Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that students receiving federal aid make satisfactory academic progress. Title IV federal programs which this affects include: Pell Grant, SEOG, Perkins Loan, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Work Study.
In order to comply with federal guidelines, students must meet the following requirements:
Time Frame: Undergraduate students attending SFU full-time have 10 semesters to do so. Part-time students have 10 full-time, 13 three-quarter time (9-11 credits), 20 halftime (6-8 credits), or 40 less than half-time (1-5 credits) semesters to complete graduation requirements.
“Academic Year” is defined as two consecutive semesters, receiving Title IV aid.
Qualitative Standards: Students must be in good academic standing according to the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog (Please refer to the Academic Policy section). Those students placed on academic probation may continue to receive federal financial aid. Students who have been dismissed may not receive federal aid unless they have submitted a successful appeal to remain enrolled. Dismissed students must demonstrate they have completed necessary credits to regain good academic standing to receive federal aid if readmitted at a later time.
Quantitative Standards: To meet the quantitative standards for renewal of financial assistance, full-time students must successfully complete, with a passing grade, a minimum of 24 credits for each academic year. Part-time students are required to successfully complete 75% of all work attempted to be considered as progressing satisfactorily.
Probationary Status: Students enrolled in baccalaureate and associate degree programs (as well as PA Teacher Certification programs) who are unable to successfully complete the required annual credit limit (by 12 credits or less) will be given a one-time probationary period to establish progress while still receiving their student aid. At the end of the probationary period of one academic year, students must have successfully completed a minimum of 24 credits for full-time students or all attempted credits for part-time students.
Those not making progress will be dropped to unsatisfactory status and denied student aid for any upcoming enrollment periods until a minimum of 12 credits at a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) or higher have been successfully completed without failing, dropping, canceling or withdrawing credits or withdrawing from semester(s).
* In order for a course to be considered in the credit load toward academic progress, the course must be a NON-repeated course, unless the initial grade in that course were an “F” (failed) or “W” (withdrawn), as reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Procedures: The Office of Financial Aid will review all students’ progress annually and notify the students in writing those who did not make satisfactory academic progress.
Students are encouraged to contact the office to discuss the loss of aid and make arrangements to regain good standing. Options include a successful appeal and/or paying for make-up classes.
There is no probationary period for graduate students who are unable to successfully complete the required credits.
Appeal: If students fail to make satisfactory academic progress and feel that such failure is due to unusual circumstances (such as illness), students may send a written appeal to his/her financial aid administrator describing such circumstances and supporting documentation. If the appeal is successful, the student must make satisfactory academic progress during subsequent semesters in addition to any other requirements prescribed by the financial aid office.