All financial aid recipients are required to maintain a minimum level of academic progress toward their degree in order to continue receiving aid. Students are required to meet both qualitative (GPA) standards as well as quantitative (credits completed) standards in order to maintain eligibility. Grades are measured at the end of each spring semester for these purposes.
Students who fall below these standards may appeal the loss of financial aid or take summer classes to regain eligibility. Regardless of a student's academic standing, financial aid cannot be extended beyond 1 1/2 times the length of their academic program.
Students who failed to meet minimum academic progress standards who were readmitted to the University MUST file a separate financial aid appeal in order to receive aid. Readmission to the University does not constitute a waiver of these standards.
Financial Aid Appeals
The Office of Financial Aid will mail a letter to any student who fails to meet the minimum academic progress standards of the University which will outline the process for regaining eligibility for financial aid. All appeals must be filed in writing and explain the circumstances that caused the loss of aid eligibility as well as a plan to rectify the deficiencies.
A separate, independent review committee will consider the student's individual circumstances and make a decision to uphold the loss of aid or to reinstate the student's eligibility on a probationary basis. Most reinstatements of aid are conditional and include specific requirements for continuation including, but not limited to, completing a specified number of credits, a minimum semester GPA and recommendations to meet with the learning center and/or academic advisor.
If the appeals committee's decision is to reinstate a student's financial aid eligibility, all aid will be awarded normally. If the appeals committee's decision is to uphold the loss of aid eligibility, the student will need to make payment arrangements with the bursar's office.
All financial aid including student loans, parent loans, private loans, grants, scholarships and work-study are subject to meeting the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards of the University.
Scholarship recipients
Students receiving academic scholarships are normally held to a higher standard than that of a regular aid recipient, usually requiring a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better. Because scholarships are awarded to incoming students with strong demonstrated academic talent, it is expected that these high standards be maintained through the four years of undergraduate study. Scholarship awards are NOT awarded or increased upon a student maintaining a higher standard than a 3.0. Scholarship recipients who fail to meet these standards will receive a notice over the summer informing them of the forfeiture of their scholarship along with detailed information on appealing.