St. Cloud State University
Policies
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
(The following policy is in place through summer 2009. The policy will change effective with the 2009-2010 academic year and may be viewed at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/financialaid/policies/sap0910.asp)
All schools that award financial aid are required by federal and state regulations to establish and enforce a satisfactory academic progress policy. Students must 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. The policy defines the standards a student must maintain in order to be eligible to receive financial aid.
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) students must meet the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy if they are to receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid. In addition, all students must be in compliance with the institution’s academic requirements 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.
SCSU has three major components that are taken into account in determining a student’s standing:
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement. GPA is calculated using only SCSU credits.
- A minimum percentage of SCSU credits completed based on total SCSU credits attempted.
- A maximum number of credits attempted. This includes all credits attempted at SCSU and credits accepted from other institutions, regardless of whether aid was received. After a student has attempted the maximum number of credits, s/he is no longer eligible to receive aid.
The financial aid programs requiring recipients to maintain satisfactory academic progress include:
- Federal Pell Grant and other federally funded grant programs
- Minnesota State Grant and other state funded grant programs
- Federal College Work Study (CWSP)
- Minnesota College Work Study (MN CWSP)
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Minority Awards
- Alliss Scholarships
- St. Cloud State University Scholarships
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Federal PLUS/GradPLUS 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.
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.
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 ineligible for financial aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress, you will be sent a letter stating that you will not be eligible for financial aid until you can demonstrate your compliance with the minimum academic standards required by the policy.
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.
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 specific information for these areas at: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/financialaid/policies/SAP-PoliciesAndProcedures.asp.
For further information regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
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St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.
St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
