Types of Financial Aid
BOGFW
The Financial Aid Process
Completing the FAFSA
FAQ's
Grant "Return" Policy
Checklist for Student Eligibility
Student Loan Info
Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients
A student is maintaining [Financial Aid] satisfactory progress at Butte College when he/she meets ALL of the following requirements:
As a quantitative measurement of progress, the maximum time-frame in which a student must complete his/her transfer objective, degree, or certificate is defined as:
1. Transfer objective/A.A. Degree objective - a maximum of 90 semester
units;
2. Certificate of Achievement Program - a maximum of 45 semester units;
3. The maximum time-frame requirement will apply to all financial aid
recipients, and will include transfer units and all "non-aided"
terms of attendance at Butte College.
Based upon the above time-frame, each financial aid recipient will be required to complete a minimum percentage of work towards his/her declared goal during the academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer sessions). The appropriate completion requirements are outlined below:
1. Each Financial Aid recipient will initially be required to have a calculation of his/her prior units which will be counted towards the declared college goal (A.A. Degree, transfer major or certificate). Transfer units will be assessed in this calculation. (Transfer students may be aided for a maximum of one term without this evaluation.)
2. A student pursuing an A.A. Degree or transfer objective (which requires approximately 60 semester hours for completion) may attempt up to a maximum of 90 semester hours (150%).
3. At the end of each academic year, a graduated percentage of all cumulative units attempted ("DR" grades excluded) must count towards the declared goal/objective.
Year One (2 semesters at BC) 33.3%
Thereafter 66.6%
4. A student pursuing a Certificate of Achievement objective (which requires
approximately 30 semester hours for completion) may attempt up to a maximum
of 45 semester hours (150%).
5. At the end of each academic year, a graduated percentage of all cumulative
units attempted ("DR" grades excluded) must count towards the
declared goal/objective.
Year One (2 semesters at BC) 33.3%
Thereafter 66.6%
In addition to these quantitative measurements/requirements, a qualitative standard is also mandated by federal regulations. This standard shall be a graduated minimum cumulative GPA as noted below. This standard will be applied to aided and non-aided terms at Butte College. When a continuing or returning student at Butte College applies for aid, his/her academic progress during all previous terms will be subject to these standards. Qualitative progress from prior institutions of higher education will be assessed in this process.
0 - 20 units completed 1.50 GPA
21 + units completed 2.00 GPA
Students failing to meet the SAP standard, will be subject to the following procedures:
1. The student may be disqualified from financial aid at the end of any academic term during which he/she did not achieve the minimum percentage of units completed and GPA as outlined above towards his/her declared objective.
2. The student may at that time petition the Assistant Dean for reinstatement (on a probationary status) for the subsequent semester.
3. If the petition is approved, the student is placed on financial aid probation and is required to sign a formal probationary agreement.
4. If the petition is denied by the Assistant Dean it will be reviewed (upon student request) by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee, which will render a decision.
5. If the petition is approved, the student is placed on financial aid probation and required to sign a formal probation agreement.
6. If the petition is denied by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee, the student may appeal to the Dean of Students, and, if approved, the student would then be reinstated (on probation). If denied by the Dean of Students, the student would have no further appeal rights.
7. If the student, during the probationary term, brings his/her cumulative completion rate and/or GPA to the appropriate level, he/she would be considered to have regained "clear" status.
8. If, however, the student (after receiving three consecutive terms of probation), again fails to make satisfactory progress (as per the signed probationary agreement) with respect to either units successfully completed or cumulative GPA, he/she would be completely terminated from financial aid at Butte College until he/she meets the applicable standards for satisfactory academic progress.
9. If the student completes "unaided" periods of enrollment and achieves the minimum required cumulative completion rate and GPA, then he/she may again apply for and, if eligible, receive financial aid assistance- THE STUDENT MAY NOT BE PAID RETROACTIVELY FOR THE UNAIDED PERIOD UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
10. As there are three (3) levels of appeal in this process, there will
be a similar (maximum) number of probationary terms available to an individual
financial aid recipient; this maximum will be three (3) semesters. Should
a student exhaust three (3) consecutive semesters of financial aid probationary
status while at Butte College, he/she will be terminated from financial
aid (without appeal) until such time as he/she regains program eligibility
by reaching the required minimum cumulative completion rate and cumulative
GPA. The three levels of probation will be identified as:
a. Level 1 [Assistant Dean's] Probation
b. Level 2 [FAAC] Probation
c. Level 3 [Dean's] Probation