Enrollment Status for Financial Aid Eligibility and Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to remain eligible for financial aid, Quincy University students must adhere to the following standards. These requirements include a minimum cumulative grade point average, minimum pace at which a student must progress through their educational program to ensure that the student will complete the program within the maximum time frame, and completing the degree within a specified time limit.
Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be notified by letter and email of the SAP status. Those communications will provide an explanation of which measurement(s) are below accepted standards. Additionally, both communications will provide instructions for appealing eligibility for Title IV financial aid and the documentation required for such consideration. Appeals are reviewed by a committee of faculty, academic staff, and a member of the Student Financial Services staff. Decisions of the committee are considered final. See below for further explanation.
Quantitative Measurement (Cumulative Grade Point Average)
A minimum cumulative grade point average, consistent with good standing, must be maintained. Undergraduate students that have attended for two years (four semesters) must have a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average. Undergraduate students that have not yet completed four semesters must meet a graduate cumulative grade point average stander of 1.50 after their first semester, 1.60 after their second semester, 1.70 after their third semester. Graduate students, regardless of length of attendance, must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least minimum 3.0.
Withdraws, repeated classes previously passed, and incompletes are not counted in the GPA calculation in determining the qualitative measurement of satisfactory academic progress.
Academic standing at Quincy University is based on the student’s cumulative grade point average in residence. Academic standing for transfer students will be based on the number of credit hours the student has been enrolled in at all colleges/universities the student has attended.
Quantitative Measurement (Pace of Progression)
Pace is defined as the rate at which a student must progress through their educational program to ensure that the student will complete the program within the maximum time frame. Pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours a student has completed by the cumulative number of hours attempted. Students, regardless of educational program, must successfully complete 75% of cumulative credit hours attempted by earning a pass or a grade of D or higher. Withdraws, repeated classes previously passed, and incompletes will not be counted as credit hours earned, but will be counted as hours attempted. Credit hours from another institution that are accepted towards a student’s educational program will count as both attempted and completed hours.
Students not completing 24 credit hours during an academic year due to a grade of incomplete (IN) should notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as the course is successfully completed with a passing grade. The Registrar’s Office will notify Financial Aid when there is a change of grade.
Maximum Time Frame
Students may attempt no more than 150% of the credit hours required for their degree program and retain financial aid eligibility. For example, a student in a 120-hour bachelor’s program could attempt no more than 186 hours and remain eligible for aid. Students in a 30-hour master’s program have a limit of 45 attempted hours. Transfer credits accepted by the Office of the Registrar are counted as both attempted and earned hours. Courses with incompletes, withdrawals and/or grades of “F” are included as attempted hours. Hours are counted for all terms, even those for which a student did not receive financial aid as well as those usually waived under academic amnesty policies such as the New Start Policy. Undergraduate students in programs requiring more than 120 credit hours may appeal for an extension of their aid eligibility if necessary.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Definitions
Beginning July 1, 2011, institutions administrating Title IV, HEA program funds will use standardized terminology. The following definitions apply to terms used in monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):
Financial Aid Warning – A status assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress at an institution that evaluates academic progress at the end of each payment period.
Appeal – A process by which a student who is not meeting the school’s standards is allowed to petition the institution for reconsideration of the student’s eligibility for Title IV funds.
Financial Aid Probation – A status assigned by an institution to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and who appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated.
Monitoring
- Frequency of Evaluation – Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of every payment period. The payment period is the summer term, fall semester, and spring semester for undergraduate students. Summer will count as any other payment period.
- Financial Aid Warning -Students will be granted Financial Aid Warning automatically, without a written appeal from the student. A student on Financial Aid Warning may continue to receive Title IV aid for one payment period despite a determination that the student is not meeting SAP standards.
Students must make SAP after Financial Aid Warning or their aid eligibility will be terminated. Students have the option to appeal their aid termination and if approved will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students that do not receive appeal approval will not be eligible to receive financial aid until the SAP requirements are met. - Financial Aid Appeal – Appeals are student initiated. A student may appeal for Financial Aid Probation based on mitigating circumstances, such as death of a relative, injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. Appeals must be in writing to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee and delivered to the Office of Student Financial Services. Appeals forms may be obtained from Student Financial Services.
- The student’s appeal must include:
- Why the student failed to make SAP
- What has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation
- Students are encouraged to include supporting documentation
- The student’s appeal must include:
- A student approved for Financial Aid Probation may receive Title IV program funds for one payment period. While a student is on financial aid probation, the institution may require the student to fulfill specific terms and conditions such as taking a reduced course load or enrolling in specific courses.
- Eligibility will be reinstated if the student is meeting SAP standards following the Financial Aid Probation period or it is determined that the student met the requirements specified by the institution in the student’s academic plan developed during the appeal process. If the student fails to meet these requirements, the student will be placed on termination status, ending aid eligibility.
- Students placed on academic suspension will automatically be placed on financial aid termination. Students that successfully appeal academic suspension must also appeal financial aid termination status.
- To have aid eligibility reinstated after it has been terminated, the student must achieve SAP for one regular academic term at Quincy University and make payment from personal funds. The student must have the cumulative grade point average specified under Qualitative Measurement Standards and meet pace requirements that would ensure that the student would complete the program within the maximum time frame. At the conclusion of that term, the student may petition the Financial Aid Appeal Committee for reinstatement of aid eligibility.