POLICIES

FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY
Federal Funds(including pell)

                Students who receive financial aid at Mississippi Delta Community College must conform to the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) set by the College and outlined here.  These standards encourage students to successfully complete their educational goals in a timely manner.  An educational goal leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.  It is important to remember that this SAP policy is administered by the MDCC Office of Student Financial Aid and is separate from the Academic Status policy administered by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Instruction.  Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes requires both a qualitative and a quantitative measurement of a student's efforts to achieve the educational goal.  For example, the grade of "W" will count in hours attempted for financial aid purposes.  

The Qualitative Measurement

A student's academic progress is measured by the cumulative grade point average earned for the number of credit hours attempted at MDCC.

The Quantitative Measurement

A student must make steady progress toward completing the educational goal within a limited period of time.  The time frame includes all periods of attendance at MDCC whether or not a student received financial aid.  Federal regulations allow a maximum time frame of 150 percent of the published total hours of the program.  At the end of this period, a student will not be eligible to participate in the financial aid programs regardless of grade point average; cumulative hours earned, or change of program.  A student attending a community college who has already earned an associate's or bachelor's is not eligible for federal financial aid.

        These guidelines outlined in the table below apply to ALL Title IV aid:  Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grants (LEAP), and Federal Work Study.

For federal financial aid purposes, the minimum academic standards (qualitative and quantitative) required are:

*Hours attempted include courses in which a "W" is awarded.  Therefore, a student who is not on scholastic probation may be on financial aid probation.

                A student's grade point average is checked at the end of each semester of attendance.  A student who is not making satisfactory progress is informed by the financial aid office in person or by mail.  In addition, a student's grade report can be compared to the guidelines above to determine if Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid purposes has been met.

FINANCIAL AID PROBATION

                Probation is a warning period imposed the first time the student fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements.  A student placed on probation at the end of a semester will be eligible for financial aid the following semester of attendance.  A student on financial aid probation must pass at least 12 hours (quantitative measure) with at least a 2.0 grade point average (qualitative measure) to continue financial aid eligibility.  Probation is not allowed for the student who has attempted 150 percent of the published total hours of his or her program.

FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION

        A student is suspended from receiving financial aid under the following conditions:

        1.     A student on probation fails to meet satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the Probation Policy.

        2.     A student withdraws from or fails all classes.

        3.     A student has attempted 150 percent of the published total hours of his or her program.

APPEAL PROCESS

                A student who is suspended during any semester of enrollment may appeal, in writing, to the Director of Financial Aid for reinstatement of eligibility.  In the appeal, the student should describe and document any mitigating circumstances (for example:  serious illness, severe injury, death of an immediate family member, etc.) contributing to the reason for suspension.  The Director of Financial Aid will consider each case on an individual basis and respond in writing within 30 working days.  The response may reinstate the student to full eligibility, deny eligibility, or set conditions for reinstatement.  

NON-CREDIT COURSES, DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES, INCOMPLETES, AUDITS, AND WITHDRAWALS.

Non-credit courses do not count toward hours attempted or completed.  For financial aid purposes only, developmental courses are treated the same way as regular academic courses.  An incomplete grade (I) has the same effect as a failing grade (F) with regard to quality points (qualitative measure) and hours attempted (quantitative measure).  An audit (CR) and a withdrawal grade (W) have no effect on a student's grade point average (qualitative measure) but are a factor in total hours attempted (quantitative measure).

State and Institutional Funds

Vary according to minimum cumalative grade point average (gpa) required .