Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid
Policy Type: Student Affairs
Policy Title: Satisfactory Academic Progress
Policy Number: SA-17
Purpose:
Specify the minimum academic achievement students must meet in order to receive financial aid funds at Green River College.
Scope:
Applies to all financial aid applicants and recipients at Green River College, regardless of enrollment level or program of study.
Definitions:
Probation: A status which is applied when a student has not maintained satisfactory academic progress where the student can receive financial aid, with conditions, after an Academic Progress Appeal has been approved.
Warning: A status which is applied when a student has not maintained grade and/or credit requirements, but the student remains eligible to receive financial aid.
Suspension: A status which is applied when a student has not met satisfactory academic progress, and in which the student is not eligible to receive financial aid at Green River until the standards have been met or an academic appeal has been approved.
Financial Aid Census Dates: Fall, Winter, Spring – 10th day of instruction; Summer – 8th day of instruction
Policy:
Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to receive financial aid which is mandated by federal and state regulations. Students can establish and maintain satisfactory academic progress by satisfying all of the following three criteria:
- Quality—Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 each quarter. Students are also required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of the second academic year (six quarters) and thereafter regardless of enrollment level. Certificate programs must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA consistent with the requirements for graduation. Grades earned in non-college level courses count toward cumulative GPA.
- Pace of Progression Towards Maximum Time Frame—
Financial Aid grant funding is available for cumulative attempted credits up to 150% of the total number of credits needed to complete the program. Up to 45 credits of remedial coursework – courses below the 100 level – are excluded in the maximum time frame calculation. Students are allowed two program changes to reset the timeframe calculation. An appeal for extenuating circumstances is allowed if an extension of financial aid is needed to complete the degree or certificate. - Quantity—Student must successfully complete 100% of attempted credits to remain in good standing. Completing between 67% and 99% of attempted credits will result in the student being in Warning status. A completion rate of 66% or lower will result in a Suspension. Completion percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point, following standard rounding rules. Attempted credits are counted even when they do not show on the grade transcript (due to an approved Withdrawal Refund Exception Request, for example) unless the class was dropped during the census period.
Pace of Progression
Students must maintain a Pace of Progression by completing a minimum of 67% of all attempted credits to complete their current program within the Maximum Time Frame allowed for receipt of financial aid. Credits are based on enrollment level on the census day of each quarter and are evaluated at the end of each term to determine completed credits. Grades of I, W, NC, or 0.0 through 0.9 and repeated courses will count as attempted credits. All transfer credits applied to the student’s program are counted toward the maximum time frame allowance. Students who fail to meet these requirements will be placed on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension.
Student's Pace of Progression is determined using the following formula:
Coursework Included in Satisfactory Academic Progress Calculations
When a student applies for financial aid, all previous coursework is reviewed to ensure the student has maintained satisfactory academic progress prior to offering financial aid. The policy applies to any period of enrollment, regardless of whether financial aid was received. It is possible to be on financial aid warning or suspension status without ever having received aid, such as for Running Start students.
Students receiving financial aid must enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program at Green River College, and the classes they take must apply to that program of study.
Policy Review
Green River College’s Title IV Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is reviewed annually and evaluated against changes to state and federal policy and guidance. This policy meets Title IV requirements because it addresses the required components listed in 34 CFR 668.34.
Procedure:
To be eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress will be evaluated each year at the time of the initial financial aid award and at the end of each quarter the student is enrolled. This policy applies to ALL periods of enrollment whether or not the student previously received financial aid. No provision will be granted for grade forgiveness. Transfer credits and credits attempted while enrolled in dual enrollment programs will be included. Students are notified of their warning or suspension statuses via email, sent to the preferred address on file with the school.
Financial Aid Warning SAP Status
Students will be placed on a Warning SAP status if their quarterly performance falls
within either or both of these parameters:
Qualitative – 1.00 to 1.99 quarterly GPA
Quantitative – 67% to 99% of attempted credits earned
Students placed on Financial Aid Warning may receive financial aid for the next term of attendance. Warning statuses in concurrent terms of attendance will result in a student being put on Suspension status for the following quarter.
Financial Aid Suspension SAP Status
Students whose aid has been suspended may not be eligible for future financial aid. Financial aid suspension may occur when:
- A student completes less than 67% of the credits in which they’re enrolled as of the census date.
- In the next quarter of attendance, a student on Financial Aid Warning or Probation
does not meet good standing requirements by:
- Completing all attempted credits, or
- Maintaining a quarterly GPA of 2.0
- A student officially withdraws from classes and receives “W” grades. Students who withdraw from all attempted credits may owe a portion or all of their financial aid back to the financial aid programs.
- A student unofficially withdraws from classes by stopping attendance and receives 0.0 through 0.9 grades. Students who withdraw from all attempted credits may owe a portion or all of their financial aid back to the financial aid programs.
- A student’s cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the 6th quarter of attendance regardless of enrollment status.
- A student has attempted 150% of credits required for their program.
- A student has failed to meet requirements of their academic plan.
Students in suspension status may appeal a loss of financial aid eligibility in cases of illness, injury, a death in the family or unusual circumstances. Students can request reinstatement of eligibility for the current term by submitting an academic progress petition to the financial aid office no later than the end of the 8th week of the quarter. The appeal must include a statement from the student regarding why they failed to make satisfactory academic progress, and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation. They are also required to submit a copy of their advisement report to ensure accuracy in their enrolled program and assist with pace of progression review.
If the academic appeal is approved, the student may receive financial aid for the following term of enrollment under a probationary status. Students may be placed on an academic plan as an additional condition of the appeal. Students are notified of any determination made on their appeal and any additional conditions that may result from being placed on probation status or an academic plan.
Alternately, a student may reinstate themselves by successfully completing at least 5 credits required for program of study using non-financial aid resources. In order to self-reinstate financial aid eligibility, the student must meet all standards to be considered to be in good academic progress standing in the term for which they are not receiving aid. Successful self-reinstatement does not result in the student being placed on Probationary status for the following term.
Financial Aid Probation Status
A student on financial aid probation may receive aid for their next term. While a student is on financial aid probation, they may be required to fulfill specific terms and conditions such as taking a reduced course load or enrolling in specific courses. At the end of this term, the student must meet the satisfactory academic progress standards for good standing or meet the requirements of the academic plan developed by the Financial Aid Office. Failure to do so will result in reinstatement of the Suspension status.
Specific Authority:
- Federal Regulations 34 CFR 668
Law Implemented:
History of Policy or Procedure:
Draft: April 5, 2005
Adopted: January 6, 2006
Revised: August 22, 2012; July 17, 2019; October 26, 2023; March 31, 2026
Reviewed by:
Contact: Beth Hawes, Director of Financial Aid, 253-333-4978
President's Staff Sponsor: Wendy Stewart, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs,
253-288-3313