Chipola College has established Standards of Academic Progress applicable to all students. Students who fall below a “C” or 2.00 Grade Point Average are placed on alert, warning or suspension, according to the following system.

Quality Point Deficiency System

A quality-point deficit is the number of quality points fewer than those needed for a “C” average. For example, if a student attempted 16 semester hours, 32 quality points would be needed to have the minimum 2.00 average. If a student has only 25 quality points for the 16 hours attempted, he has a quality point deficit of 7 points.

STANDARDS OF PROGRESS

Penalties

Alert: Deficit of 1-18 quality points for ten or more cumulative semester hours credit attempted. Students on Alert must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher in one semester or be placed on Warning.

Warning: Deficit of 19-29 quality points for ten or more cumulative semester hours credit attempted. The student will be placed on Warning for either of two reasons: (1) a cumulative quality point deficiency of 19-29 points; or (2) completion of two semesters on Alert with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Suspension: Deficit of 30 or more quality points for ten or more cumulative semester hours of credit attempted. Students will be suspended for either of two reasons: (1) A cumulative quality point deficiency of 30 or more points; or (2) completion of two semesters on Warning with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Students will be suspended for a period of one semester for the first suspension. Each suspension thereafter shall be for a full academic year. Two summer terms equate to one semester.

These same standards may apply to Workforce Development clock-hour students. Full-time Workforce Development certificate students pursue 450 clock-hours credit during the fall and spring semesters and 180 clock-hours credit in a summer session. Full-time Workforce Development students who make an “F” for a semester grade will be suspended.

Credit and clock-hour students suspended from Chipola College are eligible for readmission on Warning status only after their period of suspension. The readmission student must have less than a cumulative quality point deficiency of 30 points after one semester or be suspended again. Clock-hour students must show continued progress toward their program of study in order to continue.

Further, the readmission student must have a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average after two semesters or be suspended again. While on Alert or Warning, a student will be required to participate in advising sessions and related activities as may be prescribed by the Registrar.

Appeals

Appeals of probation and suspension decisions may be made to the Registrar. If unresolved, the appeal may be made to the Admissions’ Committee by contacting the Registrar about the meeting schedule. The Admission Committee’s decision is final.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients and Veterans

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Eligibility Federal regulations require a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate within an eligible program when receiving financial aid. Specific requirements for academic progress for financial aid recipients are applied differently than college Academic Progress Standards. Federal regulations state that Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards must include a review of all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not aid was received. The student must meet all the minimum standards in order to receive financial aid. Students receiving funds from institutional scholarships and state scholarships are required to maintain the progress requirements established by them.

A. Institutional Scholarships

1. Athletic Scholarships
   a. Maintain National Junior College Athletic Association standards.
   b. Maintain Florida College System Activities Association standards.
2. Other Scholarships
   a. Maintain a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) each term or semester.
   b. Complete 24 semester hours each academic year.

B. State of Florida Satisfactory Progress Standards
The State of Florida has established standards of satisfactory academic progress for their programs that may differ from the standards established by Chipola College. Examples for the FSAG Program: A full-time student must earn a 2.0 each academic year and earn at least 24 credits over the fall and spring terms. A part-time student must earn a 2.0 each academic year and earn required hours. Please consult the Financial Aid Office, or the State of Florida with questions about their requirements.

C. State Scholarships and Grants for Full Time Enrollment

1. Florida Student Assistance Grants - Maintain a 2.00 GPA and complete a minimum of 24 semester hours each academic year.
2. Florida Academic Scholars - Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and earn 24 credit hours per year. (See Bright Futures)
3. Florida Medallion Scholars - Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn 24 credit hours per year. (See Bright Futures)
4. Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars - Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn 24 credit hours per year. (See Bright Futures)
5. Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars - Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn 24 credit hours per year. (See Bright Futures)

D. Federal Aid Recipients and Veterans

1. AA, AS Degree Students
   Must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.00 with a 67% completion rate on all hours attempted including transfer hours accepted by Chipola. A student must complete their program of study within the 150% time frame of their degree. Example: If a program is 60 credit hours then the student must complete all required coursework within 90 hours.
2. BS Degree Students
   Must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.00 with a 67% completion rate on all hours attempted including transfer hours accepted by Chipola. A student must complete their program of study within the 150% time frame of their degree. Example: If a program is 120 credit hours then the student must complete all required coursework within 180 hours.
   Exception: BS Students in Education Degrees must follow the same standards as other BS degrees except must maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average.
3. Clock Hours and Certificate Program.
   Students are required to complete the total number of clock/credit hours and weeks of instructional time in a payment period to be eligible for additional Federal Aid. A student must complete their program of study within 150% time frame of their certificate. Student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 with a 67% completion rate on all clock/credit hours including transfer hours accepted by Chipola.

E. Course Work Evaluation

• Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) are applied at the end of every semester (Fall, Spring and Summer) or payment period to determine eligibility for the following academic semester or payment period. SAP standards are calculated using cumulative GPA and cumulative completion rate. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0, except for BS recipients in the Education programs who must maintain a 2.50 of higher and a completion rate of 67% or more.
• • The evaluation period will be based on attendance in all prior semester(s) or payment period(s) and will include all classes attempted including transfer work whether federal aid was received or not. The initial evaluation at Chipola will be based on all previous institutions attended once the transcripts are received, evaluated, and posted to the student’s record. SAP will be reviewed after each semester or payment period.
• The student’s cumulative GPA and completion ratio must meet the minimum standards or the student will be placed on warning or suspension. Grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “P”, “S” are considered completed grades. Incomplete grades for this policy are “F”, “I”, “W”, “XW”, “X”, and “U”. Remedial courses will count toward hours attempted, completed and CGPA when evaluating SAP. (A maximum of 30 remedial credit hours),
• Financial aid will calculate repeated courses which were not successfully completed. Students who are on their third attempt of a class must pay full cost of tuition according to Florida Statutes unless they have a successful third attempt appeal.
• Financial aid eligibility will include repeating a course one time if the student earned prior credit for the course with a grade of a “D” or higher. All classes taken must be counted as attempted classes regardless of grade forgiveness.
• Students who are not meeting SAP will be placed on a warning for a semester or suspended if they have not met the standards of satisfactory academic progress. Students who are placed on a warning status must be able to meet the cumulative minimum requirements for satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation or will be ineligible for financial aid.
• Students who are not meeting SAP at the end of the warning period will be ineligible for financial aid until they raise their CGPA and/or completion rate to meet the minimum SAP requirements to regain financial aid eligibility or have an approved appeal plan. (See Appeal Progress)
• Students on probation and following a Financial Aid Eligibility Progress Plan will be evaluated according to the terms of the progress plan.
• Students who do not meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic progress will be notified by e-mail. Students may follow the appeal process or the reinstatement procedures as outlined in section G and H. Student will not have eligibility for any further federal aid until they have met Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress or have been granted an appeal approval.
• Vocational Preparatory Courses (VPI) will be excluded from hours attempted, completed or CGPA. Advanced placement and CLEP classes are not calculated in CGPA.

F. Maximum Time Frame Eligibility

• Students who have attempted more than 150% of the credits required for their program of study are considered not to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress and therefore, are ineligible for financial aid funds.
• Students seeking subsequent degrees, all transfer hours accepted by Chipola, and hours attempted at Chipola will be used in determining maximum timeframe for their respective programs.
• A student may appeal as outlined in G. Reinstatement procedures as outlined in H. are not applicable to maximum time frame eligibility.
• Students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree may not earn an Associates of Arts Degree. All credits earned may apply to the 150% timeframe for the degree program in which the student is currently enrolled.

G. Appeal Process

• A student who has lost financial aid eligibility due to extenuating circumstances may appeal.
• Extenuating circumstances that may be considered include: personal illness or accident, serious illness or death with immediate family, other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the student, etc.
• All appeals must be in writing, including all appropriate documentation. Appeals should be addressed to the Director of Financial Aid.
• Examples of documentation could include an obituary notice, divorce decree, or a letter from physician, attorney, social services agency, parole officer, employer, etc.
• The condition or situation must be resolved which will allow the student ability to complete course work successfully or an appeal will not be granted.
• The outcome on an appeal may include a denial or probationary period with a Financial Aid Eligibility Progress Plan to assure students meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Process.
• Students will be notified by mail of the results of the appeal, and of any restrictions or conditions pertaining to their appeal.

H. Reinstatement of Financial aid Eligibility

• A student who has lost financial aid eligibility may be reinstated after the student has taken classes to meet the minimum requirements of a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or for BS Education degrees 2.50 and a cumulative completion rate of 67% of all credit hours being evaluated or approved on appeal.
• All classes including those taken at other institutions will be taken into consideration for reinstatement purposes.
• A student must be able to complete their degree or certificate within the 150% timeframe.
• It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid when this condition has been met.

I. Financial Aid Catalog Information

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this catalog; however Federal and State laws supersede any information contained herein, and the information provided is subject to change without notice.