The Panola College financial aid academic award year is defined in this order: fall, spring, summer 1, and summer 2. Summer enrollment is treated as one full-length semester. Enrollment status is defined as: full-time = 12 or more hours, three-quarter-time = 9 – 11 hours, half-time = 6 – 8 hours, less-than half-time = 3 – 5 hours.

The United States Department of Education guidelines require the FAO at Panola College to monitor a student’s satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid is accomplished through the following measures:

1. Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA). This is a qualitative measure that evaluates a student’s GPA on coursework from Panola College.

GPA	Status
0.00 – 1.49	Financial Aid Suspension (FAS)
1.50 – 1.99	Financial Aid Probation (FAP)
2.00 – 4.00	OK

3. Maximum Time Frame. This is a quantitative measure that provides a maximum time frame to complete a degree or educational objective. Regulations specify that for an undergraduate program, the maximum time frame may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program measured in academic years, academic terms, credit hours attempted, or clock hours completed, as appropriate. Panola College uses its longest program, 72 hours, as a basis for determining the 150% amount for all programs. Therefore, the maximum time frame for a student at Panola College may not exceed 108 attempted credit hours (72 hours x 150%). All attempted hours at Panola College will be counted toward the 108 attempted credit hour limit, regardless of whether financial aid was received or not. Taking extra (non-degree) courses may exhaust financial aid eligibility prior to the completion of a degree or certificate.

Financial Aid Probation (FAP) will allow a student to receive financial aid in the next semester. Two semesters of FAP will result in Financial Aid Suspension (FAS). A student on FAS is not eligible to receive financial aid. FAS will be removed and eligibility reinstated after the following conditions have been met and the student has contacted the FAO at Panola College in writing:

1. Raise the cumulative GPA to a minimum 2.00.
2. Complete the appropriate number of hours with a minimum 2.00 GPA to satisfy the minimum hour completion requirement.
3. A waiver of financial aid suspension granted by the Financial Aid Director.

Financial aid ineligibility decisions made by the FAO at Panola College may be appealed. The student must submit a written request explaining the reason(s) for not making satisfactory academic progress (supporting documentation is required). The Financial Aid Policies/Appeals Committee will review appeals as needed and notify the student in writing of its decision. The decision of the Committee is final and is not subject to further appeal.