Berea College 2011-12 Financial Aid SAP Policy updated 12.22.11

Students who fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) may lose their eligibility for Title IV federal aid and state financial aid. SAP is measured by Quantitative and Qualitative progress.

The Berea College Student Financial Aid Office will check SAP at the end of each term. Students will be reviewed based on the following standards:

Beginning with the 5th regular term, the number of credits will be based on earned credits and not passed (i.e. Developmental Math courses count toward load/passed credit and full-time status but not earned credit, which count toward graduation requirements.) Please see the Academic Dictionary in the College Catalog and Student Handbook for more information on Earned Credit versus Passed credit.

Students must satisfactorily complete at least three (3) full courses during each regular term and complete the total number of course credits (including convocation and developmental course credits) per year based on the student's number of regular terms enrolled.

A maximum of six (6) academic years will be permitted to complete a baccalaureate program, or a total of forty eight (48) courses attempted.

Incomplete courses will not be counted until a grade is given.

Repeated coursework counts toward enrollment status and may affect financial aid eligibility. Repeated courses will be included as hours attempted. If a minimum grade is required for a major a repeated course where a student received a D or higher will be permitted if SAAS approved.

If an extension of terms has been granted by SAAS, students will be considered making SAP if they are following the curriculum plan outlined by their advisors and which was approved by SAAS.

A student enrolled in a regular program at Berea College may receive federal financial and state aid for up to thirty (30) hours of remedial courses. Remedial courses will be counted toward enrollment status. Remedial courses will be excluded from the maximum time frame to earn a baccalaureate degree.

Transfer courses accepted for Berea credit will be counted toward the total number of courses attempted and hours completed.

Students that change their major will be considered maintaining SAP if they are not placed on probation or suspension by SAAS Committee and are making progress according to their approved curriculum plan.

NOTE: For purposes of SAP, students who have submitted an appeal and academic plan and can demonstrate they will be able to graduate according to the approved plan will be removed from probation/warning status and placed in good standing. Students must appeal to the Student Admissions and Academic Standing Committee (SAAS) for all SAP appeals.

Review Process

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be reviewed at the end of each term, fall, spring, and summer. Students who fail to meet the set quantitative and/or qualitative standards at the end of a term will be placed on financial aid warning for the next term of enrollment. A student will be placed on financial aid warning for one term. During this warning term, students may still receive Title IV and state financial aid. Failure to meet SAP standards at the end of the warning term will result in the loss of Title IV Federal and state financial aid for the next term.

Appeal Process

Students who lose their aid eligibility will be given the opportunity to appeal to the Director of Student Financial Aid Services. The student must submit to the Director a detailed success plan on how they plan to attain SAP and be on track to graduate within the designated time frame. The written appeal must include the following:

• Why the student failed to meet the SAP standards, extenuating circumstances that led to this failure
• What changes will allow the student to make SAP at the end of the next evaluation
• Curriculum plan on how to regain SAP

Appeals and curriculum plans will be due immediately or within the deadlines designated in the notification letter from the offices of Student Financial Aid and Academic Services. All notices will be sent via e-mail and hard copies to the student's current College Post Office Box. A review of the appeal and decision will occur within seven days of receipt of the appeal. If an appeal is denied, interest-bearing college loans may be available to help cover any grant aid lost.

If the Office of Student Financial Aid Services approves the student appeal, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the following term and may receive federal and state financial aid. Failure to meet the set SAP standards at the end of the financial aid probation term will result in the loss of Title IV federal and state financial aid for the next term of enrollment. If there are extenuating circumstances that need to be considered appeals may be sent to the Director of Student Financial Aid.

Reinstatement of Title IV Aid Eligibility

Students will be considered in good standing in regard to financial aid eligibility when they again meet the minimum SAP standards or receive approval of a submitted appeal. Periods of non enrollment or sitting out for any length of time does not affect a student's SAP standing. Students who re-enter after a period of absence from the College remain on the same financial aid status as when they left. They would need to take appropriate actions based on whether they were suspended, on probation or warning and would need to submit a letter of appeal and curriculum plan to the Student Financial Aid Office to reinstate their financial aid.

For additional information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress, (SAP) please see the college catalog and handbook under SAP, Academic Difficulty & Suspension Policies.

Note: For purposes of SAP, students who have submitted an appeal and academic plan and can demonstrate they will be able to graduate according to the approved plan will be removed from probation/warning status and placed in good standing. Students must appeal to the Student Admissions and Academic Standing Committee (SAAS) for all SAP appeals.

Financial Aid & Student Accounts

• Berea's Extraordinary Financial Plan
• Student Expenses
• Health Insurance
• Scholarships, Grants, Labor Earnings, and Loans
• Student Accounts, Term Bills, and Payment Plan
• Refund Policies
• Financial Aid Eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Drug Violations Penalties and Financial Aid Eligibility