2010-11 College Catalog - South Florida State College

sfcc3. You must complete your educational program withina given time frame. The maximum time frame is 150percent of the credits required for the educationalobjectives. A degree requiring 60 credits hours has alimit of 90 credit hours of attempted college coursework.This includes all college coursework; all transfer creditswhether or not financial aid was received, and whethercourses are applicable toward your degree program.4. If you have reached the maximum attempted hours of 90credits in an academic program or reach 150 percent ofthe published length of the educational program (clockhour),you will be ineligible to receive financial aid.If you qualify for financial aid and enroll at or above thepost-secondary level for the first time at SFCC, you will beeligible to receive financial aid. If you are a first-time SFCCstudent with course history that does not meet the satisfactoryprogress standard, you may be placed in a financial aidprobation status based on the transfer or dual enrollmentgrades.A term is defined as any of the major terms: fall, spring, andsummer. First and second summer flex sessions are treatedas one term for financial aid purposes. An enrollment periodis defined as the term or portion of a term for which you enroll.Successful completion is defined as any course completedwith a final grade of A, B, C, D, or S. Courses for which youreceive grades of W, I, F, N, U, or X, as well as the previousattempt(s) of repeated courses regardless of previous grade,are counted as courses attempted but not successfullycompleted.Failure to meet the minimum standard of progresswill result in the following action(s):Financial Aid Probation - This occurs at the end of theterm or enrollment period for which you fail to meet therequired measurements as outlined above. In probationstatus, you retain your eligibility for financial aid as longas you are permitted to enroll. Probation status is notsubject to appeals/petitions and is not accepted/reviewedfor this status.Financial Aid Continued Probation - This occurs afteryou attend one term or enrollment period in a probationstatus and successfully complete 100 percent of allcourses attempted in that term, achieve or maintain theminimum GPA of 2.0 but do not reach the 67 percentcumulative successful completion ratio. In continuedprobation status you may continue to receive financial aidand will remain in the continued probation status.Financial Aid Suspension - This occurs at the end of thenext term or enrollment period for which you have failed tomaintain either one or both of the measurements outlinedabove with the exception of the continued probationstatus. In suspension status, all eligibility of financial aidadministered by the FAO will be terminated until you meetthe minimum standard of academic progress for receiptof financial aid.Maximum Time Frame - As a financial aid recipient,you must earn your degree within a maximum number ofattempted credit hours or clock hours after you first enrollat SFCC. Once you reach the maximum time frame, youare no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduatestudent. Federal regulations stipulate that the maximumtime frame for an undergraduate student cannot exceed150 percent of the published length of an academicprogram and/or a certificate program.Transfer Student Hours - If you are a transfer studentwith hours above the 150 percent maximum time frame,you will not be eligible to receive financial aid.Regaining Eligibility Through Appeal Process - If youbelieve extenuating circumstances prevented you frommeeting the required standards as outlined above, you mayappeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee by completingthe Financial Aid Appeal Form. This form is available on ourWeb site at www.southflorida.edu under the financial aidlink under forms or in the Financial Aid Office.If you desire to file an appeal to be reviewed for the currentterm, you should come prepared to pay all tuition and feesawaiting the decision of the committee. If the decision isfavorable, your financial aid will be reinstated and you willbe required to sign a financial aid agreement and meet allcontingencies therein. All appeals must have the followingas applicable to your circumstances:• Letter written by you describing mitigating circumstancesthat prevented you from achieving satisfactoryprogress. Explain what changes have occurredthat will enable you to meet the academic progressrequirements in your term of enrollment.• Proof that the mitigating circumstances you describeactually occurred (such as police report, deathcertificate, etc.). If appeal is based on medicalcircumstances, the followings must be included: Lettersfrom physician, copies of medical bills, etc.• For maximum time frame you must explain why youhave not met graduation requirements or your goalsat SFCC. Describe what the actions or plans you havetaken or will take to make sure you graduate in the nearfuture.The committee reviews the appeals and determines whetherthere are sufficient reasons to allow your financial aid to bereinstated. You will be notified in writing of the committee’sdecision. If your eligibility to receive financial aid for anadditional term is granted, you must sign a financial aidagreement and meet all contingencies therein by the endof the term or be placed back on suspension. If you areplaced on Financial Aid Suspension and you do not havespecial circumstances or your appeal is denied, you may46