Satisfactory Academic Progress

Qualitative Standard (Grade Point Average)

• Students are required to maintain a minimum, Financial Aid Grade Point Average (FAGPA) of 2.0.
• Students are placed on financial aid Warning if their FAGPA is less than 2.0. (See Warning section.)

Quantitative Standard (Completion Rate)

• The minimum completion rate requires students to earn at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.
• Courses with grades of W, F, WF, I, U, F*, WF* and W* are not considered completed courses.  
• Students may repeat a course, but all attempts will count toward the student’s completion rate.
• Students are placed on financial aid Warning if their cumulative completion rate is less than 67%. (See Warning section.)

Maximum Time Frame (MTF)

• Students may receive financial aid for 1.5 times the published length of their program of study. For example, a student enrolled in a 60 credit hour program is eligible until 90 credit hours are attempted (60 x 1.5 = 90).
• Students may repeat a course, but repetitions will count toward the maximum time frame.
• Once the maximum number of hours is attempted, students are placed on financial aid Suspension.
• To reestablish eligibility, students must have an approved appeal. (See Appeals section.)

Transfer Credit Hours

• Transfer hours do not count toward a student’s FAGPA calculation.
• Transfer hours are added to the total hours attempted and completed at FDTC to assess the completion rate. 
• Transfer hours are added to the total hours attempted at FDTC to assess the maximum time frame.

Academic Forgiveness and Financial Aid

• The Department of Education does not recognize academic forgiveness for purposes of financial aid so all coursework previously completed must be counted for purposes of satisfactory academic progress whether forgiven or not.

Warning

• The minimum credit hour completion rate and the GPA standard are assessed at the end of each semester. If students do not earn at least the minimum cumulative grade point average and/or complete at least the minimum cumulative number of credit hours required, they are placed on financial aid Warning for the next semester attended.
• Financial aid eligibility continues during the Warning period.
• During the Warning period, students must improve their FAGPA to at least a 2.0 and their cumulative completion rate to at least 67 percent.
• If students meet SAP requirements after their Warning semester, they will be back in Good standing for the next semester. If students do not meet the SAP requirements of a minimum 2.0 FAGPA and 67% completion rate by the end of the Warning semester, they will be suspended. (See Suspension section.)

Suspension

• Students who fail to meet one or more requirements of the SAP policy for more than one consecutive semester are placed on Suspension.
• A student who is suspended is no longer eligible for federal financial aid, including Direct Loans, Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study and PLUS Loans.
• Students have the option to pay for classes out-of-pocket until they have reestablished eligibility under the SAP standards.
• Students may also submit an appeal to attempt to regain eligibility for financial aid. (See Appeals.)

Appeals

To review the appeals process click on the link below.

Learn More

Probation

• To remain eligible for aid during a probationary period, students must complete and agree to an Academic Plan. During the probationary period, students must complete 100% of the attempted hours, have at least a 2.0 semester GPA and continue to follow the academic plan. Students will not be allowed to switch majors while on Probation and may only take coursework required for graduation in their program of study.
• Students who meet the above requirements will remain on Probation.
• If students do not meet these requirements, they will be placed on financial aid Suspension. (See Suspension After Probation.)
• Students on Probation who increase their cumulative completion rate to 67% or higher and their FAGPA to at least 2.0 will be moved back to a Good status as long as they have not already exceeded their Maximum Timeframe.

Suspension After Probation

• Students who are placed on Probation but fail to maintain any part of their agreed-upon Academic Plan will be suspended.
• Students must register for and complete at least six credit hours without financial assistance (excluding Lottery Tuition Assistance).
• If the student completes at least six credit hours within a single term with a 100% completion rate and at least a 2.0 or higher semester GPA, he or she will be eligible to appeal again (second allowed appeal).
• If students choose to appeal, they must explain and document the extenuating circumstances that prevented them from being successful during their probationary semester. The student may not appeal using the same extenuating circumstances for which they appealed before, even if the issue is the same. In rare cases for emergency situations, students may be allowed to appeal again without completing the required six credit hours. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Committee.