Financial Aid Appeal Process

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

• Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average measured on a 4.00 scale at the end of each semester. Achieving a GPA of less than a 2.0 will result in academic/financial aid warning for the next term of enrollment. During the warning period, the student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 each term. The warning status will be removed when the student's cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher. Warning status will change to Ineligible status if the student earns less than a 2.0.

• Minimum Completion Standard for Attempted Credit Hours

Students are expected to complete 67% of their cumulative attempted hours. Completing less than 67% of the cumulative attempted hours will result in financial aid warning for the next term of enrollment. During the warning period, the student must complete all (100%) hours attempted. The warning status will be removed when the student completes all 67% of the cumulative horus. Courses assigned a letter grade of A, B, C, D, F, I, S, U, W or WP count in quantitative and maximum time frame calculation, as do transfer credits accepted towards degree programs and any repeated coursework.

• Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

Students who are receiving financial aid are expected to complete all requirements for a Bachelor's degree within a maximum time frame of attempted program hours. A student reaches the maximum time frame after having attempted the credit hour equivalent of 150% of the program hours required for the current degree or certificate. The student will be INELIGIBLE for Financial Aid if unable to finish the degree or certificate program within the maximum time frame. 

SAP Policy

If any of these parameters are not met and the student is on suspension status, the student has the option of appealing the ineligibility. The Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress requirements may be waived under certain conditions and/or mitigating circumstances such as life altering medical diagnoses such as cancer; chronic illness; severe asthma; severe depression; death of an immediate family member, or being involved in an accident or an auto accident that left a student with a physical or psychological trauma; severe illness; assault, and other special circumstances. If these mitigating circumstances exist, the student shoul appeal the INELIGIBILITY status and accept an academic improvement plan. 

A student wishing to appeal when deemed ineligible for Financial Aid should submit a SAP Appeal statement, accept an academic improvement plan and submit any other supporting documents (letters, and/or invoices from doctors and/or hospitals, affidavits, etc) to the Office of Financial Aid. All appeal materials must be received by the Office of Financial Aid by the close of business fifteen working days after the notice of suspension. The Office of Financial Aid will then present the appeals to the Financial Aid Committee.

SAP Appeal Statement Format

• NOTE: Place in the subject line of your email the following: SAP Appeal Statement. 
• The SAP Appeal Statement should be no more than 250 works and follow the guidelines below:
  • Provide relevant dates and events and an explanation.
  • Describe the extenuating circumstances that occurred and how these circumstances impacted your academic performance. Be as specific as possible and explain what happened and why it impacted your ability to maintain satisfactory progress.
  • Explain what will be different if the appeal is approved and how you will avoid being academically dismissed.
  • Attach documentation you can provide to support your appeal statement. All supporting documents will be reviewed. 
  • Attach copies of all relevant documents supporting extenuating circumstances. Copies of documents must be clear and/or legible.
  • NOTE: Not being aware of policies - such as withdrawals or SAP policy or coursework submission - is NOT  a valid reason for an appeal. Students are responsible for being aware of College policies, schedules, and coursework obligations.
  • NOTE: Pictures of documents taken with a camera or phone and unable to be printed are not acceptable.
• Email SAP appeal and supporting documentation to LCacademicappeal@louisburg.edu 
  • If the appeal is granted, the student is placed of Probation and SAP monitoring for one semester. The student must complete an Academic Improvement Plan. The student is allowed to return to the College academically and continue taking classes and receive all federal Title IV aid, state finanical aid, and institutional aid.
  • If the appeal is denied, the student will be eligible to return to the College academically. The student will be placed on an Academic Improvement Plan for one semester. However, the student must pay for tuition and fees out-of-pocket, financial aid of any type will not be awarded. Once the student achieves at least a 2.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate, all financial aid can be reinstated.