Montgomery County Community College

Academic Progress

Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients meet federal academic progress standards while taking courses toward a degree or certificate program. This policy applies to all terms of enrollment regardless of whether or not the student received federal aid. Progress is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average, percentage of credits successfully completed and timeframe or pace toward completion of the program. The College checks progress at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.

1. Progress Standards

1. Completion Rate (67% Rule): Students must, at a minimum, receive a satisfactory grade in courses attempted by completed 67% of the credits for which they are enrolled. This calculation is performed by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted. The College begins checking completion rates after the student has attempted 12 credits. The College counts all withdrawals and incompletes as attempted credits.
   
   
2. Maximum hours (150% Rule): Students may only receive financial aid up to the point at which they can no longer complete the program of study within 150% of the program length. The College counts all credits attempted and all transfer credits applicable to the student’s program. This calculation includes all semesters including those for which the student received no federal aid. For example, a student whose program requires 60 credits may only attempt up to 90 credits in that program.
   
   
3. Developmental Courses/English as a Second Language Courses: Students may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of 30 semester hours of developmental coursework. There is no limit on ESL courses. Developmental and ESL courses are evaluated in the student’s progress calculation including completion rate, maximum hours, and cumulative grade point average.
   
   
4. Cumulative GPA Minimum Requirements (GPA Rule): A student must earn at least the minimum cumulative grade point average as shown in the table below based upon the number of credits attempted.
   
   

   Cumulative Credits Attempted	Minimum Acceptable Progress Cumulative GPA
   12-23	1.51
   24-35	1.75
   36-47	1.83
   48-59	2.00
   60+	2.00

   
   
5. Withdrawals, Incompletes, Audits and Repeat Courses: Withdrawals, Incompletes and Audits do not count as a passing grade. These grades are counted in attempted credits. Once an Incomplete grade has been changed to a passing grade then the student’s progress can be recalculated upon written request by the student. Repeated coursework is also counted as attempted credits and all grades related to this repeated coursework are calculated into the student’s financial aid GPA calculation.
   
   
6. Change of Major and Second Degrees: Once a student completes all the requirements for their program they can no longer receive financial aid unless they enter a new degree program. Students may apply for financial aid for the completion of two Associate degree programs. All applicable courses in the completed program will count as part of the 150% attempted credits in the student’s second degree program.

2. Ineligibility for Financial Aid

1. Students who are on Academic Suspension or Academic Probation by the college are ineligible for financial aid. Students may still enroll without benefit of financial aid if they are on Academic Probation.
   
   
2. Students who do not meet the progress standard and cumulative grade point average requirements will be ineligible for financial aid.

3. Appeals
   
   If the student had mitigating circumstances that may have affected the student’s academic progress the student may appeal their status. Mitigating circumstances include serious illness or accident involving the student; death, accident, or serious illness of an immediate family member or other mitigating circumstance beyond the control of the student. The student must complete the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal Form, provide acceptable supporting documentation and complete all required steps outlined on the form. Process for Filing a Financial Aid Appeal for Academic Progress.
   
   If the student’s appeal is approved the student must follow the academic plan/recommendations by the College and successfully complete those courses with a grade of C or better in order to continue receiving federal student aid. Failure to follow the plan and successfully complete all registered courses during the semester of appeal will result in the student having to successfully complete courses on their own until the academic standards are met as described in this policy. Successful completion means the student receives a grade of A, B or C. Withdrawals, Incompletes or Audits do not count as a successful completion grade.
   
   The Financial Aid Office will place a student in a Probationary status when an appeal for Unsatisfactory or Max Time progress has been approved. The student will remain in a Probationary status until they meet the minimum criteria for satisfactory academic progress as defined in Section I.

4. Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
   
   Students who do not meet the academic progress policy and choose to enroll at the College without financial aid assistance will have their progress checked at the end of that term of enrollment. If the student is successful the College will reinstate financial aid eligibility for subsequent semesters.