Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Financial aid recipients are required to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards as established by Henry Ford College, based on federal and state regulations. This policy is separate from the College’s general probation and dismissal policy.

In addition to meeting individual financial aid requirements, students have to make satisfactory academic progress toward completing a degree or eligible certificate program in order to receive aid.

The Henry Ford College Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy applies to all students who receive financial aid from any federal or state program administered by HFC. Federal regulations require that the policy include the review of enrollment periods for which student did not receive aid, as well as enrollment periods for which students did receive aid. Additionally, federal regulations also require that transfer credit hours awarded by HFC be included in the SAP review process.

SAP Policy Components

To maintain satisfactory academic progress, a student must comply with all three requirements of this policy. Eligibility for aid (based on Satisfactory Academic Progress) is determined at the end of each Winter term and at the time of application for students who have never applied for aid at HFC. (For students on “SAP Probation”, explained later in this policy, eligibility for aid – based on SAP – is determined at the end of each probationary term). If a grade change occurs after a student’s satisfactory academic progress standing has been computed, satisfactory academic progress will not be (automatically) recalculated.

1. Total Attempted Credit Hours (150% Rule)

A student cannot receive financial aid if they have attempted more than 150% of the credit hours published as being required for the completion of their program of study. For example, an associate degree in Business Administration requires 60 credit hours to graduate, therefore, a student enrolled in this program can no longer receive financial id once they have attempted more than 90 credit hours (60 X 150% = 90). A certificate of achievement in Baking and Pastry requires 30 credit hours to graduate, therefore, a student enrolled in this program can no longer receive financial aid once they have attempted more than 45 credit hours (30 x 150% = 45).

Attempted Credit Hours Include:

Classes with an earned letter grade of A, B, C, D, S, or TR
Classes with an unearned letter grade of E, DR, I, NA, or U
Repeated classes
Classes transferred from other colleges or universities
Classes paid with student’s own money or other resources

2. Credit Hours to be Completed (Completion Percentage)

A student must complete at least 66.67% of the total (cumulative) credit hours they have attempted, including transfer credit hours, earning a letter grade of A, B, C, D, S, or TR. For example, a first-time student who is enrolled in 12 credit hours for the Fall term and 12 credit hours for the Winter term must complete at least 66.67% of those credit hours, which are 16 credit hours (24 x 66.67% = 16).

3. Must Maintain Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 (GPA Requirement)

A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 for all attempted credit hours at HFC.

Initial Eligibility

Students who apply for federal or state financial aid and who have previously enrolled in credit-hour classes at HFC must have successfully completed at least 66.67% of all credit hours attempted, with a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average. A student cannot have attempted more than 150% of the credit hours published as being required for the completion of their program of study. Students who have not completed 66.67% of all credit hours attempted with a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will be deemed ineligible to receive federal or state financial aid.

Students with transfer credit hours from other institutions will not have the grade point average or percentage of attempted credit hours analyzed, however, all transfer credit hours awarded by HFC will be counted as part of their total number of attempted and completed credit hours for purposes of determining eligibility under both the “150% Rule” and the “Completion Percentage” requirements referenced earlier in this policy. For example, if a student has 40 transfer credits and is enrolled in a degree program requiring 60 credit hours to complete, they are only allowed to receive financial aid for 50 attempted credit hours at HFC (60 x 150% = 90 - 40 = 50 maximum hours at HFC) and all attempted credit hours must show a successful completion rate of at least 66.67%. A student will be denied federal or state financial aid when they have attempted more than 150% of the credit hours published as being required for the completion of their associate degree program or eligible certificate program.

Unsatisfactory Progress

Students who receive an unsatisfactory SAP status will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and they must pay for any future classes they register for at HFC, at their own expense. (NOTE: Students who have been denied federal or state financial aid based on either the “Completion Percentage” requirement or the “GPA Requirement” referenced earlier in this policy may have SAP-eligibility reinstated in the future if they are able to pass these standards/requirements after completing classes and improving their completion rate and/or GPA.

Remaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Students that do not meet the initial eligibility requirements for federal financial aid may regain financial aid eligibility by taking courses at their own expense or by using other funding sources until they meet the minimum GPA and Completion rate requirements. They may also be eligible to submit a Financial Aid Suspension appeal for consideration. However, students who exceed 150% of the credit hours required for their program may only regain eligibility through a Financial Aid Suspension Appeal.

Appeal Process (effective Fall 2021)

Students may fail to make satisfactory academic progress due to extenuating circumstances. HFC has a satisfactory academic progress appeal process in which a student can explain, in writing, any extenuating circumstances. The appeal must include a statement as to the reasons why the student did not make satisfactory academic progress as well as a statement as to what has changed, including what actions the student has taken or will be taking, that will allow them to make satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation period.

The student must also indicate on the appeal what program of study they are seeking. In order for the appeal to be considered, the program of study listed on the appeal must match the active program of study on record with the college.

Appeals must be completed using the year-appropriate “Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form”. Appeals must be submitted to the HFC Financial Aid Office, along with any supporting documentation, no later than the deadline date stated on the Financial Aid Suspension Appeal form for the semester in which reinstatement of financial aid eligibility is being requested. Late or incomplete appeals may be considered but will not be approved if the student has already dropped or earned a non-passing grade for the semester in which they are appealing.

The Office of Financial Aid reviews all appeals on a case-by-case basis. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.

Students whose appeals are approved will be required to submit the “SAP Academic Plan Notice”. The SAP Academic Plan Notice documents what program of study is being approved as well as the conditions of the approved appeal.

Students whose appeals are approved will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. “Financial Aid Probation” is a status assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress, who has appealed, and who has had eligibility for Federal Title IV aid reinstated. A student placed on Financial Aid Probation is only eligible to receive aid for one award period (e.g. – semester). If at the end of that award period, a student is still not making satisfactory academic progress, financial aid for the following semester will only be considered if the student has met the conditions of their probation, as explained in their Academic Plan Notice.

An approved financial aid suspension appeal is only valid for the academic year. If the student has not completed their program within that time, a new Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form must be submitted each subsequent academic year in order to continue to receive financial aid funding.

If a student changes their program of study from what was approved on their Academic Plan Notice, it will be considered a violation of their Financial Aid Probation. In order to be considered for any future financial aid at HFC, the student must submit a new appeal for consideration.

In the event a Financial Aid Suspension appeal is denied, the student will be responsible for the payment of all charges related to the current semester as well as all future semesters.

Conditions of Financial Aid Probation

Students whose appeal is approved will be placed on “Financial Aid Probation” and will have their academic progress monitored every semester for the academic year in which their appeal was approved, or until they complete their program of study, whichever comes first. At the end of each probationary semester, the Office of Financial Aid will review the student’s academic record to ensure the conditions of Financial Aid Probation were met for the approved semester:

Student must pass ALL attempted classes
Student must earn a semester GPA greater than or equal to 2.01 (students on a GPA appeal) or 2.0 (students on 150% or completion rate appeal).
Student’s active program of study is the same as the program of study approved and listed on the Academic Plan Notice.

If the student meets the conditions of their Financial Aid Probation, financial aid eligibility will automatically be approved for each subsequent semester within that academic year (e.g. – Fall, Winter, Summer).

If the student does not meet the conditions of their Financial Aid Probation, the student will not be eligible to receive further financial aid funding at HFC, although they may continue to enroll at HFC and pay all charges related to their enrollment from their personal funds and/or other non-federal Title IV aid. Appeals for future aid submitted by students that did not meet the conditions of their Financial Aid Probation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.