Standards of Satisfactory Progress are the minimum requirements the federal government feels that students should be able to meet and still be progressing toward a degree or certificate.  The Financial Aid & Scholarships office is required by the U.S. Department of Education to enforce the Standards of Satisfactory Progress for all students who receive federal financial aid.

Sinclair's Standards of Satisfactory Progress policy includes:

1.  Credit hour requirement:  Successfully complete 75% or more of hours attempted since the first quarter at Sinclair.

2.  Grade point average requirement:  Maintain a 2.0 cumulative average.

3.  Maximum time frame requirement:

• Complete a program of study within a limited number of credit hours (77 credit hours for a certificate, 153 credit hours for a degree).
• Students may repeat a course for any reason and still receive financial aid.  In all cases, when a course is repeated, credit hours and grades will count each time the course is taken in determining whether or not students are making satisfactory progress while receiving financial aid.
• See a financial aid officer for details of probation and appeal processes if standards are not met.

Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may appeal the removal of federal financial aid if they feel they have extenuating circumstances.  These circumstances must be documented and submitted with the appeal which will be reviewed along with academic transcripts by the Financial Aid Appeals committee.

Regaining Eligibility:

Students may regain their eligibility and have their federal financial aid reinstated after one of the following:

• Approval of an appeal

or

• Successfully completing the requirements originally requested under the probation status.  Students must notify the Financial Aid & Scholarships office when they believe they have met the requirements necessary for the reinstatement of aid.

Note:  Sinclair's Fresh Start Policy has no bearing on Standards of Satisfactory Progress.