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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (eff. 2009-2010 academic year)

The following policy is effective with the 2009-2010 academic year. The policy in place through summer 2009 may be viewed at: www.stcloudstate.edu/financialaid/policies/sapold.asp

Federal and state regulations require that all students maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to be eligible to receive financial aid. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage all students to progress steadily at a reasonable rate toward graduation. St. Cloud State University (SCSU) students must meet the requirements listed below if they are to receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid.

In addition to complying with the satisfactory academic progress policy for financial aid recipients as explained below, all students must also comply with the institution's academic requirements if they wish to remain enrolled at St. Cloud State University. Detailed information about the institution's academic requirements may be found in the SCSU Student Handbook or the university's undergraduate and graduate bulletins.

The financial aid programs requiring recipients to maintain satisfactory academic progress include:

  • Federally funded grant programs
  • State funded grant programs
  • Federal College Work Study (CWSP)
  • Minnesota College Work Study (MN CWSP)
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
  • Minority Awards
  • Alliss Scholarships
  • St. Cloud State University Scholarships
  • Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
  • PLUS/GradPLUS Federal Direct Loan
  • Minnesota Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF)

In addition, some private loan and scholarship programs may require the student to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school.

To determine a student's standing according to St. Cloud State University's satisfactory academic progress policy, the student will need to know three things:

  • number of SCSU credits attempted at current admission status,
  • total SCSU credits earned at current admission status,
  • cumulative SCSU grade point average based on all SCSU coursework taken at current admission status.

Transfer students also will need to know how many credits are being transferred to SCSU

Please keep in mind that you are responsible for understanding this policy and monitoring your progress. No warning letters will be sent. Once you have attempted the maximum time frame (including accepted transfer credits) to complete your academic program, you no longer will be eligible to receive financial aid, whether or not you have completed your program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you understand this policy and closely monitor your own progress.

A student who fails to maintain the minimum standards of this policy and cannot achieve these standards prior to reaching the maximum time frame limit will have future financial aid eligibility immediately suspended. 

MINIMUM SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS STANDARDS

I. Cumulative Grade Point Average(GPA): The grade point average (GPA) calculation is based only on SCSU coursework.
II. Percentage of Credits Completed: Based on total SCSU credits attempted.
III. Maximum Time Frame for Receiving Aid: Credits attempted at SCSU and credits accepted from other institutions are counted for determining this standard.

EVALUATION PERIOD
The measures of satisfactory academic progress are determined after grades are recorded for each term. All prior terms of attempted enrollment, including summer, are considered in determining satisfactory academic progress regardless of whether aid was awarded for the term.

NOTIFICATION
If you are placed on probation or suspension according to the terms of this policy, you will receive written notice via your St. Cloud State e-mail account.  Additional written notification will be sent to financial aid applicants who are ineligible for financial aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress.

APPEALS
If you have been denied financial assistance because you have not maintained satisfactory academic progress, you have the right to appeal based on unusual or extenuating circumstances. A written appeal should be submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for review.

REGAINING ELIGIBILITY
In order to regain eligibility a student must meet the requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy. Neither paying for your own classes nor sitting out a period of time is sufficient in and of itself to re-establish your financial aid eligibility. Students who previously have not maintained satisfactory progress, and who believe they now are in compliance with the policy, should notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid in writing in order to continue the processing of their financial aid application. You may regain your eligibility for the current term or a future term but not for a term once it has ended.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Grades, academic forgiveness, audits, consortium agreements, remedial/developmental courses, repeats, transfer credits, common market, and credit by examination are subject the Satisfactory Academic Policy. Please review the general policies and procedures for specific information regarding these areas.

For further information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.