appeals Committee.
Appeal forms are available from the Office of Financial Aid
and Veteran Services website. Appeals must clearly explain
why the minimum standard was not met, and what has
changed that would allow the student to be successful. The
Committee will take circumstances, such as medical reasons,
family crisis, personal problems, or other circumstances
which adversely affected academic performance, under
consideration. Supporting documentation must be included
with the appeal. The appeal and supporting documentation
should be sent to the Appeals Committee in care of the
Parkland Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.
The Appeals Committee meets at least three times each
semester to review appeals. The Office of Financial Aid
and Veteran Services will email notification of the Committee’s decision to the student’s college email account. The
Appeals Committee is comprised of staff members from
other departments within Parkland College.
A student who submits a Minimum Course Completion Rate
and/or GPA appeal that is not approved by the Financial Aid
Appeals Committee must meet the minimum cumulative
completion rate and/or cumulative college GPA requirement
standard(s) as set forth in this policy. Note: Subsequent
appeals can be reviewed no sooner than five years after
the most recent appeal denial.
A student who submits a Maximum Hours Attempted appeal
that is not approved by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee
will be placed on Financial Aid Cancellation Status. Note:
The decision of the committee is final.
Return of Title IV Funds Policy
The Higher Education Amendment of 1998 requires institutions to calculate the amount of Title IV aid earned by
students who totally withdraw from the institution before
completing 60 percent of the enrollment term. Parkland
must calculate the amount of Title IV funds the student
earned for the period enrolled before withdrawing. This
process requires Parkland to determine whether any Title
IV funds received by or on behalf of that student must be
returned or if the student is entitled to further disbursements of awarded Title IV funds. A student who attended
more than 60 percent of the payment period earns 100
percent of their aid.
The return of Title IV funds formula calculates the amount
of Title IV aid to which a withdrawn student is entitled in direct proportion to the percentage of the period that the
student attended.
Parkland will notify the student that they must repay the
overpayment or make satisfactory repayment arrangements
within 30 days of determining that a student has completely
withdrawn from all classes.