Satisfactory Academic Progress

Effective: 2018-2019

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured each term at Wallace State Community College. Students are required under federal regulations to maintain certain standards of progress depending on the number of hours they have attempted in college. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand all policies associated with financial aid funding. Students should regularly check their My Wallace State account for the latest information regarding their account. Financial aid status can be found under the financial aid tab. After accessing the financial aid tab, click financial status to view any warnings or suspension of financial aid.

GPA requirements for long-term certificate and degree seeking students

• If the student has attempted 1-21 hours they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
• If the student has attempted 22-32 hours they must maintain a 1.75 GPA
• If the student has attempted 33 or more hours they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Completion rate (attempted class hours) required by long-term certificate and degree seeking students

• If the student has attempted 1-21 hours they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 22-32 hours they must maintain a 62% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 33 or more hours they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

GPA requirements for short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours) students

• If the student has attempted 12 hours they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
• If the student has attempted 24 hours they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Completion rate (attempted class hours) required short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours) students

• If the student has attempted 12… hours they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 24… hours they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Additional regulations

• Students are only allowed 150% of the programs length to complete the degree or certificate.
  • Example:  General Studies is 64 credits.  Students are allowed 150% or 96 attempted credits to complete the program successfully. If the student does not complete their program in the allotted timeframe their grant will be suspended. Every program is different. Students should check the catalog or Degree Works for the number of hours required for completion of their program and multiply 1.5 X the number of hours for graduation= MAX timeframe on ATTEMPTED credit hours. Students who submit an appeal for MAX timeframe MUST have completed a degree or certificate at WSCC or at another school. We cannot approve a SAP appeal for MAX if the student has not graduated from a certificate or degree program. If the student has graduated from a program, we can evaluate the appeal to determine if any hours can be excluded from the attempted hours that do not count in any way toward the new program of student to determine the number of hours of eligibility left in their current program. 
• Transfer hours will be included in the calculation.
• All prior coursework at Wallace State is included in the SAP calculation.
• Transitional courses will be included in the calculation. 
• If a student does not meet any of the requirements listed the student will be given one warning semester in which he will be eligible to receive aid. There is no warning period for MAX timeframe and that situation cannot be improved.
  • Example: New students who attend their first semester and do not meet the above criteria on GPA and completion rate will be given one warning semester to receive financial aid. Students who have attended multiple semesters in the past, who are already not meeting SAP are not given a warning semester as they have already received aid for one semester when they had not made SAP.
• After the warning semester the student must have the required GPA or completion rate to continue to receive financial aid assistance or financial aid will be suspended.
• If financial aid funds are suspended the student may file an appeal based on any mitigating circumstances that caused the student to be unsuccessful in their coursework.

Financial Aid Appeal

• Students may submit a Financial Aid Appeal if they can provide documented proof of mitigating circumstances. Mitigating Circumstances are those that are beyond the student’s control such as illness, death in the immediate family, divorce, etc.
• Students must submit the appeal form and all documentation pertaining to the appeal, by the published appeal deadline. Submitting a Financial Aid Appeal is NOT an automatic approval.
• The Financial Aid Committee will meet each term to review the Financial Aid Appeals.
• Students will be notified of the decision made by the committee by e-mail/letter.
• Students must follow the terms of their appeal if approved or their Financial Aid will be suspended.
• If a student is approved on a Financial Aid Appeal and fails to follow the terms of the appeal, a second appeal is not accepted. Students in this situation will not be eligible to receive aid until their progress is current by their own means. 
• Students who have exceeded their 600% Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility are not eligible to file an appeal to receive a Pell Grant. Their appeal will be considered for Direct Loans only.
• The only circumstances a student may file an appeal for MAX ATTEMPTED HOURS is if they have graduated from a program and wish to have us evaluate their transcript to see if any hours can be excluded that do not count in any way toward the current program of study. Only students who have completed a degree/certificate can be considered for an appeal on MAX. 
• Students who owe back funds Pell Grant or Direct Loan funds from a prior term cannot appeal repaying te funds.

For Questions please contact:
Financial Aid
256-352-8182
financialaid@wallacestate.edu