Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

You must make academic progress, as defined below, toward your degree or certificate program in order to receive any form of financial aid (including loans).  This requirement applies to your overall academic record whether or not you previously received aid.

Standard Requirements

NOTE: Grades such as F, W, and N count towards attempted credits.   To calculate your course completion rate, divide the total number of credits you have earned at BCC by the total number of credits you have attempted to date.

Maximum allowable credits

You can receive financial aid up to 150% of the total credits required for graduation from your  program (excluding a maximum of 30 credits of any developmental coursework required).  This limit applies to all college credits attempted, including any program changes.

EXAMPLE: If your program requires you to take 60 credits to graduate, you may receive financial aid for up to 90 credits.

Review Process

Academic progress is evaluated upon receipt of every financial aid application.  Thereafter, financial aid recipients are reviewed at least once a year in June.  Students on financial aid probation or enrolled in certificate programs are generally also reviewed mid-year in January.  If you fail to meet the standards of the satisfactory progress policy, we will notify you in writing.  First-time freshmen who do not meet required standards receive a ‘warning' notice and are placed on probation; all others receive ‘suspension' notices. Suspension from financial aid means ineligibility for future awards at BCC; suspended students are not required to pay back grants or waivers they have already received, nor are they prevented from applying for aid to attend another college.

Appeals

If you fail to meet academic progress standards due to circumstances beyond your control, you may appeal to the Director of Financial Aid.  Appeals must be written and submitted to the Financial Aid Office within two weeks of the date you receive notification of the loss of your eligibility.  An Appeal Form can be completed by downloading a .pdf formatted document to fill out and return to the BCC Financial Aid Office, or completed online and emailed.  The Director of Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Appeals Review Committee will review your appeal and respond in writing as to the outcome.  Students with acceptable reasons for appealing are reinstated provisionally, that is, they are placed on financial aid probation and must make satisfactory progress in future semesters to avoid being suspended again.  Students on probation should limit their course load to ensure successful completion of all attempted credits and to bring their record into compliance with required standards as soon as possible.

Regaining Eligibility

You can also regain eligibility for financial aid consideration by successfully completing additional credits at your own expense (providing you are still within maximum allowable credits). Inform the Financial Aid Office (F-122; ext 1641) once you have rehabilitated your record to comply with Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.