Pace of Completion
Students must maintain a 67% completion rate throughout their program. This applies
to all programs. This rate is determined by the following calculation:
Credits completed with a passing grade ÷ Credits attempted = Completion rate of at
least 67%
Important to know:
- NNMC will use standard rounding rules for completion rate (i.e. we will round up .5
or higher and round down if below .5)
- Only classes that count or could count toward a students’ declared program will be
used in the completion rate.
- Remedial classes are not included in the completion rate.
- Transfer credits, including college credits taken during high school (aka Dual Credit)
with Northern, are included in both competed and attempted.
- For SAP standards passing grades include A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-
and CR.
- Attempted credits include any class in which the student receives a letter grade including
those noted above as passing and F, NF, WF, W, I, NC and NR.
- Repeated classes are included in both competed and attempted.
- Audited classes are not included in the completion rate.
Maximum Time Frame
This is based on the total credits required for the program, not the time a student
is expected to complete the program. A student may attempt no more than 150% of the
credit hours required by their declared program of study.
For example, a student enrolled in a bachelor’s program that requires 120 credits must be able
to complete their program within a maximum of 180 credits. A student is no longer
eligible for financial aid as soon as it is determined they cannot complete their
program within the maximum allowed attempted credits.
Important to know:
- NNMC will use standard rounding rules for maximum time frame (i.e. we will round up
.5 or higher and round down if below .5)
- Only classes that count or could count toward a students’ declared program will be
used in the maximum time frame.
- Remedial classes are not included in the maximum time frame.
- Transfer credits, including college credits taken during high school (aka Dual Credit)
with Northern, are included in both competed and attempted.
- For SAP standards passing grades include A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-
and CRAttempted credits include any class in which the student receives a letter grade
including those noted above as passing and F, NF, WF, W, I, NC and NR
- Repeated classes are included in both competed and attempted.
- Audited classes are not included in the maximum time frame.
Semester Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Review: Those students not meeting the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress standards at
the end of any given enrollment period will be placed in either of the following statuses:
- Warning: A student placed on a warning may continue to receive financial aid for the assigned
warning payment period/semester, but must meet the minimum SAP standards by the end
of the warning semester.
- Suspension: If a student does not attain the required cumulative GPA and/or credit completion
ratio by the end of the warning semester, or if it is determined that a student is
within 36 credits of reaching the 150% maximum time frame or has exceeded the time
frame, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension status and will be notified
of the change in eligibility. While on suspension status a student is not eligible
to receive financial aid (The exceptions are external scholarships that may have different
eligibility requirements). To regain eligibility a student must meet the minimum SAP
standards by enrolling in and completing courses or by successfully gaining back eligibility
through the appeal process. Appealing suspension status is explained below.
Appealing Suspension of Financial Aid Eligibility
If there are extenuating circumstances that contributed to a student’s inability to
meet the minimum required SAP standards the student can formally appeal the suspension
status by completing and submitting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
for Financial Aid. Appeals and all required supplemental documentation must be submitted
to the Financial Aid Office no later than 30 days after the first day of the semester
for which a student is appealing. Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed. Some examples
of extenuating circumstances might include:
- Severe illness, medical condition, or injury.
- Death of a family member.
- Traumatic life-altering event
A complete appeal includes:
- Required documentation based on circumstance you are appealing under
- Complete and concise answers to all of the questions on the appeal form
- List of classes the student intends to take along with a plan to successfully complete
each class. For example, attending tutoring, peer counseling, instructor check-ins,
or meeting with a professional counselor. The student must have a proactive plan in
which they will achieve a successful semester.
Appeal Review: All SAP appeals will be reviewed by a committee. Students will not be permitted
to personally address the committee, so it is important that you submit all required
documents with your appeal and answer all questions, in a clear and concise manner,
on the appeal form. Committee decisions are final
Approved Appeal: If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an Academic Improvement Plan
for which their financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. The student must meet
the requirements of their plan each semester, until they achieve the minimum SAP standards,
or they forfeit future aid eligibility.
Denied Appeal: If the appeal is denied, then the financial aid suspension status remains until the
student completes courses and attains the minimum SAP standards. The student will
be responsible for any charges incurred by enrolling in courses.
