Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal and state financial aid regulations require schools to set minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress and to hold students accountable for meeting the standards. Satisfactory Academic Progress is checked prior to awarding aid, even if students did not receive financial aid in past quarters. It is also checked at the end of every quarter aid is received. Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured three ways: 1) Qualitative; 2) Quantitative; and Maximum Time Frame to complete degree/certificate program. The policy outlines the requirements for financial aid satisfactory academic progress at Tacoma Community College (TCC) and is subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand the standards for satisfactory progress. Students will be notified of all satisfactory progress issues via the email address used when completing the FAFSA, unless the student has provided the college with a preferred email address.

Faculty and staff other than financial aid staff are not required to know financial aid policies.

Tacoma Community College is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate. See full statement at https://www.tacomacc.edu/about/policies/nondiscrimination-and-harassment-policy-and-grievance-procedure.

Qualitative Requirement Standards (Grade Point Average)

All students must be in good standing with the college and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of each quarter. Students wishing to begin financial aid for the first time must also be meeting this standard to be eligible for aid. Students failing to meet this standard may be placed on "warning" status for one quarter. A failure to regain a 2.0 cumulative GPA after the warning period will result in a suspension of financial aid eligibility for future quarters.

Quantitative Requirement Standards (Pace of Progression)

Students must complete at least 67% of the cumulative/total credits completed/earned versus cumulative/total credits attempted, including transfer/assessment credits and classes for which no passing grade was earned, to meet pace of progression requirements. Pace of progression is reviewed upon initial awarding of the file for the award year (an award year runs Fall to Summer quarter) and at the end of each quarter using the following calculation:

Total number of credits completed/earned at TCC

(Including transfer credits*)

÷

Total number of credits attempted at TCC

(Including transfer credits*, assessment credits and classes for which no passing grade was earned)

Grades of “E” (Not considered passing. No credit earned), “I” (incomplete), “IP” (course in progress), “N” (audit), “U” (unsatisfactory), and “W” (official withdrawal) do not count as completed credits. Only credits completed by the end of the scheduled quarter will count as “completed” for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

*Transfer credits must be officially evaluated by submitting an official transcript to Enrollment Services to be counted.

Maximum Time Frame Requirement (Bachelor/Associate Degrees/Certificate Programs)

Federal and state financial aid regulations limit the amount of funding students may receive based on the number of credits attempted. Taking classes that are not degree requirements may result in a financial aid repayment and will cause students to reach their maximum time frame more quickly and may prevent them from completing their intended degree. Students close to this limit will be required to request an appeal to be considered for aid and meet with an academic advisor to create an academic plan that documents the number of credits remaining to complete their degree. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee that a student will be approved to take the remaining classes required with the benefit of financial aid.

(***A maximum time frame warning notification will be issued when a student has attempted 125% of the credits required for their declared program. Once a student has attempted 150% of the credits for their declared program, financial aid will be suspended.)

Bachelor Degrees/Associate Degrees/Certificate Programs:

All attempted courses are counted, including incompletes, withdrawals, unofficial withdrawals, failed courses, audit classes, repeated courses, and transfer/assessment credits.

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Running Start credits, transfer credits accepted from other institutions or from one completed program of study at TCC to another and assessment credits will count toward the time frame requirement.

The following courses do not count toward the time frame requirement:

ABE, ELA, High School Completion (HS 21+ and Fresh Start), non-credit courses, and up to 45 credits of remedial courses (remedial courses are for-credit English, Math, and Writing courses below the 100 level).

 

View complete copy of the TCC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (for financial aid purposes)