Pierce Administration Building - Room 102
NIACC
500 College Drive
Mason City, IA 50401
641-422-4168 or
1-888-466-4222 ext. 4168
Fax: 641-422-4167

Monday - Friday 7:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Title IV School Code: 001877
Priority Deadline for Campus Based Aid: March 1

Staff:
Mary Bloomingdale, Director
Rhonda Nesheim-Kauffman, Associate Director
Carla Alexander
Rhonda Groshens

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require that students maintain satisfactory progress while pursuing their educational course of study in order to receive financial aid. Students who apply for financial aid will have their academic records reviewed each semester to determine if satisfactory progress is being made according to the following guidelines:

1. Full-time students enrolled in a 4-semester program of study are allowed no more than 6 full-time equivalent semesters to attain an Associate Degree (whether or not aid is actually received during that time). Should a program require summer attendance, an appropriate proportion will be added.

2. Full-time students enrolled in a 2-semester program of study are allowed no more than 3 full-time equivalent semesters to attain a Diploma (whether or not aid is actually received during that time). Should a program require summer attendance, an appropriate proportion will be added.

3. Part-time students will be given proportionally longer to attain their degree.

In order to maintain satisfactory progress, the following will apply:

• A student enrolled full-time (registered for 12 or more credits) must complete 10 credit hours per semester with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
• A student enrolled three-quarter time (9-10-11 credit hours) must complete 7 credit hours per semester with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
• A student enrolled half-time (6-7-8 credit hours) must complete 5 credit hours per semester with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
• A student enrolled less than half-time will be expected to complete all course work attempted with a minimum GPA of 2.00.
• Letter grades of I, N, W, Q, and F do not count toward completed credit.
• Remedial courses and repeated courses may be used as part of the student’s load. However, maximum time frames still govern satisfactory progress.
• Transfer credits will apply toward the maximum number of terms to attain a degree.

Probation

Any student failing to meet these standards will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.

Cancellation of Eligibility

Any student on Financial Aid Probation will have one semester to bring their coursework up to minimum standards. A student failing to attain these standards by the end of the probationary semester will be terminated from further financial aid.

Reinstatement

To regain eligibility for financial aid, the student will have to bring their coursework up to minimum standards at their own expense. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Financial Aid Office that their coursework meets minimum standards. A student may also submit a written appeal documenting mitigating circumstances (ex: withdrawal because of illness) that prevented him/her from meeting minimum standards. Appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee and a written response will be communicated to the student.

Title IV Financial Aid Class Attendance Policy

Students receiving Federal financial aid MUST attend class on a regular basis AND make satisfactory academic progress. If you fail to attend class on a regular basis, your financial aid will be suspended. Federal repayment and /or refund calculations of financial aid will be based on your last documented date of attendance as provided by your instructor(s). If you get Federal student aid, and you do not attend class, you will have to pay it back.

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