Federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients meet federal academic progress standards while taking courses toward a degree or certificate program. Progress is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average, percentage of credits successfully completed and timeframe or pace toward completion of the program. The College evaluates progress at the end of the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

The College is federally required to have a satisfactory academic progress policy that, for a Federal Student Aid (FSA) recipient, is the same as or more strict than the College’s standards for a student enrolled in the same educational program who is not receiving assistance under an FSA program.

Each student receiving Federal Title IV Student Financial Assistance must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by the standards provided in the policy which follows. Standards to be evaluated are qualitative (grades) and quantitative (PACE) and maximum hours attempted toward completing a degree or certificate).

Federal Title IV programs to which these standards apply include: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Student Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Federal Direct Plus Loans, and Federal Work-Study.

Students who file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive funds from these programs must have their SAP evaluated. The SAP Policy is available in the College Catalog, and on this page. You may pick-up a copy of this policy from the Financial Aid Office. You may also contact Financial Aid at 215-884-6051.

There are three parts to the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement:
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
Cumulative (Overall) progress
Maximum Time Frame

Students must comply with all three to remain eligible for aid.

1. CUMULATIVE Grade Point Average (GPA)

The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations require that students maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) in order to remain eligible for financial aid. The chart below outlines the GPA required based on the number of credits attempted.

A student must maintain a minimum required grade point average (GPA) based on the total number of credits attempted including transfer credits. Total credits attempted include courses in which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, F, WD, S, U, SP, NG or I.

Attempted credits include transferred credits from another college and are only used to determine minimum GPA required.

Students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress measures described above will be given a “Financial Aid Warning.” The student will keep this Warning Status for one full semester, during which he/she is expected to bring their academic standing up to the required standard.

2. Quantitative Standards – Cumulative Progress

The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations also contain a quantitative component, meaning that students are required to make steady progress toward their degree by completing at least two-thirds (67%) of all their attempted credit hours. If they do not successfully complete at least two-thirds of all credit hours attempted, they will be placed in a financial aid warning status.  While in financial aid probation, they will continue to receive their financial aid.

Completion Rate (67% Rule): Students must, at a minimum, receive a satisfactory grade in courses attempted by completing 67% of the credits for which they are enrolled. This calculation is performed by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted. The College checks completion rates after the student has attempted 6 credits. The College counts all transfer credits, withdrawals, developmental and incompletes as attempted credits.

3. Maximum Time Frame

Maximum hours (150% Rule): Students may only receive financial aid up to 150% of the program length. The College counts all credits attempted and transfer credits applicable to the student’s program. This calculation includes all semesters including those for which the student received no federal aid. For example, a student whose program requires 60 credits may only attempt up to 90 credits in that program.

Developmental Courses: Students may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of 30 semester hours of developmental coursework. Developmental courses are evaluated in the student’s progress calculation including completion rate, maximum hours, and cumulative grade point average.

If the student succeeds in bringing up his/her academic standing to the appropriate level, he/she will continue to be eligible for federal financial aid. However, if the student fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress measure at the end of the Warning Semester, he/she will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid. A student who fails to meet satisfactory academic progress after having a Warning Period may appeal to have their financial aid continued.

Students who lose eligibility for financial aid may have it reinstated for future semesters once they have brought their academic performance up to the appropriate measure.

Example:

Appealing Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student who fails to meet satisfactory academic progress after having a Warning Period may appeal to have their financial aid continued. If the appeal is accepted by the College’s Financial Aid Appeals Committee , the student will have one more semester on Financial Aid Probation. The student is to use this Financial Aid probationary semester to bring his/her academic standing up to the required standard, and may receive financial aid during this semester.

If the student succeeds in bringing up his/her academic standing to the appropriate level, he/she will continue to be eligible for federal financial aid. However, if the student fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress measure at the end of the Probationary Semester, he/she will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid.

An appeal to be put on Financial Aid Probation must include:

a. An explanation by the student why he/she failed to make satisfactory academic progress. Mitigating circumstances include serious illness or accident involving the student; death, accident, or serious illness of an immediate family member or other mitigating circumstance beyond the control of the student.

b. What has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation. The student must complete the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal Form, provide acceptable supporting documentation and complete all required steps outlined on the form. An appeal must also include a credible academic plan approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs that clearly shows how the student can successfully complete the program of study within the appropriate amount of time.

Students may receive only one (1) Warning and Probationary period during their enrollment at the College.

Manor College Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (MC SAP)

MANOR COLLEGE GRANT RECIPIENTS: All Manor Grants and other Manor financial assistance will follow the same basic rules as outlined for the federal aid programs.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: Many scholarships require higher academic standards than outlined in this policy. Students unable to maintain minimum acceptable standards should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Process for implementation

• At the end of each semester when all final grades are posted to the students’ transcripts, the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Coordinator in the Financial Aid Office will review the CAMS SAP report. Students who do not meet the required quantitative and qualitative requirements of academic progress for financial aid recipients will be identified.
• Students will be notified by the SAP coordinator that they are placed on a warning semester or are eligible for the probation semester, depending on the review.  They will be sent a notification letter and copy of the SAP Policy and if necessary the SAP Appeal form.
• The Dean of Academic Affairs will be notified of the students that have not made SAP for federal student aid.  At the direction of the Dean, the Financial Aid Office will notify each student’s academic advisor.
• After all notifications have been made, the student will have 10 days to respond with an appeal to the SAP Coordinator.
• All appeals will be resolved by the SAP Appeals committee.  Students will be notified of the decision.  There is no appeal of the college committee.

 

PHEAA State Grant Academic Progress Policy (PA residents only)

A student is required to successfully complete a minimum of six (6) credits per semester for each part-time state grant received and a minimum of twelve (12) credits per semester for each full-time state grant received. This minimum also includes credit-bearing courses and developmental courses. Credits earned for repeat courses which were previously counted when state grant progress was verified cannot be counted again. Failure to meet the minimum credit requirements means that a student is not eligible for further State grant aid until that student has successfully completed the required number of credits. There are no appeals to the Stat Grant Academic Policy.

A student is eligible for 4 semesters of full-time grants (or the equivalent) at a two-year institution.
Full-time students progressing at the rate of only 24 credits per year (or the equivalent), while meeting the minimum state grant progress standard, will utilize all of their state grant eligibility before completing their program.

State Grant application deadline: May 1 of each year

Students should refer to the complete written progress requirements sent by PHEAA with their award notice. Questions can be directed to PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392.