UNF Faculty Association

Information Item # 3: Submitted by the Academic Standards Committee


Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The Academics Standards Committee provides the following changes to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy mandated by the Federal Government:.

	OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE
	To provide information concerning the policy utilized by the UNF Office of Enrollment Services Processing - Financial Aid in administering the federally required Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic policy.

	POLICY
	The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires institutions of higher education to establish and apply standards of academic progress that all students must meet to qualify and remain eligible for assistance from the Title IV student financial aid programs. Therefore, to be eligible to continue to receive financial aid, students must maintain specified grade point averages and proceed through the program at a pace leading to completion within a specified time frame. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress will be measured at the end of each semester.

	Completion Rates Standards
	Students are required to complete a minimum of 67% of the hours they attempt each semester. Successful completion is defined as earning the hours attempted each term. In accordance with federal requirements, incompletes, withdrawals and transfer credits accepted by UNF count as hours attempted.
	Example: An undergraduate student who attempts 12 hours must complete 8 hours. A graduate student who attempts 9 hours must complete 6 hours

	Grade Point Average Standards
	Undergraduate and Post Baccalaureate students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0 each semester.
	Graduate students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 each semester.

	Maximum Time Frame Standards
	Student eligibility for financial aid ends when the following number of hours has been exceeded:
	Undergraduate Students - Exceed 180 credit hours Graduate Students – 150% of credit hours needed for program of study
	Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid
	When a student fails to meet any of the standards outlined for a semester, the student will be placed on:
	Financial Aid Warning – Allowed to continue to receive financial aid
	If standards are not met the following semester, the student will be placed on:
	Financial Aid Suspension – Ineligible for financial aid (pending appeal)
	Policy and Procedures for Student Appeals
	If a student is placed on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension, the student may appeal this decision by completing and submitting the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form and supporting documentation. The student will be advised in writing of the decision.

	Appeals
	Appeals must be submitted to Financial Aid Processing within three weeks of the date of the written notification of unsatisfactory progress. Exceptions to the submission deadline may be granted for extenuating, documented circumstances beyond the student’s control. It is the responsibility of the student to decide when an appeal is appropriate and to initiate an appeal before the specified deadline.
	If the appeal is denied by Financial Aid Processing, the student has the option to appeal to the Enrollment Services Appeals Committee.

	The following steps are required when submitting an appeal:
	1.	Obtain the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form;
	2.	Clearly state the circumstances that affected academic performance;
	3.	Provide written documentation of any special circumstances;
	4.	Attach supporting documentation that validates the statements;
	5.	Identify the steps the student has taken to ensure that s/he will not fall below satisfactory academic progress standards in the future;
	6.	For students who have exceeded the maximum time frame requirement, a Special Graduation Contract signed by the student and the academic advisor must be attached to the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form;
	7.	Sign, date, and submit the appeal and supporting documentation.

	Some examples of acceptable reasons that must be validated include but are not limited to:
	1.	A student’s serious illness or accident that must be documented from a medical or mental health professional;
	2.	Death in the student’s family that must be documented by providing a copy of the death certificate or obituary;
	3.	Other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the student that caused the student to fall below the satisfactory progress standards.

	Re-establishing Eligibility Without Appeal
	If the student chooses not to appeal or an appeal is unsuccessful for Grade Point Average or credit hours earned, the student may re-establish eligibility by taking coursework and earning the appropriate GPA or number of hours.

	Eligibility may not be re-established without an appeal when Maximum Time Frame Standards are violated.