In compliance with federal regulations, Sitting Bull College established the following policies and procedures to ensure that students who receive federal financial aid (Pell, SEOG, FWS, SSIG) are making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward a certificate, associate degree or baccalaureate degree. Students who fail to meet these standards of satisfactory academic progress will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid until eligibility is once again established.
At the end of each semester, the Financial Aid Office evaluates each student progress who has received federal Title IV aid in the semester. Details regarding SAP standards and calculations are provided below. Students on SAP warning and probation are still eligible to receive federal financial aid.
***Financial aid status is NOT the same as academic standing (i.e. academic warning, probation, continued probation, and suspension)
+ GPA: Minimum Grade Point Average
Students are required to maintain a term and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.00 if they receive federal financial aid from any of the following programs at SBC: Pell Grant, Federal Work Study (FWS); Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG); or State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG).
For purposes of determining financial aid eligibility, the cumulative GPA calculation will include transfer credits accepted towards degree or certificate at SBC. Remedial course honor points are included in the CGPA.
+ Maximum Timeframe for Completion
All students are expected to complete the degree or certificate requirements within 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if a program requires 60 credits to complete, the student would be allowed 90 attempted credits (60 credits x 150% = 90 attempted credits). Similarly, a 16-credit-hour certificate program would be allowed 24 attempted credits of Title IV eligibility.
A student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension if the student has not completed the degree requirements within the 150% maximum time frame. There is no Warning or Probation period for 150% maximum time frame. A student may appeal the disqualification status due to the 150% maximum time frame limitation.
+ PACE: Completion of Attempted Credits
Students must successfully complete two-thirds (66.667%) of the credits in which they enroll. This measurement is evaluated each semester as well as cumulatively. The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of successfully completed credits by the total number of credits attempted.
Remedial course credits are not included in the 66.667% semester and maximum time frame calculations.
Appealing SAP Suspension
To have financial aid eligibility reinstated, the student must
- make up the credit hour and/or GPA deficiencies without the receipt of federal financial aid
- (or) file an appeal for extenuating circumstances; he/she may be reinstated if the appeal is successful and the student is placed on financial aid probation.
A student may be placed on financial aid probation with or without an academic success plan.
Students remain eligible to attend Sitting Bull College if they are under SAP suspension; these students are required to establish a payment plan with the business office.