About SAP
Federal regulations require Dine College to establish satisfactory academic progress standards that are receiving Title IV financial assistance. Dine College’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships reviews grades at the end of each semester and measures satisfactory academic progress in the following areas: grade point average (GPA), completion rate or pace, and maximum timeframe.
If students with disabilities can demonstrate equal or higher academic performances as their typical college peers and/or demonstrate the ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress, they may be considered eligible for accommodations such as course substitutions. Course substitutions could be a workshop, independent study, special topic classes, or practicum experiences.
The substitute course must be at the freshman and sophomore levels, and closely related in content, objectives, and outcomes to the original required course. Such accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure students with disabilities meet the necessary and required coursework for the specific degree or certificate program.
Students receiving financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a certificate or degree program. Dine College has both a qualitative and quantitative measure of academic progress:
Qualitative & Quantitative Standards:
Quantitative Standard
- Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0
Qualitative Standard
- Maximum timeframe a student has to complete a degree
- Minimum percentage of courses attempted to be passed
- Maximum number of courses from which a student is allowed to withdraw or drop
| Semester Hour Load | 67% Minimum Completion Rate Per Semester |
|---|---|
| Full-Time (12 or more credit hours) | Must satisfactorily complete 8 credits |
| 3/4 Time (9-11 credit hours) | Must satisfactorily complete 6 credits |
| 1/2 Time (6-8 credit hours) | Must satisfactorily complete 4 credits |
| Less than 1/2 Time (1-5 credit hours) | Must satisfactorily complete the number of credits funded (i.e. if a student is funded for 4 credit hours then the student must complete 4 credit hours.) |
NOTE: Grades of F, I, W, or IP are not accepted as passing and could affect eligibility for future financial aid. (See Course Catalog)
Completion Rate/Pace and Maximum Timeframe
(Effective: Fail 2012)
| Classification | Credit Hours | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 0-32 | 2.000 |
| Sophomore | 33-64 | 2.000 |
| Junior | 65-96 | 2.000 |
| Senior | 97-128 | 2.000 |
Maximum Timeframe/Pace
The US Department of Education places a credit hour limit on financial aid funding for students. Funding is available until a student has reached 150% of the credit hours required to complete their program. This includes all double majors, additional degrees, repeat credits, and transfer credits (example: AA in Bus Admin. = 69 credits x 150% = 103 credit hour maximum timeframe).
Financial Aid Warning
Recipients of financial aid will receive a financial aid warning notice after any semester in which their semester/term grade point average falls below the “Completion Rate/Pace” and/or they fail to satisfactorily complete 67% of the credit hours in which they are enrolled.
The financial aid warning letter serves as a WARNING to the student that he/she did not maintain satisfactory academic progress during the most recent semester of attendance at Diné College. Failure to meet one of the academic progress standards for one semester results in a financial aid warning. Students on financial aid warning are eligible for Title IV Funds. Students will be removed from warning status after completing the following semester in good academic standing.
Financial Aid Suspension
Recipients of financial aid will be suspended if they fail to meet the semester grade point average and/or to complete 67% of their enrollment for two (2) semesters of academic coursework. Failure to meet one of the academic progress standards for two consecutive semesters may result in financial aid suspension. Students on financial aid suspension are not eligible for Title IV Funds.
A student may lose federal and institutional aid eligibility because he/she is not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
A student may regain eligibility in one of the following ways:
- Submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form with supporting documentation. A student must be advancing toward a degree and show progress within the SAP Academic plan for graduation.
- Complete one semester using his/her own resources or utilizing DC’s deferred Payment Plan with at least half-time enrollment (6 or more credit hours). Courses taken must be chosen in consultation with an Academic Advisor.
Once students regain eligibility, they will be awarded financial aid for the following term subject to eligibility and the availability of funds.
Financial Aid Probation
If a student’s Financial Aid Suspension appeal is approved, the student will be awarded a Financial Aid Probation Status. The student must complete all credits with a 2.0 GPA, otherwise, the student will go back on Financial Aid Suspension.
Course Repetition
Repeat credits are applied when a student repeats a course to improve a grade. Students are allowed to repeat any previously passed course and have it count toward enrollment for financial aid eligibility only once. Each attempt at the course, however, will count toward a student’s pace and maximum timeframe.
Official Withdrawal
A school’s SAP policy cannot exclude “W” grades in SAP reviews. Withdrawal hours are assigned when a student withdraws from a class after the drop period. Withdrawal hours count as credit hours attempted toward both pace and maximum timeframe.
Unofficial Withdrawal
A student who does not successfully complete any course (receives all “F” grades), stopped attending classes, and/or did not complete any coursework is considered an unofficial withdrawal. An unofficial withdrawal may be required to repay up to 50% of their financial aid received for the term. A student who never attended any of their classes and did not complete any coursework are required to repay 100% of the financial aid received for the semester or summer term. Non-attendance does not relieve students of the financial responsibility for tuition charges once they are registered for a class.
Incompletes
Incomplete (“I”) is a temporary grade that is assigned only in exceptional circumstances. It will be given only to students who cannot complete the work of a course on schedule because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control. Once an official grade is received, the student should notify the Financial Aid Office.
Transfer Credits
Coursework taken at another institution that is accepted as transfer credit by Diné College will count as both attempted and completed credit hours toward pace and maximum timeframe. Students who exceed the maximum timeframe can submit an SAP appeal to determine if their aid can be reinstated.
Change in Major
Students who have changed majors or are pursuing a second degree may reach their maximum time frame before their program of study is complete. All credits attempted are treated in the quantitative, qualitative, and maximum timeframe standards for SAP.
Additional Degree(s)
A student who already has an equivalent of an A.A. or A.S. degree (or higher) does not qualify for additional Pell Grant funds unless the student is fully accepted into a Bachelor’s degree program that has been approved.
Changes that Impact Eligibility
(Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012: Effective July 1, 2012)
- Federal Pell Grant Duration of Eligibility – Beginning award year 2012–2013, the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant is reduced from 18 semesters or its equivalent to 12 semesters or its equivalent. The calculation of the duration of a student’s eligibility will include all years of the student’s receipt of Federal Pell Grant funding.
- Pell Grant Lifetime Limit – Beginning Fall 2012, students are now limited to receiving 12 semesters of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. Students may view their percentage of Pell Grant used by logging into NSLDS.ed.gov. Your ‘Lifetime Eligibility Used’ percentage will be displayed in the ‘Grants’ section.
Repeat
Students may repeat courses previously taken at the college to better their understanding or to improve their grade. A transcript shows that the course was repeated, but only the higher grade is used to compute the student’s Cumulative Grade Average.
Retake
Courses may be retaken, but only one retake of a course counts towards a student’s eligibility for financial aid purposes.
Return of Title IV Funds (Refund and Repayment Policy)
If students receiving federal financial aid withdraw from the College, the amount of the financial aid to be repaid or refunded is calculated using a formula supplied by the U.S. Department of Education. The last day of attendance is used to calculate the total amount to be repaid. A refund is the difference between the amounts paid toward institutional costs (including financial aid and/or cash paid) and the amount the school may retain under the appropriate refund policy. See the Financial Aid Student Handbook for detailed information on the Title IV Refund/Repayment policy.
The order of refund of Title IV funds to the programs from which the student received aid during the payment period or period of enrollment is in the following, up to the net amount disbursed from each source:
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans*
- Subsidized Federal Stafford loans*
- Unsubsidized Direct Stafford loans (other than PLUS loans)
- Subsidized Direct Stafford loans
- Federal Perkins loans
- Federal PLUS loans
- Direct PLUS loans
- Federal Pell Grants for which a return of funds is required
- Academic Competitiveness Grant for which a return of funds is required
- National Smart Grants for which a return of funds is required
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) for which a return of funds is required
- Federal TEACH Grants for which a return is required.
* Diné College does not participate in the Federal Student Loan Program and will not certify enrollment or share information with potential lenders.
