Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression

Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1
Assumptions for case studies 1 through 12
• Students enroll in a 124-semester-hour bachelor’s degree program with an academic year of 24 semester hours and 30 weeks of
instructional time.
• The educational program consists of two semesters, fall and spring, with 15 weeks of instructional time each and the summer term is 10
weeks of instructional time in length with full-time equal to 12 semester hours.
• A student is considered to advance in grade level based on earning 30 semester hours.
• Students meet all student eligibility requirements for any term apart from academic year progression.
• All assumptions concerning weeks, apart from credits accepted on transfer, apply only to traditional-calendar, standard-term programs.
• Case study charts show the credit hours and weeks of instructional time completed in each term plus the total accumulated by the end of
the term in parentheses.
Chart for identifying academic years
The following chart provides a look-up table for determining the academic year of a student based on the weeks of instructional time and semester
hours completed. For example, a student who has completed 30 weeks of instructional time and 24 credits but not completed either 60 credits or
48 credits, would be in his or her second academic year, while another student who has completed 120 weeks of instructional time and 96 credits
is no longer eligible due to being beyond his or her fourth academic year except as provided in Dear Colleague letter GEN-06-18. Under DCL
GEN-06-18, for the 2006-7 and 2007-8 award years, the student’s fourth year of eligibility is considered to extend until the student completes his
or her degree program to the extent the student has remaining eligibility from a fourth-year award.

Academic Year Progression

Weeks of Instructional Time and Semester-Hour Credits

Element
30 but <60
60 but <90
90 but <120
<30 weeks*
Completed weeks* weeks* weeks*

<24*
AY 1 AY 1 AY 1 AY 1
credits

24 but <48*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 2 AY 2
credits

48 but <72*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 3
credits

72 but <96*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 4
credits
* Note that if a student meets or exceeds the maximum in one measure but not the other, the
student has not progressed to the next academic year until both measures are met or exceeded.
1
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 1: Tom

Institution does an exact accounting (§691.6 (a), (b), and (c))

• Tom graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits, e.g., AP/IB or colleges courses taken as a nonregular student.
• He attends full-time for 9 semesters and the summer between his second and third fall/spring semesters; 4 hours in semester 10.
• He declares a major in topology and foundations (CIP code 27.0105) at the beginning of his third semester.

Point illustrated

• Summer term only counts as 10 weeks of instructional time and delays the start of the fourth academic year for a National SMART Grant
to his seventh semester.

Notes

• Entering semester 3, Tom has accrued 24 credits over 30 weeks of instructional time. He is still a freshman because he has not accrued 30
credits, but he is eligible for second-year ACG because his 24 credits and 30 weeks of instructional time completed in the first two
semesters constitute his first full title IV academic year in any eligible program.
• After attending the 10-week summer session, he earns 12 credits but over fewer weeks than a regular semester contains. As a result, by the
time he begins semester 6, he has completed three academic years of credits (3 * 24 = 72), but has less than three academic years in weeks
of instructional time (85 instead of 90 (3 * 30 = 90)). Since he is not yet in his fourth academic year, he cannot move to the fourth-year
grant level, but he has already exhausted his third-year Scheduled Award. He, therefore, may not receive a National SMART Grant
disbursement for semester 6.

2
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 1: Tom

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 15 Freshman ACG 1
Semester 2 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 2 12 (60) 10 (70) Sophomore NSG 3
Semester 5 12 (72) 15 (85) Junior NSG 3
Semester 6 12 (84) 15 (100) Junior
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (96) 15 (115) Junior NSG 4
Semester 8 12 (108) 15 (130) Senior NSG 4
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (120) 15 (145) Senior
Semester 10 4 (124) 15 (160) Senior Pell < half-time
Summer 5

3
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 2: Margaret

Institution does an exact accounting (§691.6 (a), (b), and (c))

• Margaret graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits.
• She attends half-time for semesters 1 to 4 and then full-time for 8 semesters; 4 hours in semester 13.
• She declares a major in pathology (CIP code 26.0910) at the beginning of her third semester.

Point illustrated

• Duration of eligibility continues even in payment periods for which a student is not eligible. Margaret never receives a first academic year
award since she does not attend full-time during the period when she completes her first academic year in credits and weeks.

4
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 2: Margaret

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 6 15 Freshman < full-time
Semester 2 6 (12) 15 (30) Freshman < full-time
Summer 1
Semester 3 6 (18) 15 (45) Freshman < full-time
Declares major
Semester 4 6 (24) 15 (60) Freshman < full-time
Summer 2
Semester 5 12 (36) 15 (75) Freshman ACG 2
Semester 6 12 (48) 15 (90) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (60) 15 (105) Sophomore NSG 3
Semester 8 12 (72) 15 (120) Junior NSG 3
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (84) 15 (135) Junior NSG 4
Semester 10 12 (96) 15 (150) Junior NSG 4
Summer 5
Semester 11 12 (108) 15 (165) Senior
Semester 12 12 (120) 15 (180) Senior
Summer 6
Semester 13 4 (124) 15 (195) Senior Pell < half-time

5
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 3: Joan

Institution does an exact accounting except assume weeks for summer (§691.6(d); applicable only to programs using Formula 1
or Formula 2)

• Joan graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits.

• She attends full-time for 10 semesters and the summer between her second and third fall/spring semesters.
• She declares a major in solid state physics (CIP code 40.0808) at the beginning of her third semester.

Point illustrated

• To the extent the institution does not do an exact accounting of the weeks of instructional time for summer, the institution may consider the
10-week summer term to count as 15 weeks of instructional time in determining Joan’s academic year progression based on summer being
treated as
of an academic year in weeks of instructional time under §691.6(d) of the current program regulations.

6
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 3: Joan

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 15 Freshman ACG 1
Semester 2 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 2 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3 Summer = 15 wk
Semester 5 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Semester 6 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Semester 8 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Semester 10 12 (132) 15 (165) Senior Pell < half-time
because she only
needs 4 credits to
complete degree

7
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 4: Lee

Institution assumes weeks based on counting terms (§691.6 (d) and private-letter guidance for 6-7 and 7-8 award years)
• Lee graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits.
• He attends full-time for 10 semesters and the summer between his second and third fall/spring semesters.
• He declares a major in naval architecture (CIP code 14.2201) at the beginning of his third semester.

Point illustrated

• To the extent the institution does not do an exact accounting of the weeks of instructional time for summer, under §691.6 (d) of the
program regulations, the institution is able to treat summer as an equivalent term to the fall and spring terms in weeks of instructional time.
• By counting weeks based on terms attended the institution assumes any term is
of an academic year), Lee receives credit for 15 weeks of
instructional time for attending a summer term. His fourth-year National SMART Grant starts in the sixth semester unlike Tom whose
fourth year did not start until his seventh semester.
• Note: If the program used payment Formula 2 and had a 14-week semester and a 15-week semester, each term, including summer, would
count as 14.5 weeks of instructional time, i.e.,
of the fall through spring terms. Since no two terms can equal more than 29 weeks, you
would not round up the fraction. Alternatively, under §691.6 (d) may treat summer as one-half of an academic year, 15 weeks, while the
fall and spring terms would count as 14.5.

8
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 4: Lee

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 15 Freshman ACG 1
Semester 2 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 2 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3 10-wk summer term
credited as 15 wks
Semester 5 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Semester 6 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Semester 8 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Semester 10 12 (132) 15 (165) Senior Pell < half-time

9
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 5: Denise

Institution assumes weeks of i.t. based on hours (DCL GEN-06-18 for 6-7 and 7-8 award years)
• Denise graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits.
• She attends full-time for 9 semesters and the summer between her second and third fall/spring semesters; 4 hours in semester 10.
• She declares a major in neuropharmacology (CIP code 26.1003) in her third semester.

Point illustrated

• By assuming weeks of instructional time based on credit hours earned, 15 weeks of instructional time are attributed to the 12 hours earned
in the 10-week summer term.
• The hours completed in the tenth semester equate to fewer weeks of instructional time.

10
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 5: Denise

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 15 Freshman ACG 1
Semester 2 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 2 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3 12 hrs of summer
credited as 15 wks
Semester 5 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Semester 6 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Semester 8 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Semester 10 4 (124) 5 (155) Senior -Pell < half-time
- Hours equate to only
5 weeks (4/24 * 30 = 5)

11
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 6: George

Institution assumes weeks of i.t. based on hours (DCL GEN-06-18 for 6-7 and 7-8 award years)

• George graduates from high school with no postsecondary credits.

• He attends full-time for 9 semesters and the summer between his second and third fall/spring semesters; 4 hours in semester 10.
• He declares a major in hazardous materials management (CIP code 15.0508) in his eighth semester.

Points illustrated

• The delay in declaring a major affects George’s National SMART Grant eligibility.
• By assuming weeks of instructional time based on credit hours earned,15 weeks of instructional time are attributed to the 12 hours earned
in the 10-week summer term.
• The hours completed in the tenth semester justify fewer weeks of instructional time.

12
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 6: George

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 15 Freshman ACG 1
Semester 2 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2
Semester 4 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 2 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore 12 hours of summer
credited as 15 wks
Semester 5 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior
Semester 6 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior
Semester 8 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior NSG 4 Declares major
Summer 4
Semester 9 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior NSG 4
Semester 10 4 (124) 5 (155) Senior - Pell < half-time
- Hours equate to only
5 weeks (4/24 * 30 = 5)

13
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 7: Cecilia

Institution does an exact accounting except transfer credits (§691.6(a), (b), and (c); Preamble, November 1, 2006 final regulations
(71 FR 64404-64405))

• Cecilia transfers in 24 credits from a prior institution and received half of an ACG first-year Scheduled Award.
• She attends full-time for 8 semesters and 4 hours for the ninth semester.
• She declares a major in microbial and eukaryotic genetics (CIP code 26.0803) at the beginning of her third semester.

Points illustrated

• The institution assumes weeks of instructional time based on credits accepted on transfer. Therefore, Cecilia is considered to be in her
second academic year for ACG in her first semester because the 24 credits accepted on transfer also equate to having completed 30 weeks
of instructional time.
• Her GPA for second-year eligibility must be based on the grades of the credits accepted on transfer.
• The receipt of the ACG first-year award is not relevant to determining her academic year at her new institution. If she had received a
portion of a second-year award but the institution accepted less than 24 credits on transfer, the institution would be required to consider her
a second-year student. The GPA would be based on the credits accepted on transfer.

14
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 7: Cecilia

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Assume 30 wks
Semester 2 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Summer 2
Semester 5 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Semester 6 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Semester 8 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Summer 4
Semester 9 4 (124) 15 (165) Senior Pell < half-time

15
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 8: Mary Beth

Institution does an exact accounting (§691.6(a), (b), and (c))

• Mary Beth starts college with 24 AP credits.
• She attends full-time for 8 semesters and 4 hours in the ninth semester.
• She declares a major in paleontology (CIP code 40.0604) at the beginning of her third semester.

Points illustrated

• AP credit counts toward completion of the credit hours of an academic year, but, since AP credit is not earned as part of attending an ACG
or National SMART Grant eligible program, it does not have weeks of instructional time associated with the credits.
• Though Mary Beth has completed the first year in hours for academic year progression at the beginning of her enrollment, her weeks of
instructional time mean she is in her first academic year on her first two semesters with a similar affect on her subsequent terms.

16
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 8: Mary Beth

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 (36) 15 Freshman ACG 1 No wks for AP credit
Semester 2 12 (48) 15 (30) Sophomore ACG 1
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (60) 15 (45) Sophomore ACG 2 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (72) 15 (60) Junior ACG 2
Summer 2
Semester 5 12 (84) 15 (75) Junior NSG 3
Semester 6 12 (96) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (108) 15 (105) Senior NSG 4
Semester 8 12 (120) 15 (120) Senior NSG 4
Summer 4
Semester 9 4 (124) 15 (135) Senior Pell < half-time

17
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 9: Gabriel

Institution assumes weeks based on credits (DCL GEN-06-18 for 6-7 and 7-8 award years)
• Gabriel starts college with 24 AP credits.
• He attends full-time for 8 semesters and 4 hours in the ninth semester.
• He declares a major in paleontology (CIP code 40.0604) at the beginning of his third semester.

Points illustrated

• AP credit counts toward completion of the credit hours of an academic year; and by assuming weeks of instructional time based on the
credits earned towards the ACG or National SMART Grant eligible program under the interim guidance in the DCL, Gabriel is assumed to
have completed 30 weeks of instructional time.
• In his first term, Gabriel is considered to be in his second academic year for ACG with similar effects on subsequent eligibility.

18
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1
Case Study 9: Gabriel

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 30 wks for AP credit
Semester 2 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Summer 1
Semester 3 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3 Declares major
Semester 4 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Summer 2
Semester 5 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Semester 6 12 (96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Summer 3
Semester 7 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Semester 8 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Summer 4
Semester 9 4 (124) 15 (165) Senior Pell < half-time

19
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 10: Justin

Institutions do an exact accounting (§691.6(a), (b), and (c))

• Justin starts college with 30 AP credits.

• He attends full-time for 2 semesters at Crystal City College and receives an associate degree.
• He transfers to Pentagon City University, which accepts both the AP credits and the 30 credits earned at CCC.
• He declares a major in toxicology (CIP code 26.1004) at the beginning of his enrollment at PCU.

Points illustrated

• AP credit counts toward completion of the credit hours of an academic year, but, since AP credit is not earned as part of attending an ACG
or National SMART Grant eligible program, it does not have weeks of instructional time associated with the credits.
• Because PCU is aware that 30 credits are AP credits, the institution considers Justin to be in his second academic year when he starts.

20
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 10: Justin

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 15 (45) 15 Sophomore ACG 1
Semester 2 15 (60) 15 (30) Sophomore ACG 1
---------------------------------------------------------- Transfers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer 1
Semester 3 15 (75) 15 (45) Junior ACG 2 PCU aware of AP
Declares major
Semester 4 15 (90) 15 (60) Junior ACG 2
Summer 2
Semester 5 15 (105) 15 (75) Senior NSG 3
Semester 6 15 (120) 15 (90) Senior NSG 3
Summer 3
Semester 7 4 (124) 15 (105) Senior Pell < half-time

21
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 11: Joe

Institution does an exact accounting; other institution does exact accounting except assumes weeks for transfer and
AP credits (§691.6(a), (b), and (c), Preamble, November 1, 2006 final regulations (transfer credits), and DCL GEN-06-18 (AP credits)

• Joe starts college with 30 AP credits.

• He attends full-time for 2 semesters at Crystal City College and receives an associate degree; CCC does not use DCL and does an exact
accounting.
• He transfers to Pentagon City University, which accepts both the AP credits and the 30 credits earned at CCC.
• He declares a major in range science and management (CIP code 01.1106) at the beginning of his enrollment at PCU.

Points illustrated

• AP credits count toward completion of the credit hours of an academic year, but, since AP credit is not earned as part of attending an ACG
or National SMART Grant eligible program, it does not have weeks of instructional time associated with the credits at CCC.
• Even though PCU is aware that 30 credits are AP credits, under assumptions using DCL guidance, the AP credits are considered to have
weeks of instructional time at PCU and Joe is in his third academic year when he starts at PCU. Based on the 60 transfer and AP credits,
PCU assumes Joe started with 75 weeks of instructional time (60 [credits transferred/AP] * 30 [weeks in ac yr]) / 24 [credits in ac yr] =
75).

22
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 11: Joe

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 15 (45) 15 Sophomore ACG 1 Exact accounting; no
wks with AP credits
Semester 2 15 (60) 15 (30) Sophomore ACG 1
---------------------------------------------------------- Transfers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer 1
Semester 3 15 (75) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3 -PCU aware of AP
and assumes weeks
for AP and transfer
credits
-Declares major
Semester 4 15 (90) 15 (105) Junior NSG4
Summer 2
Semester 5 15 (105) 15 (120) Senior NSG 4
Semester 6 15 (120) 15 (1135) Senior
Summer 3
Semester 7 4 (124) 15 (1150) Senior Pell < half-time

23
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 12: Pat

Institutions do an exact accounting; second institution assumes weeks for transfer credits (§691.6(a), (b), (c) and Preamble,
November 1, 2006 final regulations (transfer credits))

• Pat starts college with 30 AP credits.

• She attends full-time for 2 semesters at Crystal City College and receives an associate degree.
• She transfers to Pentagon City University, which accepts the 60 credits earned at CCC.
• She declares a major in artificial intelligence and robotics (CIP code 11.0102) at the beginning of her enrollment at PCU.

Points illustrated

• Because PCU is not aware that 30 credits are AP credits, the institution considers Pat to be in her third academic year when she starts
based on credits accepted on transfer under the November 1, 2006 Preamble guidance. Based on the 60 transfer credits, PCU assumes Pat
started with 75 weeks of instructional time (60 [credits transferred/AP] * 30 [weeks in ac yr]) / 24 [credits in ac yr] = 75).

24
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression
Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7 and 2007-8 for programs that qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 12: Pat

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Semester 1 15 (45) 15 Sophomore ACG 1 Exact accounting; no
wks with AP credits
Semester 2 15 (60) 15 (30) Sophomore ACG 1
---------------------------------------------------------- Transfers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer 1
Semester 3 15 (75) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3 PCU not aware of AP*
Declares major
Semester 4 15 (90) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Summer 2
Semester 5 15 (105) 15 (120) Senior NSG 4
Semester 6 15 (120) 15 (135) Senior
Summer 3
Semester 7 4 (124) 15 (150) Senior Pell < half-time

*Potential issue: NSLDS shows ACG 1 in prior year at CCC.

25
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1

Assumptions for case study 13

• Students enroll in a 124-semester-hour bachelor’s degree program with an academic year of 24 semester hours and 30 weeks of
instructional time.
• The educational program has nonstandard terms of 10 weeks of instructional time and full-time is 8 semester hours ((24*10)/30 = 8).
• A student is considered to advance in grade level based on earning 30 semester hours.
• Students meet all student eligibility requirements for any term apart from academic year progression.
• Case study charts show the credit hours and weeks of instructional time completed in each term plus the total accumulated by the end of
the term in parentheses.
Chart for identifying academic years
The following chart provides a look-up table for determining the academic year of a student based on the weeks of instructional time and semester
hours completed. For example, a student who has completed 30 weeks of instructional time and 24 credits but not completed either 60 credits or
48 credits, would be in his or her second academic year, while another student who has completed 120 weeks of instructional time and 96 credits
is no longer eligible due to being beyond his or her fourth academic year except as provided in Dear Colleague letter GEN-06-18. Under DCL
GEN-06-18, for the 2006-7 and 2007-8 award years, the student’s fourth year of eligibility is considered to extend until the student completes his
or her degree program to the extent the student has remaining eligibility from a fourth-year award.

Academic Year Progression

Weeks of Instructional Time and Semester-Hour Credits

Element
30 but <60
60 but <90
90 but <120
<30 weeks*
Completed weeks* weeks* weeks*

<24*
AY 1 AY 1 AY 1 AY 1
credits

24 but <48*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 2 AY 2
credits

48 but <72*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 3
credits

72 but <96*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 4
credits
* Note that if a student meets or exceeds the maximum in one measure but not the other, the
student has not progressed to the next academic year until both measures are met or exceeded.

26
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1
Case Study 13: Sophia

Institution does an exact accounting except transfer credits (§691.6(a), (b), and (c); Preamble, November 1, 2006 final regulations
(71 FR 64404-64405))

• Sophia transfers in 24 credits from a prior institution and received half of an ACG first-year Scheduled Award.
• She attends full-time except for terms 2, 3, 4, and 12.
• She declares a major in environmental biology (CIP code 26.1305) at the beginning of her fifth term.

Points illustrated

• The institution assumes weeks of instructional time based on credits accepted on transfer. Therefore, Sophia is considered to be in her
second academic year for ACG in her first semester because the 24 credits accepted on transfer also equate to having completed 30 weeks
of instructional time.
• The institution must do an exact accounting of her academic year progression at the institution; the provisions for assuming weeks of
instructional time in §691.6(d) and DCL GEN-06-18 do not apply. The GPA for second-year eligibility must be based on the grades of the
credits accepted on transfer.
• The receipt of the ACG first-year award is not relevant to determining her academic year at her new institution. If she had received a
portion of a second-year award but the institution accepted less than 24 credits on transfer, the institution would be required to consider her
a second-year student. The GPA would be based on the credits accepted on transfer or, if doing an exact accounting across attendance at
all institutions, the GPA for the coursework completed in the first-year at the prior institution.
• Sophia only receives one-third of her second-year ACG in her initial term since she attends as a less-than-full-time student for the rest of
her second academic year and is not eligible.

27
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1
Case Study 13: Sophia

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Term 1 10 (34) 10 (40) Freshman ACG 2 Assume 30 wks for
transferred credits
Term 2 5 (39) 10 (50) Sophomore <full-time, not
eligible
Term 3 5 (44) 10 (60) Sophomore <full-time, not
eligible
Term 4 5 (49) 10 (70) Sophomore <full-time, not
eligible
Term 5 10 (59) 10 (80) Sophomore NSG 3 Declares major
Term 6 10 (69) 10 (90) Sophomore NSG 3
Term 7 10 (79) 10 (100) Junior NSG 3
Term 8 10 (89) 10 (110) Junior NSG 4
Term 9 10 (99) 10 (120) Junior NSG 4
Term 10 10 (109) 10 (130) Senior NSG 4
Term 11 10 (119) 10 (140) Senior
Term 12 5 (124) 10 (150) Senior

28
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1

Assumptions for case study 14

• Students enroll in a 124-semester-hour bachelor’s degree program with an academic year of 24 semester hours and 30 weeks of
instructional time.
• The educational program is a nonterm program with payment periods of 12 semester hours and 15 weeks of instructional time.
• A student is considered to advance in grade level based on earning 30 semester hours.
• Students meet all student eligibility requirements for any term apart from academic year progression.
• Case study charts show the credit hours and weeks of instructional time completed in each term plus the total accumulated by the end of
the term in parentheses.
Chart for identifying academic years
The following chart provides a look-up table for determining the academic year of a student based on the weeks of instructional time and semester
hours completed. For example, a student who has completed 30 weeks of instructional time and 24 credits but not completed either 60 credits or
48 credits, would be in his or her second academic year, while another student who has completed 120 weeks of instructional time and 96 credits
is no longer eligible due to being beyond his or her fourth academic year except as provided in Dear Colleague letter GEN-06-18. Under DCL
GEN-06-18, for the 2006-7 and 2007-8 award years, the student’s fourth year of eligibility is considered to extend until the student completes his
or her degree program to the extent the student has remaining eligibility from a fourth-year award.

Academic Year Progression

Weeks of Instructional Time and Semester-Hour Credits

Element
30 but <60
60 but <90
90 but <120
<30 weeks*
Completed weeks* weeks* weeks*

<24*
AY 1 AY 1 AY 1 AY 1
credits

24 but <48*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 2 AY 2
credits

48 but <72*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 3
credits

72 but <96*

AY 1 AY 2 AY 3 AY 4
credits
* Note that if a student meets or exceeds the maximum in one measure but not the other, the
student has not progressed to the next academic year until both measures are met or exceeded.

29
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1
Case Study 14: Jackie

Institution does an exact accounting except transfer credits (§691.6(a), (b), and (c); Preamble, November 1, 2006 final regulations
(71 FR 64404-64405))

• Jackie transfers in 12 semester hours and has received a first-year ACG award for attending a full academic year at the prior institution.
• She attends full-time except for terms 10.
• She declares a major in computer systems analysis (CIP code 11.0501) at the beginning of her fifth term.

Points illustrated

• The institution assumes weeks of instructional time based on credits accepted on transfer. Therefore, upon enrollment Jackie is considered
to be in her first academic year for ACG based on the 12 credits accepted on transfer and the attributed 15 weeks of instructional time. In
fact, if the institution did an exact accounting of attendance at all institutions, she would be a second-year student and her GPA would be
based on the grades of the 12 transferred credits.
• The institution must do an exact accounting of her academic year progression at the institution; the provisions for assuming weeks of
instructional time in §691.6(d) and DCL GEN-06-18 do not apply.

30
Appendix A: CASE STUDIES: ACG/NSG academic year progression Requirements and Guidance for 2006-7
and 2007-8 for programs that do not qualify to use Formula 1

Case Study 14: Jackie

Term Hours Weeks of i.t. Grade level Grants Notes

(cumulative) (cumulative)
Payment period 1 12 (24) 15 (30) Freshman Assume 15 wks for
transferred credits; no
remaining first year
eligibility
Payment period 2 12 (36) 15 (45) Freshman ACG 2 Declares major
Payment period 3 12 (48) 15 (60) Sophomore ACG 2
Payment period 4 12 (60) 15 (75) Sophomore NSG 3
Payment period 5 12 (72) 15 (90) Junior NSG 3
Payment period 6 12 (84) 15 (105) Junior NSG 4
Payment period 7 12(96) 15 (120) Junior NSG 4
Payment period 8 12 (108) 15 (135) Senior
Payment period 9 12 (120) 15 (150) Senior
Payment period 10 4 (124) 5 (155) Senior

31