STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Congress, mandated institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of “satisfactory progress” for students receiving financial aid. The College makes these standards applicable to all institutionally-awarded Federal and State funds to include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Grants, Federal Work-Study, HOPE Scholarships, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Student Loans, and Federal Parent Loans (PLUS) to Undergraduate Students, for the purpose of maintaining a consistent policy for all students receiving assistance.

Effective with the beginning of the Fall Term, 1998, the following standards will apply to any student receiving any type of financial aid outlined above.

A.        First Term Recipients

            To receive Federal financial assistance for the first time, each eligible person will have met the admission requirements of the college and, by his/her signature, acknowledged awareness and acceptance of the standards set forth in the remainder of this document.

B.         Continuing Recipients

            A student will be expected to achieve certain minimum levels of progress toward the successful academic completion of course requirements for a degree or certificate. Progress toward the credential is measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. There is also a maximum allowable time frame for completion of the credential. At Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), standards for maintaining such progress are as follows:

            Qualitative Standard

            A student must maintain the following minimum cumulative institutional grade point average (IGPA), depending upon the number of hours attempted:

            Quantitative Standard

            A student enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours must satisfactorily complete at least 67% of the credit hours attempted, and on which financial aid was based. A student enrolled in less than six (6) credit hours must satisfactorily complete all hours attempted, and on which financial aid was based. Satisfactory completion is defined as a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or IP. Unsatisfactory completion is defined as a letter grade of F, I, W, or WF.

            Time-Frame

            Federal regulations limit receipt of federal financial aid to no more than 150% of the coursework required for any particular degree or certificate. The average certificate program at ABAC requires approximately 30 credit hours, 150% of which is 45. The average degree program at ABAC requires 60 credit hours, 150% of which is 90. Therefore, no further aid will be awarded when a student has attempted 45 credit hours in the one-year certificate program or 90 credit hours in the associate degree program. Developmental/remedial courses will not be included in the hourly limitation. Transfer credit accepted toward the credential will be included in the hourly limitation.

             The Financial Aid Office will evaluate satisfactory progress once each academic year. At the end of each Spring Term any student who has attempted 12 or more hours, and is failing to make satisfactory progress, will be informed, in writing, of the ineligibility to receive future financial aid at the college.

C.        Withdrawal from the College

            A student who withdrew, or is withdrawn, from ABAC will not receive further financial aid, except under documented mitigating circumstances.

D.        Reinstatement Provisions

            A student whose aid has been discontinued in accord with these standards may have aid reinstated subject to the following conditions.

Deficient GPA: A student may enroll without financial aid, attain the appropriate GPA as specified above, and regain their eligibility status.

Withdrawals:    A student may be reinstated, at the discretion of the Director of Student Financial Aid, if mitigating circumstances, that were beyond normal and immediate control, can be documented.

Appeals:           A student with mitigating circumstances who is notified of ineligibility for federal aid for any of the above reasons, may appeal such decisions in writing and in person, using the following channels, in the following order:

            1.         Director of Student Financial Aid: A student must submit a written appeal, including any appropriate third-party documentation of the circumstances. The Director will inform the student in writing of his/her decision. The Director will read only one appeal per student per circumstance.

            2.         Student Financial Aid Committee: A student must make appointments to appeal in person, and must also submit a written letter of appeal. He or she is encouraged to present at least one letter of support from their academic advisor or faculty member familiar with their situation. The Committee will notify the student in writing of their decision. The Committee reserves the right to advise a student regarding course loads and the possible need for counseling and/or academic advisement. The Committee will hear only one appeal per student per circumstance. If the appeal is denied, the student may enroll using his/her own resources. If the appeal is granted and the student subsequently fails to maintain progress, no further appeal will be heard.

            3.         Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services: Appeals must reasonably show that one of the following has occurred

                        a) The student has not received due process.

                        b) The student has been discriminated against.

                        c) The student has not been treated in an equitable manner.

                        d) The decision of the Student Financial Aid Committee was arbitrary and capricious.

                        If granted, the student will be given one last administrative hearing as designated by the Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services.

Availability of Funds:     The Financial Aid Office may have rewarded any forfeited funds; consequently, receipt of originally awarded funds following reinstatement depends upon whether funds are available and uncommitted to other students.

E.         HOPE Scholarship Recipients:

            In order to maintain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship, degree-seeking HOPE scholars have the following additional GPA requirements, as set forth by the State of Georgia: Such students will be required to demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 when they have attempted 30, 60, and 90 hours.

            The Director of Student Financial Aid reserves the right to examine and issue a post-facto judgement on any financial aid recipient who fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress.