Graduate Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Policy
Sponsor: |
School for Graduate Studies |
|---|---|
Contact: |
Graduate Student and Academic Services |
Category: |
Graduate Studies |
Number: |
800. |
Effective Date: |
09/03/2020 |
Implementation History: |
|
Keywords: |
Financial Aid, Satisfactory Academic Policy |
Background Information: |
Purpose
Academic conditions under which a graduate student may remain eligible for financial aid.
Definitions
Statements
This policy statement describes the academic conditions under which a graduate student is eligible for financial aid.
A student is expected to complete courses, accumulate credit in proportion to the credit attempted (i.e. meet academic progress expectations), and meet the grade point average (GPA) requirement to make progress toward a degree/certificate.
Sometimes a student makes less academic progress than expected. When this occurs, the college notifies the student with a satisfactory progress or GPA warning or dismissal.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Determination
1. A student is making good satisfactory academic progress when s/he maintains a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 and consistently earns credit toward the degree or certificate sought, which is defined as successfully completing 67% of attempted credits.
2. Academic progress is monitored at the end of each term.
3. Academic progress is cumulative across graduate programs at the college.
4. Completion of prerequisite/deficiency requirements for admission to a master's program does not count toward the credit required to earn a master's degree. Therefore, these credits do not count toward meeting satisfactory academic progress expectations.
5. Academic progress advances only when a student earns credit toward the degree or certificate sought. A student earns no graduate-level credit and makes no progress academically when the student receives any of the following grades for a graduate course:
• Incomplete (IN)
• F
• No Pass (NP)
• Administrative Withdrawal (ZW)
• Withdrawal (WD)
These grades count in the determination of credits attempted, and thus affect the calculation of the student's cumulative rate of progress and GPA.
Financial Aid Warning
A student is placed on financial aid warning after the student earns credit for less than 67% of the student's attempted credits, or falls below the minimum required 3.0 GPA.
Rescinding a Financial Aid Warning
A financial aid warning is in effect for one term until it is rescinded or financial aid eligibility is lost. A financial aid warning is rescinded when the student's progress rate or GPA returns to a satisfactory level.
Financial Aid Suspension
1. A student loses their financial aid eligibility when after one subsequent term of enrollment after being placed on financial aid warning, the student's progress rate or GPA does not return to a satisfactory level.
2. A student who has lost financial aid eligibility may continue to take coursework without financial aid as long as s/he maintains satisfactory academic standing
Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension
A student may appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility by submitting a written appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Appeals are granted at the discretion of the dean, or designee, of the student's school and the Financial Aid Office. If approved, the Financial Aid Office, in conference with an appropriate representative of the student's school, will grant a specific number of terms by which a student must return to good satisfactory academic progress or the required minimum GPA, detailed in an individualized Academic Plan or Probation Agreement. If the student meets the terms of the Academic Plan or Probation Agreement signed upon approval of the appeal and thus returns to the minimum 67% successful completion rate or 3.0 cumulative GPA by the end of the designated number of terms, the student restores his/her good satisfactory academic progress. If the student does not meet the terms, the student will once again lose financial aid eligibility.
A student who has lost financial aid eligibility for a second time is not eligible to receive financial aid for graduate study at SUNY Empire State College in the future.
Appeals
An explanation of the appeals process is in the Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures
Applicable Legislation and Regulations
N/A
Related References, Policies, Procedures, Forms and Appendices
Graduate Evaluation and Grading Policy, Graduate Academic Standing Policy, financial aid policies
Appendix A
Policy Sponsor School for Graduate Studies and School of Nursing and Allied Heath
Policy Contact Graduate Student and Academic Services
Policy Category Graduate Studies
Policy Number 310.007
Review/Effective Date 2022
Implementation History First approved in September 1993 and updated in May 2003, June 2011, & July 2012. Split into separate Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies in 2019. Updated as of Sept. 2020.
Key words: Graduate, satisfactory, academic, progress, warning, dismissal, reinstatement, financial aid