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Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid

To remain eligible for financial aid at Central Carolina Technical College, a student must make reasonable academic progress toward a degree, diploma or certificate. Satisfactory academic progress is a federal government requirement and is measured by a number of factors including the following:


Cumulative Grade Point Average - (Qualitative Measure)

  • A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (C) or better to remain eligible for financial aid.
  • At the end of the first semester in which a student’s cumulative GPA is less than 2.00 the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Financial aid will be continued during probation.
  • If the cumulative GPA falls below a 2.00 (C) during the probationary period, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
  • If a student’s semester or cumulative GPA falls below a 1.00 (D), the Financial Aid Office reserves the right to suspend his/her financial aid without a probationary period.
Cumulative Credit Hours - (Quantitative Measure)
  • A student must successfully pass 67% of the cumulative hours attempted.
  • If a student fails a class or withdraws from a class, those credits will not be earned toward a degree, diploma, or certificate.
  • Students who do not pass at least 67% of their cumulative hours attempted will be placed on probation; any time a student fails to pass 67% of attempted hours thereafter, he/she is subject to suspension from financial aid.
  • If a student receives a W, I, WF, or an F the student does not pass the credits and these grades factor into the 67% completion requirement.
Maximum Time Frame – (Quantitative Measure)
  • A student may only receive financial aid for a limited time. Eligibility for financial aid is terminated after a student has attempted 150% of his/her program length.
  • The attempted hours will consider all course work taken at CCTC (including DVS), and transfer credits accepted by the college.
  • The maximum time frame is program specific.
  • A student transferring from another institution will have all credits accepted by CCTC considered toward the 150% maximum time frame.

First-time applicants for Financial Aid

There is a possibility that a student may be ineligible for aid, based on academic progress, even before the student applies. (CCTC looks at a student’s complete enrollment history to establish eligibility regardless of the student’s past application.)

Exceptions / Appeal / Reinstatement

Exceptions to this policy will be reviewed based on an appeals process under the umbrella of Professional Judgment.  Students with legitimate appeals may be given exceptions on a case-by-case basis.  A written appeal must be submitted and approved for reinstatement.
  • A student on financial aid suspension may appeal by completing a Financial Aid Appeal Form, (available on the college’s web site) indicating reasons why he or she did not meet the requirements.
  • Acceptable reasons for appeal include: personal illness, family difficulties, death or serious illness of a family member, and financial difficulties. The student must provide appropriate documentation supporting the appeal.  Incomplete appeal documents will be returned to the student, unprocessed.
  • All appeals must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office in writing and accompanied by appropriate documentation no later than the close of business on the last day of the drop/add period for the semester in which the student is requesting aid.  Late appeals will be processed for the following academic term.
  • Initially, the appeal will be reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid and/or the Financial Aid Coordinator to determine the merit of the appeal. If appropriate, the appeal will be forwarded to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.
  • Appeal decisions will be made within three weeks of the date a complete appeal is received by the financial aid office.  Students will be notified via email.
  • Students may have their financial aid reinstated with the approval of an appeal. Students reinstated by appeal will have to adhere to prescribed guidelines established by the Director of Financial Aid or the Appeal Committee.
  • All decisions made by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee are final. Students whose appeals are denied must regain eligibility prior to receiving additional financial assistance.
Summary
  • It is the student’s responsibility to monitor his/her status for Satisfactory Academic Progress.  This can be done using the student’s MyCCTC account.  The status is updated at the end of each semester, once grades are finalized in Student Records.
  • At the end of each semester the Financial Aid Office will review the GPA and earned credit hours, and notify students on probation and suspension as quickly as possible via the US Postal Service and/or the student’s MyCCTC email.
  • Students on suspension will be ineligible for all Title IV (federal) aid and most state aid.

Revised 1/2008