Student Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to eligible students enrolled in Southern Regional Technical College. The fundamental purpose of financial aid is to assist students in obtaining a post-secondary education by providing access to funding programs that can assist with educational expenses.

General Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for federal financial aid programs, a student should:

Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provide the Financial Aid Office with any needed documents to complete award.
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Have a high school diploma or have successfully completed a state-approved high school equivalency exam.
Be registered with Selective Service, if male age 18 or older.
Not be in default of a federal student loan nor owe a refund on any Title IV program.
Be making satisfactory academic progress in accordance with SAP policy.

To qualify for state financial aid programs, a student should:

Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a HOPE Program Application (GSFAPPS) and provide the Financial Aid Office with any needed documents to complete award.
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Meet Georgia residency requirements in accordance with GSFC regulations.
Be registered with Selective Service, if male age 18 or older.
Not be in default of a federal student loan nor owe a refund on any Title IV or state program.
Be making satisfactory academic progress in accordance with SAP policy.

Application Procedures

To apply for both federal and state financial aid, a student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov. A new FAFSA is required each academic year for students seeking federal aid. Students wishing to apply only for state financial aid programs can complete the HOPE Program Application (GSFAPPS) at www.gafutures.org. All forms necessary for financial aid can be obtained in the SRTC Financial Aid Office or found on the SRTC website. Students should be mindful of Financial Aid application Priority Dates to ensure funds are available on the first day of the term to apply towards tuition, fees and/or books. Financial Aid Priority Dates are posted on the SRTC website, Financial Aid page.

Sources of Financial Aid – Federal Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grant is a federal Title IV program that provides funds to students who meet certain need-based eligibility requirements. The amount of Pell a student can receive is based on the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) reported on the student’s Student Aid Report (SAR) as determined by Federal Student Aid Programs from the student’s FAFSA application, the cost of attendance, federal appropriations, and the student’s actual class load per semester. Pell Grant is available for degrees, diplomas, and some certificate programs. Students enrolled in 12 or more hours are considered full-time students. Students taking less than 12 hours will have their award prorated as follows: nine to eleven hours – 75% of Pell award; six to eight hours – 50% of Pell award; five or less hours- 25% of Pell award. Students with limited Pell-eligibility may receive no award if enrollment is less than full-time. Eligible students can receive Pell Grant up to the equivalent of six years of full-time attendance at any institution or until they earn a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

SRTC verifies all students selected for verification by the US Department of Education, if the student is in a Pell-eligible program and can receive federal funds. Additionally, the Financial Aid Office selects students for verification who appear to have reported potentially incomplete or conflicting FAFSA information. The Financial Aid Office may request additional documentation, as necessary, at any time to determine the validity of reported information. Verification must be completed before Title IV funds are awarded and disbursed to the student.

Students who complete the awarding/verification process and have financial aid awarded in excess of tuition and fees will have funds made available for use in the Bookstore for book and supply purchases one week prior to the term start date.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG is a federal grant that is designed to assist those students who receive Pell Grant and who demonstrate exceptional financial need, as determined by their FAFSA information. Due to limited funding by the US Department of Education, not all eligible students will receive this award. Funds are awarded throughout the year.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

The Federal Work Study program provides students the opportunity to work part-time to help pay for the costs of their education. Eligible students must have unmet need as determined by student’s FAFSA information and award package and be enrolled in an eligible program. Students must complete all awarding and verification requirements before being determined eligible for FWS. Due to limited funding by the US Department of Education, only a pre-determined number of positions are available each year. Interested students should apply online at the SRTC website, Human Resources.

Loans

SRTC does not participate in federal loan programs.

Veterans Administration

Most of the programs at SRTC are eligible for veterans training benefits. Persons eligible for veterans training assistance may begin the eligibility process by visiting the SRTC website’s Veterans page, by contacting SRTC’s certifying officials, or through their local or regional veterans administration office.

A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Veteran’s Education Benefits.

Southern Regional Technical College will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Southern Regional Technical College will ensure that your educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The purpose of this act is to prepare economically disadvantaged youth, unskilled adults, or people facing serious barriers to employment with the training necessary for entry into the labor force. For those who qualify, WIOA can assist with tuition, fees, books and supplies, and provide additional monies in certain cases. Not all programs are covered by WIOA. Interested students should visit the SRTC website, Financial Aid page to obtain contact information for the WIOA Office.

Sources of Financial Aid – State Aid Programs

HERO (Helping Educate Reservist and their Offspring) Scholarship

Georgia HERO Scholarship provides financial assistance to students seeking a post-secondary education who are a current member of the Georgia National Guard or US Military Reserves who are/were deployed overseas on active service on or after February 1, 2003 to a location designated as a combat zone; the dependent of a guard/reservist who meets the above criteria; or a spouse of a guard/reservist who was deployed to combat zone and who was killed, died of severe injuries received while in a combat zone, or became 100% disabled as a result of injuries. Students can apply for the HERO Scholarship on the Georgia Student Finance Commission website, www.gafutures.org.

HOPE GED Voucher

The HOPE GED Voucher is issued to students who successfully complete their high school equivalency exam in Georgia, typically the GED® exam. Georgia Student Finance Commission provides the voucher directly to the student upon confirmation of successful completion of the high school equivalency exam. The voucher must be redeemed within 24 months of issue date by submitting the voucher to the Financial Aid Office. Students must meet Georgia residency requirements and be enrolled in a credit program to be eligible for a HOPE GED Voucher payment.

HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Grant

The HOPE Grant provides funding to students enrolled in diploma and certificate programs. The HOPE Grant pays a portion of tuition up to a maximum of 63 paid semester hours or a limit of 127 paid hours of HOPE/Zell Miller Grant and HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship hours combined. The percentage of tuition paid is established by the Georgia Student Finance Commission annually. A student’s eligibility for the HOPE Grant is not based on high school performance or high school GPA. Students must meet all Georgia residency requirements to be eligible.

To retain eligibility for the HOPE Grant, a student must maintain a 2.00 HOPE GPA at the 30 and 60 paid hours checkpoints. Students who lose HOPE Grant at the 30 hour checkpoint can regain it, if they have elevated their HOPE GPA up to a 2.00, at 60 hours. HOPE Grant eligible students who have earned a HOPE GPA of 3.50 or higher will be evaluated for Zell Miller Grant eligibility. The HOPE Grant GPA includes all coursework taken, even at prior institutions, for which the student received a HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant payment, excluding courses taken while attending as a dual enrolled high school student. Additionally, hours taken as a dually enrolled high school student are excluded from the 63 hours HOPE paid hours limit.

HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship provides funding to students enrolled in degree programs. The HOPE Scholarship pays a portion of tuition up to a maximum of 127 attempted hours. Only students who graduated from high school and were identified as a HOPE Scholar by the Georgia Student Finance Commission for meeting minimum GPA and academic rigor requirements in high school are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship as entering freshmen. Other students may qualify if they achieve a 3.00 HOPE Scholar GPA at the end of 30, 60, or 90 attempted degree-level hours. Students must meet all Georgia residency requirements. The percentage of tuition paid is established by the Georgia Student Finance Commission annually.

To retain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must maintain a 3.00 HOPE Scholar GPA at the 30, 60, and 90 attempted hours checkpoints and at the end of each Spring term, even if not enrolled for Spring term. A HOPE Scholarship recipient who has lost HOPE Scholarship eligibility at two checkpoints cannot regain eligibility. A student must have been receiving the HOPE Scholarship to be considered as having lost the HOPE Scholarship. HOPE Scholarship eligible students enrolled part-time for their first three terms of enrollment will have their HOPE Scholar GPA evaluated after the third term, regardless of the number of attempted hours. All attempted degree-level coursework is included in the HOPE Scholar GPA, even hours from previous institutions. Degree level (ACCEL) courses taken as a high school student after Summer term 2011 are excluded from HOPE Scholar GPA calculations, as well.

In order to receive a HOPE Scholarship payment a student must be determined eligible within seven (7) years of their graduation from high school or successful completion of a high school equivalency exam, whichever comes first. Once a student has reached the 127 attempted hours limit, the 127 combined paid hours limit of HOPE/Zell Miller Grant and HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship hours combined, or earned a Bachelor’s degree, the student is no longer eligible for HOPE Scholarship. Students who feel they meet HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements should submit a request for HOPE Scholar evaluation to the Financial Aid Office.

HOPE Career Grant (HCG)

The HCG program is available to HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant eligible students who are enrolled in designated diploma and certificate programs identified as high-demand fields in Georgia. Georgia Student Finance Commission establishes the list of designated programs annually. HCG is awarded to eligible students in designated programs only. A student must receive a HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant payment for the term of enrollment in which HCG is awarded. Students who lose HOPE Grant eligibility will also lose HCG eligibility and are subject to the 63 paid semester hour limit. Dually enrolled high school students are not eligible for HCG.

SAL (Student Access Loan)

The SAL program is designed to assist students who need additional funding to cover tuition expenses. Student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) to receive SAL funds. This is a loan program and funds must be repaid to Georgia Student Finance Commission upon graduation or ceasing to be enrolled as a half-time student. Interested students can submit an application for the SAL program annually at www.gafutures.org. The application acceptance period typically occurs in the summer prior to the upcoming aid year. These funds are awarded by GSFC on a first-come, first-served basis until the state allocation level is met. Application does not guarantee selection for the SAL program. Students are required to make monthly payments to GSFC while enrolled. Students who graduate with a 3.50 GPA can have their SAL debt cancelled by submitting a copy of their academic transcript to GSFC. Being a previous SAL recipient does not assure that a student would be selected for the SAL program in subsequent aid years. Students must meet all Georgia residency requirements. If a student has previously defaulted on a student loan (federal, state, or private), the loan must be paid in full to be eligible for the SAL program.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment is a program that provides funding for 9^th – 12^th grade students enrolled in an eligible high school to take approved college-level coursework and receive credit towards both high and college graduation requirements. Students must complete an application each term at www.gafutures.org and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible for funding. The Dual Enrollment program covers tuition for participants. Other fees are not charged to dually enrolled students.

Zell Miller Grant

The Zell Miller Grant provides funding to students enrolled in diploma and certificate programs who maintain a 3.50 HOPE GPA. The Zell Miller Grant pays a portion of tuition up to a maximum of 63 paid semester hours or a limit of 127 paid hours of HOPE/Zell Miller Grant and HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship hours combined. The Zell Miller Grant pays a higher portion of tuition than the HOPE Grant. The percentage of tuition paid is established by the Georgia Student Finance Commission annually. A student’s eligibility for the Zell Miller Grant is not based on high school performance or high school GPA. Students must meet all Georgia residency requirements to be eligible.

To retain eligibility for the Zell Miller Grant, a student must maintain a 3.50 HOPE GPA at the end of each term of enrollment. Students who do not earn a 3.50 HOPE GPA will be evaluated for HOPE Grant eligibility. Students are subject to HOPE GPA evaluation at the 30 and 60 paid hour checkpoints. The HOPE GPA includes all coursework taken, even at prior institutions, for which the student received a HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant payment, excluding courses taken while attending as a dual enrolled high school student. Additionally, hours taken as a dually enrolled high school student are excluded from the 63 hours HOPE Grant paid hours limit.

First-time post-secondary students enrolled in a diploma or certificate program, who received a HOPE Grant payment, may be eligible for a retroactive Zell Miller Grant payment following their first term of enrollment, if the student earns a 3.50 HOPE GPA after that one term. Dually enrolled high school students are not eligible for the Zell Miller Grant.

Zell Miller Scholarship

The Zell Miller Scholarship provides funding to students enrolled in degree programs. The Zell Miller Scholarship pays a portion of tuition up to a maximum of 127 attempted hours. The Zell Miller Scholarship pays a higher portion of tuition than the HOPE Scholarship. The percentage of tuition paid is established by the Georgia Student Finance Commission annually. Only students who graduated from high school and were identified as a Zell Miller Scholar by the Georgia Student Finance Commission for meeting GPA requirements, academic rigor requirements, and SAT or ACT test score requirements or being named the valedictorian or salutatorian in high school are eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship. Students must meet all Georgia residency requirements.

To retain eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship, a student must maintain a 3.30 HOPE Scholar GPA at the 30, 60, and 90 attempted hours checkpoints. A Zell Miller Scholarship recipient who has lost Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility at two checkpoints cannot regain eligibility. A student must have been receiving the Zell Miller Scholarship to be considered as having lost the Zell Miller Scholarship. Students are subject to the end of Spring checkpoints, even if not enrolled for Spring term. Students who do not have a 3.30 HOPE Scholar GPA at designated checkpoints will be evaluated for HOPE Scholarship eligibility. Zell Miller Scholarship eligible students enrolled part-time for their first three terms of enrollment will have their HOPE Scholar GPA evaluated after the third term, regardless of the number of attempted hours. All attempted degree-level coursework is included in the HOPE Scholar GPA, even hours from previous institutions. Degree level (ACCEL) courses taken as a high school student after Summer term 2011 are excluded from HOPE Scholar GPA calculations, as well.

In order to receive a Zell Miller Scholarship payment a student must be determined eligible within seven (7) years of their graduation from high school, the date they would have graduated if the student had not withdrawn, or successful completion of a high school equivalency exam, whichever comes first. Once a student has reached the 127 attempted hours limit, the 127 combined paid hours limit of HOPE/Zell Miller Grant and HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship hours combined, or earned a Bachelor’s degree, the student is no longer eligible for Zell Miller Scholarship. Students who feel they meet Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility requirements should submit a request for Zell Miller evaluation to the Financial Aid Office.

Additional Sources of Financial Aid

SRTC Foundation Scholarships

Southern Regional Technical College Foundation, Inc. awards scholarships based on academic excellence and financial need to eligible students. Information on available Foundation Scholarships can be found on the SRTC website and in the Financial Aid Office. Applications for Foundation Scholarships should be submitted to the SRTC Foundation Office.

External Scholarships

Various civic, social, and professional organizations provide scholarships to deserving students. In most cases, these scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and financial need. Other selection criteria may be used based on donor preferences. Information on available scholarships can be located on the SRTC website and in the Financial Aid Office.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation is a state funded, federally supplemented program that is designed to provide financial assistance for educational expenses for students with documented disabilities who wish to enter the workforce. The SRTC Special Population Coordinators can assist students in obtaining a referral for services under Vocational Rehabilitation. Students who feel they may meet Vocational Rehabilitation eligibility should contact an SRTC Special Populations Coordinator for more information.

HOPE Residency Considerations

A student who meets Georgia residency requirements at the time of high school graduation, or equivalent, as determined by TCSG residency requirements and GSFC regulations, is required to be a Georgia resident for at least 12 months prior to the first day of the term for which the student enrolls. A student who does not meet Georgia residency requirements at the time of graduation, or equivalent, as determined by TCSG residency requirements and GSFC regulations, is required to be a Georgia resident for at least 24 months prior to the first day of the term for which the student enrolls. Special residency provisions exist for military personnel, their spouse and dependents. Joint enrolled high school students are required to meet Georgia residency requirements for 12 months prior to the first day of the term for which the student enrolls.

Learning Support Students

A student who is determined to be HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant eligible may receive HOPE Grant payments for Learning Support coursework that is required for his or her declared diploma or certificate program. The HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship programs do not pay for Learning Support coursework for degree-seeking students. Pell Grant recipients who are admitted as Regular or Provisional status in Admissions may use Pell funds for up to 30 semester hours of learning support coursework. Students admitted to Learning Support status in Admissions are not eligible for federal aid payments.

Repeated Coursework

In most instances, students can retake a course they have previously enrolled in and receive financial aid for the repeated course. The state aid programs have attempted and paid hours limits and retaking courses excessively can cause a student to exhaust state-funding eligibility before the student completes their program of study. Federal aid programs limit a student to one repeat attempt for a previously passed course or its equivalent. Retaking a course does not replace the original course grade for HOPE or Zell Miller GPA calculations nor Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree Recipients

Once a student has earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher, the student is no longer eligible for Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant, or HCG.

Payment of Funds

Students receive their financial aid awards on a semester basis. Unless paid by other sources, the student’s tuition, fees and bookstore charges will be deducted from the student’s financial aid award and the balance remaining will be paid directly to the student by the end of the fourth week of the term. For students enrolled in mini-terms (parts of term), Title IV aid will be disbursed to the student’s account as each part of term class begins.

Financial Aid Authorizations

Students are encouraged to submit financial aid authorizations for Title IV aid through the BANNERWeb secure login area to authorize non-mandatory fees to be deducted from their financial aid awards. Examples of non-mandatory fees include, but are not limited to: late fees, library fines, and graduation fees. Non-mandatory fees that are not authorized by the student to be deducted from financial aid will be the student’s responsibility to self-pay. Tuition and mandatory fees do not require student authorization to be deducted from financial aid awards.

Return to Title IV Calculations (R2T4)

Title IV funds are awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire enrollment period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive. The Financial Aid Department will use the last date of attendance from the college’s attendance records, reported by faculty, to calculate R2T4. SRTC does not consider Leaves of Absence in the R2T4 process.

The Financial Aid Department will recalculate enrollment period award amounts of the Title IV grant funds for students who totally withdraw, officially or unofficially, from school. If a student stops attending, the amount of Title IV aid the student did not earn must be calculated. The percentage of aid earned is derived from the number of calendar days the student completed divided by the number of calendar days in the enrollment period. In the event that the withdrawal is discovered before funds are disbursed to the student, the school will simply reduce the student’s disbursement. If funds were disbursed to the student prior to the withdrawal, the student will be billed for the amount of funds over awarded. If the amount disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, the student may be eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement of the earned aid that was not received. Students who complete the enrollment period with grades of all F’s or any combination of all withdrawals and F’s will be considered for a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation based on the last date of attendance recorded for those courses.

Once Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) determines that the student has withdrawn, an R2T4 calculation will be completed in BANNER within 30 days and award updates will be reported to the Department of Education through the COD invoicing process. Should the student’s award amounts change, the student will receive an updated award notification reflecting the award reduction. Once an R2T4 calculation is completed, it is possible that the revised financial aid award may not cover all institutional charges due to the College; at which point, the charges become the student’s responsibility to pay. Institutional charges are assessed in accordance with the SRTC Procedure: Refunds. The student will receive a bill from the College should the reduction in aid generate a balance on the student’s account. The Business Office will promptly return the excess funds to the appropriate program within time frames established by the Department of Education. Funds will be returned to the Department of Education in the following order: Federal Pell Grant, then Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). If the student fails to return the funds to the College in 45 days, the school may report the overpayment via National Student Loan Data System for Students (NSLDS). Any student who owes a balance due to a financial aid over award will be ineligible for further financial aid until he/she has repaid the funds.

Example:

The enrollment period consists of 105 calendar days. The student withdraws on the 42^nd calendar day of the enrollment period. Therefore, the student completed 42 of 105 days, or 40% of the enrollment period. If the student was awarded federal funds of $900 for the enrollment period, the student would have earned 40% of the award or $360. In this case, had funds already been disbursed at $900, the student would have received an overpayment of $540. The overpaid funds would need to be returned to the College by the student. The federal regulations provide a provision for protection allowance for the student, so the student’s portion to return may be less than unearned amount in some instances.

Students who attend through the 60% point of the enrollment period generally have earned all their Title IV funds.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Monitoring

In accordance with U.S. Department of Education federal regulations, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their course of study to continue receiving Federal Title IV financial aid. Federal Title IV financial aid at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Federal Work Study (FWS).

The State of Georgia administered financial aid programs (including HOPE Grant, HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Grant, Zell Miller Scholarship, HERO, and Student Access Loan - Technical) follow the same requirements as federal aid.

Notification

Each student’s SAP status is evaluated at the end of each term of enrollment, regardless of the receipt of financial aid. Students are notified if there is a change in their eligibility. The Financial Aid Department uses the SRTC student e-mail as the primary means of communication. Students may check their SAP status on BannerWeb at any time. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of SAP requirements and his or her respective SAP status. Failure to receive a notification of SAP status does not exempt a student from the requirements or consequences of their respective SAP status or any applicable deadlines.

GPA Requirements - Qualitative Measure

In order to receive financial aid, students must maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0. All periods of enrollment at SRTC are included when calculating GPA and completion rate for SAP purposes, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. All prior terms of enrollment at Moultrie Technical College and Southwest Georgia Technical College are also included in the calculation, as this is a cumulative measure.

All attempts of repeated courses are included in the GPA calculation. Incomplete grades, transfer credit, exemption exam credit, credit for previous experience, grades for audited courses, and articulated credit are NOT included in the financial aid GPA. Grades included in the GPA calculation for SAP purposes are: A, B, C, D, F, and WF.

Pace of Progression (Completion Rate) - Quantitative Measure

In order to receive financial aid, students must successfully complete two-thirds (66.66%) of all credit hours attempted at SRTC to maintain satisfactory progress. The completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted.

All periods of enrollment at SRTC are included when calculating completion rate, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. Credit hours for all prior terms of enrollment at Moultrie Technical College and Southwest Georgia Technical College are included in the calculation, as this is a cumulative measure. All attempts of repeated courses are considered attempted hours in the completion rate calculation. Credit hours for which a student earns a grade of I, IP, W, and WF credit hours are counted as hours attempted for SAP purposes. Incomplete grades, withdrawals, and failures are considered unsuccessful completions.

Transfers of credit are counted as credit hours attempted and earned in the calculation of completion rate. Exemption exam credit, credit for previous experience, grades for audited courses, and articulated credit are NOT included in the completion rate calculation. Grades which are considered successful completions for financial aid SAP purposes are: A, B, C, D, TR, and S. Grades which are considered unsuccessful completions for financial aid SAP purposes are: F, W, WP, WF, I, IP, and U.

Maximum Time Frame for Federal Pell Grant and Title IV Aid Programs

The purpose of the Federal Title IV financial aid programs is to assist students in meeting their educational expenses while they progress toward timely completion of their educational objectives. For that reason, students must complete their educational objective within a maximum time frame of one and one-half times the length of the program in which they are enrolled. Program length is measured in credit hours and is determined by the number of credit hours required for completion of the program. For example, students enrolled in a diploma program that requires 90 credit hours to complete will receive financial aid for no more than 135 attempted hours. Students in programs requiring 126 credit hours will receive financial aid for no more than 189 attempted hours, etc. If it is determined that a student cannot mathematically complete his/her program of study within 150% of the program’s length, then he/she will become ineligible for financial aid. Students who consistently meet the two-thirds (66.66%) completion rate requirement should also meet this requirement. Students who fail to meet the two-thirds (66.66%) completion rate requirement at any time risk exceeding the maximum time frame before completing their program.

All periods of enrollment are included when calculating maximum time frame, even terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. All attempts of repeated courses are included. Credit hours for which a student receives an Incomplete grade (I or IP) are considered attempted hours. Transfer credit hours (TR) which are counted toward a student’s program of study are included in this calculation. Exemption exam credit (EX) and credit for previous work or life experience that is counted toward a student’s program of study is also included in this calculation.

Once a student is found to have exceeded the maximum time frame allowed, he or she will be ineligible for all types of Title IV federal and State of Georgia financial aid. Students may appeal a loss of financial aid eligibility due to maximum time frame requirements if extenuating circumstances prevented them from completing their program within the specified time frame.

If a student graduates from one program and re-enrolls in another program, the maximum time frame will be reset. However, all previous credit hours attempted that count toward the new program will be included in the new time frame calculation. (For example, if a student graduates from the Accounting diploma program, and re-enrolls in the Accounting degree program, all previously taken Accounting courses that are counted toward both programs will be counted in the time frame calculation for the new program.)

Financial Aid Warning

Students who fail to maintain either a 2.0 cumulative GPA or two-thirds (66.66%) cumulative completion rate will be placed on financial aid warning. Students on financial aid warning will continue to receive financial aid for one term only despite not meeting the SAP requirements. Students on financial aid warning must meet all SAP requirements by the end of their warning period in order to receive financial aid in subsequent terms.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail to meet all SAP requirements after their term on financial aid warning are placed on financial aid suspension and are not eligible for any form of financial aid. Students have the right to appeal a financial aid suspension if there are extenuating circumstances that have prevented them from meeting the SAP requirements.

Reinstatement of Aid

A student who has been placed on financial aid suspension will regain eligibility for financial aid when he/she has met the minimum cumulative requirements for SAP. Not enrolling for a term or paying for tuition does not automatically reinstate a student’s eligibility for financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements must be met or an appeal must be approved in order to receive aid.

Appeals Process

Students have the right to appeal a financial aid suspension if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting the SAP requirements. The appeals process is as follows:

Financial Aid Probation

Students whose appeals are approved may be placed on financial aid probation if it is mathematically possible for them to meet SAP requirements at the end of their probation term. Students on probation are eligible to receive financial aid for one term only. In order to receive financial aid after the probation period, a student must meet all SAP requirements. Failure to meet SAP requirements after one term on probation will result in the student being placed on financial aid suspension and losing eligibility for all forms of financial aid.

Academic Plans

If it is not mathematically possible for a student, whose appeal was approved, to make SAP by the end of the probation term, the student will be required to follow an Academic Plan in order to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Academic Plans will be developed for each applicable student on an individual basis by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Academic Plans may include any activity or requirement that the Financial Aid Appeals Committee believes will enable the student to meet SAP requirements by a specific point in time and ultimately enable the student to successfully complete his/her program of study in a timely manner.

Students on an Academic Plan are required to meet all the requirements of the Plan each term in order to receive aid for the subsequent term until they meet overall satisfactory academic progress. The Financial Aid Department will verify that all requirements of the Plan were met prior to posting aid for the subsequent term. Failure to meet all requirements of an Academic Plan will result in the student being placed on financial aid suspension and losing all financial aid eligibility. A student may appeal a financial aid suspension in this situation if there were extenuating circumstances that prevented him/her from meeting the requirements of the Plan.

Academic Plans are developed with the goal of the student successfully completing his/her current program of study in a timely manner. Should a student change his/her program of study, the Academic Plan may be repealed and the student may be placed back on financial aid suspension until he/she re-submits an appeal explaining how he/she will make SAP in the next term of enrollment with the new program of study. A financial aid hold may be placed on students on Academic Plans to prevent aid from being posted for subsequent terms until program of study, SAP status, and Academic Plan requirements have been verified by the Financial Aid Department.