The Federal Government has established the following Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress:
Qualitative Standard
By the end of the second academic year (regardless of how many credits the student has accrued), the student must have a C average or its equivalent. The District Financial Aid Office will review the qualitative progress after each academic year. In order to continue to receive financial aid a student must:
• Maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA
• Maintain at least a “C” average

Quantitative Standard
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy also includes a quantitative component. A student who is maintaining a high GPA by withdrawing from every course he attempts after the first year would meet a qualitative standard (GPA) but wouldn’t be progressing toward graduation. Therefore, the institution must set a maximum time frame in which a student is expected to finish a program and a measure to determine the percentage of credit hours completed versus those attempted.

The District Financial Aid Office will review the quantitative progress after each academic year. In order to continue to receive financial aid a student must:
• Complete a program of study within 150% of the credits required to graduate. If a major requires 60 credit hours for graduation, a student must complete the program in no more than 90 credit hours.
• Successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credits.
A student must receive a passing grade in at least 2 out of every 3 classes in which he or she is enrolled.
Non-credit courses are not included in the calculation of financial aid, and are therefore not counted as credit hours attempted. Transfer credit, remedial and repeated courses will be counted as credit hours attempted. Withdrawal grades (W and XW) and incomplete grades (I) will be counted as credit hours attempted. Transfer credit, remedial credit and repeated courses will also be counted as credit hours attempted.
Financial aid funds may not be used to cover the cost of non-credit courses, therefore they are not counted as credit hours attempted. Institutional withdrawal grades (WI) will not be counted as credit hours attempted.

Repeated and developmental courses are added into credits attempted and are used in the calculation of attempted credits verses completed credits.  Up to 30 credits of combined developmental and ESL courses can be funded with federal student aid.

Students seeking a second Associate’s Degree, who are not meeting the quantitative standard of 150%, would need to submit an appeal (please refer to the Appeal Process below) in order to have reinstatement of eligibility considered.  Successfully completed credits that apply to the second degree will be considered in the appeal review.

Notification
Students who fail either the quantitative or qualitative test for academic progress will be notified in writing. Students who are in their first academic year and are failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements are placed on Probation. These probation students do not need to submit an appeal form. Academic progress for probation students will be measured again at the end of their second academic year.

Students who are in their second academic year and are failing to meet Satisfactory Academic progress are denied Title IV Aid. They will need to submit an appeal accompanied by all supporting documentation.
A student who loses financial aid eligibility due to failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will regain eligibility when the institution determines that he or she is again meeting the standards. Eligibility may also be regained if the student is approved through the appeal process.

Appeal Process
If you have experienced a significant circumstance which you feel has had an impact on your ability to make satisfactory academic progress, you have the opportunity to file an appeal with the District Financial Aid Office.
Significant circumstances include:
1. Death of student’s close relative
2. Injury or illness of student
3. Personal tragedy or event

A completed Academic Progress Appeal form must be submitted along with documentation supporting the significant event or circumstance. A completed Plan of Work (through the end of the program) must also be submitted.

An appeal form is available on the college website at www.wcccd.edu.The appeal form and all supporting documentation will be reviewed by the District Financial Aid Office and you will receive a written response.

Regaining Eligibility

Students who lose their financial aid eligibility because they fail to meet satisfactory academic progress will regain eligibility when it is determined that they are again meeting both the qualitative and quantitative standards.  They are responsible for the payment of tuition and fees until financial aid eligibility is regained.  When satisfactory academic progress standards are met, eligibility is regained for subsequent terms of enrollments.