A student must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of his/her degree or certificate program.
All students, who receive federal financial aid (FPell, FSEOG and FWS), are required to maintain certain standards of academic performance called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
A student must meet SAP toward the completion of his/her degree or certificate program each semester.
NPC has both a qualitative and quantitative measure of academic progress:
- Qualitative Requirement: Maintain a minimum Cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or above.
-
Quantitative Requirements: Maintain a cumulative Pace of Progression at 67% Students must earn at least 67 percent (66.667%) of all credit hours, which they attempt at NPC on a cumulative basis.
Example: |
Cumulative Pace |
|
Semester 1 / enrolled for 12 credits completed 9 credits |
|
|
9 credits earned/12 credits attempted |
9/12=75% |
|
Semester 2 / enrolled for 12credits completed 2 credits |
|
|
11 credits earned/24 credits attempted |
11/24=45% |
|
Semester 3 / enrolled for 12 credits completed 12 credits |
|
|
23 credits earned/36 credits attempted |
23/36=63% |
|
Cumulative Pace of Progression |
63% |
“Satisfactory Completion” means earning a passing grade of A, B, C, D or P.
I’s, W’s and F’s are not considered passing grades.
The 150 Percent Rule -
Maximum time frame for completion of a degree or certificate.
Students may be funded up to 150 percent of published program length. This includes all attemptedAttempted CreditsAll courses that appear on your transcript including courses that earn a letter grade, Withdraw, Pass/No Pass grade. NPC credits as well as all accepted transfer, CLEP, and assessed credits (this includes all semesters with or without financial assistance).
| NPC Program (example) | Length of Program | 150% Rule = Length of Program x 150% |
|---|---|---|
| AA or AAEE | 64 | 96 credits |
Exceptions:
| Degree | Program | Credits | 150% Rule = Length of Program x 150% |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAS | Behavioral Health | 65 | 97.5 (Two-year program) |
| AAS | Cosmetology | 67 | 100.5 (Two-year program) |
| AAS | Registered Nursing (LNA to RN) | 72 | 108 (Two-year program) |
| AAS | Paramedic to RN | 65 | 97.5 (Two-year program) |
| AAS | Surgical Technology | 68 | 102 (Two-year program) |
* Academic Progress will be measured at the end of each semester.
Transfer students applying for financial aid are required to submit official copies of all previous college work to the Records and Registration Office. Students must include and complete the Request for Evaluation of Transfer Credits form. This form may be obtained from an academic adviser or the Records and Registration Office. Evaluated credits will assist advisement prior to enrolling in classes at NPC. Transferred credit hours will be counted as both attempted and completed hours. Failure to submit transfer credits for evaluation will delay the student’s financial aid process and/or denied financial aid assistance.
Repeat Course:
- Students may repeat a previously passed (letter grade of “D” or higher) course once.
- Students may repeat a course four times (if a grade of “W” or “F” is received) and received financial aid funding provided all SAP requirements are met.
- Students may receive funding for a maximum of six repeatable special projects or special classes.
Remedial Courses: Eligibility for federal financial aid is limited for students required to take “pre-college” remedial courses at NPC. Financial Aid recipients are limited to the equivalent of one year or 30 credit hours of approved CCP (including courses formerly known as BSK and TLC) courses).
Ineligible CCP courses will not be funded and will be counted toward the 30 credit-hour limit. View eligible CCP courses.
Financial Aid Status
Students who fail to meet SAP requirements will be put on SAP Warning status for their next semester of attendance. Students put on warning will be notified in writing of their status and informed of the deficiency requiring correction. Eligibility for financial aid will be suspended if the deficiency is not corrected by the end of the next period of enrollment.
The first semester SAP is not meet the student will be place on SAP Warning and will continue to be eligible for financial aid.
If SAP is not meet the following semester too, then the student will be placed on SAP Suspension and financial aid will be suspended – not eligible for financial aid.
Warning Status
- Recipients of financial aid assistance will receive a SAP Warning Notice after any semester in which their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 and/or they fail to satisfactorily complete 67% of all attempted credits (Pace of Progression)
- Students are eligible to continue to receive financial assistance while on Warning status if all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Students will be removed from Warning status after completing the following semester in good academic standing.
Suspension Status
Recipients of financial aid assistance will be suspended from financial aid if they fail to meet the 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average, and/or they fail to satisfactorily complete 67% of all attempted credits (Pace of Progression) for two consecutive semesters of enrollment. Not eligible to continue receiving financial aid. Must meet SAP requirements to regain eligibility or may appeal for reinstatement of financial aid.
Appeal/Probation Status
As a result of the financial aid appeal process, a student may be placed on Appeal/Probation Status. Students placed in this status will be put on an academic plan towards successful completion of their degree or certificate program. The student will be reviewed at the end of each semester for SAP as well as making progress towards completion of their program. Any student making progress toward their degree/certificate and who meets SAP requirements will be considered financial aid eligible.
A student has two options to return to GOOD SAP status:
OPTION 1: SAP Appeal Process:
- A student must complete the electronic SAP Appeal form which should be based on extenuating circumstances that can be documented.
- The student must type a statement to state the reason(s) they did not meet SAP, including how the condition or situation has been resolved thus allowing them the ability to meet SAP.
- Upload supporting documentation with their request.
- Students must also upload a full degree audit with the Academic Adviser’s signature and the catalog year of their degree intent.
The SAP Appeal process is now available for students thru their Financial Aid Student Portal at My NPC. The outcome for an appeal may include Approval, Denial, or Probation status.
A student placed on “probation status” will be placed on an academic plan towards successful completion of degree or certificate program. The student will be reviewed at the end of each semester for SAP as well as making progress towards completion of degree program. The student must continue making progress and meeting SAP to be considered eligible each semester.
NOTE: A student may continue to receive financial aid assistance only as the result of a successful appeal.
OPTION 2: If a Student Decides Not to Appeal:
Students who do not appeal and decide to continue at NPC must meet SAP the next semester of enrollment. Students will need to pay out of pocket for tuition and fees until SAP is meet.
Additional information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress is available in the NPC College Catalog or by contacting the Financial Aid Office.
