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Students Convicted of Possession or Sale of Drugs

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds. Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid-they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record does not count, nor does one received when she/he was a juvenile, unless she/he was tried as an adult. The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)

	Possession of Illegal Drugs	Sale of Illegal Drugs
First offense	1 year ineligibility from date of conviction	2 years ineligibility from date of conviction
Second offense	2 years ineligibility from date of conviction	Indefinite ineligibility
Thee or more offenses	Indefinite ineligibility	Indefinite ineligibility

If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will make him ineligible again.

Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record.

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students receiving financial aid must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to establish and retain financial aid eligibility.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for federal, state and institutional financial aid programs is based on three measures: cumulative grade-point average, completion rate based on credit hours completed compared to attempted, and a maximum timeframe for degree completion. SAP Warning is instituted at the end of the first semester of not meeting policy. After two semesters of not meeting policy financial aid is suspended. SAP Warning is a forewarning message encouraging a student to rectify his/her academic progress for the next semester so that financial aid can be continued.


Cumulative Grade-Point Average

Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 based on credits earned at Northland College. The first time a student's GPA is below 2.0, the student is placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise the GPA to 2.0 in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.


Completion Rate

Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of the credit hours attempted at Northland College. Courses with a grade of "D" or higher count as completed. Credit hours attempted include audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes. A student who does not complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of credit hours attempted will be placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise his or her completion rate to at least sixty-seven percent (67%) in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.


Maximum Timeframe for degree completion

Students must complete their degree requirements within 150% of the published length of their academic program. All semester hours attempted are used toward the maximum timeframe allowance regardless of whether the student received financial aid. All repeated courses, failed courses, withdrawals and transfer courses will count as credits attempted toward the maximum timeframe. A student who does not meet the Maximum Timeframe requirement will be placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise his or her completion rate in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.


Warning

Students failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on one semester of financial aid warning. Students on SAP warning are eligible for financial aid. They will be notified in writing of their status by the Office of Financial Aid. Students on academic probation through the academic council will be automatically on financial aid warning.


Suspension

By the end of the warning period, the student must have the stated minimum grade point average and completion requirements as defined above. Failure to comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress grade point average requirement and completion schedule beyond the one semester warning period will result in the suspension of all federal, state and institutional financial aid. Students will be notified of their financial aid ineligibility via a letter from the Office of Financial Aid.

Re-establishing Financial Aid eligibility

Students who have had their financial aid terminated due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress may be able to enroll without financial aid. Such students may request a review of their academic record after any semester in which they enrolled without financial aid to determine whether they have met the SAP standards. If SAP is met, financial aid eligibility is restored for subsequent terms of enrollment. Neither paying for one's classes nor sitting out a semester is sufficient to reestablish the financial aid eligibility of a student who has failed to meet SAP. If a special or unusual circumstance contributed to a student's lack of satisfactory academic progress, the student may appeal the denial of financial aid.

Appeal Process

Federal regulations allow a student to appeal suspension of financial aid in cases where failure is due to events beyond the student's control, such as illness, death in family, or other mitigating circumstances.
The appeal process for GPA is made in conjunction with the academic appeal through the Registrar's office.
If financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet the completion rate or maximum timeframe standard, the Financial Aid Office sends a letter to the student including a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form must include reasons for failure to achieve good academic standing and any applicable documentation. Appeal Forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office within thirty (30) days of the date of the letter and are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee.


Probation

If a suspension is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation for one semester. By the end of the probation period, the student must have the stated minimum grade point average and completion requirements as defined above. Failure to comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress grade point average requirement and completion schedule beyond the one semester probation period will result in the suspension of all federal, state and institutional financial aid. Students will be notified of their financial aid ineligibility via a letter from the Office of Financial Aid.


Change in Major

All credits attempted at Northland College will be included as earned credits in the completion ratio and maximum time frame calculation. If the student changes majors, they can appeal to have only credits and grades from the courses that are applied to the new major of study included in the financial aid SAP calculation.