Academic Progress Requirements For

Establishing And Maintaining Eligibility For Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy

This policy applies to any student entering or returning to Northampton Community College.

A student’s entire academic record will be reviewed even if the student was not a financial aid recipient during prior enrollment.  The policy includes the following requirements that must be met for eligibility for federal aid (grants, loans and work-study).

I.  Completion Rate and Grade Point Average

A student must successfully complete seventy-five percent (75%) of all credits attempted at NCC.

Students may receive financial aid for repeated courses, but the credit hours earned for the course may be counted only once.

A student must maintain a minimum required grade point average (GPA) based on the total number of credits attempted including transfer credits.  Total credits attempted include courses in which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, F, W, WP, WF or I.

                        Total Credits Attempted

                        Including Transfer Credits                   Minimum GPA Required

                                      9-16                                                    1.50

                                    17-30                                                    1.75

                                    31-45                                                    1.90

                                     46+                                                      2.00

II.  Maximum Time Frame

For federal financial aid eligibility students must complete their program within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the educational program.  This includes all semesters of enrollment even if no financial aid was received.  Once a student attempts more than 150% of the credits that it normally takes to complete his/her program of study, he/she is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Examples:         Length of Program                  Maximum Time Frame

                                    60 credit program                       90 credits attempted                 

                                    30 credit program                       45 credits attempted

Note:    If an exception is made to the maximum time frame requirement due to a change in major, once the student attempts more than 120 credits (including transfer credits) for a two-year program or more than 60 credits for a one-year program, he/she is no longer eligible for financial aid.  Students who have completed the required number of credits for their program of study and are applying for financial aid must submit a graduation plan to the Financial Aid Office.  Additional financial aid is contingent upon approval of the graduation plan.

Questions about this policy should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.

Appeal Process

Students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements have the right to appeal.  All appeals must be in writing and must be submitted within 45 days of the date of the notice of denial.  The appeal form should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020.

The appeal should include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances which resulted in the student’s inability to meet the requirements.  Information about the student’s plan to make up any deficiencies should also be included.

Note:    PHEAA State grant eligibility is based on standards set by the State agency.  Institutional appeals do not cover State grants.  Loss of State grant eligibility may be appealed directly to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency in cases of illness or death in the family.

Evaluation

An evaluation of academic progress will be done after the end of the Spring semester or when students reapply for financial aid.  Students who do not meet the requirements will be notified within ten days of the completion of the evaluation.

Note:    An evaluation will be done at the halfway point of the program for students enrolled in one-year programs.

PHEAA State Grant Academic Progress Policy

A student is required to successfully complete a minimum of six (6) credits per semester for each part-time State grant received and a minimum of twelve (12) credits per semester for each full-time State grant received.  Credits earned for repeat courses which were previously counted when State grant progress was verified cannot be counted again.  Failure to meet the minimum credit requirements means that a student is not eligible for further State grant aid until that student has successfully completed the required number of credits.

                                                            Minimum Required Credits

                        Grant                           Earned Per Semester

Examples:         Part-Time Grant                         6

                        Full-Time Grant                          12

A student is eligible for 4 semesters of full-time grants (or the equivalent) at a two-year institution. 

Full-time students progressing at the rate of only 24 credits per year (or the equivalent), while meeting the minimum State grant progress standard, will utilize all of their State grant eligibility before completing their program.

Students should refer to the complete written progress requirements sent by PHEAA with their award notice.  Questions can be directed to PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392.