View the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
1. Authority
In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education and State of Illinois student aid regulations, LLCC is required to establish minimum standards of Academic Progress to qualify for federal and state financial aid. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that students are making progress toward the completion of their academic program. Minimal standards are subject to change in accordance with the U. S. Department of Education and State of Illinois regulations.
2. Financial aid programs covered
The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy applies to students who are requesting or receiving funds from the following federal and state financial aid programs: Federal PELL Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Student and Parent Loans, and the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP).
3. Minimum academic standards requirements
To stay in good standing for financial aid, there are three standards that students must meet each term (fall, spring and summer): GPA, course completion and maximum time frame.
A. Grade Point Average (GPA)
You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Up until you have completed 34 credit hours, you are allowed to have a GPA lower than 2.0. You must maintain the following minimum GPA:
| Cumulative Credit Hours | Minimum GPA |
|---|
| 1-11 | 1.50 |
| 12-22 | 1.70 |
| 23-33 | 1.85 |
| 34+ | 2.00 |
Note: Developmental courses (courses lower than 100 level) are not calculated in the GPA.
B. Course completion
Students must successfully complete a cumulative minimum of 66.67% of all credit hours (see 5A courses included). Only grades of A, B, C, D and P are considered successful completion for 100 level or higher courses. A grade of A, B, C or P is considered successful completion for developmental courses. Grades of I, W, WP, WF, SP, RP and F are not considered successful completion.
C. Maximum time frame (150% limit)
There is a limit on how much financial aid a student can receive. Students may receive financial aid up to 150% of the length of their academic program. All credit hours are included except for up to 30 developmental credit hours.
Examples of 150% maximum time frame:
| Credit Hours Required to Complete Academic Program | Number of Attempted Credit Hours for Financial Aid |
|---|
| 24 | 36 |
| 60 | 90 |
4. Minimum academic standards requirements
Students who have already completed an associate degree or higher are no longer eligible for financial aid. Students with degrees may appeal. See Section 7 regarding appeals.
5. Scope of evaluation
A. Courses included
We are required to include all credit hours on your LLCC transcript including:
- Those that financial aid did not pay for
- Credit hours forgiven by the LLCC academic renewal policy
- Dual credit hours
- Repeats (not counted for GPA)
- Transfer credits from another institution that are accepted toward completion of a student's program at LLCC
- All developmental hours except for MAT 081/082
- All credit hours attempted in previous academic programs at LLCC
B. Courses NOT included
Vocational Studies (for example, prefixes ABE, ASE, AHH, AIT, BPS, NUR, OIT), Continuing Education Courses and Audit Courses
C. Repeats
Once a passing grade is received, students may receive aid for the course one more time. Grades of A, B, C, D and P are considered passing for 100 level or higher courses. Grades of A, B, C or P are considered passing for developmental courses.
6. OK, Warning, Suspension and/or Maximum Time Frame and Probation Status
A. Financial Aid Eligible Status (OK)
You are doing great. Keep it up!
B. Warning Status
Students who do not meet the standards. May continue to receive aid if otherwise eligible.
C. Suspension Status
Students previously in Warning Status who do not meet the standards or who are on Probation Status and do not meet the terms of their probation are not eligible to receive financial aid, including loans. See Section 7 regarding appeals.
D. Maximum Time Frame Status (150% Limit)
Students who at any time exceed the maximum time frame status (150%) or earn a degree will no longer be eligible for financial aid, including loans. Note that students exceeding the maximum time frame status may lose financial aid without benefit of a warning term. See Section 7 regarding appeals.
E. Probation Status
Students who have an appeal granted are placed in Probation status and eligible for financial aid for one semester. If after that semester the student does not meet the terms of the probation, they become ineligible for financial aid.
7. Financial aid appeal
Students who are in suspension status, exceeded the maximum time frame or earned a degree may appeal their eligibility for aid based on circumstances beyond a student's control, such as death of a relative, serious injury or lengthy illness.
Students will be notified of the SAP Appeals Committee's decision within seven days of a complete appeal. Students may have to pay tuition, fees and books out of pocket while awaiting the outcome of the appeal.
The decision of the SAP Appeals Committee is final.
Students may also earn their way back to good standing by attaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA and 66.67% completion rate.
8. Notification
We evaluate progress at the end of summer, fall and spring semesters. LLCC Financial Aid will notify you when you are in warning, suspension and/or maximum time frame and probation status. However, it is the student’s responsibility to know their status of financial aid eligibility. Students can view their SAP status on LoggerCentral.
9. Notice
The College’s SAP policy is subject to change without notice to comply with federal or state regulations, or LLCC Board of Trustees policy or action.
