OCC Academic Catalog 2016-2017

For example, if after the third semester the student has attempted 48 credit hours and has completed only 34 credit hours, the quantitative pace of completion rate is 71%, and the student would be placed on warning even though the student may have had a cum GPA of 2.320.  A student must complete a program within an established time frame.

Financial aid will be awarded according to the number of the program’s credit hours multiplied by 150%. If student changes degree, only the hours that apply to that degree will be included in the calculation for this portion of SAP. For example, the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies degree requires 120 credit hours; therefore, the student could receive federal aid for up to 180 credit hours.

A student will lose eligibility for financial aid for all future semesters after the semester in which the maximum hours allowed are exceeded. Students’ academic progress will be checked at the end of each semester. If a student does not maintain the above standards, the following will apply: 1. The student will be placed on FINANCIAL AID WARNING. Warning means the student will be eligible to receive financial aid, but it also means the student must complete the required percentage of hours with the required GPA by the end of the semester on warning. If not, the student will be placed on FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION the following semester.

2. FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION means that the student will not be able to receive any financial aid until the student again meets the required completion rate and GPA standards as outlined above.

APPEAL PROCEDURE At the time a student is placed on financial aid suspension, the student may appeal the condition in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. Appeals must be based on unusual circumstances such as long-term illness, death or illness of a family member, etc. The Financial Aid Appeal Committee will review the student’s file, and the student will be notified of the decision.

Letters of appeal must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the date printed on the Suspension Notification Letter, along with any and all appropriate documentation.

REPEATED COURSES The first time a student repeats a course, the new grade replaces the previous grade and the hours attempted. Each subsequent attempt of a course does not replace previous attempts, and is counted toward both the GPA and pace. Exception: When calculating hours attempted for the 150% requirement, credits from all attempts must be included.

INCOMPLETE GRADES Grades of “I” (Incomplete) are not issued at OCC. TRANSFER STUDENTS Academic transcripts from all other colleges attended will be included when evaluating satisfactory academic progress. Only those classes that transfer to the degree at Ozark will be used to calculate both the qualitative and quantitative requirements. The student will be placed on financial aid satisfactory progress or warning based upon the review. If a student’s progress is not satisfactory, the student will be notified.

A copy of this Policy will be sent to each student’s OCC Email once each semester. Furthermore, the policy is printed in the Financial Aid sections of the OCC catalog and website.

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