Financial Aid Policies: Satisfactory Academic Progress

A copy of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available to download. Any student denied financial aid for lack of progress has the right to appeal. Download the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form at http://www.fau.edu/finaid/forms.php, under "Appeal Forms" or contact the Financial Aid Office for the appropriate form.

Federal regulations require students to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress toward a degree in order to be eligible to receive financial assistance under Title IV Programs. Academic progress for financial aid applicants will be reviewed at the time the student's application is processed and will be based on cumulative institutional progress at the end of the student's most recently completed term, regardless of whether the student has previously received financial aid. Students receiving financial aid must comply with the conditions listed below.

QUALITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS
1.	Undergraduate Students:
	a.	Freshmen/ Sophomores: Students must meet the
		minimum grade point average requirements (GPA >= 2.000) for the warning and probation policies in the FAU Catalog.

	b.	Juniors/Seniors/Second Bachelor's: Students must
		maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all FAU coursework attempted.

2.	Graduate Students:
	Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all FAU coursework attempted or meet the academic standards required by their department for continued enrollment, whichever is higher.

QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS
All students must meet the quantitative standard of earning a minimum of 70% of the total cumulative credits attempted at FAU

TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETING DEGREE
Time Frame represents the maximum number of FAU attempted credits for which the student may receive financial aid funding. For each student, whether graduate or undergraduate, Time Frame is computed individually according to the following formula:
(Published Program Length) x 150%

Up to 179 credits maximum for an undergraduate student. Up to a maximum of 44 credits for a student seeking a second Bachelors degree.

a.	Students will be ineligible to receive financial aid funding for
	credits attempted beyond the Time Frame maximum.
b.	Time Frame for Masters and Doctoral students will be
	established on an individual basis depending on their degree requirement.

Incomplete/Repeated Courses Students who receive an Incomplete ("I") grade or who repeat courses will be ineligible to receive aid beyond the time frame for completion of a degree regardless of whether they have completed the necessary course requirements for the degree.
Failed Courses Students who receive a failing grade ("F") in all of their courses will be required to submit documentation that they attended classes or be subject to repayment of their financial aid.
CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE TO MEET STANDARDS
1.	Failure to meet Qualitative Measure
	Students who fail to meet the qualitative standards of progress will be automatically ineligible to receive financial aid until they raise their cumulative GPA for all FAU attempted coursework to the minimum requirement.
2.	Failure to meet Quantitative Measure
	a. Probation: Students who do not meet the quantitative measures of progress specified above may receive financial aid on probation for one academic year. b. Suspension: Students who fail to complete the quantitative standards of progress after their probationary term will be ineligible to receive aid until they are meeting the minimum requirement of 70% of the total cumulative credits attempted at FAU.
3.	Failure to earn degree within Time Frame
	Students who fail to earn their degree within the published time frame criteria will be ineligible to receive financial aid.
APPEAL AND REINSTATEMENT POLICY
1.	Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress
	policy out-lined above may appeal to have their aid reinstated by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to the Office of Student Financial Aid along with any supporting documentation of extenuating circumstances. Common circumstances reviewed include:
	* Death of a relative * Personal injury or illness * Physical disability * Academic Petitions Committee actions * Documentation that standards are now being met * Documentation to revise established time frame * First semester at FAU * Other extraordinary circumstances
2.	Notification of action taken by the Office of Student Financial
	Aid will be made by mail or email within 20 days of the request.
3.	Financial Aid will be awarded at the time of reinstatement
	provided funds are still available for the current academic year. All costs of attendance incurred during the period of time in which a student is suspended are the sole responsibility of the student.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES
Withdrawals Students who withdraw from school while receiving financial aid will be subject to a Return of Title IV Funds calculation in accordance with Section 484B of the U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Act. As a result of this calculation, the student may have to repay a portion of the financial aid funds they have received. In addition, withdrawals may affect the quantitative measure of progress.

Last Modified - 10/08/09 09:41:52