LEE COLLEGE DISTRICT
FINANCIAL AID OFFICE
Rules and Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

To comply with applicable laws and accreditation standards, Lee College has developed a policy
describing Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for both applicants and recipients of student financial aid. The following SAP Policy measurements are effective with the Summer 2007 semester. These measurements shall be used to determine student eligibility for all need-based financial assistance, unless the terms of a particular grant or funding source state otherwise.  SAP will be checked when Financial Aid application requirements are complete and again at least once each award year for degree students.  Students whose educational goal is to complete a certificate program will have SAP checked at the end of each semester.

A Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher must be maintained each award year in order for a student to receive financial aid. Students who do not conclude an award year with the minimum GPA will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.  Students with a cumulative GPA below 1.50 will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.  The most recent grade for repeated courses is calculated in the cumulative GPA.  All the credit hours for the attempts of a repeated course are counted in the 75% completion rate and in the maximum time frame total.

Each fall and spring semester of an award year, students must complete a minimum number of credit hours from all hours attempted. Students who do not complete the minimum hours required during the award year will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Grades of “W”, “F” and “I” will be counted as hours attempted, but will not be counted as hours completed. Grades of W that occur during the drop/add period prior to the census date will not be counted towards the completion rate.  Developmental and ESL classes taken in addition to required coursework are not counted in this completion rate calculation.  The completion requirements do not apply to summer enrollment periods and are as follows:
Enrollment Status        Hours Attempted          Hours Required to Complete
Per Academic Yr.
Full Time                       24 or more                     18
Three Quarter Time        18 – 23                         12
Half Time                       12 – 17                         9
Less than half time         6 – 11                           6
5 or less                        Must Complete All

Students may apply for, and if eligible receive, financial aid for no more than 150% of the published credit hours in the program. Credit hours transferred to a Lee College program, incomplete classes and dropped classes are counted toward the maximum time. Developmental classes and any ESL classes taken in addition to required coursework are also part of the calculation.

To complete an educational program within the maximum hours allowed, students should file a degree plan or establish a transfer plan and enroll in courses that apply to their declared degree or transfer program. Students who have attempted 150% of the published credit hours are suspended from financial aid regardless of their GPA.   You are eligible to file an appeal based on mitigating circumstances.

In the case of dual majors or attempting a new program, only courses required for the current major(s) will be included in the maximum time frame calculation.

Financial Aid applicants who return to a Lee College after a “break in enrollment” of one or more years will be placed on financial aid probation if the total Lee College credit hours completed is less than 75% of all Lee College hours attempted unless the student is already on suspension and has not reached satisfactory progress levels.

Students whose cumulative GPA’s and/or cumulative SCH completion rates do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, either prior to applying for financial aid or after a semester or term during which they received financial aid, are placed on Financial Aid Probation. This status is meant to serve as a warning for students who are in danger of losing their financial aid eligibility. Students on Financial Aid Probation remain eligible to receive aid and may be required to complete a Student Success Contract.
Students who are on Financial Aid Probation and are in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards at the end of the award year are removed from probationary status. Students who are not in compliance at the end of the following year – assuming that they
attempted classes are-- placed on Financial Aid Suspension. 

A student who fails to meet the SAP will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension for at least one award period. During the Suspension, the student will not be eligible to receive financial aid. To regain financial aid eligibility, a student must pay the expenses related to enrollment or use private funds (scholarships, non-need based loans and direct billing to another agency) during the next award period and satisfy all SAP requirements.  A student who does not complete any classes within a semester will also be placed on financial aid suspension.

A student who is placed on Financial Aid Suspension may petition the Financial Aid Office (FAO) to consider mitigating circumstances that resulted in the student’s inability to meet the SAP requirements. The appeal must be in writing and supporting documentation regarding the circumstances must be attached (i.e. medical statements, divorce documents, letters of unemployment, etc.). The student will be notified by the FAO when a decision regarding the appeal has been determined. The FAO will review all appeals for first and second suspensions.   If the FAO denies the petition, the student may follow the same written procedure to appeal to the Dean of Student Services for Development and Success.  Appeals for third and higher suspensions will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

An otherwise eligible student may receive financial aid for a maximum of 30 attempted credit hours in developmental/remedial course work. Once the 30 credit hour maximum is reached, additional developmental credit hours will not be used to calculate the award amount.  Developmental hours are included in the calculation of the overall maximum time frame to complete the student’s academic program.

WARNING

In accordance with federal regulations, a school must verify that a loan recipient is meeting SAP each time funds are released to the student. Students who have been awarded money under the FFELP will have all or part of their loan canceled if they are not meeting SAP at the time loan funds are available for disbursement. The student will not be considered for future loans until the SAP requirements have been met. Other restrictions related to college default management plans may apply to loan applicants.  SAP requirements include either paying expenses while bringing the cumulative GPA to 2.0 and/or completion rate to 75% or an approved appeal.

When calculating the SAP status, summer hours attempted will be counted toward the 90 credit hour maximum and summer grade points earned will be calculated as part of the cumulative grade point average. The rule pertaining to completion of a minimum number of attempted credit hours will not be calculated for summer enrollment.

The financial aid award year begins annually on July 1 and ends on June 30. An
award period refers to a specific period of time within the award year (a semester).

We invite you to contact your Financial Aid Office with questions or concerns.

 "Educational opportunities are offered by the Lee College District without regard to race, color, age, religion,
national origin, sex, disability or sexual orientation.”
Revised 05/07

rev. 3/2004