Academic Affairs
| Number | Title | Effective Date | Revised Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0460P | Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress | 07/2006 | 01/2009 |
| Responsible Division/Department: Academic Affairs/Enrollment Services - Financial Aid Processing | |||
 New Policy |
Major Revision of Existing Policy |
Minor/Technical Revision of Existing Policy |
 Reaffirmation of Existing Policy |
I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE
To provide information concerning the policy utilized by the UNF Office of Enrollment Services Processing - Financial Aid in administering the federal satisfactory academic policy.
II. STATEMENT OF 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. Satisfactory academic progress will be measured at the end of each semester.
Required Completion Rates:
Students are required to earn a minimum of 67% of the hours they attempt each semester.
Example: An undergraduate student who attempts 12 hours must earn 9 hours. A graduate student who attempts 9 hours must earn 7 hours.
Required Grade Point Average:
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.
Requirement of Maximum Time Frame:
Student eligibility for financial aid ends when the following has been exceeded:
Undergraduate Students - Exceed 180 credit hours
Graduate Students – Exceed 150% of the student’s program of study
Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedures:
When a student fails to meet any of the standards outlined for a specified period, the student will be placed on:
Warning – Allowed to continue to receive financial aid
Probation – Allowed to continue to receive financial aid
Financial Aid Suspension – Ineligible for financial aid (pending appeal)
Policy for Student Appeals:
If a student is ineligible for financial aid based on the satisfactory academic progress requirements, the student may appeal this decision by completing the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form. The student will be advised in writing of the decision. If an appeal is denied at this level, the student may appeal to the Enrollment Services Appeal Committee.
The following steps are required when submitting an appeal:
- Submit the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form;
- Clearly state the circumstances that affected academic performance;
- Provide written documentation of any special circumstances;
- Attach supporting documentation that validates the statements;
- Identify the steps the student has taken to ensure that he/she will not fall below satisfactory academic progress standards in the future;
- For students who have exceeded the maximum time frame requirement, a Special Graduate Contract signed by the student and the academic advisor must be attached to the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form; and
- Sign and date the petition.
Some examples of acceptable reasons that must be validated include but are not limited to:
- A student’s serious illness or accident that must be documented
from a medical or mental health professional; - Death in the student’s family that must be documented by
providing a copy of the death certificate or obituary; and - Other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of
the student that caused the student to fall below the satisfactory
progress standards.
Appeals:
Appeals must be submitted to One Stop Student Services within three weeks of the date of the written notification of unsatisfactory progress. Exceptions to this requirement are made on an individual basis. 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 Enrollment Services Processing, the student has the option to appeal to the Enrollment Services Appeals Committee.