Satisfactory Academic Progress

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Requirements 

To ensure compliance with federal regulations, the following policies governing standards of satisfactory progress for all students attending Dakota College and requesting federal student financial assistance are effective with the beginning of classes for the academic year. They are as follows: 

  1. Qualitative Academic Standards Grade Point Average (GPA) 
    1. At the end of each semester, all student GPAs are evaluated at Dakota College. To meet the GPA average requirements, a student will need to have a cumulative grade point average of the following:
      • Minimum Cumulative GPA Required:
        • 1st Semester: 1.60
        • 2nd Semester: 1.75
        • After 3rd semester students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00.
           
  2. Maximum Time Frame - Students enrolled at Dakota College are eligible to receive federal student financial assistance for the maximum number of earned and attempted credits specified below: 
    • One-Year Program: 45 credits
    • Two-Year Program: 90 credits
      These guidelines are approximate and can vary by individual program requirements.
       
  3. Completion of Attempted Credits - To maintain satisfactory academic progress for federal financial aid purposes, undergraduate students must complete a minimum of two-thirds (i.e., 66.67%) of the credits attempted in an academic year and reflect a grade average at the end of each term that is equal to or greater than the College’s Academic minimum requirements. Grades of Failed (F), Unsatisfactory (U), Incomplete (I), and Withdrawn (W) count as credits attempted but not completed and will be applied toward the maximum number of credits specified in the policy.

Appeal Procedures

Students who wish to appeal the cessation of funds must complete and submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, located in Campus Connection > DCB eForms > Financial Aid and indicate the reason for failing to meet the progress requirements. Students can reestablish eligibility for federal programs by meeting the criteria outlined in the Standards of Satisfactory Progress Policy which will be provided upon request and at the beginning of each academic year.