| New College of Florida Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Purposes Students with Title IV financial aid at New College of Florida (NCF) must meet the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Financial Aid Purposes. This Policy is stricter than the requirements of the academic program. It is based on satisfactory completion of semester contracts, Independent Study Projects (ISPs), individual courses, and other work attempted. 1 unit = 4 semester hour equivalents New College of Florida Graduation Requirements Please note: A student who seeks to graduate with the minimum number of contracts should plan for satisfactory completion of an average of least 4 units per contract. However, a student’s individual pace within the program may require additional time to complete graduation requirements. The most straightforward way to meet the SAP Requirements is satisfactory completion—on time—of all NCF contracts, ISPs, all other graduation requirements, and each unit attempted, without exceeding 46.5 cumulative unit attempts. However, the SAP Policy does permit limited flexibility for withdrawals, incompletes, and unsatisfactory evaluations. When negotiating contracts and ISPs with the faculty contract sponsor, a student who receives financial aid should keep in mind each of the SAP Requirements to plan for timely graduation. SAP Review 1. Academic standing consistent with NCF’s requirements for graduation: satisfactory completion of academic contracts and Independent Study Projects (ISPs) Re-Review of SAP. A student whose contract, ISP, and/or unit status caused failure of SAP can request to have SAP re-reviewed prior to the next semester SAP Review if there has been a change to the contract, ISP, and/or unit status. Re-review is not done automatically—it is the student’s responsibility to request re-review. The 3 SAP Requirements in Detail #1 Academic standing consistent with NCF’s requirements for graduation: satisfactory completion of academic contracts and ISPs In order for a student’s performance in a course or academic activity to be designated “satisfactory,” it is expected that he or she will complete work that meets or exceeds a standard that is uniformly applied to all students in that course. Academic performance that does not meet this standard is designated “unsatisfactory.” At New College this satisfactory or unsatisfactory designation is always accompanied by a narrative evaluation that describes the quality and character of the student’s academic work. Because New College is the Honors College for the state of Florida, instructors have high expectations for student outcomes, and established performance norms are also high. This means that student work that is designated satisfactory in a course, tutorial, independent reading project, or independent study project is apt to exceed common minimum standards and would likely earn a B or an A in a traditional grading system. A final designation of “satisfactory” for an academic activity at New College is equivalent to at least a C (2.0) or higher in a traditional grading system. The academic contract registers the student’s units (courses, tutorials, Independent Reading Projects) for the semester. Criteria for satisfactory evaluation of each unit of academic work are based upon established norms defined by the faculty at the beginning of the semester or Independent Study Project. Criteria for satisfactory completion of the academic contract are individually negotiated between the student and the student’s faculty contract sponsor (advisor). The student is expected to complete 1 satisfactory academic contract for each semester registered. In addition, the student is expected to complete 1 satisfactory Independent Study Project for each ISP registered. At each SAP review, the student’s record must reflect the following • Satisfactory completion of the semester’s academic contract Unsatisfactory, Incomplete, or Unevaluated Contract or ISP: With the exception of the one-semester grace period for satisfactory ISP completion, the student will not meet SAP with an unsatisfactory, incomplete, or unevaluated contract or ISP. Meeting Requirement #1 at the Next SAP Review: Except for students subject to review for academic dismissal (see below), the student will meet Requirement #1 for the next enrolled semester period’s SAP Review with satisfactory completion of that semester’s contract (and ISP, if registered). • Two unsatisfactory contracts, which need not be consecutive. Financial aid will automatically be terminated on the basis of any of these conditions. #2 Ability to graduate without exceeding 46.5 cumulative unit attempts, and 4 units per semester contract. (Requirement #2 is part of the SAP Quantitative Component—Maximum Timeframe.) The minimum length of NCF’s degree program is 31 units, satisfactorily completed. The Maximum Timeframe is 46.5 cumulative unit attempts for NCF Title IV financial aid recipients (150% of 31 units). Attempts include all units accepted in transfer, and all subsequent units registered (including any that are satisfactory, unsatisfactory, dropped/withdrawn, incomplete, or unevaluated). The student meets Requirement #2 if it is possible to complete graduation requirements (including the requirements of 7 contracts, 3 ISPs, 31 units, and the baccalaureate exam) without exceeding 4 units per subsequent semester contract, and without exceeding 46.5 cumulative unit attempts. If the student cannot do both, then the student’s aid will be terminated unless saved by successful appeal for financial aid probation. Units from Dual Enrollment and Other College Transfer Credit: For Requirement #2, college courses taken prior to initial enrollment at NCF are assigned units attempted and satisfactorily completed if they are accepted toward the NCF degree. After initial enrollment, units attempted are assigned for off-campus study through a host institution; the units are counted as satisfactorily completed if transferred to the NCF degree by the first day of classes after the one-semester grace period. Transfer credit is assigned 1 unit for every 4 semester hours (or every 6 quarter hours). #3 Satisfactory completion of at least two-thirds or 67% of all cumulative units attempted toward graduation requirements. Special Conditions for Requirement #3 Semester contract attempts #1, #2, and #3: At SAP evaluation of each of the first three semesters, the student must have satisfactorily completed at least 50% of all cumulative units attempted. Semester contract attempt #4, and each semester contract attempt thereafter: At SAP evaluation of the fourth semester and each semester thereafter, the student must have satisfactorily completed at least two-thirds or 67% of all cumulative units attempted. Units from Dual Enrollment and Other College Transfer Credit: For Requirement #3, college courses taken prior to initial enrollment at NCF are assigned units attempted and satisfactorily completed if they are accepted toward the NCF degree. After initial enrollment, units attempted are assigned for off-campus study through a host institution; the units are counted as satisfactorily completed if transferred to the NCF degree by the first day of classes after the one-semester grace period. Transfer credit is assigned 1 unit for every 4 semester hours (or every 6 quarter hours). Additional Definitions for SAP: Academic Year. NCF’s program is full-time and undergraduate, using one academic year definition for all students. The minimum academic year comprises the fall and spring semester terms (each semester lasting roughly 4 months or 16 weeks), and the January interterm for Independent Study Projects (between the two semesters). Each semester represents one payment period; the January interterm is attached to the fall semester payment period. A student is not required to register for the January interterm after satisfactory completion of 3 Independent Study Projects. Semester Hours and Terms. As of Fall 2011, NCF’s program uses semester credit hours with terms, tracking semester hours through a system in which 1 unit is equivalent to 4 semester hours. For NCF educational activities attempted prior to Fall 2011, units will be assigned in the same way. For transfer credit attempted for assignment to the degree prior to Fall 2011, every 4 semester hours (or every 6 quarter hours) will be counted as 1 unit. Full-Time Study. All NCF students are required to enroll full-time—as of Fall 2011, this is defined as at least 3 units per term (equivalent to at least 12 semester hours per term). An Independent Study Project at NCF, measured as 1 unit, is in addition to the 3 units required for full-time study in the fall semester term. PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO MEET ONE OR MORE REQUIREMENTS OF SAP TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL AID FINANCIAL AID WARNING STATUS No request or appeal is needed for this status, but some restrictions apply. The Director of Financial Aid will not assign Financial Aid Warning Status if one or more of the following applies: • The student was on Financial Aid Warning Status or Financial Aid Probation Status for his or her prior payment period. (This is because a student may not remain on Financial Aid Warning Status for two consecutive payment periods.) The student’s aid will be terminated unless the student successfully appeals for Financial Aid Probation. If granted, Financial Aid Warning Status allows the student the chance to re-establish eligibility for Title IV aid by meeting SAP requirements at the end of the semester payment period. If the student does not meet SAP requirements at the next semester SAP review, the student’s Title IV aid will be terminated unless the student successfully appeals for Financial Aid Probation. FINANCIAL AID PROBATION STATUS • one additional semester payment period, or In either case, Financial Aid Probation Status will be lifted if the student has successfully met the requirements of SAP by the specific point in time designated for the Financial Aid Probation period. Additionally, Financial Aid Probation Status may be granted to extend the Maximum Timeframe to provide the student with an extra semester of funding to graduate. Appeals for Financial Aid Probation Status are considered and decided by the Dean of Enrollment Services and/or by the Director of Financial Aid. Appeals are not, however, granted automatically. Letter of Appeal for Financial Aid Probation Status. The letter of appeal must be written by the student, and must include the following: • Why the student failed to meet the SAP requirements (information on the death of a relative, injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances and information) Additional support (for example, documentation such as a physician letter or letter from the faculty contract sponsor) is strongly recommended. The letter of appeal should be submitted to: Financial Aid Probation Status, if granted, allows the student the chance to re-establish eligibility for Title IV aid by meeting SAP requirements at the end of the assigned Probation period. Unless Financial Aid Probation Status was assigned to provide an extension of the Maximum Timeframe, or the student reaches Maximum Timeframe with the end of the Financial Aid Probation period, the student’s Financial Aid Probation Status will be lifted if the student meets SAP requirements at the specific point in time granted as the end of the Probationary period, or if the student is successfully following an academic plan approved for Financial Aid Probation purposes. One Appeal. If the student does not meet SAP requirements at the end of the Financial Aid Probation Status period assigned, the student’s Title IV aid will be terminated unless the student successfully appeals again for Financial Aid Probation. Typically, however, not more than one appeal will be granted during a student’s career at New College of Florida. | ||
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