Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
For Federal Financial Aid Recipients
Federal regulations mandate that a student must be making “satisfactory academic progress” toward earning a certificate or associates degree in order to receive federal financial aid. All recipients of federal financial aid programs which include Federal Pell and SEOG Grants, Stafford Loans and Federal Work-Study funds are subject to these standards for renewal of financial aid eligibility. To comply with this regulation, KCKCC has established the following standards of satisfactory academic progress:
Satisfactory academic progress evaluation is based on the total KCKCC and transfer credit course work as it appears on the student’s official academic transcript. Progress will be reviewed twice a year: at the end of December and at the end of May.
The minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress are evaluated by the following criteria:
Grade Point Average (GPA):
Students must attain a minimum cumulative GPA based on the total number of credit hours attempted (KCKCC and transfer hours are considered) as follows:
| Number of Attempted Hours |
Minimum Cumulative GPA |
| 1- 45 |
1.8 |
| 46 – 97 |
2.0 |
Percentage of Completion:
Students must successfully complete 66% of all credit hours attempted (Grade A, B, C, D, P, C, R) as appearing on their official academic transcript, up to a maximum of 97 attempted credit hours.
Courses in which students receive a grade of “F”, “I”, “W”, or “WA” are counted as hours attempted, but not completed. Of these grades, the “F” is the only one included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. If course work is not completed within a year’s time, the grade of “I” will change to a grade of “F”.
Credit Hour Limit (97 Attempted Hours Maximum):
Students attempting more than 97 credit hours (including KCKCC and transfer credit hours) will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid. This includes all enrollment periods whether or not federal aid was requested or received. Students reaching this maximum attempted credit hour total will not be given a “warning” semester to continue to receive federal financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who are deficient in either percentage of hours completed and/or cumulative grade points earned will automatically be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next enrollment period. Students may continue to receive financial assistance during the warning period.
At the end of a warning semester, the student’s academic progress will be reviewed again. At that time, one of the following actions will occur:
- If standards have been met, the student will be reinstated back to satisfactory academic standing.
- If the student is not yet meeting the minimum standards of progress but did complete a minimum of 66% of all attempted hours with grades of “C” or above, the “warning” status will continue for the next enrollment period.
- If neither of the preceding terms is met, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Exclusion.
Financial Aid Exclusion
Students on exclusion may not receive any additional federal aid (Pell Grant, ACG, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study or Federal Stafford Loans) to attend KCKCC. Continuation of coursework at KCKCC will be at the expense of the student. All federal aid awarded to the student will be cancelled. Students on Financial Aid Exclusion will be denied federal financial assistance at KCKCC until one of the following occurs:
- The student meets the minimum standards of satisfactory progress after transfer credit hours are posted on the student’s academic record. The student should contact the Student Financial Aid Office with a written request to review academic progress.
- The student completes all attempted hours (minimum of 6 hours), which the student pays for and earns a “C” or better grade. The student should contact the Student Financial Aid Office with a written request to review academic progress.
- The student files an appeal and the appeal is approved.
Financial Aid Appeals
Students may appeal their satisfactory progress status by completing and submitting a written appeal form to the KCKCC Student Financial Aid Office. Forms are available from the KCKCC Student Financial Aid Office and the Leavenworth Center. Appeal forms must be submitted with appropriate documentation and include an explanation of unusual circumstances which have affected the student’s academic performance. Additionally, the appeals process requires that the student schedule an appointment with an academic counselor to draw up a degree plan to be submitted with the appeal form.
Appeals must be submitted to the Student Financial Aid Office prior to the deadline date printed on the appeal form.
Appeals are reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee with its decision or recommendation being final. If the appeal is approved, the student’s financial aid status will be reinstated to a “warning” status. If the appeal is denied, the student will remain ineligible for federal financial aid.
Appeals for attendance at the summer session will not be considered.