Policy for evaluating students to ensure compliance with the Department of Education's regulations regarding making Satisfactory Academic Progress.

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  
  Federal and state regulations require schools participating in state and federal financial aid programs to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy that measures how students are performing academically in their program of study to remain eligible for financial aid assistance.
  
  There are three components of the SAP policy that all students must meet in order to maintain eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the SAP standards and how they affect their eligibility for aid. These standards are qualitative, quantitative and the maximum time frame. Students will be evaluated at the end of each semester for compliance with the SAP policy.
  • Qualitative Standard (GPA) – In order to maintain eligibility for federal financial aid a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. The cumulative GPA includes grades of A, B, C, D, F, WP and WF. Please note that the state requirement for the HOPE Grant is 3.0 as previously noted, at the designated checkpoints.
  • Quantitative Standard (Pace of Completion) – Students must complete and pass 66.66% of all courses attempted. To determine the 66.66% pace of completion divide the cumulative number of hours completed by the number of hours attempted. Courses receiving grades of IP, W, WP, WF, F, and I are not completed hours but count as attempted hours.
  • Maximum Timeframe – A student may attempt no more than 150% of the number of hours required for their program of study. (Example: A student is enrolled in a program in the catalog that requires 80 hours to complete the program. A student may receive financial aid assistance for no more than 120 hours (80 x 150% = 120). Dual Enrollment Only: Funding is available for up to 30 credit hours for courses approved on the dual enrollment application. As approved courses may not be program specific, the 150 percent maximum timeframe rule will be checked at the end of the semester where at least 30 credit hours has attempted.
• Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
  
  Students who do not maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA and complete 66.66% of their attempted hours, or those who exceed the maximum time frame for completion of the program of study will be placed on SAP Warning. The warning period will allow the student to continue receiving aid for one semester only. If the cumulative GPA and pace of completion are meet the standard at the end of that semester and the student is still within the maximum timeframe, then the student will be considered in good standing and continue to receive aid. If the student is not making SAP at the end of the warning period the aid will be suspended.
  
  Appeals
  
  Students on suspension may appeal to the SAP Appeals Committee. The appeal must be documented in writing by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal and Academic Plan. The appeal committee will only approve appeals if extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control are clearly documented. The strategy/strategies that the student will take to ensure success must be indicated on the appeal form and becomes a part of the student’s Academic Plan for success in completing the program of study. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on Probation Status. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final and students will be notified by GPTC e-mail of the decision.
  
  How to File an Appeal…
  • Gather documentation that support the circumstances that affected your progression
  • Log into your Banner Web account
  • On the Student Services card, click on Financial Aid
  • On the Home tab, under Student Requirements (Unsatisfied Requirements)
  • Click on the SAP Appeal requirement
  • A new browser opens for your GPTC Student Forms account page
    • For first time users: Click the Create Account link to enter/confirm your information, and click Create Account button.
  • Complete and submit your appeal and upload your supporting documents
  • Meet with your advisor to complete an Academic Plan; the task appears after the appeal has been submitted.
• Students on Probation status will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine if they are meeting the appeal conditions. Students who do not meet the conditions of their academic plan will have their financial aid suspended. Georgia Piedmont Technical College SAP Policy
  
  Course Withdrawals and Failing Grades
  
  Students who withdraw from one or more courses, and those who receive Ws, WPs, WFs or F grades for the term, may be required to repay some portion of the student aid funds they received during the term. It is important for students to be aware of their financial responsibilities when withdrawing from and/or failing classes.
  v Federal financial aid regulations have created a Return of Title IV Funds Policy. This policy states that students who withdraw or cease attendance; and those who fail or have a combination of all failing grades during a term will be reviewed to determine if their financial aid awards should be reduced.
  
  Upon withdrawal, the Office of Financial Aid will calculate, from the number of days in the term that the student was enrolled prior to withdrawal, the percentage of the term that the student completed. This percentage will be applied to the amount of aid received for the term with the student being able to retain only the amount of aid for the percentage of the term actually completed. The unearned portion of the financial aid award must be returned to the federal, programs that have been awarded. If excess financial aid funds have been refunded to the student, a portion of these funds may also need to be returned to the financial aid programs awarded. This may result in large sums being owed to both Georgia Piedmont Technical College and federal financial aid programs.
  
  Students considering withdrawal from classes should consult the Office of Financial Aid prior to initiating the withdrawal process. Withdrawal can have a significant impact on a current financial aid award, as well as future financial aid eligibility (see the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy).
  
  Unofficial Withdrawals Students who cease attending all classes and do not formally withdraw during a term may also be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy referenced above. In all cases, the official withdrawal procedures should be followed. Students who stop attending classes before the end of the term will be treated as an unofficial withdrawal.