2.08 Satisfactory Progress-Financial Aid

Each institution that receives Title IV funds is required by the U.S. Department of Education, Section 132 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1976, to define and enforce standards for satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress measures a student’s performance in the following three areas/criteria: cumulative completion rate, cumulative grade point average (GPA) and maximum time frame.

The Financial Aid Office is responsible for establishing and monitoring a standard of “satisfactory academic progress: for continuation of financial aid eligibility. In order to be eligible to receive financial aid (federal and/or state and institutional aid), the student must be making satisfactory progress towards a certificate or degree, as identified in the quantitative (the completion rate of credit hours attempted) and qualitative (the GPA) standards of the policy.

Progress will be reviewed when an application is processed (including Federal Pell, Federal Stafford and Federal PLUS Loans if submitted separately) and at the end of each term. The maximum timeframe allowed in which a student is expected to complete his or her certificate and/or degree program is 150% of the number of credit hours required for the specific program. The standard of satisfactory academic progress must include a student’s total academic history at Northeastern Junior College regardless of whether they previously received financial assistance. A complete copy of the policy is available in the Financial Aid Office.

Students with extenuating circumstances that prohibit them from meeting the standards have a right to file an appeal with the Financial Aid Office. All appeals should be in writing and accompanied by third-party documentation.