Weatherford College Financial Aid Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The following standards are effective and are adopted according to federal mandates for the purpose of determining a student’s continued eligibility for financial aid. All students receiving federal or state financial aid must maintain satisfactory progress for all periods of enrollment regardless of the receipt of financial aid. Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each long semester. Summer evaluations are done upon student request.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

SAP is evaluated based on three measures at Weatherford College (WC):

1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) – must be 2.0 or above
2. Successful Completion of Courses – 75% of all attempted hours
3. Time Frame – must graduate within 150% of required hours in program of declared major

Cumulative GPA

Cumulative GPA includes only WC course work and any transferred hours that apply to the student’s declared major. Students enrolled in college-level coursework must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Grades of A, B, C, D, and F contribute toward the cumulative GPA. Grades of W, I, S, CR, X, and P do not.

1. Students who do not have a WC academic history and are enrolling in college for the first time are assumed to be making SAP at the time of enrollment.
2. All continuing students applying for financial assistance must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all credit hours earned prior to the semester for which aid is requested.
3. Transfer hours will not be counted in a student’s cumulative GPA, completion rates, or a maximum time frame unless those hours are accepted towards degree completion at WC.

Successful Completion of Courses

Each semester financial aid recipients must complete a minimum number of the hours theyattempt. Enrollment status is determined by the student’s enrollment on census date (12th class day during fall and spring semesters). The following chart states the required minimums:

Full = 12 or more hours; ¾ = 9 to 11 hours; ½ = 6 to 8 hours; < ½ = 5 or less hours

1. Successful completion is measured by grades of A, B, C, or D. These are considered passing grades at WC.
2. A grade of F is a completed grade and will be taken into consideration when calculating the number of hours completed and the cumulative GPA.
3. A grade of I or W is not punitive in determining the GPA but does reflect the lack of progress under “quantity of work” for the minimum passing rate of 75% of all courses attempted for federal and state aid recipients. A grade of I (Incomplete) not made up by the end of 6 weeks will become a grade of F.
4. Courses where a grade of F, I, or W was received may be repeated once for grade improvement; only the highest grade earned is used to determine the student’s cumulative GPA. However, all courses attempted (repeated and regular) will be counted in the time frame and completion rate calculations. If the grade in the repeated course is not an improvement, both class hours and grades will count against the student’s cumulative GPA. Financial aid will only cover the repeated class IF the student originally received a grade of F, I, or W, or the program requires a grade of C or higher and the student received a D. In addition, the repeated class will only be covered by financial aid at the original enrollment and once more if the preceding requirements are met regardless of grade the second time.
5. Remedial course work will not be included in the cumulative GPA but will be included in both the time frame and completion rate calculations. Federal regulations state that a student may not receive federal financial aid for remedial course work after they have attempted 30 hours of remediation. Therefore a student who attempts more than 30 hours of remedial classes may not receive federal financial aid for those classes.

Time Frame

Students must demonstrate they will graduate within 150% of the length of the degree or certificate of their declared major. Maximum time frame calculations for students pursuing a one-year program of study (certificate) will begin when the student has attempted 45 semester hours. For students pursuing a two-year program of study (Associate’s Degree) maximum time frame calculations will begin once the student has attempted 95 semester hours. Students who exceed the time-framelimit will no longer be eligible for financial aid.

Failure to Maintain SAP

Failure to maintain SAP will result in financial aid probation. Successive failure to maintain SAP will result in financial aid suspension.

Financial Aid Warning

Students who fail to meet one or more of the Satisfactory Academic Standards will be placed on financial aid warning. While on warning, students will be eligible to receive financial aid but must complete the subsequent term by meeting all of the miniumum requirements at the close of that term. The student who fails to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress during the semester of attendance while on warning will be placed on financial aid suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

Financial aid suspension occurs when the SAP standards are not met for two consecutive semesters. Notification of suspension status includes verbal, postal mail, or email. While on suspension, students will not receive financial aid. The student is responsible for payment of courses.

NOTE:Students who exceed the time frame limitations (95 hours for Associate’s Degree seekers or 45 hours for Certificate seekers) will automatically be placed on financial aid suspension and will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid unless an appeal has been approved.

Students on suspension are encouraged to continue enrollment at WC. Enrolling and paying for courses can assist in regaining the student’s eligibility. The student must alert the Financial Aid Staff for a re-evaluation of their SAP status. If the student successfully regains eligible SAP status, then they will be eligible again for federal aid.

Appeal Process

A student who has been denied financial aid because of a failure to meet any of the SAP standards may complete an appeal form. An appeal form is available on the WC Financial Aid website under Forms. The student will receive notification of appeal decision within three weeks from the date the completed appeal form and documentation was submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

 Additional Information

1. Financial Aid will not be provided for:
   1. Courses taken by audit;
   2. Credit hours earned by placement tests;
   3. Non-credit course-work;
   4. Any class attempted more than two times, regardless of withdrawal orgrade earned;
   5. Any course registered for after the official census date; or
   6. Transfer or transient students attending for only one term(ex: summer courses only.)
2. Students enrolled only in remedial (developmental) classes are ineligible for federal financial aid funds. Questions concerning Federal Pell Grants and developmental classes should be directed to financial aid.
3. Students may change majors while at WC. Only the hours that transfer to the new major will count towards the student’s SAP. However, excessive major changes (as defined by the Financial Aid Office) can result in a suspension status.
4. Support Services: Many services are available to help students attain academic success, including counseling, testing, tutoring, placement, and resources found in the Success Connection. Information on such services is available to all students and can be found on the WC website or in the WC Student Services Office.
5. WC does not offer ESL programs at this time; an ESL tutor is available through the Success Connection.

Examples

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

• 2.0 or Higher
• GPA Calculation: Points / Attempted = GPA

Minimum Completion Rate

• 75% of all Attempted Hours
• Completion Rate Calculation: Earned / Class Hours Attempted = Completion Rate

Maximum Time Frame

• 150% of the length of the degree or certificate
• Maximum Time Frame Calculation: Total number of hours in degree/certificate x 1.5 =150% of degree/certificate

Standards of Progress – State of Texas

TEXAS Grant one(1) Program

For the initial year of TEXAS grant eligibility, a student must meet the Standards of Academic Progress as described for Federal financial aid programs. To remain eligible for the TEXAS grant after the initial year of eligibility, a student must maintain a 2.5 financial aid grade point average on a scale of 4.0. Financial aid GPA includes all attempted hours, even those that a student has withdrawn from. “W’s” will count like “F’s” in GPA calculation for this program. Students must also complete 75% of all hours attempted in each semester. This means that if, for example, you are enrolled in 12 hours, you must successfully complete at least 9 of those hours to remain eligible for TEXAS grant funds. There is NO appeal process for being suspended from the TEXAS grant program. A student may regain eligibility in semesters subsequent to the suspended semester at his or her own expense. However, the time lost withoutTEXAS grant funding will STILL COUNT TOWARDS THE CUMULATIVE 6 YEAR TIME FRAME THAT THE GRANT CAN BE RECEIVED.

Texas Education Opportunity Grant (TEOG)

TEOG program participants must maintain the financial aid grade point average of 2.5 and the 75% completion rate from the initial year of eligibility.

Texas B-On-Time Loan

Texas B-On-Time loan standards of academic progress are the same as TEXAS Grant I program.