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Federal regulations require that students maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for financial aid. A student's academic transcript will be reviewed at the end of every two semesters or one half the published length of a program less than two academic years in length. The entire official academic transcript, including all transfer credits as well as credits that appear even though the student was granted academic restart, will be reviewed even if the student was not a financial aid recipient. Permission to enroll does not equal financial aid satisfactory academic progress. Any classes taken during any summer session (within the same summer) are viewed as one enrolled term. Only credit courses are considered for satisfactory academic progress evaluation.

Satisfactory academic progress is measured on:

  • The maximum length of time for which a student may receive financial aid
  • The number of credit hours successfully completed including transfer credits or credits that appear on the official academic transcript even though the student was granted academic restart divided by the number of credit hours attempted.
  • The minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) a student must maintain based on the credits successfully completed (The minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) does not include transfer credits.)

Maximum Length of Time:
Federal regulations indicate that a student may receive financial aid for no longer than 150% of the published length of their educational program. For example, for programs requiring 60 credits, the maximum time frame is the equivalent of six full time semesters or 90 attempted credits. A student will not receive financial aid after having attempted 90 credits (including transfer credits or credits appearing on an official academic transcript as a result of academic restart). Students who have changed majors or who are seeking additional degrees are limited to financial aid for 30 attempted credits beyond the prior degree.

Percentage of Credits Hours Successfully Completed Divided by the Number of Credit Hours Attempted:
Hours attempted are the sum of all LCCC credit hours for which tuition was charged whether or not financial aid was received plus all transfer hours accepted for credit as well as all hours appearing on an official academic transcript for which the student was granted academic restart. If a student changes course of study, the hours attempted under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours. A student is required to complete with a passing grade 66% of all credit hours attempted as described above. This quantitative standard is the percentage calculated as "number of credit hours earned" divided by "number of credit hours attempted". Audited classes (L) are never eligible for financial aid assistance.. Developmental credits are not counted as attempted or earned credits.

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA):
A student must attain the following cumulative grade point average:

Earned Credit Hours

G.P.A.

1 - 20

1.00

21 - 30

1.50

31 - 54

1.75

55+

2.00

  • Some LCCC programs have additional or more stringent satisfactory academic progress policies.
  • A student on academic suspension or enrolled in the Alternative to Academic Dismissal Program may not receive financial aid
  • A student will not be eligible to receive financial aid for courses which they are enrolled in for the third time.
  • A student may receive federal financial aid for no more than 30 remedial credits.

Right to Appeal:
If a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress, he/she has the opportunity to appeal his/her academic progress to the Financial Aid Office in writing. Appeal forms are available from the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals are considered if the lack of academic progress resulted from death of a relative of the student, an injury or illness of the student, family difficulties, interpersonal problems, difficulty balancing work, family, school, etc., financial or other special circumstances. Appeals are considered on a case by case basis and reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid within 30 days of receipt of the appeal form. The decision or recommendation of the Office of Financial Aid is final. When an appeal is approved the student's financial aid eligibility will be reinstated with specific conditions for the student to meet to remain eligible for financial aid. If the conditions of the appeal are not met then the appeal becomes void for the next semester and the student is no longer eligible for financial aid. If the initial appeal is denied, the student will remain in an ineligible status and must pay for educational costs. If the student is denied aid based on his/her academic progress, that denial takes precedence over any previous award notification he/she may have received. Students may only receive a financial aid academic appeal once during the time they are attending Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Reestablishing Satisfactory Progress:
A student may reestablish his/her eligibility to receive financial assistance by enrolling at Lehigh Carbon Community College at his/her own expense and completing a sufficient number of courses at a sufficiently high grade point average to meet the standards.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY FOR PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRANTS RECIPIENTS WHO REMAIN ENROLLED IN STATE GRANT ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS:
Students who have received state grant assistance are required to make satisfactory academic progress. For each academic year (Fall, Spring and/or Summer semester) during which state grant aid is received, a student must successfully complete the minimum number of credits appropriate to the student enrollment status during the terms for which state grant aid was received. For example: if a student last received state grant aid during the previous academic year and received two fulltime semesters of state grant aid the student must have successfully completed 24 semester credits during or since those two terms in order to be eligible for the next academic year. Likewise if the student last received state grant aid during the previous academic year and received two halftime semesters of state grant aid the student must have successfully completed 12 to 22 semester credits during or since those two terms in order to be eligible for the next academic year. Progress for state grant purposes is checked at the end of each academic year

If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (610)799-1133.