Standards for Financial Aid Recipients

All students at Northcentral Technical College must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive financial aid. NTC is required by federal regulation (34CFR,Part 668.7(a)(5) to establish, publish and apply reasonable standards for measuring whether students receiving aid under any Title IV program are maintaining satisfactory progress in their course of study. This standard will be applied to all program students attending Northcentral Technical College . These standards apply to a student's entire academic record (including summer terms) at NTC regardless of whether or not the student has received financial aid for previous semesters. Qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (75% completion percentage) standards contained in the college's policy must be cumulative and include all periods of enrollment.

I. QUALITATIVE MEASURE

Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, and meet individual program requirements to remain in good standing. (Note: A 2.0 GPA is required to graduate).

II. QUANTITATIVE MEASURE

Required Completion Percentage
The college uses cumulative credits completed, divided by credits attempted, to measure completion percentage. To remain eligible for financial aid, a student is required to progress toward the completion of an academic program by successfully completing 75% of all credits attempted at Northcentral Technical College . Courses for which a student receives a letter grade of A, B, C, and D are included in the calculation of cumulative credit completion percentage as courses successfully completed. Courses for which a student receives a letter grade of I, IP , NS , W, and F will be treated as credits attempted but not successfully completed. Audited courses (AU) are not included in the calculation.

Maximum Time Frame
The maximum allowable time frame for a student to complete an academic program is 150% of the published credit length of the program of study. For example, if the program of study is 72 credits in length, you would be eligible to receive financial aid for up to 108 attempted credits (72 X 1.5 = 108). All cumulative credits attempted are counted, including accepted transfer credits, and consortium credits, regardless of whether financial aid was received for the credits, or the course work was successfully completed. All credits attempted at Northcentral Technical College will be counted; even though a period of time (years) may have elapsed between enrollments and regardless of whether the student received financial aid for the terms and credits measured.

III. EVALUATION PERIOD

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress will be evaluated two times each year after Fall and Spring semester grades are recorded.

IV. FAILURE TO MEET STANDARDS

Qualitative (GPA) or Quantitative (75% completion) Percentage
Any student who fails to meet the qualitative or quantitative measures at the time of evaluation will be placed on probation for the next semester. You may still receive financial aid during the probationary semester, but the criteria must be met during that semester in order to continue receiving financial aid. If standards are not met while on probation, you risk suspension of all grant, loan and work study eligibility.

V. NOTIFICATION

When students are placed in a probationary status for, or suspended from financial aid, the Director of Financial Aid will notify the student in writing.

VI. PROBATION

If a student does not complete at least 75% of the credits attempted in one semester and/or does not achieve a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, the student has not made satisfactory academic progress. The first semester a student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress for completion of less than 75% of the credits attempted or falls below a 2.0 CGPA, the student will be placed on probation. Financial Aid will be processed for the student while on probation the first time.

While on probation, a student will be allowed to enroll for no more than 14 credits in a semester. A student must earn a 2.0 semester grade point average while on probation. The student must raise his/her cumulative grade point average to 2.0 or greater within two semesters. If a student does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress while on probation, he/she must see a counselor.

VII. WITHHOLDING OF AID ELIGIBILITY

If a student on probation fails to achieve a 2.0 semester grade point average and/or complete at least 75% of the credits attempted, aid will be withheld until the student has met the requirements for reinstatement of aid. If a student on probation fails to raise the cumulative GPA to 2.0 in two semesters, aid will be withheld. Students who have been funded for the maximum number of semesters are not eligible for financial aid and will not be funded.

If a student has not completed a program and changes programs, the credits in the student's original program count toward the number of credits of eligibility. If a student has completed a program and returns to NTC for an additional program, the semesters in the first program do not count against semesters of eligibility.

VIII. REINSTATEMENT TO NTC

After one semester of suspension a student must see a Student Services Counselor to develop an academic plan.

IX. APPEALS PROCEDURE

Level I
If the student does not agree with the decision to deny aid eligibility based on lack of satisfactory academic progress, he/she may appeal to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal should be in writing and submitted to the Financial Aid Office within seven days of notification to withhold aid. The Financial Aid Office will inform the student of its decision in writing within five days of the review. The appeal should include:

• A reason the student did not make academic progress. Some examples of acceptable reasons may be: documented personal illness, hospitalization or illness and military leave.
• Statement of what the student has done to ensure satisfactory academic progress in the future. For example: attend the Learning Center .
• Documentation of reason, such as an explanation of illness.
• Letter of recommendation from the instructor(s)/ counselor(s). The letter might indicate the instructor believes the student has the ability to succeed in the courses the student is currently enrolled in.

Level II
Any student may appeal the decision of the Financial Aid Office to the Dean of Enrollment Management & Registrar. The appeal must be in writing, and made no later than seven days after the decision of the Financial Aid Office is received. The Dean of Enrollment Management & Registrar will arrange a personal meeting with the student. The student will be notified in writing of the Dean of Enrollment Management & Registrar's decision within five days of the meeting.

Level III
If the student believes the issue has been settled unfairly, the student may request a hearing with the Vice President of Student Services. Requests must be in writing, no later than five days after receiving the Dean of Enrollment Management & Registrar's written decision.