Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial Aid Eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress (Policy 2.10)
A. Requirements for Eligibility:
Eligibility for financial aid funding is contingent upon a student maintaining a minimum standard of satisfactory academic progress. The programs affected by these standards are:
- Federal Direct Stafford Loan
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Primary Care Loan
- School of Medicine institutional aid
In order to retain financial aid eligibility, a student must be enrolled a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester in order to be considered full-time status (9 credit hours per semester for half-time status), must maintain a cumulative grade average of “Pass” and must advance one grade level at the end of each academic year.
B. Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility:
The Office of Student Affairs will notify the Office of Student Financial Planning when a student’s satisfactory academic status is in jeopardy. Students in danger of losing financial aid eligibility, with some exceptions, will receive a one-semester financial aid warning. During this time a student may continue to receive financial aid funds; if, at the end of the semester, the student has not achieved the required minimum cumulative grade average of "Pass" the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the subsequent semester. While on financial aid probation, a student may receive financial aid funds. A student who fails to regain satisfactory academic progress by the end of the period of financial aid probation will lose his/her financial aid eligibility.
- Leave of Absence: Students who are granted a leave of absence by the Committee on Students may receive financial aid funds upon their return to the School of Medicine provided the student was maintaining satisfactory academic progress at the time of the leave.
- Academic Probation: A student who is placed on academic probation by the Committee on Students may continue to receive financial aid funds for the period of the probation. If, at the end of the probationary period, the student is not successful in regaining satisfactory academic status the student will lose his/her financial aid eligibility.
- End of Second-Year Review: Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress by the end of their second year will lose financial aid eligibility. If, however, a student remains enrolled at the School of Medicine through the support of personal financial resources, a determination of satisfactory academic progress will be made at the end of the subsequent semester. If a student is successful in achieving the required cumulative grade average of “Pass”, financial aid eligibility may be reinstated for future terms of enrollment.
C. Financial Aid Appeals:
A student who is not meeting the minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress may appeal to the Financial Aid Policy Committee for reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility. Circumstances which may be considered as a basis for an appeal may include family emergency, death in the student’s immediate family, a student’s medical illness or injury, or other undue hardships. Appeals should be submitted in writing and must include relevant documentation. The Financial Aid Policy Committee must receive the written appeal 30-days prior to the start of the academic period for which the financial aid is requested.
To review the School of Medicine's entire policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress, please select "Academic Policies" from the Student Handbook.