Qualitative and Quantitative Measure

Recipients of student financial assistance are required to make satisfactory academic progress toward a specific educational objective or degree. The federal government's Department of Education has mandated that the University of Saint Francis monitor and enforce these standards which are consistent with the educational mission of the university. This policy applies to all students receiving assistance from any financial aid program administered by the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Saint Francis.  This policy is administered separately from the university's academic probation and suspension policy.

The Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Funding are measured both qualitatively and quantitatively. The quantitative measure requires a minimum progressive accumulation of academic credits. Students must successfully earn 67 percent of the credits attempted at University of Saint Francis. The qualitative measure requires maintenance of a specific minimum Grade Point Average as shown below:

 
Note that repeat courses and coursework assigned with grades of "W," "F," and "I," will not be counted as hours earned toward graduation, but will count toward attempted credit hours. Therefore when repeating a course that has been previously passed (grade "D" or above) the course will be counted as attempted hours each time the student enrolls in that same course (with the exception of sports participation credits). These factors should be kept in mind when planning a class schedule. For example, if a student takes REL 100 during fall semester and receives a grade of "D" or above and the student chooses to retake REL 100 during the spring semester, the student will have attempted six credit hours but will earn only three credit hours for the course.

The following table indicates the effect each letter grade has on the credit hours students attempt and the credit hours students earn.

Maximum Allowable Credit Hours for Undergraduate Degree Completion

Undergraduate students may not exceed 150 percent of the maximum published credit hours required for the degree program. The following information indicates the maximum amount of attempted credit hours for which a student may receive financial aid. Transfer credit hours from other institutions are counted toward the maximum credit hours for undergraduate program completion.

All courses in which students receive a grade will be counted toward the duration of eligibility. Grades include but are not limited to F, I, W, WF, WP, A, B, C, D, P. Students exceeding the above stated limit of credit hours will not be eligible to receive financial aid.

Students who change their major or are working on a second degree will have their maximum time frame measured against the classes taken after the point they change their major, plus any classes that count toward the major taken previously.

Enforcement of the Standards

At the end of each academic year (end of spring semester), the Office of Financial Aid will review the student's enrollment records. Students who fail to meet the standards at the end of the academic year will be placed on financial aid probation and notified in writing. Students who are placed on probation will be eligible to receive financial aid during the probationary period.  The probationary period consists of the following two semesters after students have been informed of their probationary status.  The probationary period is intended for students to improve their academic progress.  Summer sessions are not considered semesters for financial aid probation purposes. 

If a student has not met the standards of academic progress at the end of the probationary period, he/she will be placed on financial aid suspension and will not be eligible for financial aid. Students who have been suspended and have since improved their performance must submit a written request for re-instatement of their financial aid eligibility. A Request for Reinstatement form must be submitted prior to the period of enrollment for which a student is requesting financial aid assistance.  Reinstatement forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid located in Trinity Hall, Room 112 or under Financial Aid Forms.

Students who have lost their eligibility for financial aid due to lack of satisfactory academic progress may appeal for reinstatement of their eligibility if circumstances beyond their control prevented them from meeting the established standards. To appeal, students must submit a completed Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form along with required supporting documentation.  Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid or under Financial Aid Forms.  Appeals must be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of notification of suspension.