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Satisfactory Academic Progress The United States Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to establish a satisfactory academic progress policy to be applied to all recipients of federal financial aid. Satisfactory academic progress means that the student is progressing in a manner consistent with fulfilling their degree or certification requirements. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated throughout the course of the degree program. A Satisfactory Academic Progress policy must include two components: qualitative and quantitative. "Qualitative" measures cumulative grade point average. "Quantitative" measures the number or percentage of courses completed. The quantitative component also establishes the maximum time frame for completing a degree program. Financial aid recipients must meet both of these standards to receive financial aid.
The standards established in the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy apply to the following financial aid programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Federal Work Study (FWS), HOPE Scholarship Programs, Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG), Georgia LEAP, State Service Cancelable Loans, LaGrange College Grant, Lettie Pate Whitehead Grant, Clark and Ruby Baker Grant, HOPEMatch, all LaGrange College Academic and Merit scholarships, and LaGrange College Work Aid.
Note: HOPE scholarship guidelines require a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to maintain eligibility.
Qualitative Standard Federal regulations require a student to have a grade point average that is consistent with the institution's policy governing academic progress. LaGrange College has set the following minimum grade point average requirements. The Registrar and Academic Dean monitor this component of the policy each term.
| Classification |
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average
|
| Freshman |
1.65 |
| Sophomore |
1.75 |
| Junior |
1.85 |
| Senior |
2.00 |
Quantitative Standard
Students receiving funds from any of the financial programs covered under this policy must demonstrate measurable progress toward the completion of their degree program. LaGrange College requires students to maintain an overall completion rate of 67%. The credit hours considered under this policy will be those for which the student is registered at the conclusion of late registration. Grades of A, B, C, or D are considered as successful completion of a course. Grades of F, W, WF, NR, or I are considered failing and do not count as successfully completed courses. Audited courses are not considered in either the quantitative or qualitative standards.
Maximum Time Frame
Federal regulations allow a student to receive financial assistance for no more than 150% of the credit hours required to complete their degree program. Therefore, students pursuing a bachelor's degree must complete their program within 162 attempted semester credit hours. Most students will complete the program within the time frame. However, frequent withdrawals from courses or school, change of major, failed courses, repeated courses or courses taken that are not related to your degree program could jeopardize financial aid eligibility. All attempted hours are considered when reviewing maximum time frame.
Transfer students must complete their program within a maximum of 162 attempted semester credit hours. Hours transferred to and accepted by LaGrange College from other institutions are considered in the maximum time frame. For example, if a student has 75 credit hours acceptable towards their degree program, the student may receive financial assistance for 87 additional credit hours.
Students pursuing an additional bachelor's degree are allowed an additional 60 semester hours to complete the degree.
Evaluation
The cumulative academic history of all financial aid recipients is reviewed each term to determine if the student is meeting the quantitative, qualitative and time frame standards. This includes all courses attempted regardless of whether financial aid was received or not. Transfer grade point averages are not considered in either of these standards. However, accepted transfer credits hours will be considered in the maximum time frame for completing a degree program. Students who fail to meet both of these standards will be placed on financial aid probation. Students placed on financial aid probation are eligible for financial aid during the probationary term. If the student does not meet the satisfactory academic progress standards at the end of the probationary term, future financial aid will be terminated effective with the next term of enrollment. Students whose financial aid is terminated may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee for re-instatement of financial aid. The chart below indicates the minimum credits a student must earn to meet the quantitative standard.
| Total Attempted Hours |
Minimum Earned Hours
|
| 30 |
20 |
| 60 |
40 |
| 90 |
60 |
| 120 |
80 |
| 150 |
100 |
| 180 |
120 |
Appeal Process
Student financial aid recipients who lose their eligibility for financial aid may appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee except for loss of eligibility due to time frame. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Director of Financial Aid outlining any mitigating circumstance(s) that impacted the student's academic performance, documentation of circumstance(s), if applicable, and how the deficiency will be resolved. The Director will convene the Financial Aid Appeals Committee to evaluate the request for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. The Director of Financial Aid will notify the student in writing of the decision of the Committee and any conditions associated with reinstatement. Students whose appeals are approved will receive financial aid on probationary status for the next term of enrollment and will have their academic performance reviewed at the end of that term for continued eligibility.
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Financial Aid
Additional Resources
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