2012-2013 Fee Schedule
The Florida State Legislature and the Seminole State District Board of Trustees annually establish required fees. The following information on tuition and fees is presented as a guide for estimating the cost of attending Seminole State College. All fees are subject to change without notice.
Fee schedule for 2012-2013
| | Florida Resident Fees
(per credit or credit equivalent) | Non-Florida Resident
(per credit or credit equivalent) |
|---|
| College Credit Fees (per credit hour) |
| Tuition |
$78.84 |
$78.84 |
| Out-of-State Fee |
$0.00 |
$236.69 |
| Financial Aid Fee |
$3.94 |
$15.78 |
| Student Activity Fee |
$7.88 |
$7.88 |
| Capital Improvement Fee |
$7.88 |
$25.00 |
| Technology Fee |
$3.94 |
$15.78 |
| Parking Fee |
$1.60 |
$1.60 |
| ID Card Fee |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
| Total Credit Hour Rate |
$104.38 |
$381.87 |
| Academic Year Cost (30 hours) |
$3,131.40 |
$11,456.10 |
| Post-Secondary Adult Vocational Credit (per credit equivalent) |
| Tuition |
$69.90 |
$69.90 |
| Non Resident Fee |
$0.00 |
$209.70 |
| Financial Aid Fee |
$6.90 |
$27.90 |
| Capital Improvement Fee |
$3.30 |
$13.80 |
| Technology Fee |
$3.30 |
$13.80 |
| Parking Fee |
$1.50 |
$1.50 |
| ID Card Fee |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
| Total Per Credit Hour |
$85.20 |
$336.90 |
| Total Per Contact Hour Rate |
$2.84 |
$11.23 |
| Baccalaureate Fee Schedule (per credit hour) |
| Tuition |
$91.79 |
$91.79 |
| Non Resident Fee |
$0.00 |
$262.26 |
| Financial Aid Fee |
$4.37 |
$17.48 |
| Student Activity Fee |
$8.74 |
$8.74 |
| Capital Improvement Fee |
$8.74 |
$25.00 |
| Technology Fee |
$4.37 |
$17.48 |
| Parking Fee |
$1.60 |
$1.60 |
| ID Card Fee |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
| Total Credit Hour Rate |
$119.91 |
$424.65 |
| Academic Year Cost (30 hours) |
$3,597.30 |
$12,739.50 |
| Adult General Education Fees (per credit equivalent) |
| Tuition |
Per Term$30.00 |
$30.00 |
| Non Resident Fee |
$0.00 |
Per Term$90.00 |
| Per Term Fees |
$30.00 |
$120.00 |
| Note: One credit equivalent is equal to 30 contact hours. |
| Other Fees Which May Be Assessed At The Time Of Registration |
|---|
| Distance Learning Fee |
$5.70 (Per Credit Hour) |
| Dishonored Check Service Charge |
$25.00 |
| International Student Fee |
$50.00 |
| Student ID Card Replacement Fee |
$10.00 |
| Transcript Fee |
$5.00 |
| Degree Verification Fee |
$4.00 |
| Parking Fine |
$10.00 |
| Laboratory Fee Range |
|---|
| Arts & Sciences Courses |
$20-$150 |
| Career Programs Courses |
$4-$800 |
| Non Credit Courses |
$0.04-$50 |
Fees are subject to change without notice.
Other Fees
| Library |
| Library service charge for lost books |
$5.00 |
| Library service charge for overdue reserve materials |
$5.00 |
| Library book rebinding fee |
$10.00 |
| Other |
| Career Development Center service charge for lost items |
$5.00 |
Credit-by-examination fee
|
$70.00 |
| |
|
| Licensure testing (fee range) |
$10.00 to $150.00 |
| International student processing fee |
$50.00 |
| Student ID card fee (charge per credit hour) |
$0.30 |
| Student ID card replacement fee |
$10.00
|
Distance learning user fee (charge per credit hour)
|
$5.70 |
| Transcript fee |
$5.00 |
| Testing Fees |
| General Education Development (GED) Test (full battery) |
$70.00 |
GED Test 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (fee per test)
|
$14.00 |
| GED Writing test |
$16.00 |
| U.S.A.F. Conversion |
$16.00 |
| CLEP/DANTES registration fee |
$15.00 |
| CLEP Test |
$77.00* |
| DANTES Test |
$70.00 |
| Correspondence testing |
$35.00 |
| TABE Survey Form |
$0 |
| TABE Survey Form (non-Seminole State student) |
$25.00 |
| TABE Complete Battery (non-Seminole State student) |
$40.00 |
| TABE retakes |
$0 |
| TABE retakes (non-Seminole State student) |
$25.00 |
| TEAS - Computer |
$40.00 |
| TEAS (non-Seminole State student) |
$50.00 |
| CPT (Accuplacer) |
$0 (retake $10.00) |
| CPT (non-Seminole State student) |
$25.00 |
| PERT |
$0 (retake $10.00) |
| PERT (non-Seminole State student) |
$25.00 |
| Prometric Tests |
Fees determined by certifying agency |
| CJBAT |
$40.00 |
| CJBAT (non-Seminole State student) |
$50.00 |
| ACT Center Network Testing (Seminole State provides this service to give students access to all tests provided by the ACT Center.) |
Fees determined by certifying agency
|
| Note: Fees are subject to change without notice. |
| * Subject to change by National CLEP Office |
Theatre Admission Fees*
- General Admission - $10
- Discounted price of $8 available to:
- Senior citizens over the age of 60
- Students of other colleges or universities, K-12 schools and preschool children
- Complimentary (no charge) admission available to:
- Seminole State College students and faculty and staff members
- Visiting dignitaries, press, prospective students and special guests of the theatre or College
*Subject to board approval.
Returned Check Policy
A $25 returned check fee will be charged for each check made payable to Seminole State College that is returned by the bank for non-payment. A letter from the bank that refused payment of the check, verifying that the bank was in error, will eliminate this fee.
Returned checks that are given in payment of registration fees must be paid in full within 15 calendar days from the date the student is notified by the College, or the student's enrollment may be canceled. Students will have check-payment privileges denied after two returned checks. The Vice President of Administrative Services may restore these privileges. The Business Services Office will send three mail notices to the maker of the check. If full payment is not received within 30 days of receipt of the third notice, the check will be considered for referral to a third-party collection agency and possible criminal prosecution.
Refund Policy*
General Information: To receive a refund, the student must be officially dropped from a course or there must be a College action, such as a course cancellation. The drop date will be determined by the date on the Drop Form or online self-service transaction date, as received by the Records and Registration Office. To be eligible for a refund for a student-initiated drop, add/drop forms or an online self-service transaction must be received prior to the end of the add/drop period for each term and session, as published in the Seminole State Catalog (see Academic Calendar).
A Full Term is divided into:
- A Session (first half of a full term);
- B Session (last half of a full term);
- Odd Term (OT) Session (occurs within the Full Term and has a predetermined start and end date. OT sessions may start and end at any time, and they may last for a day, week, month or more);
- Open Entry/Exit (OEE) Session (occurs within the Full Term and has a predetermined start and end period. These classes are normally learner-paced, and the student may enter and exit within the predetermined start and end period.).
*Refund policy subject to change.
Refunds will be made as follows:
| College and Vocational Credit |
|---|
| Session: A, B or Full Term |
| Courses dropped by the close of business hours or online by midnight on the last scheduled date of add/drop |
100 percent |
| Thereafter * |
No refund |
| Session: Odd Term (OT) |
| For classes meeting one to three days: courses dropped prior to the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| For classes meeting four days or more: courses dropped within one calendar day after the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| Session: Open Entry/Exit (OEE) |
| Refund is by petition only |
| Noncredit Courses (Community Education/Private Lessons/Youth Weekly Camps/Corporate College) |
|---|
| Session A, B, C or full |
| Courses dropped by the close of business hours or online by midnight on the last scheduled date of add/drop |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| Session: Odd Term (OT) |
| For classes meeting one to three days: courses dropped prior to the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| For classes meeting four days or more: courses dropped within one calendar day after the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| Session: Open Entry/Exit (OEE) |
| Refund is by petition only |
| Noncredit Courses (Language Institute) |
|---|
| Session A, B, C or full |
| Courses dropped by the close of business hours or online by midnight on the last scheduled date of add/drop |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| Session: Odd Term (OT) |
| For classes meeting one to three days: courses dropped prior to the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| For classes meeting four days or more: courses dropped within one calendar day after the first scheduled class day |
100 percent |
| Thereafter* |
No refund |
| Session: Open Entry/Exit (OEE) |
| Refund is by petition only |
| Noncredit Courses (Corporate Contracted Classes) |
|---|
| Refund is subject to terms of applicable contract |
| Thereafter * |
No refund |
| General Refunds |
|---|
| Courses canceled by the College |
100 percent |
| College error |
100 percent |
*Seminole State College may refund 100 percent of tuition and fees after the published refund deadline if a student withdraws from a course(s) due to an emergency or extraordinary circumstances. Emergency or extraordinary circumstances must be determined by the College to be exceptional and beyond the student's control and may include, but are not limited to: serious illness, death, involuntary call to active military duty, or other emergency circumstances or extraordinary situations. No refund will be approved unless the student provides the necessary documentation that supports the reason for a refund. If documentation cannot be provided, the request for refund cannot be considered. Students must file a petition prior to the beginning of classes for the next successive term. Failure to file the petition in a timely manner will be considered as a reason for the denial of the request.
Refund for Students Receiving Federal Financial Aid
Seminole State will issue refunds after the official refund deadline pursuant to U.S. Department of Education requirements. Information is available from the Student Financial Resources Office.
Residency Statement
All Seminole State College applicants who are Florida residents for tuition purposes are required to make a statement as to their length of residence in the State of Florida and submit it with their application for admission in accordance with criteria set forth in Section 1009.21, F.S. and 6A-10.044 F.B.R. Applicants who are not residents for tuition purposes may attend Seminole State College and are not required to submit a statement of residency. Non-Florida residents, for tuition purposes, will pay higher fees than Florida residents.
A Florida resident, for tuition purposes, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s), must have established and maintained a legal residence in the state for at least 12 months immediately prior to his/her registration. The applicant must state that his/her length of residence, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) length of residence, was for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile and not for the purpose of maintaining a temporary residence for tuition purposes.
A dependent child is a person who is eligible to be claimed by his/her parent(s) as a "child" under the Federal Income Tax Codes whether or not they are living with the parent(s). A dependent child living with an adult relative other than his/her parent(s) may qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative has maintained a legal residence in the State of Florida for 12 consecutive months and the dependent child has lived with the relative for five years immediately preceding registration. The adult relative must have exercised the day-to-day care, supervision and control of the child during the five-year period. A dependent child whose parents are divorced or separated may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida, regardless of which parent claims the child as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. The following categories will be considered as Florida residents for tuition purposes:
- Active duty members of the armed forces and their dependents.
- Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by a public educational institution and their dependents.
- Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Pre-Paid Postsecondary Expense program.
- Others as permitted by state statute or rule.
Seminole State College may deny credit earned by a student if it is determined that he/she has made false, incomplete or fraudulent statements in connection with his/her application for admission. In determining Florida residency for tuition purposes, the burden of proof rests with the applicant.
A non-Florida resident may apply in writing for re-classification as a resident for tuition purposes. Non-Florida residents must produce evidence that they are legal residents and have resided in the state for 12 consecutive months. A dependent child must provide evidence that his/her parents are legal residents of Florida. A resident alien may be considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes if he/she has resided in the State of Florida for 12 consecutive months after being granted resident alien status by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. Only non-resident aliens, classed in specific visa categories as determined by the State of Florida, may be eligible for classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. If the applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the College, the applicant will be reclassified as a resident for tuition purposes for subsequent terms.
A student may appeal residency classification by following the College-approved appeals process for residency classification.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
Students can view their fees and payment deadlines by logging in to MySeminoleState and navigating to the Student Center. All fees must be paid by the due dates shown on the account or the student risks being dropped from his/her classes.
After initial enrollment and payment of tuition and fees each term, it remains the student's responsibility to verify that the account balance remains zero after any further enrollment activity on the account for that term. Students are encouraged to review their MySeminoleState Student Center each time they have enrollment activity and pay any outstanding balance by the payment due date.
In some cases, fees may be deferred against anticipated financial aid. Tuition deferment is an online process and must be completed every term. After all financial aid, scholarships and third-party funding have been applied to the student's account, it is his/her responsibility to pay any remaining balance by the due date.
Acceptable payment methods for tuition and fees:
- In person at any Seminole State campus cashier window with cash, check, money order, credit card or debit card (cardholder must be present to sign for all credit card and debit card transactions);
- Online, via MySeminoleState, with a valid credit card;
- Mail a check or money order, made payable to Seminole State College, to the following address:
Seminole State College of Florida
Business Services Office A100
100 Weldon Blvd.
Sanford, FL 32773
Please include the student's Seminole State student ID number on the check or money order. Payments made via U.S. mail must be received in the Business Services Office at least three to five business days before the payment due date to allow for processing.
For more information about a student's tuition and fees, call the Cashiers Office at 407.708.2140.
Financial Aid Information
Seminole State College's financial aid program helps eligible students who want to further their education but could not attend college without assistance. Financial aid is available to supplement a family's contribution and help meet the cost of postsecondary education. The student financial aid programs are administered according to a nationally accepted policy that the family, student and/or spouse is responsible for educational expenses.
The Student Financial Resources Office provides each aid recipient with electronic information about financial assistance at Seminole State. Students are responsible for reading this information and asking questions if they do not understand.
Students should electronically submit their financial aid application by completing the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Seminole State's federal school code is 001520.
Students should frequently review the to-do list posted on their MySeminoleState Student Center page to ensure they provide, in a timely fashion, the requested information to complete their financial aid application. Students must also follow the directions and respond promptly to all financial aid correspondence.
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
- New students must apply for admission to the College and submit proof of high school graduation. New and returning students must be in an eligible program. Financial aid awards may be predicted, but funds cannot be released without providing proof of high school graduation or GED.
- Complete the FAFSA each year, listing Seminole State's federal school code: 001520. Most male students must register with Selective Service to receive federal aid. Students can file electronically.
- Students must apply for financial aid each academic year. A limited amount of grants (other than Pell) are awarded to those students who complete their FAFSA prior to March 15, provided that funding is available.
- Effective with the 2012-2013 application year, per federal regulations, copies of tax returns (IRS Forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ) cannot be accepted to verify tax information. Students must provide copies of their (and/or your parents') tax transcripts for the prior year obtained from the IRS either at www.IRS.gov or by calling 800.908.9946. Dependent students who are selected for verification must complete a Dependent Verification Worksheet, which is available by logging in to MySeminoleState and navigating to the forms section of the Financial Aid page. Independent students will complete the Independent Verification Worksheet. There may be other documentation requested on a case-by-case basis. All students selected for verification must submit all required verification and tax forms at least eight weeks prior to the term start date for on-time disbursement of aid during the term. A more detailed explanation of the verification process can be found in the MySeminoleState Student Center under Verification.
- Students who apply for a student loan for the first time at Seminole State must complete an online student loan entrance counseling workshop. Students are required to complete an online Master Promissory Note (MPN) before funds can be received. Links to Promissory Notes and Entrance and Exit Counseling are available through the MySeminoleState Student Center or at www.studentloans.gov. Students must be enrolled for full-length semesters to qualify for student loans. Students enrolled only in sessions within a semester or term do not qualify for student loans unless these sessions are a minimum of nine weeks in length.
- Financial need is the difference between the estimated cost of education and the amount a student and his/her family are expected to contribute to these costs minus other scholarships or financial aid. Need-based financial aid awards may consist of a combination of grants, part-time employment and loans.
Types of Financial Assistance
- Pell Grant: The largest and best-known source of grants, Federal Pell Grants are awarded based on need and do not have to be repaid. Initial Pell Grant Awards are predicted at full-time enrollment status and are prorated after the add/drop period based on part-time enrollment. Contact the Student Financial Resources Office concerning eligibility for less than half-time enrollment.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: This grant is awarded to undergraduate and vocational students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Funds are limited, and awards are made based on the priority consideration deadline.
- Florida Student Assistance Grant: This grant is awarded to students with financial need, based on state criteria. Recipients must have been Florida residents for the previous 24 months, be enrolled at least as a half-time (six or more credits) student, meet the financial aid standards of progress and complete 12 hours for each term during the prior year that the grant has been received for renewal. The FAFSA must be processed by May 15. Initial FSAG awards are predicted at full-time enrollment and are prorated after the add/drop period for part-time students.
- Federal Work-Study Program: This program awards a maximum of 20 hours of employment per week based on the availability of funds.
- Federal Direct Stafford Loan: This loan is available for undergraduate students who enroll at least half time (six or more credits) at Seminole State. Academic year maximums are determined by federal regulations. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates, withdraws or drops below half-time enrollment. The minimum payment is $50 a month but can be higher, depending on the total amount borrowed. An additional unsubsidized loan is available for independent students, as determined by federal regulations. The student is responsible for repaying all interest, which begins accruing immediately following disbursement.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan: This loan is available for parents of dependent students. Maximum eligibility is equal to the cost of education minus other aid. Repayment of principal and interest usually begins within 60 days of the disbursement of the loan, unless in-school repayment relief if granted.
- Financial Aid Deferment: This option is for students who have made a timely application for federal and state financial aid and wish to pay for tuition and fees from financial assistance; they must complete and sign an online request via MySeminoleState each semester. For details, contact the Student Financial Resources Office.
Scholarships
Institutional scholarships are awarded based on criteria established by Seminole State. Awards must be coordinated with other types of available financial assistance and may reduce the eligibility for other federal or state need-based aid. Private scholarships are awarded based on criteria established by organizations and agencies other than Seminole State. General scholarship application procedures are available through the Admissions section of the College's website (see Financial Aid).
State of Florida Scholarships (such as the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship) are based on Florida Department of Education guidelines and funding levels.
Rights of Financial Aid Recipients
- Confidentiality: The Privacy Act exists to protect students' rights to confidentiality and limits the College from releasing information about a student's file or award(s). Therefore, information released over the phone must be limited to general information. Students must submit a written request if they need information about their financial aid released to an outside agency or to another person.
- Knowledge: Financial aid recipients have the right to know what the Student Financial Resources Office has done and what is expected of them. Students who have questions have the right to contact Financial Aid.
- Fair and Equal Treatment: Financial aid awards at Seminole State are made without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. Need is determined using a nationally recognized formula. Students who are concerned that they were not treated equally or fairly should discuss the situation with the Director of Student Financial Resources.
Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients
- Return of Title IV Funds: Any federal financial aid recipient who completely withdraws or ceases attendance prior to completing more than 60 percent of any given term will be required to repay all or a percentage of the aid received. Students who find themselves in a situation where they must withdraw should make an effort to pass at least one course. The last date of attendance for withdrawn courses must be documented to minimize any over/repayment of federal funds. Failure to repay or make arrangements to repay these funds will make the student ineligible for future federal assistance from Seminole State or any other institutions. The Department of Education has not made any provisions for extenuating circumstances, and there is no appeal process. For more information, refer to the Financial Aid Student Guide or contact the Student Financial Resources Office.
All financial aid recipients must notify the Student Financial Resources Office when making any changes in their program. This includes the completion of a degree. Failure to do so may cause loss of aid. Students who are receiving aid should check with the Student Financial Resources Office before withdrawing from courses.
- Award Notification and Disbursement of Funds: An award letter that states the types of aid, amounts and conditions of recipients' awards will be available through their secure MySeminoleState accounts. The disbursement of financial aid funds will begin after the add/drop period every semester and after faculty members certify attendance in scheduled classes. Financial aid will first be applied to outstanding financial obligations the student may have with Seminole State, such as tuition, as well as fees and book charges. Any remaining balance that is due to the student will be disbursed via direct deposit, debit card authorization or paper check. Students who are anticipating a refund will receive information from the company HigherOne to declare their preference on how the refund will be processed. Since this process takes place after the term begins, it is essential that financial aid recipients set aside personal funds to cover expenses at the start of each term.
Note: For students who enroll in courses that begin after the standard start date of the semester, certification for aid eligibility and eventual disbursement of aid may not occur until those classes begin and attendance is verified by the instructor. Contact the Student Financial Resources Office for further details.
- Providing Complete and Correct Information: If inaccurate or incomplete information is provided, applications cannot be processed. This will result in delays or could make the student ineligible for aid. Students who deliberately provide false or misleading information may be prosecuted for federal fraud, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.
- Abiding by Agreements: As part of their financial aid application, students are asked to sign agreements that they understand the eligibility criteria associated with their aid programs. These signature requests can be either manual signatures or e-signatures using the student's unique PIN. Financial aid recipients should fully understand all forms before signing agreements.
- Standards of Academic Progress (SOP): Federal regulations require students to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate to be eligible to receive financial assistance. Academic progress for financial aid applicants will be checked at the end of each term, regardless of whether the student had received financial aid. See Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients for more information.
Measures of progress require that students:
- Achieve and maintain a 2.0 GPA in their program
- Complete a specified minimum number of credits, based on the number of credits attempted
- Complete a degree or certificate program within a specific number of attempted hours
Important Information
- Any student who receives a Seminole State scholarship must meet the financial aid standards of progress each term to maintain the scholarships for subsequent terms. Some scholarships have additional requirements.
- Federal Direct student loans must be repaid. Students are required to complete entrance counseling before borrowing on student loans, and must complete required exit counseling when the student ceases enrollment/withdraws, reduces enrollment below six hours a term, graduates or applies for graduation.
- Less-than-half-time students may be eligible for Federal Pell Grants, depending on the level of the Pell award. Contact the Student Financial Resources Office for more information.
- Students who have earned a bachelor's degree are ineligible for Federal Pell Grants or FSEOG but may be eligible for other federal student aid programs.
- Students who attend two schools in the same enrollment period must inform both financial aid administrators. Students can possibly receive funds awarded through the degree-granting institution (the home institution). Students attending two institutions during the same semester pursuing coursework required for the attainment of degree requirements at the home institution must complete and file a consortium agreement a minimum of one week prior to the beginning day of any semester at the home institution.
- Conviction of drug distribution or possession may make a student ineligible for federal aid.
Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) for Financial Aid Recipients
A financial aid recipient is a student who receives any scholarship, loan, grant, work-study award or veteran's benefits administered through the Seminole State College Student Financial Resources Office.
Federal, state and college regulations require that a student must maintain satisfactory progress to receive financial assistance. The minimum standards at Seminole State are contained in this document and applicable to the financial assistance programs administered by the Student Financial Resources Office.
At Seminole State, a student's entire academic history, including credits that are transferred from other schools, is evaluated to determine whether he/she is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Eligibility to receive financial aid is established each term, based on a student's ability to meet the criteria for Standards of Academic Progress.
Failure to meet these Standards of Academic Progress will result in the student being placed on financial aid suspension. Students who are on financial aid suspension will be prohibited from receiving any financial assistance until they have returned to satisfactory progress. Students on financial aid suspension may continue to enroll and attend classes at Seminole State, as long as tuition charges are paid through resources other than financial aid.
- Successful completion of a class: Defined as having earned a grade of "A," "B," "C," "D," "S" or "P"
- Unsatisfactory completion or non-completion of a class: Defined as having earned a grade of "F," "N," "W," "I," "U" or "X"
- Enrollment Status: This is established by the number of credit hours for which a student is officially registered each term. Students must successfully complete a specific number of credits as determined by their program of study and their enrollment status.
- Total hours attempted: Students are expected to earn a degree or certificate within a specified number of attempted hours and are only eligible for financial aid during this time. The number of attempted hours cannot exceed more than 150 percent of the published length of the educational program.
All students receiving any type of federal financial aid must meet the Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) for Financial Aid Recipients. The requirements for these standards are set by federal regulations. Students must meet all three criteria for ongoing eligibility for federal aid.
SOP requirements
- A student must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
- A student must successfully complete at least 67 percent Student Completion Rate (pace) of all Seminole State courses taken (including transfer courses accepted by Seminole State).
- A student must complete his/her degree within the 150 percent time frame (example: an associate degree requiring 60 credit hours must be completed within 90 credit hours).
Minimum Cumulative 2.0 GPA
For students who have attended other colleges, the courses accepted as transfer credit by Seminole State, including those taken as part of another program of study, will be included in determining SOP for financial aid purposes.
How to Calculate Student Completion Rate (Pace)
The formula for calculating the completion rate is: total hours earned divided by total hours attempted. The resulting percentage must be 67 percent or greater to meet Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) for Financial Aid Recipients.
For financial aid purposes, successful completion of a course means an earned grade of A, B, C or D. All other grades (F, I, W1, W2, W3, W4) are attempts or unsuccessful completions and will impact a student's progress. Attempts include any courses in which a student is enrolled for credit beyond the official add/drop refund deadline.
The chart below demonstrates 67 percent completion rate (pace) for attempted hours in a semester. The left-hand column is the attempted hours and the corresponding number in the right-hand column is the number of hours you must successfully complete with a 2.0 GPA to maintain satisfactory SOP.
Example: A student registered for 12 credit hours must complete eight credit hours with a 2.0 GPA or higher to meet the satisfactory SOP requirements for the semester. The 2.0 GPA and completion rate (pace) of 67 percent apply to the semester and cumulative totals on a student’s transcript.
| Credit Hours Attempted | Earned Hours Needed
(Passed with a GPA of 2.0 or higher) |
|---|
| 15 |
11 |
| 14 |
10 |
| 13 |
9 |
| 12 |
8 |
| 11 |
8 |
| 10 |
7 |
| 9 |
7 |
| 8 |
6 |
| 7 |
5 |
| 6 |
5 |
Maximum Time Frame Eligibility
- Students who have attempted more than 150 percent of the credits required for their program of study are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress, according to requirements for SOP, and therefore, are ineligible for financial aid funds. Students who do not have a degree and exceed maximum hours will not be able to regain financial aid eligibility at Seminole State College.
- Students who change their educational program or graduate and reapply to a new program still must adhere to the maximum time frame policy. If or when the students exceed the maximum time frame allowed for their respective programs, they may appeal if they have mitigating circumstances. All attempted credits and transfer credits will be included when determining maximum time frame eligibility. Consideration will be given to students seeking a second degree or certificate.
- Students are limited to one time frame appeal and will be required to successfully complete 100 percent of all future coursework if approved. Therefore, it is important that students take only the number of courses that they will complete successfully. A degree audit/grad check will be required for all time-frame appeals. Appeals submitted without a degree audit/grad check will be automatically denied.
- A student with a bachelor’s degree or higher will be considered to have exhausted the maximum time-frame eligibility. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree may not earn an Associate in Arts degree with support from financial aid.
Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) will be evaluated at the end of every term. Students who do not meet the SOP standards will be placed on "Financial Aid Warning" at the end of the semester in which they did not meet the standard(s). They will be eligible to receive federal financial aid funding for the following semester and given an opportunity to resume good academic standing. Students given this status are not required to petition for possible reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility
Students placed on Financial Aid Warning status will be sent a notification advising them of their status, the impact of their future financial aid eligibility, and the importance of seeking guidance/advising/counseling from appropriate staff. Students who do not meet SOP standards after this period of Financial Aid Warning will be denied eligibility for future semesters and placed on Financial Aid Cancellation status until they meet the SOP standards or submit an SOP Appeal that is approved.
The appeal must include a prescribed academic plan that must be approved by Academic Advising. If the appeal is approved, they will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. The student will continue on probation as long as he/she is successfully complying with the prescribed academic plan requirement(s) that is submitted as part of the SOP Appeal. The probation status will stay on the student's financial aid file until the student meets Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards or completes his/her degree.
The student's progression will be monitored during the probationary period at the beginning and end of the semester to ensure the student is following the prescribed academic plan and successfully matriculating through their program of study. Disbursements will not be made for a semester unless it is verified that the student's prior review (if applicable) was acceptable and the student is in proper classes for the term in question.
A student will be considered successful in an Academic Plan if all three of the following items are met:
- All of the classes taken under the Plan are required for the student's program of study.
- Student maintains a minimum 2.5 GPA for the semester in question (not cumulative GPA).
- Student successfully completes 100 percent of the classes prescribed in the Academic Plan.
If any one of the three items above is not met, then student will be considered to not have met the terms and conditions of the Academic Plan, and will be placed in Financial Aid Cancellation and will be ineligible for financial aid until such time student regains eligibility by establishing a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and reaching a 67 percent completion rate for all classes attempted.
If a student meets all three criteria above, student will not have to re-appeal again for the following semester, and student will remain on this Academic Plan until such time student retains eligibility.
Financial Aid Appeals Process
Students who have not met SOP standards and are placed under Financial Aid Cancellation status must complete the following steps to appeal their status and be considered for reinstatement for their financial aid eligibility.
- Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form available online in the financial aid forms section of the MySeminoleState Student Center.
- Attach documentation that supports the extenuating circumstance(s) to the appeal form (Examples: statement signed by student's doctor, death certificate).
- Attach a copy of unofficial transcript, circling every grade (in every semester) that is "W", "I", or "F." An explanation of the circumstances of these grades must be contained in the appeals documentation (letter from student describing situation).
- Visit Academic Advising and Counseling for assistance with completing the academic plan portion of the SOP appeal. A signature from an academic advisor is required on the academic plan form available online.
- Submit the appeal and the supporting documentation to the Student Financial Resources Office.
Incomplete appeals will not be accepted. Appropriate documentation as prescribed above must be provided at the time the appeal is submitted. After a thorough evaluation of the written request and all supporting documentation, the Financial Aid Review committee will make a decision and notify the student of the decision by email communication. Appeals are only accepted for the semester immediately preceding the appeal. The decision of the Financial Aid Review Committee is final.
Academic Plan
The SOP Appeal must include a prescribed academic plan that must be approved by Academic Advising. If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. The student will continue on probation as long as he/she successfully complies with the prescribed academic plan requirements that are submitted as part of the SOP Appeal. The probation status will stay on the student's financial aid file until the student meets Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards or completes his/her degree.
The student's progression will be monitored during the probationary period at the beginning and end of each semester to ensure the student is following the prescribed academic plan and successfully matriculating through his/her program of study. Disbursements will not be made for a semester unless it is verified that the student's prior review (if applicable) was acceptable and the student's in the proper classes for the term in question.
A student will be considered successful in an academic plan if all three of the following items are met:
- All of the classes taken under the plan are required for the student's program of study.
- Student maintains a minimum 2.5 GPA for the semester in question (not cumulative GPA).
- Student successfully completes 100 percent of the classes prescribed in the academic plan.
If a student meets all three criteria above, he/she will not have to re-appeal again for the following semester, and the student will remain on this Academic Plan until the student regains eligibility.
if any one of the three items above is not met, then the student will be considered to not have met the terms and condition of the academic plan and will be placed on Financial Aid Cancellation and will be ineligible for financial aid until the student regains eligibility by establishing a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and reaches a 67 percent completion rate for all classes attempted.
Note: The College has requirements for Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) as outlined in College Procedure 4.1000 and Standards of Academic Progress (SOP) for Financial Aid Recipients as outlined in College Procedure 4.2000. While on financial aid suspension, a student may be granted an appeal for SOP and register for classes. However, the amount owed will be the responsibility of the student. Financial aid does not cover payment for students who are on suspension.
Extenuating Circumstances (Re-establishing Eligibility after Cancellation)
Any student with extenuating circumstances (Examples: death of an immediate relative, an illness or injury of the student) who is placed on a cancellation status, may appeal to the Financial Aid Review Committee for reinstatement based on his/her special case. If the student was canceled for failure to complete 67 percent of the attempted hours, and since cancellation, has brought up the percentage to a minimum of 67 percent, the student will be instated during the end of the semester review process. If a student was canceled for not meeting the GPA requirement, he/she will be placed back on a reinstated status once his/her GPA has been brought up to the proper level during the end of the semester review process.
Note: There is no reinstatement after suspension for exceeding the maximum credit review.
- It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Student Financial Resources Office when this condition has been met.
- Students who exhaust the 150 percent time frame and have used their one appeal cannot be reinstated for financial aid at Seminole State.
