Eligibility Requirements

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Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for most types of financial aid, the student must:

  • Be at least sixteen (16) years of age
  • Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Pursue a degree/diploma/certificate in an eligible course of study
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
  • Register with Selective Service if required (STATE AID ONLY) (REGISTER ONLINE NOW)
  • Not be in default of a student loan or owe a refund on previously received grant
  • Agree to use any funds received for educationally related purposes only
  • Certify that they will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of controlled substances.

Pell Recalculation Date (PRD) Procedure

Each semester, the Financial Aid Office sets a Pell Recalculation Date (PRD) in line with guidance from the Department of Education. The PRD, sometimes referred to as the census or freeze date, serves as a snapshot of the student’s enrollment status (credit hours enrolled in) at a specific point in the semester.

The PRD is set for each term and is typically set shortly after the last day to add/drop for the semester. Once this date passes, the student’s enrollment is locked for Pell Grant purposes.

A student must be registered for all courses (including transient classes at another college) by this date in order to have those credit hours considered for Pell Grant funding. Any new classes added after that date will not count towards the student's Pell Grant eligibility.

Exceptions to this policy include:

  • When a student adds a class for the first time that semester (i.e. adds a part of term class that starts later in the term as their first time enrolling)
  • When a student fails to begin attendance in a class
  • When the college receives an initial FAFSA for the student

In these cases, Pell must be recalculated (updated for the new hours)

Example: Student begins summer semester on May 18 in 6 credit hours and in June decides to add a 3-credit hour class for the Express Term which begins on June 1. The student would not receive additional Pell funds for the Express Term credit hours because they were added after the PRD.

The PRD date only applies to Pell. If the student has state aid such as the HOPE Grant, that grant would be updated for the added class.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal and state regulations require that students make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive aid. SAP measures whether students applying for financial aid are in good standing and making progress toward completion of their programs. SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester after grades are posted. Not making SAP can affect your ability to receive state and federal financial aid. Students should check their SAP status after each semester they attend. Follow the instructions below.

How to Check Financial Aid Status on Ellucian Experience

*Note: Financial aid standing is separate from Academic Standing

SAP Standards:

Maximum Time Frame

Students must complete their educational program within a maximum time frame of one and a half (150 percent) times the length of the program in which they are enrolled. This means that students will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid once they have attempted one and one-half times the number of credit hours required for graduation in the program in which enrolled.

Qualitative Standard: GPA Requirement

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA requirement is 2.0.

Quantitative Standard: Completion Rate

Students must successfully earn at least a cumulative 66.7% of all credit hours attempted to remain eligible for financial aid. Completion rate is affected by failing or withdrawing from classes.

If SAP is not met: Students falling below the minimum GPA and/or completion rate at the time of review will first be placed on financial aid warning. They will have one semester to achieve a cumulative 2.0 or higher GPA and 66.7% completion rate. Students who do not meet the requirements at the end of the warning semester will be put on financial aid suspension, and their financial aid will be terminated. Once on financial aid suspension, student must pay for and successfully complete courses until the achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA and 66.7% completion rate to have aid reinstated.

Grades

  • Grades of “I”,”IP”, and “W” are not included in calculating a student’s GPA.
  • "I", "IP", and "W" grades are counted as coursework attempted and will be used to determine SAP status for attempted hours.
  • Students who receive "I" or "IP" grades will have those grades factored in their attempted or earned rate when a grade has been assigned. The grade must be assigned by the next semester's SAP evaluation period unless the student falls under an extenuating circumstance related to a national qualifying emergency.
  • Students who receive “I” grades will have their SAP re-evaluated when the final grade is posted by the Office of the Registrar.
  • Learning Support grades do not affect GPA, but the hours are calculated in for completion rate.
  • Dual enrollment courses and grades will also be included in SAP calculations.


Termination of Financial Aid

  • Financial aid will be terminated when a student is determined by the Financial Aid Office to be ineligible, if the office has evidence that the student has falsified information on the application materials, or if federal or state funds are not provided to meet the award.

Appeal Process/Reinstatement of Aid

  • Students have the right to appeal the denial of financial aid if they have extenuating circumstances which prevented them from making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Following these instructions, students can open an appeal in Student Forms to complete the form and upload supporting documentation. Appeals without appropriate documentation will be denied.
  • The Financial Aid Committee will review the appeal and if properly documented may approve the appeal for the current semester or the next semester the student attends.
  • If the appeal is approved, financial aid will only be awarded for the semester that is approved and future semesters if they remain in good standing. FA will not be awarded for previous semesters.
  • If it is determined that the student cannot meet SAP standards by the end of the approved semester, they will need to complete an Academic Success Plan (ASP) with their advisor to continue receiving FA.

For more information, email financialaid@wiregrass.edu.