Satisfactory Academic Progress

The qualitative standard relates to cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and is verified by the Registrar’s Office. A minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA for undergraduate students and 3.0 GPA for graduate students is required in order to receive financial aid, and is reviewed at the end of every semester.

The quantitative standard relates to the number of credits that must be completed over a specific period of time. It is based on the number of credits successfully completed within any given number of terms attended, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.

The quantitative standard is verified by the Office of Financial Aid at the end of every semester. Students must successfully complete 67% of all credits attempted.

For example, a first-year student who enrolls in 30 credits during the academic year must successfully complete at least 21 of those credits by the end of that academic year. Grades of I and W are counted as courses attempted but not earned, and count toward the 67% completion rate.

Students must complete their degree within a time frame not longer than 150% of the published length of the program, as measured by credits attempted.
For example: A bachelor’s degree requires 120 credits, and a student would reach the 150% maximum time limit at 180 attempted credits.

For financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress purposes, credits are counted for completed courses in which students receive a grade of D- or higher. Credits are not counted for courses in which the student receives a grade of F or I (incomplete); these courses count toward the total attempted credits.

Transfer credits accepted toward the student’s degree are considered as hours attempted and earned. Transfer credits do not impact a student’s cumulative GPA.

Students do not earn any academic credit for auditing courses, so the courses do not count in the calculation for Satisfactory Academic Progress. Note that financial aid is not available to assist with audited courses.

These credits count toward the total of attempted and, if passed, earned hours.

Both attempts are counted in the GPA calculation as well as the attempted and earned credit calculation.

For financial aid purposes, all grades and credits for courses that are granted Academic Renewal are still considered when determining whether or not students meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. However, per the discretion of the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Committee, a one-time exception may be made for a student who has changed majors.

(Please refer to College Catalog for academic policy.)

Financial Aid Warning status is assigned to students who have failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. During a period of Financial Aid Warning, students who meet all other eligibility requirements remain eligible for federal and state financial aid. Financial Aid Warning is granted for one semester, which will be the next semester of enrollment for any credits at Champlain College. (Please note this would include summer enrollment.)

Students placed on Financial Aid Warning are notified by email. The warning status may remain in effect even if the student chooses to take time away from classes and returns at a later date.

Students on Financial Aid Warning status who still do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements after the semester of warning are placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and are ineligible for financial aid. Students placed on Financial Aid Suspension are notified by email of their suspension, loss of financial aid and the right to appeal the suspension. During suspension, students are ineligible for federal and state financial aid. The suspension status may remain in effect even if the student chooses to take time away from classes and returns at a later date.

Students may appeal a suspension of financial aid based on the failure to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Students are advised to appeal within 30 days of receipt of the suspension status letter.

All appeals must be submitted in writing using the Champlain College appeal form. The appeal must clearly document why the student failed to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements—what has changed and what plan the student has put in place to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students are encouraged to submit all appropriate documentation of extenuating or mitigating circumstances with the appeal form.

Completed appeal forms, supporting documentation and the Financial Aid Academic Plan which is completed with your academic advisor should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Students who submit an appeal will be notified by email of the final decision.

Examples of circumstances for appeal include, but are not limited to:

• Serious medical illness or injury to the student
• Death of an immediate family member
• Significant change in employment or military status that prevented the student from attending class
• Significant trauma in the student’s life that impairs the student’s emotional and/or physical health

All appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee as quickly as possible in the order in which they are received. Once the appeal is reviewed, the committee will render one of the following decisions in writing to the student’s email:

Appeal Approved: If the appeal is approved, it will apply to the current or next term of enrollment. Appeal approvals are not retroactive. If the appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation contingent upon successful completion of the Academic Plan provided with their appeal. The student shall remain on probation provided they comply with their Academic Plan and until they are meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Appeal Denied: If the appeal is denied, the student will not be eligible for federal or state financial aid until the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements are met. If the appeal is denied, the student can continue to attend the College and would be fully responsible for finding alternative means to pay costs associated with enrollment.

Financial Aid Probation status is assigned to students who have failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements and whose financial aid eligibility has been reinstated based on a successful appeal. During this period of Financial Aid Probation, students who meet all other eligibility requirements remain eligible for federal and state financial aid.

When an appeal is approved, Financial Aid Probation is granted for one or more semesters based on an Academic Plan provided as part of the student’s appeal. Students remain on Financial Aid Probation provided they comply with the terms of their Academic Plan.

Students whose financial aid has been suspended due to not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements and who, in future semesters, meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements shall no longer be on Financial Aid Probation and will move to a status of meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.