Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended in 1983, requires Institutions of higher education that participate in the Federal Title IV financial aid programs to establish guidelines or Standards of Academic Progress, to monitor a student’s progression toward an Associate Degree or non-degree program (certificate). Baltimore City Community College’s Standards of Academic Progress Policy applies to all students enrolled in either an associate degree or a certificate program.

The Standards of Academic Progress Policy will take into consideration the student’s cumulative (all) attempted hours (not earned), transfer credits and cumulative grade point average, regardless of whether the student paid for some or all of his or her courses and regardless of when the student took the courses.

Evaluation of Standards of Academic Progress

Degree Programs

Standards of Academic Progress will be evaluated at the end of each academic year for degree seeking students. The spring semester is considered the end of the academic year for Baltimore City Community College (BCCC).

**Certificate Programs

Standards of Academic Progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester for students enrolled in certificate programs.

P2 **Minimum Grade Point Average

To continue to be eligible to receive Federal financial aid, a student must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) based on the number of attempted credit hours. Per Federal regulation, attempted credit hours include all hours in which a student was enrolled after the drop-add period ends plus any transfer credit hours. Baltimore City Community College’s Standards of Academic Progress policy requires students to have earned the minimum Grade Point Average as required by the College’s Academic Standing Policy. The Academic Standing Policy can be found in the College catalog or on the college’s website at: www.bccc.edu

As per Federal regulations, students are required to have a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) after their second year of enrollment or after attempting 48 credit hours at BCCC.  

Each student is required to successfully complete a certain percentage of all credit hours attempted, which includes transfer hours. Attempted credit hours includes grades of A, B, C, D, F, I, W, IP, U and repeats. Transfer hours are included in the cumulative attempted and cumulative pass rate. The grade of "FX" will not be counted as an attempted credit hour or in the maximum timeframe. 

The following tables list the number of credit hours a student is required to successfully complete and the required G.P.A. to maintain their financial aid eligibility.

P1 **Completion Rate for Degree Programs

P7-P8 **Completion Rate for Certificate and Non Degree Program

Maximum Time Frame

The Federal regulations that govern the Federal financial aid programs require that colleges place a limit on the number of credit hours a student may receive financial aid based on their major or program of study. At Baltimore City Community College a student may receive financial aid for attempting no more than 150% of a program's length.          

P3 **Maximum Time Frame for Associate Degree Programs

Students enrolled in Associate Degree programs may receive financial aid for attempting up to 150% of the total credits required for their major.

Example: An Associate Degree in Nursing requires 70 credit hours. Students accepted and enrolled in this program of study may receive financial aid for attempting 105 credit hours

(150% x70 = 105 credits).  

P9 **Maximum Time Frame for Certificate Programs

Students enrolled in Certificate programs may receive financial aid for attempting up to 150% of the total credits required for their major.

Example: A Certificate program in Practical Nursing requires 45 credit hours to complete the program. Students accepted and enrolled in this program of study may receive financial aid for attempting 67 credit hours (150% x45 =67 credits).

Transfer Credits

All credits hours transferred to BCCC from other colleges will be counted in the cumulative attempted credit hours, cumulative pass rate and maximum timeframe.

Repeating Courses 
Students are allowed to take the same course twice if they receive a failing grade and receive financial aid. Financial Aid will not pay a student to attempt a class for the third time.

Change of Major

Students who change their major or pursue a second degree, are not automatically eligible to continue to receive financial aid. The Financial Aid Office will review each student’s cumulative academic record and decide, on a case by case basis, the student’s eligibility and the number of credit hours the student will be eligible to receive financial aid. In some cases students will be denied an extension of their financial aid eligibility after receiving an A.A. Degree.

Academic Renewal

The Financial Aid Office must count all credit hours attempted, even if the student is granted academic renewal by the College, regardless of how long ago the credit hours were attempted, and if the student repeated courses.

P4 **Developmental Courses (CFR 668.20)

Students, who are required to enroll in developmental studies or remedial coursework as part of their program of study, may receive financial aid to attempt up to 28 credits in developmental coursework. A student cannot appeal to have financial aid pay for more than 28 credits in developmental courses. Developmental studies coursework will not be counted in the maximum time frame for the students major. However, the developmental studies courses will be counted the cumulative attempted and required pass rate.

Students who fail to pass all of the required Developmental Studies courses with a grade of “C” or better will have their financial aid eligibility suspended.

Example: Lisa is pursuing an Associate Degree in General Studies. The total credits hours needed to complete the program is 70 credits. The maximum number of credit hours that Lisa can be paid in the General Studies program is 105 credit hours(150%x70=105). Lisa has attempted a total of 90 credits. However, 28 of the credit hours that she has attempted are developmental studies courses.  Lisa can receive financial aid to attempt 45 more credit hours (90-28 developmental courses =62 attempted credits) ;( 105-62 credits=43 additional credits for which Lisa can receive financial aid).

Audits or Non-Credit Courses

With the exception of Developmental Studies Courses, Financial Aid will not pay for non-credit courses or courses that are audited.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who failed to meet all of the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress Policy will be placed on financial aid suspension. However, Federal guidelines authorizes the Financial Aid Office to extend a student’s financial aid eligibility, if the student can demonstrate that there were extenuating circumstances that caused the student to fall below the minimum standards, while in attendance at BCCC. Students may file an appeal to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated.

Financial Aid Appeal Process

Students, whose financial aid eligibility was suspended, may appeal to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated or the maximum time frame extended. Students must complete a Financial Aid Appeal Form and submit documentation to support any extenuating circumstances that caused the student not to meet the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress Policy. Appeals without extenuating circumstances and appropriate documentation will be reviewed. However, lack of documentation to support extenuating circumstances may cause the appeal to be denied.

Special Note: The Financial Aid Appeal Process is not the same as an appeal to be reinstated into the college after academic dismissal. Students who are allowed to return to BCCC after an academic dismissal, must submit a separate appeal to the Financial Aid Office to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

Students who successfully appeal their financial aid suspension will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for one semester. At the end of that semester, the Financial Aid Office will review the students’ overall academic performance to determine if the student can still complete their degree objective within a specified timeframe. If approved students must adhere to an educational plan. If a student fails to follow the Educational Plan, their financial aid eligibility will be suspended.

If a student fails to meet the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress Policy after receiving an appeal, the student’s financial aid eligibility will be suspended until he or she is in compliance with the policy.

Pell Grant Limit

A student who entered college for the first time after July 1, 2008 will be eligible to receive the Pell Grant, if eligible, for 18 semesters. The U.S. Department of Education will track the student’s Pell Grant usage and will notify the student and college when the student has reached his or her Pell Grant limit. Since this is a federal regulation, a student who has reached the Pell Grant limit cannot appeal to receive additional Pell Grant funds.

SAP Revised:  

08/14/VEB