POL 6.115 Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

Policy Statement

Kirtland Community College (Kirtland) is committed to ensuring that students who receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward the completion of their degree or certificate program. In accordance with federal regulations, the College establishes, publishes, and applies standards to all students—whether or not they have previously received financial aid—to determine continued eligibility.

The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy ensures that financial aid funds are disbursed only to students who demonstrate academic success and progress toward the completion of a program of study.

Policy Standards

To maintain eligibility for financial aid, students must meet the following minimum SAP standards:

1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for all coursework completed at Kirtland.
   
2. Completion Rate: Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all cumulative attempted credit hours.
   
3. Maximum Timeframe: Students must complete their program within 150% of the published length of the program (e.g., 90 attempted credit hours for a 60-credit associate degree).
   

These standards apply to all students, regardless of full-time or part-time status, dependency status, or previous receipt of financial aid.

Financial Aid Eligibility Statuses

Students’ financial aid eligibility will be evaluated at the end of each payment period (Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters). Based on this evaluation, students will be assigned one of the following statuses:

• Good Standing: Meeting all SAP standards; fully eligible for financial aid.
  
• Warning: Did not meet SAP standards in the prior evaluation period; eligible for financial aid for one additional term.
  
• Denied: Did not meet SAP standards after a warning term; ineligible for financial aid until standards are met or an appeal is approved.
  
• 150% Maximum Timeframe: Exceeded the maximum timeframe allowed for program completion; ineligible for financial aid unless an approved appeal and academic plan are in place.
  

Appeals and Reinstatement of Eligibility

Students who become ineligible for financial aid due to failure to meet SAP standards may submit a written appeal citing mitigating circumstances such as illness, family emergency, or change of program. Approved appeals may result in:

• Probation 1: Student is expected to meet SAP standards by the end of the next evaluation period.
  
• Probation 2: Student is placed on an approved success plan outlining specific academic requirements to regain eligibility within a defined period.
  
• 150% Maximum Timeframe Plan: Student approved for continued aid under a success plan beyond the 150% limit due to documented extenuating circumstances.
  

Students who fail to meet the conditions of an approved plan will lose eligibility for financial aid until all SAP standards are met.

Administrative Procedures

Detailed procedures regarding the implementation of this policy including the calculation of GPA and completion rate, treatment of transfer, repeated, audited, and remedial courses, notification timelines, and the appeals process are maintained by the Financial Aid Office and published in the Kirtland Community College Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedures Manual and on the College website.

Notification

Students will be notified of their SAP status by email at the end of each semester. All SAP appeal decisions are final.

Authority

This policy is established in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education Title IV Federal Regulations (34 CFR 668.34) governing Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Adopted August 9, 1984
Revised September 12, 1996
Revised December 11, 1997
Revised June 12, 2003
Revised June 16, 2011
Revised October 20, 2011
Reviewed and Revised April 14, 2026