Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Policy and Standards
Federal financial aid regulations require MCC to establish a Satisfactory Progress policy for students receiving aid. MCC must notify students of that policy and monitor the progress of all students receiving financial aid to ensure compliance with the policy.
The Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Policy also applies to students using the Nebraska Waiver of Tuition Program (NE R.S.S. 80-411).
It is the responsibility of all students receiving aid to be familiar with the policy and to ensure that the standards are met by monitoring their own progress. Failure to meet the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress standards may place students' financial aid in jeopardy. For this reason, students should regularly check their MCC student email and My Way for updates. To be considered in compliance, students must meet all three standards outlined in the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress policy. Questions about these standards should be directed to the Financial Aid office.
Standard 1: Percentage of attempted credit hours completed
The percentage of attempted credit hours completed is measured by dividing the cumulative number of completed credits by the cumulative number of attempted credits. The minimum requirement is 67 percent. For financial aid purposes, a course is considered completed if a grade of A, B, C, D, P, or R is earned. Grades of F, W, and I are considered unsuccessful grades and reduce the completion rate.
Standard 2: Cumulative Grade Point Average (Cumulative GPA)
To receive/continue to receive financial aid, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA requirement differs based on the number of credit hours attempted.
Associate Degrees
|
Credit hours attempted
|
Minimum cumulative GPA required
|
|
0-29.5
|
1.50
|
|
30-79.5
|
1.75
|
|
80+
|
2.00
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Certificate of Achievement and Career Certificate Programs
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Credit hours attempted
|
Minimum cumulative GPA required
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|
0 - program completion
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2.00
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Standard 3: Maximum Credit Limit
Students must be able to complete their program within the maximum credit limit. The maximum credit limit, per federal regulation, is 150% of the published number of credit hours required to complete the program. Once it becomes mathematically impossible to complete within the maximum credit limit students are placed into denied (DEN) status. This includes transfer credits and all attempted credit hours, audits, incompletes, withdrawals, CLEP, and repeated or failed classes.
Treatment of the Following Types of Courses for Satisfactory Progress
Audit courses
Audit courses are ineligible for financial aid funding and do not count toward the number of attempted credits or the number of earned credits; however, they do count toward the maximum credit limit.
Repeated courses
Students can only receive financial aid once for a repeated course if they have already received a grade of R, P, D or better in the course. Credits from repeated courses count as attempted and earned credits as well as count toward the maximum credit limit. In addition, grades for the first time the course is taken and all times the course is repeated count toward the Satisfactory Progress cumulative GPA.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CLEP courses are ineligible for financial aid funding. The credits count as attempted and earned credits as well as toward the maximum credit limit but do not affect the Satisfactory Progress cumulative GPA.
Transfer courses
Credits transferred to MCC from another institution count as attempted and earned credits as well as count toward the maximum credit limit but do not affect the Satisfactory Progress cumulative GPA.
English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) courses
Credits for ESL courses count as attempted and earned credits. Federal, state, and institutional financial aid can be received for a maximum of 100 attempted ESL credit hours. Students who lose financial aid eligibility because they exceed 100 attempted credit hours of ESL may regain aid eligibility when they start developmental classes or college-level classes.
Developmental courses
Students admitted into financial aid eligible programs are eligible to receive federal aid for up to 45 developmental credits. Developmental credits count as attempted and earned credits as well as count toward the maximum credit limit. They also affect the Satisfactory Progress cumulative GPA.
Dual Enrollment courses
High school students enrolled in MCC courses that will apply toward their high school graduation requirements and earn them credits at MCC are not eligible to receive federal aid. When dual enrollment students graduate from high school, enroll in financial aid eligible programs at MCC and apply for financial aid, credits for the MCC courses taken under a dual enrollment program count as attempted and completed credits as well as toward the maximum credit limit. These credits also affect the Satisfactory Progress cumulative GPA.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Statuses
There are seven Satisfactory Progress statuses. Students applying for federal financial aid prior to their first term of enrollment will receive a status prior to receiving a financial aid offer. Statuses are determined for all students at the end of each quarter of enrollment.
Good Standing (GS)
Good standing status is given to students who meet all three Satisfactory Progress standards (percentage of attempted hours completed, cumulative GPA, and maximum credit limit) or who apply for financial aid for their first quarter of attendance at MCC. To remain in good standing, students must meet all three Satisfactory Progress standards each quarter.
Warning (WRN)
Students in good standing who do not meet all Satisfactory Progress standards are placed on warning status for one quarter. Students on warning status are eligible to receive financial aid. If at the end of the warning quarter students have met all Satisfactory Progress standards, their status is changed back to good standing. If at the end of the warning quarter students have not met all Satisfactory Progress standards, their status is changed to denied.
Denied (DEN)
Denied status is given to students who do not meet all Satisfactory Progress standards at the end of their warning quarter. Denied status is given immediately to all students at the time it becomes impossible to complete their degree within the maximum time frame. Denied status can be appealed. See the Appeal Procedures section below.
Monitoring/Probation (MON)
Students on denied status who submit and secure approval of an appeal are placed on monitoring/probation status for one quarter. Students on monitoring/probation status are eligible to receive federal aid and must meet the following requirements during the monitoring/probation quarter: complete 100 percent of attempted credits, achieve a minimum quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher, and attempt no more than 150 percent of the credits required for their program of study. While on monitoring/probation, students must follow the academic program approved in their appeal and cannot change their active program of study until regaining good standing.
Extended Monitoring (MNX)
Students who have been on monitoring/probation, have completed 100 percent of attempted credits, achieve a minimum quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher and attempt no more than 150 percent of the credits required for their program of study remain in extended monitoring until they regain good standing.
Max Time Approved (MAX)
Students in denied status because they reached the maximum time frame, and students in denied status who will reach the maximum time frame before they complete their program, are placed in max time approved status for one quarter if they submit and secure approval of an appeal. Students on max time approved status are eligible to receive federal aid and must meet the following requirements during the max time approved quarter: complete 100 percent of their attempted credits for the quarter and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00 or higher for the quarter. While on max time approved status, students must follow the academic program approved in their appeal and must only enroll in classes required for their academic program.
Max Time Extended (MXE)
Students who have been on max time approved status for one quarter, completed 100 percent of their attempted credits for their max time approved quarter and achieved a quarterly GPA of 2.00 or higher for their monitoring quarter will be placed in max time extended status. The requirements students must meet while on max time extended status are the same as those for max time approved status.
Appeal Procedures
Students placed in Denied status have the right to appeal. All appeals are reviewed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee. When reviewing appeals, the committee looks for mitigating circumstances (unusual or extraordinary circumstances beyond the student's control that the student could not have planned for).
SAP Appeals will be reviewed quarterly according to the schedule below:
Fall 2023-24: August 8th, 2023 - October 6th, 2023; Priority Deadline 9/05/23.
All completed appeals submitted by end of day on September 5, 2023 will have a decision no later than end of day on September 11, 2023. Students who officially withdraw from all first 5-week classes by the end of day on September 11, 2023 will have no financial obligation for 23/FA.
The quarter census date is Monday, September 18th, 2023.
Winter 2023-24: November 13th, 2023 - January 5th, 2024; Priority Deadline 12/02/23.
All completed appeals submitted by end of day on December 2, 2023 will have a decision no later than end of day on December 8, 2023. Students who officially withdraw from all first 5-week classes by the end of day on December 8, 2023 will have no financial obligation for 23/WI.
The quarter census date is Wednesday, December 15th, 2023.
Spring 2023-24: February 20th, 2024 - April 5th, 2024; Priority Deadline 3/07/24.
All completed appeals submitted by end of day on March 7, 2024 will have a decision no later than end of day on March 13, 2024. Students who officially withdraw from all first 5-week classes by the end of day on March 13, 2024 will have no financial obligation for 23/SP.
The quarter census date is Wednesday, March 20th, 2024.
Summer 2024: May 15th, 2024 - July 5th, 2024; Priority Deadline 6/05/24.
All completed appeals submitted by end of day on June 5, 2024 will have a decision no later than end of day on June 15, 2024. Students who officially withdraw from all first 5-week classes by the end of day on June 15, 2024 will have no financial obligation for 24/SS.
The quarter census date is Monday, June 19th, 2024.
How to submit an appeal
To submit an appeal, follow these steps:
- The Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form is an electronic form available to students through their Financial Aid Self Service. In Self Service, the student should review their Satisfactory Academic Progress by clicking on the SAP status banner in the middle of the page. From there, the SAP appeal form is available by clicking on the SAP Appeal Form link under Helpful Links. Student appeals are available for all students requesting Federal Financial Aid and applicable Nebraska State Tuition Waiver eligible students. If you are requesting Federal Aid, you must have a FAFSA on file.
- Complete the electronic appeal form. Students will be asked to respond to three questions:
- Explain the circumstances contributing to your inability to maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress
- Explain how you have addressed any circumstances
- Explain how completing your program of study and receiving Federal Financial Aid will help you reach your career and education goals
- Submit your complete Academic Evaluation with your appeal. You are required to know and understand what is needed to complete your active Program of Study at MCC. Your appeal will be reviewed based on the program and catalog year information provided on the Academic Evaluation submitted with your appeal. Your Academic Evaluation must be saved as a PDF to be included with your appeal. You will need assistance in accessing your Academic Evaluation. Any Financial Aid Staff Member can assist you. You can also request help from any Academic Advisor, Success Navigator, or Student Services Staff Member.
- Submit documentation for all extenuating circumstances. It is necessary to attach any supporting documentation to substantiate your statements.
Review of appeals
The Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Committee reviews appeals. Students are notified of the committee's decision by official USPS mail and in My Way Financial Aid Self Service.
When an appeal is approved, aid is reinstated for the quarter the student requested in the appeal. If the student does not attend during the reinstatement quarter, the reinstatement will apply to the next quarter of enrollment, up to one year from the date the appeal was approved. If the student re-enrolls after a year from the date of approval, they must complete an Appeal Reinstatement Form along with an updated Academic Evaluation to reinstate their financial aid.
When appeals are denied or students decide not to appeal, students are responsible for payment of all educational charges on their MCC Account until they appeal or successfully return to good standing.
