/Institutions/Mount-Vernon-Nazarene-University/json/2023-2024/GPS-Catalog-2023-2024-local.json

/Institutions/Mount-Vernon-Nazarene-University/json/2023-2024/GPS-Catalog-2023-2024.json

Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog 2023-2024 > School of Graduate and Professional Studies > Financial Information > Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To participate in the Title IV Student Aid Program (Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Student Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal PELL Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal TEACH Grants and Federal Work Study), MVNU must take steps to fulfill federal requirements to both implement and make public the standards for satisfactory academic progress that students must meet to be eligible to receive Title IV financial assistance. These standards are for financial aid purposes only and do not replace or override the academic policies of MVNU. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is based on three components:

1) Completion Rate

A student must complete 67% of all credit hours attempted at MVNU and all other institutions for financial aid eligibility. Completion rate is determined by dividing the total credit hours earned by the total credit hours attempted. Attempted credit hours will include grades of F, U, W, WF, WP, and I. These grades will not count as earned hours.

• Repeating courses will add to the total number of attempted credit hours but will only count once as earned credit hours.
• If a student chooses to retake a course s/he has already passed at some point in the past, s/he can do this one time and receive financial aid for the course. Two or more attempts to take a course that has previously been passed cannot be funded with financial aid.

2) Timeframe

A student can only receive financial aid for a maximum of 1.5 times the total credit hours required for his/her degree program. For any major that requires 120 credit hours for graduation, this equals a maximum of 180 credit hours that can be attempted. For any majors requiring more than 120 credit hours, the maximum allowed will be calculated accordingly. Any credit hours attempted but not completed will count.

• Transfer credit hours must be included in the maximum of 180.
• Repeated courses, failed courses, and withdrawals will also count towards the maximum.
• An appeal must be submitted by any student who has exceeded their maximum timeframe allowed due to transfer hours or change of major. Student Financial Services will review the credit hours attempted that apply towards the student’s program of study in order to determine future financial aid eligibility. An academic plan signed by the student’s academic advisor will be required.

3) Grade Point Average

A student must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (3.0 for all graduate programs) by the end of the fourth semester/payment period and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (3.0 for all graduate programs) for the duration of their eligibility. Repeated courses and failed courses will also count towards the cumulative GPA.

SAP REVIEW

After each semester/payment period, Student Financial Services will review completion rate, timeframe, and GPA for each student enrolled in that semester/payment period, regardless of whether the student received Title IV aid during that period. Depending on the student’s status relative to these factors, his/her progress for financial aid purposes will be determined as follows:

1. Satisfactory Progress applies to any student who passed the appropriate number of earned credit hours to attempted credit hours, has not exceeded the maximum total of attempted credit hours allowed for his/her program, and whose GPA meets the requirements listed above.
2. Financial Aid Warning applies to any student who fails to meet the requirements for completion, timeframe, and GPA listed above for the semester/payment period. A warning letter will be sent at the end of the semester/payment period to the student to indicate why s/he is receiving a warning and what must be done within the next semester/payment period in order to come back into compliance with SAP rules. If the student fails to meet these requirements, his/her federal, state, and institutional financial aid will be suspended for future semesters/payment periods. The student must bring his/her credit hours and/or GPA back into good standing or appeal to regain financial aid eligibility. A student cannot have two consecutive semesters on warning.
3. Financial Aid Probation applies to any student who has failed to meet SAP requirements and has had an appeal approved by Student Financial Services. A student may be on probation for one semester/payment period only. If a student has not met the SAP requirements above, s/he should work with his/her Student Financial Advisor to understand what options exist to regain eligibility.
4. Unsatisfactory Progress applies to any student who has not met the requirements for completion rate, GPA, and attempted hours after his/her warning period, is not on financial aid probation, and does not have an approved appeal. This student is not eligible for federal, state, or institutional financial aid until s/he meets the requirements in each of the three areas listed above.
5. Academic Plan applies to any student who has submitted an academic plan as part of a SAP appeal and has successfully completed the goals for that semester/payment period as outlined by the plan. The student continues to remain eligible for federal and state financial aid, but does not meet the definition of a SAP-eligible student.

SAP APPEAL PROCESS

1. A student who wishes to appeal his/her unsatisfactory academic progress determination must submit a SAP Appeal Form to the Student Financial Services office. SAP appeals are reviewed based on extenuating circumstances (e.g., serious injury or illness involving the student, death of an immediate family member, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control) that prevented him/her from achieving satisfactory progress. Appeals are reviewed on an individual basis. Students who appeal may also be required to submit an academic plan that indicates exactly what he/she must complete in order to finish his/her academic program, including the timeframe in which it will be accomplished.
2. The Assistant Director for Financial Aid will review the appeal and determine whether financial aid termination is justified. The student will be advised both in writing and via MVNU e-mail of the decision and may be asked to meet with his/her Student Financial Advisor to plan for future semesters.
3. A student who wishes to appeal the decision of the Assistant Director for Financial Aid may do so in writing to the Director of Student Financial Services.

THINGS TO CONSIDER REGARDING SAP POLICY

Changes in Major: Students will be expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress standards even if they make a change in major. All credit hours attempted from prior majors will be included in the total credit hours attempted for maximum time frame requirements. A student may appeal for a longer time frame with rationale of the reasons for the extension.

Second Degree: Students who pursue a second degree must pass courses at a 67% pass rate, maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, and may not exceed 150% of the required courses for the new degree.

Incomplete Coursework: Incomplete course work will be included in all credit hours attempted but not in credit hours passed until the grade is complete. Once the course is graded, the satisfactory academic progress status process will be re-evaluated upon request of the student.

Repeated Coursework: A student who fails a required course may repeat the course and receive federal financial aid. A student may repeat a passed course only one time and receive federal financial aid. Repeated coursework will count towards the total credit hours attempted and total credit hours passed for satisfactory academic progress. Cumulative grade point average for repeated courses will be determined by the Registrar’s Office.

Non-Credit and Remedial Coursework: Remedial coursework will be counted in determining financial aid eligibility, enrollment status, and satisfactory academic progress. These courses will be included in maximum timeframe calculations. Students will be limited to no more than thirty (30) remedial credits for financial aid eligibility.

SUMMARY

Students are encouraged to review these standards and to be knowledgeable relative to their individual progress and financial assistance. The University recognizes that circumstances and conditions regarding these standards may require the discretionary judgment of the Student Financial Services Office. Examples of such conditions include changing majors or career objectives, as well as a variety of personal reasons. Any student with questions regarding SAP or these conditions should contact the Assistant Director for Financial Aid.