• have a high school diploma from a state approved high school or GED.
• be enrolling in a program of choice to fulfill a goal of a diploma/degree and placement in the field for which trained.
• (if male) be registered with the U.S. Selective Service or be exempt.
• not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispension, possession, or use of a controlled substance during the period covered by financial aid. Eligibility for deferral aid programs may be suspended or terminated by a court as part of a conviction for possession or distributing drugs.
• must not owe a repayment or an overpayment to Title IV. A student and/or student's parent(s) must not be in default on Stafford (GSL), SLS, PLUS, or any other educational loan.
• complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Once a FAFSA is completed and the student has registered at FTCC as a financial aid student,

• the student will receive either an award notification form indicating the amount of the award based on full-time enrollment. (Once students receive the award notification form, their financial aid packet is complete!) or a verification notification form indicating further documents necessary to complete the packet.
• all documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office (FAO) is required prior to any further processing. If selected for verification, students must submit all information requested within two weeks of the date on the verification notification form. If a student's financial aid packet is not completed within the first two weeks of the semester, the student's disbursement will be delayed.
• grant disbursements are made on approximately the 30th class day of a semester and thereafter.
• grant disbursements are based on semester credit hours. (Pell grant does not pay for repeated courses.)

In order to remain Title IV eligible, a student must:

• maintain satisfactory progress by earning a minimum 2.0 semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA) and successfully completing 66.67% of scheduled classes. (See SAP policy on back.)
• be enrolled in a regular curriculum and may not receive Title IV funds for no more than 150% of the number of credit hours required for the student’s degree.
• not receive funds while enrolled for more than 30 credit hours of developmental courses. These developmental hours are counted in determining the 150% maximum hours. Students who continue to be enrolled after having pursued 30 credit hours of developmental courses will receive aid based on the number of non-developmental courses in which they are enrolled for that semester. (All transfer credits older than 10 years from the date of application to FTCC will not be included in the computation of maximum hours unless these hours are being counted towards the student's degree.)

If a student at any time is placed on probation for not maintaining satisfactory academic progress, he/she must assume the financial responsibilities for the next semester of attendance and must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA and acquire the minimum number of hours to which the probation was earned. (See chart on SAP policy.)

If a student at any time is not satisfied with any decision of the Financial Aid Administrator, he/she may appeal the decision. A written appeal must be submitted to the Dean of Student Affairs within 14 days of notification. All documentation relating to an appeal must accompany the written appeal. The Dean of Student Affairs may or may not consult the Chancellor. A decision will be rendered within 14 days.

P. O. Box 5033
Houma, LA 70361
(985) 857-3659
FAX (985) 857-3689
www.ftcc.edu

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Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require the College to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The law requires institutions to develop policies regarding satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Each institution must design criteria that outline the definition of student progress towards a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Fletcher Technical Community College (FTCC) students who wish to be considered for financial assistance must maintain satisfactory progress in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.

FTCC's SAP Policy

The Office of Financial Aid evaluates student academic progress at the end of each semester. Students are evaluated on the basis of semester grade point average, credit hour completion and maximum time frame limitations. New students (first semester at FTCC), transfer (any other college or university) or freshman are awarded aid initially. SAP is checked following the student's first semester and every semester thereafter.

Semester/Cumulative Grade Point Average

To receive any type of Title IV financial assistance, a student must maintain a minimum qualitative measure of progress defined as semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA). The lowest semester and cumulative GPA that a student can have to receive Title IV assistance is a 2.0. If a student's semester and/or cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0, he/she will be placed on probation. Title IV financial aid students on probation must complete a Request for Appeal form in order to be considered for financial aid reinstatement.

Credit Hour Completion

Students are also required to meet a measure of incremental progress. Students must maintain a minimum quantitative measure of progress defined as credit hour completion. Students must complete a minimum of 66.67% of scheduled credit hours attempted to receive Title IV assistance. If a student fails to complete the minimum 66.67% of scheduled hours, he/she will be placed on probation.

Hours attempted include all hours that appear on the transcript, including those with "W", "P", "S", "U", and "I" grades. Attempted hours also include any remedial, repeated, transfer (count towards degree), and academic amnesty hours. (All hours, that count towards the student's degree, that appear on the transcript are counted as attempted, even those for semesters in which the student did not receive aid.)

Probation/Suspension

Students who are placed on probation for not maintaining SAP must assume the financial responsibilities for the next semester of attendance and must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA and acquire the minimum number of hours to which the probation was earned.

Students who fail to maintain SAP while on probation will be suspended for one semester. After serving the one-semester suspension, a student may attend classes but must assume the financial responsibilities until SAP is met. (Most students use only one semester to fulfill SAP requirements.)

Students may appeal the probation or suspension status. All students placed on probation or suspension are mailed a Request for Appeal form with their semester grades. Students who wish to appeal must complete the form and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs by the date indicated.

Refer to the table below to check your credit hour completion (66.67%). For example, if you attempted (started the semester) 12 credit hours, you must earn (end the semester) a minimum of 8 credit hours to remain on financial assistance.