Office of Student Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid administers federal, state, and institutional aid to help students meet their college expenses.  Financial assistance in the form of Federal Grants, Federal Loans, Work Study, and Scholarships is available to all students who complete the necessary federal aid application process and qualify for assistance.

The Financial Aid staff’s mission is to help students pursue their educational goals by providing financial information and services in a professional and individualized manner.  We are enthusiastic about assisting you as you complete the financial aid application process so that your eligibility can be determined and a financial aid award can be offered in a timely manner.   We are dedicated to operating in accordance with federal, state, and university guidelines, as well as those set forth in our Code of Conduct and Statement of Ethical Principles.

We look forward to working with you!

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

 

The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended and final regulations set by the United States Department of Education (34CFR668.16) require that institutions of higher education establish reasonable standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as a condition of continuing eligibility for federal aid programs. Financial aid recipients are expected to make reasonable progress as a condition of receiving and continuing to receive student financial aid. Student progress is assessed according to both qualitative and quantitative measures.

 

The qualitative measure is the Grade Point Average or GPA. This measurement of Academic Progress is applied to all ABC students.

 

 The quantitative measure, referred to as the student’s “Pace” (number of credit hours successfully completed and the maximum timeframe) is used to monitor progress toward degree completion.

 

When these measures are applied, federal regulations require that the student’s entire academic history is considered. This includes semesters or terms during which the student did not receive student financial aid.

 

The College has developed this policy to provide a framework for monitoring and determining a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress in accordance with Federal and Institutional requirements. This policy applies to all new, transfer, re-entry, re-admit with transfer work, and continuing students at ABC.

 

Quantitative Standards

Students are expected to complete the requirements for a degree within a reasonable timeframe. Students pursuing a degree are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the published length of their academic program.

     For example, undergraduate students must complete the requirements within 92 attempted hours for an Associates Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies 65 hours needed to complete an Associates Degree X 150%=97.5 hours and 192 attempted hours for a Bachelors Degree. This includes both Arkansas Baptist College attempted hours and hours transferred from other institutions that apply toward the student’s degree, in accordance with the institution’s transfer policy.

 

Students must make incremental progress toward their degree based on the number of hours attempted; therefore, a minimum percentage of ABC hours attempted (67%) must be completed at each interval. Students must also complete the degree requirements (based on their degree attempt or second degree attempt at the same level) and the associated maximum timeframe limit outlined in the SAP policy.  To meet this standard, students must complete 67% of hours attempted each semester/term.  See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Chart below for details.

 

Qualitative Standards

Title IV recipients use a scale that culminates in the graduation requirement to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The following scale is used to determine if Qualitative Standards are being maintained for continued Financial Aid eligibility.  Students must maintain at least at 2.0 in their major classes of instruction to graduate.

 

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Chart

 

Associates and Bachelors Degree: Total Hours Attempted	0-29	30-59	60-89	90 or more	196+
Minimum Cumulative GPA Required	1.50	1.75	2.00	2.00	Ineligible
Minimum Cumulative Pace Required	67%	67%	67%	67%	Ineligible

 

Financial Aid Warning

Students who fail to meet one or more of the quantitative or qualitative standards at the evaluation period and are subsequently approved through the Appeals process may continue to receive financial aid on warning status. At the end of one payment period on “Warning,” the student must meet the minimum SAP standards on their own in order to continue to receive financial aid or meet the requirements of his/her Academic Plan (if applicable) to qualify for further funds. While a student is on “Warning,” the student may be required to fulfill specific terms and conditions under the “Academic Plan” developed through the Center for Student Success and enforced through the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTLE), such as taking a reduced course load, enrolling in specific courses, or meeting a specified GPA and earned/attempted hour ratio at the end of each term. If a student placed on an Academic Plan fails to meet the plan’s requirements at the end of each term on Warning, the student will lose his/her eligibility for financial aid and will be required to submit a Financial Aid Appeal for reinstatement consideration for the next enrolled semester/term.

 

    Grades

Grades of A, B, C, D, W or WP are considered satisfactory. All other grades such as F, WF, XF, or I are considered unsatisfactory.

 

Appeal Procedure

Students who have been denied financial aid based upon the provisions outlined in the SAP policy have the right to submit an appeal to explain and document their mitigating circumstances. All appeals must be accompanied by supporting documentation. An appeal will be denied if sufficient documentation is not submitted with the appeal. The student’s appeal must explain why they failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to meet the requirements at the next evaluation. Students may not submit an appeal after the published deadline dates have passed for the semester. Appeals are approved for current or subsequent semesters only; appeals cannot be for prior semesters. Students are limited to a maximum of four (3) financial aid appeals per degree attempt. The Committee members are anonymous. Questions regarding the appeals process should be directed to the Appeal Committee via email at sapappeals@arkansasbaptist.edu. Generally, the committee will notify students of their decision by email within 14 business days of the date their appeal is documented and received by the committee.

 

Mitigating Circumstances

Mitigating circumstances are unforeseen, special or unusual/traumatic conditions which caused undue hardship. These circumstances may include serious illness or injury relating to the student, death or serious illness of an immediate family member, significant traumatic occurrence that impaired emotional and/or physical health, exceeding maximum attempted hours or other documented circumstances.

Reinstatement

 

Reinstatement of Financial Aid will be based on the strength of the appeal statement, documentation received, and the academic record. Filing an appeal does not guarantee Financial Aid or Academic reinstatement. Please Note:  All decisions of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee are final and cannot be overruled.

 

PAGE ONE AND TWO ARE FOR YOU TO KEEP, PLEASE SUBMIT PAGE THREE AND FOUR TO THE APPEAL COMMITTEE.

 

Appeal Instructions:

Read the Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (Page 1 & 2)

Complete all Items (Incomplete Forms will not be processed)

Explain your mitigating circumstances that caused you to fail standards and attach supporting documentation. Be specific.  You must type and sign on separate sheet of paper.

Include in your type written explanation, the steps you have taken to correct the problem that prevented you from making Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Personally meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your academic plans and complete Page 4.

Submit your form and documentation, into The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, email at sapappeals@arkansasbaptist.edu or by mail:

 

 

Arkansas Baptist College

Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships

1600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Little Rock, AR 72202