Federal standards for progress must be both quantitative and qualitative and for the most part are defined in the appropriate college or school bulletin or student handbooks. A summary of the standards for each division is included for reference. The summary illustrates the standards that apply at the end of each academic year to the typical student who began his or her program in an earlier fall semester, has progressed without breaks and is applying for aid in the summer for the following academic year. Appropriate adjustments in the standards, normally in cumulative hours completed must be made for other students. Financial aid counselors can answer questions concerning how adjustments are made.
Federal regulations require maximum time frames for completing degree programs.
These maximum time frames are not specified in division bulletins. If a student has not earned his or her degree within the maximum time frame noted in the summary for the appropriate college, he or she is no longer considered to be making satisfactory progress. Another element not always specified in the division bulletins is a grade point average progression required at the end of each year. Federal regulations also require a separate and distinct check of satisfactory progress at the end of the second academic year of attendance whenever that occurs. For the typical student who entered in the fall semester, this check is made at the end of the academic year as part of the normal review of progress.