James A. Rhodes State College
Standards of Academic Progress
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires James A. Rhodes State College to develop and enforce standards of academic progress prior to awarding any federal funds to students. These standards apply to the following federal financial aid programs:
The following criteria determine Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Cumulative GPA Hours/Completed Hours
- Maximum Time for Completion of Educational Objective
- Appeal Process
GPA Requirement
A student must maintain a minimum grade point average based on the number of credit hours attempted. The minimum required GPA is:
Cumulative GPA
Divisor HoursMinimum
Cumulative GPA1-29 1.39 30-59 1.59 60-89 1.79 90+ 2.00 The GPA will be checked quarterly. A student will be placed on conditional status when he/she drops below the required Minimum Cumulative GPA hours. Failure to achieve Minimum Cumulative GPA in the subsequent quarter will result in the cancellation of all federal financial aid.
Credit Hours Completed
Students must complete 67% of all credit hours attempted each quarter in order to receive federal financial aid. Students' 67% status will be determined at the end of each quarter. A student will be placed on conditional status when he/she does not complete 67% of all credit hours attempted for the quarter. Failure to achieve at least a 67% of all credit hours attempted in the subsequent quarter will result in the cancellation of all federal financial aid. Successful completion is defined as receiving a letter grade "D" or higher, or an "S."
Maximum Time for Completion of Education Objective
Students must complete the degree requirements within 150% of the required hours for their degree program. At Rhodes State College this is 162 hours. These hours include ALL credit hours attempted, including developmental courses, repeated courses, transfer courses, and courses from which a student withdraws. Once 162 hours of attempted credit hours have been reached, a student is no longer eligible for federal financial aid. Students transferring to Rhodes State College will have their eligibility determined after all transfer credits have been applied to their academic records.
When a student reaches 135 attempted hours, he/she will be placed on review status. This review status indicates that the student is approaching the maximum attempted hours for receiving federal financial aid. A student who reaches 162 attempted credit hours will be placed on cancellation status.
Appeal Procedure for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
If extenuating circumstances prevented the student from meeting SAP requirements, the student may appeal the cancellation of federal aid eligibility.
If an appeal is granted, the student will be placed on conditional status and must meet SAP requirements in order to maintain federal aid eligibility.
Successful completion of coursework is defined as a letter grade. Acceptable grades for awarding federal financial aid are listed in the catalog. Unacceptable grades included: W, WP, WF, I, E, R (Audit) or U.
Students may appeal satisfactory academic progress two (2) times while enrolled.
If the student wishes to regain federal financial aid eligibility for the GPA and 67% completion rate rule but did not experience extenuating circumstances to warrant an appeal, the student may complete a minimum of four (4) credit hours required within the academic major, with a 2.0 term GPA, without the use of financial aid funds and maintain an accumulative GPA that meets the College’s GPA requirement. Students would then need to submit a letter to the Office of Financial Aid requesting a SAP review to determine if aid will or will not be restored.