Credit Hour Maximums
The U.S. Department of Education has established a limit on the number of credit hours a student can attempt and still remain eligible for Federal student Aid. This limit is based on 150% of the credit hours needed to complete the degree for which the student is pursing.
This will allow for curriculum changes, repeats, and enrichment course work that may be required for the field of degree.
Examples:
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A One-Year Certificate may be 30 credit hours x 150%=45
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A Two-Year Associate may be 60 credit hours x 150%=90
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A Four-Year Bachelor may be 128 credits x 150%=192
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A Two-Year Master may be 36 credit hours x 150%=54
This includes all attempted Oglala Lakota College courses as well as all transfer credit hours. In addition, this includes all semesters at Oglala Lakota College with or without financial assistance.
Academic Progress toward the degree/certificate program will be measured at the end of each semester. The student will receive an update, as to the amount of financial aid left, with the satisfactory progress letter at the end of each semester.
If at any time, it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to complete their program with the number of credits left in their 150% timeframe – the student is no longer making Satisfactory Academic Progress and not eligible for Title IV aid.
The student will then request in writing, a reset in attempted hours to reflect their current major.
Change in Major
Students wishing to change their major plan should notify the Registrar’s office in writing, who will then notify the Financial Aid office so that a determination of eligibility for the new program of study can be made. Determination shall be based on credits attempted and earned that can transferred into the new major.
The Financial Aid Student academic Progress will be reset with a change of major up to 3 times in a student’s academic career at Oglala Lakota College.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits earned at another institution that are accepted at Oglala Lakota College toward the degree/certificate a student is currently pursuing shall be used in computing the total credits attempted and earned.
Once a student earns a Bachelors Degree, they are no longer eligible for a Federal PELL Grant.
