Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

NOTE: The policies below are specific to financial aid and are different than the policies regarding academic probation and suspension. Please see the Academic Catalog for information about academic policies. 

Federal regulations require that financial aid recipients make satisfactory academic progress in order to remain eligible for federal and some institutional assistance.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, therefore, apply to students receiving financial assistance from such programs as: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), Federal Stafford Loans, OCC Student Assistance Loans, and Institutional and Memorial (I&M) Grants.

The SAP Policy has two components: qualitative and quantitative. Satisfactory Academic Progress means meeting the requirements for both components as outlined below, and being enrolled in an eligible program.

Qualitative requirements: (Grade Point Average - GPA)

Associates Degree Programs

• Qualitative requirements:
  • A student with less than 33 credit hours must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 1.670.
  • A student with 33 or more credit hours must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000.

Bachelor Degree Programs

• Qualitative requirements:
  • A student with less than 60 credit hours must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 1.670.
  • A student with 60 or more credit hours must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000.

Quantitative requirements: (Pace of completion)

All Degree Programs

• • A student must have completed 67% of the credit hours attempted.
    • For example, if after the third semester the student has attempted 46 credit hours and has completed only 30 credit hours, the quantitative pace of completion rate is 65%, and the student would be placed on warning even though the student may have a cumulative GPA of 2.320
  • A student must complete a program within an established time frame. Financial aid will be awarded according to the number of the program’s credit hours multiplied by 150%. If the student changes degree, only the hours that apply to that degree will be included in the calculation for this portion of SAP.
    • For example, the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry degree requires 128 credit hours; therefore, the student could receive federal aid for up to 192 credit hours. An Associate of Arts in Intercultural Studies requires 64 credit hours, therefore the student could receive Federal Aid for up to 96 credit hours.

Students’ academic progress (both qualitative and quantitative) will be checked at the end of each semester. If a student does not maintain the above standards, the following will apply:

1. The student will be placed on FINANCIAL AID WARNING. Warning means the student will be eligible to receive financial aid, but it also means the student must complete the required percentage of hours with the required GPA by the end of the semester on warning. If not, the student will be placed on FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION the following semester.
2. FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION means that the student will not be able to receive any financial aid until the student again meets the required completion rate and GPA standards as outlined above.

A copy of this Policy is available in the Financial Aid Office at any time. This policy is also printed in the Financial Aid section of the OCC catalog. See the OCC catalog (PDF).

Appeal Procedure

At that time a student is placed on financial aid suspension, the student may appeal the condition in writing to the Director or Financial Aid. Appeals must be based on unusual circumstances such as long-term illness, death or illness of a family member, etc. The Financial Aid Appeal Committee will review the student's file and the student will be notified of the decision. Letters of appeal must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the date printed on the Suspension Notification Letter, along with any and all appropriate documentation.

Repeated Courses

When a course is repeated, only the highest grade will be included in the GPA calculation. However, repeated hours are counted as attempted hours each time you take the course.

Federal regulation allows for the following in determining enrollment status for students that are retaking coursework:

• If a student retakes a previously failed course, the repeated course will be included in the student's Title IV enrollment status and Title IV funds will be available to pay for the repeated course.
• If a student retakes a previously passed course, one repetition of the repeated course will be included in the student's Title IV enrollment status and Title IV funds will be available to pay for the repeated course.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students withdrawing from a class in weeks 2 through 10 will be given a "W" (withdrawal), the class will count only as hours attempted. No course can be dropped after ten weeks of class.

Incomplete Grades

Grades of “I” (Incomplete) will count only as hours attempted. Once an incomplete grade is finalized, the final grade will be factored into the student’s GPA and hours earned (if passing) during the next evaluation. 

Transfer Students

Academic transcripts from all other colleges attended will be included when evaluating satisfactory academic progress. Transfer credits accepted by OCC will be included when calculating quantitative requirements but not in GPA calculations. The student will be placed on financial aid satisfactory progress or warning based upon the review. If a student's progress is not satisfactory, the student will be notified.

If you have any questions concerning your financial aid, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us.
417.626.1234 x2027 or x2043
[email protected]