It's more than grades
All colleges and universities must measure
students’ progress toward graduation to participate in the
Federal Title IV programs of financial assistance. These
programs include Pell Grant, Supplemental Education Opportunity
Grant, Work-Study, Perkins, Direct and PLUS Loans.
In order for a student to receive
federal financial aid, federal law requires that each student
make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or
certificate. It is important to know that this requirement does
not relate only to grades. All students receiving financial aid
must earn enough hours each semester to make progress toward
earning a degree in a reasonable length of time.
The Basic Policy
Academic progress for financial aid is measured once each year
at the end of the spring semester and must be measured from both
a qualitative and a quantitative standpoint.
Qualitative
measurement refers to a student’s grade point average.
Quantitative
refers to the number of hours earned over a period of time.
Types of Measurement
Qualitative Measurement
Winthrop’s qualitative measure is listed as
“Academic Eligibility Schedule” in the
2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
on page 31. If a student is eligible to continue enrollment at
Winthrop, he or she will be deemed to have made satisfactory
academic progress if the quantitative requirement is also met.
Quantitative
Measurement
The
quantitative measurement is divided into two parts:
1.
Total hours attempted
2.
Percentage of hours earned
First,
total hours attempted, which cannot exceed more than 186
semester hours for a first baccalaureate degree, must include
hours attempted at Winthrop plus hours accepted for transfer
from other institutions.
Example: Calculation
of Total Hours Attempted
Total hours attempted at Winthrop = 98
Plus hours accepted for transfer = 12
Total hours attempted that apply toward academic progress = 110
 Note:
If total hours exceed 186, an appeal can be completed if the
excess hours are due to being admitted to a second degree
program or changing majors during enrollment which created
additional hour requirements beyond the 186. Complete the appeal
form and include an estimate of additional hours needed for
graduation and an anticipated graduation date approved by the
academic department or advisor. Appeal forms can be downloaded
from the
financial aid Web site at
www.winthrop.edu/finaid. Click “Forms online”, and then
select Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal.
Second,
percentage of hours earned
is determined by subtracting all transfer hours from the total
hours attempted and earned. All credit hours for which either a
letter grade, an incomplete (I), or a withdrawal (W) has been
assigned by Winthrop must be counted. The number of Winthrop
hours earned is then divided by the number of Winthrop hours
attempted. The result must equal or exceed 2/3 or .6667.
Example: Calculation
of Percentage of Hours Earned
Total hours attempted at Winthrop = 98
Total hours earned at Winthrop = 60
Percentage of hours earned = .61224
In
this example the student does not meet the minimum two-thirds
earned hours.
Probationary Status to Receive Aid
A student will be classified as
probationary status (warning that financial aid is in jeopardy) and will be eligible
for financial aid if one of the following conditions is met:
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For Undergraduate Students: |
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Student has earned at least 24 hours during the most
recently completed academic year |
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OR |
Student has earned at least 12 hours during the most
recently completed semester |
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OR |
Student has earned at least 9 hours during the
summer prior to the award year in question |
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For Graduate Students: |
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Student has earned at least 15 hours during the most
recently completed academic year |
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OR |
Student has earned at least 6 hours during the most
recently completed semester |
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OR |
Student has earned at least 6 hours during the
summer prior to the award year in question |
Notification
of Students
Progress is measured once each year at the end of spring
semester. Soon after the posting of
spring grades, the students who do not meet the two-thirds
progress standard and do not meet at least one of the criteria
listed above will be mailed a letter notifying them they are
ineligible for financial aid for subsequent semesters until
satisfactory progress has been achieved.
Regaining
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Can Financial Aid Be Reinstated?
If
a student is not eligible to receive financial aid because of
lack of satisfactory progress, he or she may regain eligibility
for aid in one of three ways:
1.
Earn enough semester hours without financial aid in the
summer term immediately following the academic year in which the
failure of satisfactory progress occurred. Upon completion of
the required hours, the student will then be placed on
probationary status for the upcoming academic year.
• Nine (9) hours for undergraduate student
• Six (6) hours for graduate student
2.
Earn enough semester hours in a subsequent semester without
financial aid (not the immediately following summer
semester). Upon completion of the required hours, the student
will then be placed on probationary status for the upcoming
academic year.
• Twelve (12) hours undergraduate student
• Nine (9) hours graduate student
Complete an appeal if undue difficulties such as personal
illness, a death in the immediate family, or similar unusual
circumstances contributed to the inability to maintain
satisfactory academic progress Appeal forms can be downloaded
from the
financial aid
Web site at
www.winthrop.edu/finaid. Click
“Forms online”, and then select Satisfactory Academic
Progress Appeal. Appeals
should be submitted along with written explanation and
documentation of the circumstances in order to be reviewed.
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