Federal regulations require institutions, which participate in the Title IV Programs to have a written and enforceable Academic Progress Policy. This policy must be applied consistently to all students, even those who are not currently receiving federal aid. The latter can be potential future recipients. It must also encompass each student's entire tenure at his or her institution.

The following requirements must be met for eligibility for federal financial aid (grants, loans, work-study)

I. Completion Rate

A student must complete sixty-seven percent (67%)* of all credits attempted each academic year at LCCC.

Please remember that grades of W, I,F, and P or R for developmental courses are counted as attempted credits.

* This completion rate is effective for the SAP evaluation period beginning academic year 2015-2016. Prior year SAP reviews still need to comply with the prior year minimum completion rate requirement of seventy-five percent (75%).

II. Grade Pont Average

A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average based on the total number of credits attempted including transfer credits. Total credits attempted include courses in which a student receives a passing grade or F,W, or I.

Total Credits Attempted (including transfers)	Minimum Cumulative GPA Required
0 - 18	1.50
19 - 36	1.70
37 - 54	1.90
55+	2.00

III. Maximum Time Frame

For federal financial aid eligibility, students must complete their program within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the current educational program. This includes all attempted credits taken in any prior semesters even those in which no aid was received. Once a student attempts more than 150% of the credits it normally takes to complete his/her program of study, he/she is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Example:

Length of program	Maximum Time frame
60-credit program	90 credits attempted
30-credit program	45 credits attempted

Evaluation

An evaluation of academic progress will be done after the end of the spring semester of each academic year. Students enrolled in programs of less than (2) years in length, (certificate; diploma), will be reviewed after one major semester of enrollment. Students who do not meet the academic progress requirements will be notified within ten days of the completion of the evaluation.

Appeals process

Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements have the right to appeal. All appeals must be in writing and must be submitted within 45 days of the date of the notice of denial. Appeal forms should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at Luzerne County Community College, 521 Trailblazer Drive, Nanticoke, PA 18634. An appeal should include an explanation of the extenuating circumstance which resulted in the student's inability to meet the requirements along with third party documentation to support the appeal. Information about the student's plan to make up any deficiencies should also be included. It is required that the student meets with his/her academic counselor to create an academic plan to make up any deficiencies.

Note: State grant eligibility is based on standards set by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Institutional appeals do not cover State grants. Loss of State grant eligibility may be appealed directly to PHEAA in cases of illness or death in the family.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
SAP Appeal - Academic Recovery Plan

Pennsylvania State Grant

Students are required to make satisfactory progress. For each academic year (fall, spring and/or summer term) during which State Grant aid is received, a student must successfully complete the minimum total number of credits appropriate to the student's enrollment status during the terms for which State Grant aid was received. The minimum number of credits to be completed for a full-time semester is 12. A part-time student would be required to complete 6.