Standards of Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To maintain financial aid eligibility, students must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be admitted into an associate degree or a one- or two-year technical diploma program;
2. Be enrolled in financial aid eligible courses (course catalog numbers beginning with 10, 20, 31 or 32);
3. Achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher*; and
4. Complete at least 67% of the cumulative credits attempted (excludes classes dropped within the refund period)*.

*Evaluated even if financial aid not received while enrolled.

Duration of Financial Aid Eligibility

The maximum time frame in which students must complete their educational program cannot exceed 150% of the number of credits required to complete their degree program. This time frame is based on total credits attempted, even if financial aid was not received while enrolled, and includes all classes students have:

• Taken at Madison College and any other college/university
• Repeated or failed
• Been issued an incomplete from or withdrawn from
• Not dropped prior to the class start date

How to Calculate Maximum Time Frame

To calculate maximum time frame, multiply the number of credits required to complete the program by 150% (1.5). The result equals the maximum number of credits that students may attempt and be eligible under the maximum time frame rule.

Examples:

• The Accounting program requires 68 degree credits to graduate. Multiply 68 by 1.5, which equals 102 credits.
• The Welding program requires 29 degree credits to graduate. Multiply 29 by 1.5, which equals 43.5 credits (round up to 44).

Date of Record

The payment of financial aid is based on enrollment as of 5 p.m. on the Date of Record for each semester.

Classes added after 5 p.m. on the Date of Record will not increase financial aid eligibility. Payment of classes added thereafter is the student's responsibility.

If classes are dropped after 5 p.m. on the Date of Record and enrollment decreases to less than 6 credits, state grants and loans will not be disbursed. If funding has already disbursed, repayment will be required for some or all financial aid received.

Waitlists

Students must be removed from waitlists and registered in classes by the Date of Record to receive financial aid for these classes.

Interim & Short-term Classes

Students must be registered for Interim or short-term classes by the Date of Record to receive financial aid for these classes, even if the classes start after the Date of Record.

Repeated Classes

Repeated classes for which a final grade of A, AB, B, BC, C, I or W has been issued are not financial aid eligible. Only repeated classes for which a final grade of D or F has been issued will be considered for financial aid eligibility.

Non-Attendance of Classes

If financial aid is received for a class that is never attended, the student will be required to repay some or all financial aid.

Suspension of Financial Aid

Academic progress is evaluated after each semester. Students will receive either a warning letter (W) or suspension letter (S):

*Students may be required to repay some or all financial aid received.

Warning Status

Students who do not meet the Standards of Progress and receive a warning status will be allowed to receive financial aid for the next semester of enrollment and will be evaluated at the conclusion of the next semester:

• Students who improve performance, meeting Standards of Progress at the conclusion of the next semester, will be placed back in good standing and will continue to be eligible for additional semesters of financial aid.
• Students who fail to meet Standards of Progress at the conclusion of the next semester will be ineligible for future semesters of financial aid until they complete the reinstatement process.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

Students who do not have any extenuating circumstances may contact Financial Aid Office to request a review for reinstatement after they have successfully:

1. Completed at least 67% of total credits attempted (67% of classes completed must equal a minimum of 6 credits in one semester); and
2. Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
3. Completed a FAFSA.
4. Been accepted into an eligible program of study.

Visit the Appeal Process web page for complete information and instructions.

For additional assistance, visit askMadisonCollege to view frequently asked Financial Aid questions, or contact Madison College Financial Aid at (608) 246-6170.