Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy

All schools participating in federal and state financial aid programs must have a Financial Aid Academic Progress (FAAP) Policy. The policy must be applied to all applicants and recipients of financial aid as a determination of financial aid eligibility.

This policy assesses academic progress for classes taken at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) as well as transfer credits from previously attended institutions. Your academic progress will be assessed when you first apply for financial aid at TMCC and after each semester in which you receive financial aid.

Requirements to Maintain Financial Aid Academic Progress (FAAP)

TMCC Students

There are three components of the Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy that all students seeking financial aid must meet. If you do not meet any one of these three requirements, you may lose your eligibility for financial aid.

  1. Qualitative Component (GPA)
    • In order to meet the qualitative standard for FAAP, you must maintain a cumulative TMCC GPA of 2.0 at TMCC. See GPA Calculator.
  2. Quantitative Component (Completion Ratio/Pace)
    • You must receive passing grades in a minimum of 67% of all cumulative attempted courses. See Course Completion Rate Calculator.
    • Courses dropped during the 100% refund period are not considered attempted courses. Remedial and ESL courses are included in the calculation. Courses receiving grades of W, F, U, I or AD are not considered completed, but are included in the calculation as attempted units. Courses that you receive a grade of S in are considered attempted and completed.   All repeat coursework is counted toward attempted units and you may repeat a class no more than one time, after which you may not receive funding for that class. TMCC EPIC (Educational Programs Inspiring the Community) non-credit courses are not counted. All eligible credits, including transfer credits, are considered whether or not you received financial aid at the time you earned them.
    • You may calculate your completion ratio by dividing your total earned credits by your attempted credits. If it is mathematically impossible for you to finish your program within the maximum time frame, you will become ineligible for aid (you may file an appeal to request continued funding).
  3. Time Frame Component (Maximum Number of Credit Hours Attempted)
    • If you are enrolled in a certificate or degree program at TMCC, you may attempt no more than 150% of credits required for the program. Normally, this is 90 credits for associate degree programs, 180 credits for bachelor's degree programs and 45 credits for certificate programs.

Failure to Meet FAAP Requirements

If you fail to meet the 67% Quantitative Component requirement or failure to meet the minimum 2.0 cumulative TMCC GPA requirement at any time will result in financial aid suspension.

Appeals

Important: Please be aware that you must be enrolled in classes and you must be enrolled in the appropriate level English and Math classes, to have your appeal considered. If you do not meet these requirements your appeal will be denied.

If you have extenuating circumstances and if you will be able to meet requirements within one semester, you may appeal in writing by submitting a Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal. Special circumstances include death of a relative, your own personal injury or illness, or other special circumstances. You must provide documentation of these circumstances. You must also indicate what has changed in your life that will allow you to meet Financial Aid Academic Progress standards by the end of the next semester. You may also appeal if you have been out of school for a number of semesters and will not be able to meet standards by the end of one semester. If your circumstances warrant it, you may be considered for a Financial Aid Academic Plan.

Appeals must be submitted by the noted semester deadline and will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeals Committee. All appeals require the following: A copy of your “My Planner”, a copy of your “Academic Requirements” and your supporting documentation. Both "My Planner" and your “Academic Requirements” are available through MyTMCC. On Track Workshops from Academic Advising can assist you in this process if you need help.

Appeals will not be considered if you are not enrolled, or if you have a past due balance at any Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institution. The decisions of the appeals committee are final and cannot be overruled.

Financial Aid Probation means that you are able to meet standards by the end of one semester and will be eligible for aid. You will be funded only for classes that apply to your current declared degree program and if you change your degree, financial aid privileges will be suspended. At the end of that period, you must be meeting standards. Failure to meet standards after a probationary semester will result in financial aid suspension. You may not appeal this suspension but must use your own resources to regain eligibility. If you regain eligibility but at a later date again have difficulties meeting academic progress standards, you may appeal again.

Financial Aid Academic Plan is an option if you have been out of school for a number of semesters and you are not able to meet standards by the end of one semester. Students who can document a significant change in circumstances can request additional time to meet standards. You will be eligible for funding on a semester by semester basis, provided you complete 100% of your classes with a minimum 2.0 TMCC GPA each semester while you are on Financial Aid Academic Plan status. You will be funded only for classes that apply to your current declared degree program and if you change your degree, financial aid privileges will be suspended. If you fail to comply with the requirements of your plan, you will be suspended and must use your own resources to regain eligibility.

Maximum Time Frame: Your appeal documents must include a copy of your Academic Requirements Report. You must outline required courses and remaining credits required for graduation and submit a detailed action plan on how and when you expect to graduate from your program. If you have not met the maximum within your declared degree program you may be approved for further funding. If your appeal is approved, you will be funded only for those credits required to complete your degree program. Funding will not be approved for more than two Associate Degrees from TMCC. Funding will not be approved if your attempted credits exceed 90 and you have not completed the English and/or math skills center or are enrolled in College Transition Math. Any degree changes made after an appeal has been approved may result in a loss of financial aid eligibility. If you do not adhere to the education plan you submitted with your appeal, you will lose financial aid eligibility.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to TMCC who are eligible for financial aid at TMCC must submit all transcripts from previous colleges to Admissions and Records. All credits attempted are included in your academic progress evaluation. This is especially important for students filing a maximum credit appeal, as applicable credits are a factor in the determination for continued funding. Since your appeal documents must include an up-to-date Academic Requirements Report, your transcripts must have been evaluated by Admissions and Records by the time your appeal is filed.

Terms

Financial Aid Suspension: You are not eligible to receive financial aid because you have not met the minimum standards for academic progress as defined by the Dept. of Education. In some cases you may appeal your suspension and be reinstated one time, for one semester, if approved by an appeals committee. You can also complete classes without funding and once you achieve the minimum standards for academic progress, you will regain eligibility for federal funding.

Financial Aid Probation: Your Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal has been approved by committee and you are eligible for funding for one semester, by the end of which, you must be meeting the minimum standards for academic progress. If you do not meet the standards at this time, you will be suspended and cannot appeal a second time.

Financial Aid Academic Plan: Your Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal has been approved by the committee. Although you are not able to meet standards by the end of one semester, you have been out of school for a number of semesters. You are able to document that changes in your circumstances demonstrate that you should be allowed additional time to meet standards. You will be eligible for funding on a semester by semester basis, provided you complete 100% of your classes with at least a minimum 2.0 TMCC GPA each semester while you are on Financial Aid Academic Plan status. If you fail to do so, you will be suspended and must use your own resources to regain eligibility.