Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

The Higher Education Act and state governments requires that in order to received any Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) and State Student Incentive Grant), a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. The satisfactory academic progress applies to all terms regardless of whether financial aid is received.

A student pursuing an undergraduate degree at Virginia Union University (which requires at least 120 credit hours for completion) may register for a maximum of 165 credit hours (excluding repeated courses) during his/her tenure at the University. Full time students are expected to enroll in twelve (12) hours or more each semester. A full time undergraduate student will be allowed five (5) years to complete a four (4) year program. Students who enroll in Spring (January) will be evaluated at one (1) year intervals (Spring/Fall).

Part-time students are expected to enroll in six (6) credit hours or more each semester to be eligible for consideration for federal aid. If a part-time student is enrolled in less than six (6) credit hours, he/she may not be eligible for consideration for federal aid. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office.

At the end of each academic year [consisting of two (2) semesters], the student must meet the standard below:

All students are required to meet both cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and cumulative hours earned to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress for financial aid. A review will be made at the end of each year [2 semesters (either fall to spring or spring to fall)] to determine if the student meets the above criteria.

Failure to meet one of the minimum standards outlined above will place the student on financial aid probation. A student on financial aid probation may receive financial aid for one academic year. However, if a student is suspended or expelled from the University for academic reasons, the student will not be eligible for federal aid until the minimum standards are met.

DECLARATION OF MAJOR

Virginia Union University requires that all students declare a major by the time they have earned a minimum of 36 credit hours or more toward a degree to be eligible for federal financial aid.

RE-ESTABLISHING SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Any student whose financial aid has been terminated may reestablish satisfactory progress by any of the following methods:

• Taking courses during the Summer Session
• Repeating failed courses
• Removing incomplete grades

Cumulative grade point average can only be increased by attendance at Virginia Union University.

WITHDRAWALS (W GRADES), which are recorded on the student’s transcript, will be included as credits attempted and will have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students who officially withdraw from the University must make up the deficit hours and are encouraged to attend Summer School at Virginia Union University to remove the deficient hours.
The successful completion of a course is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, B, C, or D. Courses with grades of F, I, and W will not qualify in meeting the minimum standard.

REPEATED COURSES will be counted as hours completed only once, provided the student meets all other criteria for satisfactory academic progress.

CHANGE OF MAJOR – A student may change from one major to another during attendance at the University. Students who change from one major to another are still expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete the course work within the time frame or hours limitation stated unless an appeal is approved.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Summer School will be based on the student’s current eligibility status. Students who are suspended from financial aid must attend Summer School at Virginia Union University to remove their academic deficiencies. Financial aid, for summer school, is not available to students not maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Evaluation of financial aid for Summer School is not an automatic process; therefore, students should contact the Financial Aid Office.

CLASS LOAD

The number of hours in which a student is enrolled on the day following the published last day to add or drop a class or the University’s census date whichever is later will be used as the official enrollment date for financial aid purposes. Full-time status is 12 hours or more.

TRANSFER STUDENTS will be evaluated on the number of semester hours earned and the grade point average while in attendance at Virginia Union University.

In order to be considered for financial aid eligibility, ACADEMICALLY SUSPENDED STUDENTS who return to the University must attend two semesters and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress outline based on the number of semesters enrolled.

INCOMPLETE GRADES – FINANCIAL AID

A student who has incomplete grades must remove them within sixty (60) days of enrollment (i.e., If classes start on August 15, grade must be in Registrar’s Office by October 15.) to be considered for financial aid eligibility for the year.

NON-MATRICULATING STUDENTS are not eligible for federal and state aid.

FINANCIAL AID APPEAL PROCESS

Waivers for satisfactory academic progress will be considered if the student has suffered undue hardship such as death of an immediate family member, injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances as determined by the financial aid administrator of designee. Students requesting an appeal must submit a letter requesting reinstatement to the Financial Aid Office explaining the circumstances which affected the student’s academic performance.

All appeals should be addressed to the Director of Student Financial Aid and on file in that office thirty (30) days before the first day of classes for the semester. All appeals will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The student will be notified in writing of the financial aid administrator or designee’s decision within thirty (30) working days of the request.

If the request is approved, the student must –

1. Schedule an appointment with the Advisor in their major to discuss his/her academic situation and submit certification of attendance to the Financial Aid Office.
2. Schedule two (2) counseling sessions with his/her academic advisor before the semester ends and submit certification on attendance to the Financial Aid Office. Dates of submission for the fall semester will be October 1 and December 1. Dates of submission for the spring semester will be February 15 and April 1.

Students who disagree with the financial aid administrator’s decision may request an appeal before the Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The Financial Aid Appeals committee will consist of a Financial Aid Representative, the Registrar, and an Academic Representative.

Revised
7/2/2007