Satisfactory Academic Progress

Warning

Students not meeting the SAP standards will be placed on financial aid warning. This status is meant to serve as a warning for students who are in danger of losing their financial aid eligibility. During this semester on warning, a student must gain compliance status.

Unsatisfactory

Students not meeting the SAP standards at the end of the warning term are no longer eligible for aid due to unsatisfactory (USAP) status.  Students that do not complete their program of study within maximum timeframe, students that violate their approved appeal/academic plan, and students with bachelor’s degree or higher are considered unsatisfactory and not eligible to receive financial aid.

Probation with Academic Plan

This status is granted upon the approval of a financial aid appeal, student is placed on academic plan and evaluated at the end of each semester. The student will remain on probation and eligible to receive financial aid if the student continues to follow that academic plan without deviating from it.

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When a student loses financial aid eligibility because they failed to make satisfactory academic progress, they may appeal that result based on their injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other extenuating circumstances. The appeal must explain why student failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to meet satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on probation with an academic plan. Progress is evaluated at the end of every term and student will be eligible to receive financial aid if they continue to meet the requirements of the academic plan.

Students must also appeal to change their plan. They must explain what has happened to make the change necessary and how they will be able to make academic progress. The financial aid appeal deadline is the 1st of every month. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee meets monthly, except in December. Appeal requests submitted in December will be reviewed at the January meeting. Students are allowed to appeal their financial aid status twice during the entire period of enrollment at College of the Mainland. This includes degree plan changes.

The Financial Aid Appeal Request is available online at the Financial Aid Forms page.

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Federal regulations require Return of Title IV Funds (ROF) calculations for students receiving federal aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans, or PLUS Loans) who withdraw or stop attending before a semester ends. If earned aid is less than disbursed aid, both the College and the student must return funds, which may create a balance due to the College. However, students who withdraw after completing more than 60% of the term receive 100% of their aid and owe no repayment.

Withdrawal Dates: The withdrawal date is when a student officially begins the withdrawal process or notifies the Admissions/Registrar’s office. For unofficial withdrawals, the midpoint of the enrollment period is used.

Students receiving only "FN" grades are considered unofficially withdrawn as of the midpoint of the semester. If a student never attends, 100% of federal aid is reversed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education, creating a balance owed to College of the Mainland.

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Modules are classes shorter than a full semester. Students in modules are considered withdrawn unless the student:

• Provides written confirmation of attendance in a later semester class.
• Completes graduation requirements.
• Finishes classes totaling at least 49% of the semester days or successfully completes half-time enrollment (grades A–D).

Grant overpayments must be repaid or an agreement reached within 45 days. Failure to do so results in reporting to NSLDS and referral to ED Collections.

Order of Return of Funds

Funds are returned first to loan programs in this order:

• Unsubsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford
• Subsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford
• FFEL/Direct PLUS

Then, grant programs in this order:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
• Federal SEOG

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