Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward degree, diploma, and certificate completion in order to receive federal, state, or Delaware Tech financial aid or veterans education benefits. Students must meet all three satisfactory academic progress requirements:

1. Maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA). (See the Academic Standing Policy in the College Catalog)
2. Maintain a 67% cumulative completion rate by successfully completing 67% of all credits attempted
3. Complete the program of study within the maximum time frame for the program. The maximum credits allowed is 150% of the number of credits required to earn the award.

These requirements apply to the student’s entire period of attendance at Delaware Tech, including any periods during which the student does not receive any financial aid or veterans education benefits. Satisfactory academic progress is one eligibility requirement for financial aid; a complete list of financial aid eligibility requirements is available on the financial aid website.

Satisfactory academic progress is calculated at the end of each semester to determine eligibility for the student’s next semester. Satisfactory academic progress will be rechecked during the semester if Financial Aid is notified of updates to academic history, such as a change of grade, for previous semesters.

Students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements for cumulative GPA and/or completion rate will be placed on financial aid warning. A financial aid recipient must meet these requirements at the end of the next semester, or the student will be ineligible for financial aid until satisfactory academic progress requirements are met. Students on financial aid warning are expected to successfully complete financial aid counseling before financial aid is disbursed.

Students who have not completed the program within the maximum credits allowed will be ineligible for federal, state, and Delaware Tech financial aid. There is no financial aid warning status.

Students who are ineligible may appeal to have financial aid eligibility reinstated if extenuating circumstances prevented them from maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Such circumstances include:

• Medical condition, illness, or injury to the student or an immediate family member
• Death of an immediate family member
• Change or loss of employment for you or an immediate family member
• Other special circumstances

Documentation must be provided, and the student must complete a financial aid appeal[1] explaining the reason(s) the student did not maintain satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to regain satisfactory academic progress.

The appeal process also requires the student to submit an academic plan that sets forth the requirements the student must meet to make satisfactory academic progress. Students must also successfully complete financial aid counseling before the appeal will be considered.

The Financial Aid Office will provide the student with the appeal decision and explain what the student must do to reestablish eligibility for federal/state/Delaware Tech financial aid. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee the student will regain financial aid eligibility. The decision of the Financial Aid Office regarding the financial aid appeal is final.

If the appeal is not approved, then the student is ineligible for financial aid until satisfactory academic progress is achieved at the student’s own expense.

If the appeal is approved by the Financial Aid Office, the student is then placed on Financial Aid Probation for the authorized enrollment status. A student placed on Financial Aid Probation may receive financial aid as long as the student is satisfying the requirements of an approved academic plan.

If after the one semester of Financial Aid Probation, the College determines the student achieved satisfactory academic progress, the student’s financial aid eligibility will be reinstated for the next semester of attendance. Thereafter, such student’s academic progress will be evaluated in accordance with this policy.

If after the one semester of Financial Aid Probation, the College determines the student met all the requirements of the student’s academic plan, but did not achieve satisfactory academic progress, the student will be permitted to continue to receive financial aid for the next semester and subsequent semesters of attendance for the authorized enrollment status provided that the student continues to meet all of the requirements of the academic plan. A student who meets the academic plan requirements may request to increase the authorized enrollment status by submitting a new academic plan.

If after the one semester of Financial Aid Probation, the College determines that the student did not meet all the requirements of the academic plan and did not successfully achieve satisfactory academic progress, the student will lose financial aid eligibility until the student achieves satisfactory academic progress at the student’s expense. Students may make another appeal for financial aid eligibility by submitting a new financial aid appeal form and providing a new academic plan. However, students are advised that financial aid appeals for academic plan deficiencies will only be approved for changes to the student’s major and required courses or in extenuating circumstances as determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans education benefits cannot be reinstated until the student is meeting the minimum cumulative GPA requirement. There is no appeal process.

All information is subject to change based on revisions to federal laws, regulations, or college policies and procedures. Students are required to abide by any such revisions.

[1] The appeal form is submitted electronically and can be found on the Student Information System—accessible through MyDTCC under the Technology section.