Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP) - GRADUATE STUDENTS

Answer

Financial Aid Good Standing

Graduate and certificate students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress when they successfully complete all credit hours attempted each semester. www.saic.edu/fasap

SAIC adheres to a credit/no credit grading system. Successful completion of a course will result in a grade of CR for Credit or IP for In-Progress and will count toward the student’s degree. Grades of NCR for No Credit, W for Withdrawal and INC for Incomplete represent unsuccessful completion of a course, and will not count toward the student’s degree.

Students will be notified by email or in writing if they fail to achieve good standing after FASAP is reviewed. Students who are not in good standing and receive an INC grade(s) will be reviewed again after the end of the add/drop period of the next term (i.e., once a final grade of CR/NCR has been awarded).

Financial Aid Warning

If a graduate degree or certificate student does not receive a CR or IP grade in all courses attempted for the semester, the student will be notified in writing that he or she has been placed on Financial Aid Warning. A student on Financial Aid Warning is eligible to receive federal (Title IV) aid for the next term in which they enroll – fall, winter, spring, or summer. To return to Financial Aid Good Standing, however, the graduate degree or certificate student must receive a CR or IP grade in all courses attempted in that following term.

Financial Aid Suspension

If a graduate degree or certificate student who is on Financial Aid Warning does not receive a CR or IP grade in all courses the following term, the student’s financial aid standing will change to Financial Aid Suspension. A student who is on Financial Aid Suspension is no longer eligible to receive federal (Title IV) aid.

Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension

A graduate or certificate student may appeal their Financial Aid Suspension with the Student Financial Services Office if the student believes that extenuating circumstances exist. Appeals must be made in writing and be received at least one week prior to the first day of classes of the following semester. The student’s appeal must include why they failed to make satisfactory academic progress (i.e., death of a relative, injury, illness or other circumstances) and what has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next payment period. Prior to submitting an appeal, it is recommended that the student meet with his/her Student Financial Services Advisor. The decision of the Student Financial Services Office with respect to the student’s appeal will be final and the student will not be entitled to amend and re-submit his or her request for appeal.

Financial Aid Probation

If a graduate or certificate student successfully appeals his or her Financial Aid Suspension, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will either be expected to meet Financial Aid Good Standing by the end of the next payment period. SAIC has three payment periods: Summer, Fall and Winter/Spring. Alternatively, a student on Financial Aid Probation may be placed on an academic plan that will ensure that the student is able to meet satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes by a specific point in time. An academic plan will be coordinated with an academic advisor to ensure success. If the student does not successfully meet the previously listed terms of their Financial Aid Probation, they will return to Financial Aid Suspension and no longer be eligible to receive federal (Title IV) aid.

Pace of Progression

In addition to a student’s good standing, FASAP measures the student’s pace of progression to ensure completion of degree requirements within the maximum time frame permitted for federal Title IV funds and SAIC funds.

Maximum Time Frame for Federal Funds

Eligibility for federal funds will not extend beyond 150% of the length (in semester hours) of the student’s graduate degree program. If a student reaches a point at which they cannot complete the requirement for his or her degree within 150% of the required hours for the student’s program, the student will no longer be eligible to receive Title IV funds.

Maximum Time Frame for SAIC Grants and Scholarship Funds

Eligibility for SAIC grant or scholarship funds and other SAIC financial aid programs will terminate when a student does not meet the satisfactory progress requirements stated above OR has completed the number of credit hours required for the degree or certificate in their program of record OR has attempted:

66 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 60 credit hours for completion (examples: MFA, MAAT, MSHP)

72 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 66 credit hours for completion (examples: MAAD/MAAT dual degree)

54 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 48 credit hours for completion (example: MAAA) 42 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 36 credit hours for completion (examples: art history certificate, (MAAH, MAAE)

36 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 30 credit hours for completion (examples: art education certificate, post baccalaureate certificate)

111 credits in graduate degree or certificate programs requiring 102 credit hours for completion (example, MARCH, MDES)

Students may appeal termination of eligibility for SAIC grant or scholarship funds and other SAIC financial aid based on unusual circumstances. Such appeals should be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office.

Repeated Courses

Students may repeat a course and receive federal financial aid only once in the case of a passed course, except for institutionally approved repeatable courses. Students may federal financial aid for repeat of failed courses until the course is passed, taking into account all other eligibility requirements.

For more information about SAIC’s policies please visit: http://www.saic.edu/financialaid/helpfulresourcesandtools/policies/