Financial Aid Standards of Academic Progress

Regulations governing the distribution of State and Federal student financial assistance programs requires Morrison Institute of Technology to monitor academic progress for students pursuing a degree and receiving financial aid. Participation in the Student Financial Assistance Programs is based on the premise that the student, is taking the curriculum required for the students’ major field of study and is maintaining the satisfactory progress requirements listed below. The satisfactory progress requirement applies to all students (full-time and part-time) for all periods of attendance even terms when a student does not receive financial assistance. The policy applies to all coursework attempted at Morrison Institute of Technology as well as transfer credits applied to the students’ degree plan. The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy contains a qualitative standard (GPA) and a quantitative standard (credit hours earned) along with a maximum timeframe.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Measurements:

Cumulative Grade Point Average Policy (Qualitative Standard)

A student’s cumulative GPA is based on all courses attempted at Morrison Institute of Technology. Grades of I or W earned are not included in the grade point average and therefore do no impact its calculation results. Grades associated with transfer credits are not used in calculating cumulative GPA at Morrison Institute of Technology. The following is the minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) required to receive financial aid:

Hours Attempted   Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

0 -17      1.50

18 – 36      1.75

37+      2.00

Credit Hours Earned (Quantitative Standard)

A student must complete 67% or more of the all credit hours attempted. A student’s completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours the student has earned by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. Attempted credits are defined as credits which a student receives a grade including A, B, C, D, F, I, or W. Credit hours attempted is defined as the number of credit hours enrolled in as of the Last Day for Adding Classes each term. For example, if a student is enrolled in 12 credits, to complete 67%, a minimum of 8 credit hours must be earned. Earned credits are defined as courses which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, or D. Hours attempted with grades of F, W, or I are not considered to be earned credits. A student who does not complete 67% of the attempted credits will not meet the SAP requirements.

Maximum Time Frame

The maximum time frame for which a student may receive financial aid is 150% of the published length of the program’s credit hours. For example, if the length of an associate’s degree is 75 credits then up to 113 attempted credits to complete the program may be eligible for financial aid. If it is determined the student is unable to complete the degree program with the 150%-time frame, financial aid eligibility will be terminated.

Evaluation Period

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be evaluated at the end of each semester for both the qualitative (CGPA) and quantitative (cumulative hours earned) standards. A student who does not meet the SAP standards will be notified in writing.

Financial Aid Warning

A student who does not achieve the required CGPA or not successful in completing the required cumulative hours will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the following term. A student who is placed on Financial Aid Warning will be notified in writing. A student on financial aid warning may continue to receive financial assistance for one term without an appeal. A student on academic warning status will not be allowed to hold a class office or represent the college at any function. If during the financial aid warning term, the student raises the CGPA and/or reaches the minimum credit hours earned requirement, the status will return to good standing for the following semester. A student who does not meet the SAP requirements at the end of their financial aid warning term will lose their financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Probation

A student who fails to meet SAP after one term on financial aid warning will be dismissed from the College. The student is encouraged to appeal. Upon receipt of the appeal documents the Vice President of Academic Affairs will consult with former instructors, representatives of the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of the Registrar. Appeals are not automatically accepted; appeals may be denied for failure to meet SAP. The student will be notified by letter of the outcome. An appeal which is accepted will result in the student being placed on financial aid probation and financial aid will be reinstated for one term. A student on probation will be required to meet with the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Financial Aid Director, and the Academic Advisor to discuss the financial aid consequences and develop an academic plan for student success. The student may be required to re-take course work to assist with meeting the SAP requirements. The student will be required to meet with their academic advisor weekly to review their education plan and discuss their academic progress. If the student on financial aid probation raises the CGPA and/or reaches the minimum credit hours earned requirement, the status will return to good standing for the following semester. A student who does not meet the SAP requirements at the end of the financial aid probation term will be dismissed from the College.

Financial Aid Probation-Plan

A student who has been dismissed from the College for failing to meet SAP will be notified in writing. Students have the right to appeal. Upon receipt of the appeal documents the Vice President of Academic Affairs will consult with former instructors, representatives of the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of the Registrar. Appeals are not automatically accepted; appeals may be denied for failure to meet SAP. The student will be notified by letter of the outcome. An appeal which is accepted will result in the student being place on financial aid probation with an academic plan and financial aid will be reinstated for one term. The student will be given a written plan from the Vice President of Academic Affairs outlining specific academic requirements to assist with meeting the SAP requirements. A student may be required to re-take course work to assist with meeting the SAP requirements. The student will be required to meet with their academic advisor weekly to review their education plan and discuss their academic progress. If the student on financial aid probation raises the CGPA and/or reaches the minimum credit hours earned requirement, the status will return to good standing for the following semester. A student who does not meet the SAP requirements at the end of their financial aid probation – plan term will be dismissed from the College.

Impact of Course Incompletes, Repeats, Withdrawals, and Developmental Courses:

Incompletes: A student with an incomplete grade at the end of the semester will have the course counted as attempted hours; however, the course will not count as credits earned until a grade is assigned. Incomplete grades not completed within the first two weeks of the following semester are then calculated as an “F” in the GPA. The conversion of incomplete grades to “F” can reduce the GPA, which may increase the possibility of being placed on warning or probation. Repeats: A student who repeats courses will have each course count as attempted credits for quantitative standard; only the highest grade is used for qualitative standard (CGPA). A student may be paid for repeating a failed course until the course is passed. A student may be paid for repeating a course with a passing grade only one time. Withdrawals: A student who withdraws from a course before the last day to drop deadline will receive a “W” grade. The credits will be considered credits attempted in evaluating the quantitative standard; however, the credits are not considered when calculating CGPA. Prior to withdrawing from a course(s), the student is advised to meet with the Registrar’s Office, Instructor, Vice President of Academics, and the Financial Aid Office.

Developmental Courses:

A student who is required to enroll in developmental courses (095 English, 092 Algebra) will earn credit for the course and the course does count in the attempted credit hours for Illinois MAP grant. These courses will not count toward degree credit nor GPA or CGPA calculations.

Transfer Credits:

Transfer credits accepted and applied to a student’s degree plan are counted as both attempted and earned credits for quantitative standard; the transfer GPA does not count in the Morrison Institute of Technology CGPA.

Change of Programs:

A student who transfers from one program to another offered at Morrison Institute of Technology are required to meet both the CGPA and credit hours earned requirements of the SAP policy. All coursework taken in the previous program will be counted when evaluating SAP.

Dual Programs:

A student who enrolls in two programs offered at Morrison Institute of Technology are required to meet both the CGPA and credit hours earned requirements of the SAP policy.

Appeals:

A student may appeal the loss of financial aid by submitting the following documents to the Vice President of Academic Affairs: 1) Financial Aid Appeal Form, 2) written letter explaining why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress (illness/death of family member, personal illness or injury, family crisis, or other special circumstance) and what has changed that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the end of the next term 3) documentation to support the circumstance. Appeals submitted without all three required components will not be reviewed and the loss of financial aid will remain. Appeals are not automatically accepted; appeals may be denied for failure to meet SAP.

Regaining Eligibility:

A student who has lost financial aid eligibility for failing to meet the SAP requirements may establish aid eligibility by one of the following:

1. Getting back on track with SAP requirements.

2. Complete a semester of credits without financial aid, submit another appeal for the loss of financial aid and have the appeal accepted.

3. Sit out a semester, submit another appeal for the loss of financial aid and have the appeal accepted.

Return of Title IV Aid:

A student who withdraws, either officially by contacting student records or unofficially, and received Title IV funds, the college is required to determine the portion of funds earned and unearned as of the date the student ceased attendance.  Student earn Title IV funds on a pro-rata basis until the 60% point of the payment period whent he funds are 100% earned.

The college performs the R2T4 calculation by using the R2T4 web application on the COD website. The result of this process determines the portion of funds the student earned (keeps) and the portion unearned which must be returned. The R2T4 process will also determine if the student is entitled to receive a post withdrawal disbursement.  

Instructors record student attendance daily in Populi (student information system). The last day of attendance is confirmed using the Term Progress tab in Populi. If a student is not attending classes, the instructor, academic advisor, or VP of Academic Affairs makes contact.  A student may be withdrawn if he/she is not actively attending class or provide confirmation of future attendance. The R2T4 is also performed for a student who begins attendance but withdraws prior to the census date.  

A student who withdraws and has a Title IV credit balance will have a hold placed on his/her account while the college performs the R2T4 calculation and applies its refund policy to determine if an adjustment to the credit balance is required. If a student has a grant overpayment, the college will return the funds for the student and deduct the amount from the credit balance due.  If a credit balance is still due tot he student, the college must release the funds within 14 days of the R2T4 calculation.   

The R2T4 process calculates the number of days completed (attended) compared to the total days
scheduled. The result is the percentage of Title IV aid earned. This percentage is applied to the aid
disbursed and aid that could have been disbursed which determines the amount of funds unearned. The
College will return the funds as soon as possible but is required to return the unearned funds within 45
days from the date of determination. If the student is eligible for a PWD of a federal loan, the College
will disburse the funds within 30 days.

• Federal funds returned in the following order:
• Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
• Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
• Federal Direct Parent Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

 

If the R2T4 process results in an overpayment, the College will notify the student within 30 days of the
withdrawal. The student is responsible to return all Title IV overpayments (unearned funds) which the
College is not required to return. Students who cannot immediately repay their overpayment can establish
a payment agreement with the College. The Title IV eligibility for additional funds ends on the 45th day
from the date the College sends the notice. The student will be notified of the following three options to
extend Title IV eligibility past the 45 days: 1) repay overpayment in full; 2) sign a repayment agreement
with the College for a maximum of two years; 3) sign a repayment agreement with the Department of
Education. Note: students who sign an agreement with the College and does not abide by the conditions
will immediately be ineligible for additional Title IV funds and be referred to the Default Resolution Group.
The notification will also inform the student if one of the options for repayment is not completed within the
45 days, the overpayment will be reported to NSLDS and Default Resolution for collection. The student
will be encouraged to contact the College to discuss options.

The College will not attempt to collect any grant overpayment of $50 or less (per grant) report it to NSLDS,
or refer to the Default Resolution Group.

At the completion of the R2T4 process, the student is sent a letter listing each Title IV fund and the amount
earned and the amount that is unearned and will be return. In addition, the student is sent federal student
loan exit counseling information (if applicable). The final step in the R2T4 process is to report the student
as withdrawn in NSLDS enrollment reporting