All students at Holmes Community College who receive federal financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their degrees within a reasonable period of time. Holmes Community College has approved the following standards defining satisfactory progress, in accordance with regulations issued by the United States Department of Education. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status will be determined at least once each year, generally at the end of the spring term. The first time a student falls below the required Qualitative and Measurable Progress components of this policy, he/she is placed into a “SAP Warning” status. If a student continues to fail these standards after the completion of a subsequent term of enrollment, he/she is placed into SAP Failure Status and is no longer eligible to receive federal aid. The student may continue to attend Holmes Community College at their own expense.
Undergraduate Students
An undergraduate student is considered to be making satisfactory progress if he/she meets the following:
• is admitted and enrolled as a degree student
• meets the required qualitative measure for financial aid recipients
• maintains measurable progress toward the completion of the degree
• completes degree requirements within a reasonable length of time
Required Qualitative Measure
In order to meet the required qualitative measure, a student must maintain a minimum overall cumulative GPA based on the following scales. This measure becomes effective when the student has attempted at least 6 credit hours at Holmes Community College.
| 1-16 hours |
17-32 hours |
33-48 hours |
49 and above |
| 1.0 G.P.A. |
1.50 G.P.A. |
1.75 G.P.A. |
2.0 G.P.A. |
Measurable Progress Requirement (Completion Rate)
In order to maintain measurable progress toward the completion of their degree, a student must successfully complete a satisfactory percentage of all Holmes Community College coursework and all transfer credit hours attempted. The percentages are outlined below. (Hours attempted include repeated courses, dropped courses, withdrawals, remedial courses, incomplete and completed courses.) This measure becomes effective when a student has attempted at least 6 hours of credit at Holmes Community College.
| 1-16 hours |
17-32 hours |
33-48 hours |
49 and above |
| 50% or greater |
50% or greater |
50% or greater |
67% or greater |
Example A: A student has attempted 42 credit hours and successfully completed 36 of those hours, dropped 3 hours and failed 3 hours. Their completion rate will be 36 hours earned divided by 42 hours attempted which equals 85.7% completion rate. Therefore, the student has then met the measurable progress component of this requirement.
Example B: A student has attempted 42 credit hours and successfully completed 20 of those hours, and has either dropped, failed, repeated, has an incomplete, or has withdrawn from the other 16 hours. Their completion rate would be 20 hours divided by 42 hours attempted which equals only a 47.6% completion rate. Therefore, the student has not met the measurable progress component of this requirement.
Max Time Frame:
In order to comply with federal guidelines, Holmes Community College must place students on financial aid suspension when they have attempted 150% or more of the hours required to complete their respective degree. (This is generally 96 attempted hours.) Students who have changed majors, or are considering changing majors, are encouraged to communicate with the Office of Financial Aid any extenuating circumstances that may have resulted in the accumulation of extra hours, particularly those students considering changing to a Career/Technical major. These circumstances will be considered and an extension may be granted for a limited time based on appeal.
Appeal Process:
A student failing to meet the minimum standards, who has extenuating circumstances or who has a reasonable basis for special consideration may appeal their suspension to the Director of Financial Aid. If a written appeal is needed, it should be presented at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the next semester. The appeal should be sent to the Director of Financial Aid, Holmes Community College, Goodman, MS 39079. Note: Financial aid suspension does not prevent a student from attending Holmes Community College if he/she is not on academic suspension. However, the student may continue to attend HCC at his/her own expense.
Cumulative Record:
A student's entire academic record at Holmes Community College, as well as all transfer work will be evaluated to determine eligibility for financial aid, regardless of whether or not he/she has received aid for all semesters.
Probation:
Any student who fails to meet the standards will be given one semester of probation. During this probation semester, a student will continue to be eligible for financial aid.
Financial Aid Suspension:
Upon completion of the probationary semester, all financial aid will be terminated unless the minimum standards are achieved.
Notification:
Any student placed on probation or suspension will be notified in writing from the Office of Financial Aid.