Applying for Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress

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 2008-09 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 Forms Online Web site.  Please select the Appeal Request for Satisfactory Academic Progress form.

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:

For Undergraduate Students:
      
         Student has earned at least 24 hours during the most recently completed academic year    
OR    Student has earned at least 12 hours during the most recently completed semester             
OR    Student has earned at least 9 hours during the summer prior to the award year in question
 

For Graduate Students:
  
         Student has earned at least 15 hours during the most recently completed academic year      
OR    Student has earned at least 6 hours during the most recently completed semester                
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

3. 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 Forms Online Web site. Please select the Appeal Request for Satisfactory Academic Progress form.  Appeals should be submitted along with written explanation and documentation of the circumstances in order to be reviewed.