The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standard has changed. Students who do not meet SAP have:
One semester of a warning
Suspension for the second semester if not meeting SAP, with option to appeal for probation
Suspension for third semester if SAP remains unmet. Will receive funds only if meeting requirements of pre-determined academic plan
New rule on retaking coursework
Student can receive federal aid for only one retake of a previously-passed class. However, if a student fails a class, he/she will have multiple opportunities (if necessary) to retake it provided it is required for his/her degree program.
Credit Hour Definition/Conversion to Clock-Hour Programs
The Department of Education has redefined how it evaluates class time, and based on the new definition, financial aid for some programs at MSCC will be calculated on clock hours rather than semester credit hours.
High School Diploma
Institutions are now required to develop and follow procedures to evaluate the validity of a student’s high school diploma, if warranted, or if the diploma was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education.
Funding Levels
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2012-13 award year will remain at $5,550, but other changes to the program will reduce some of the benefits.
The duration of Pell eligibility has been reduced from the equivalent of 18 full-time semesters to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. The text that grandfathered students who received Pell prior to July 1, 2008, is removed, so all students are now subject to the new limit. Students who are failing and retaking developmental and college credit classes will be affected the most by this change.
Ability-to-Benefit (ATB)
Students must have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or have been home schooled to the appropriate level, to meet eligibility criterion for Title IV funds (federal financial aid/Pell Grants).
Neither ATB testing nor earning six credits applicable to a degree or certificate will satisfy the academic qualifications for receiving Title IV funds. Options for establishing general student eligibility are eliminated for students who first enroll in a program of study on or after July 1, 2012.
Tax Data Retrieval
In 2012-2013 all families will be strongly encouraged to submit updated tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Program. This process drops the official tax return directly into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If students use a manual tax return and are eligible to use the retrieval process, they will be sent regular emails encouraging them to redo their application using the retrieval process. Failure to use the updating process can make it more difficult for families to complete verification.
Beginning 2012-2013, more students will be selected for verification by the Department of Education, and information required for the process has also been increased. Along with normal verification Items, the following must be verified:
Number in Household
Number in college
Food Stamps (SNAP), if receipt reported on FAFSA (must be verified by the food stamp office)
Child support paid, if amount reported on FAFSA
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Taxes paid
Specific untaxed income items from tax return
All students selected for verification who used the IRS Data Retrieval process must submit an IRS-generated tax transcript. A paper copy of a tax return is no longer acceptable
Also, beginning 2012-2013, if selected for verification, non-tax filers must submit the following:
- Copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2011
- A signed statement certifying—
- That the individual has not filed and is not required to file an income tax return for tax year 2011
- The sources of income earned from work as reported on the FAFSA and amounts of income from each source for tax year 2011 that is not on W-2s
In 2012-2013 the dollar threshold amount for reporting corrections to the Department of Education on student accounts has changed from $400 to $25. To avoid delays, please make sure the information you provide is as accurate as possible.
