Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP) - UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Answer

Financial Aid Good Standing

Undergraduate students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes when they receive credit toward their degree for 2/3 of all credit hours attempted. 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 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. To determine whether a student is in good standing, FASAP measures cumulative credit hours completed (grades of CR) versus cumulative credit hours attempted (grades of CR, NCR, W and INC). Transfer credits accepted by SAIC are included in this equation. It is important for students to note that hours attempted includes courses for which a W grade for withdrawal (including those received through the Academic Review Board) was received.

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

An undergraduate student who has not successfully completed 2/3 of all credit hours attempted during the review process will be placed on Financial Aid Warning until the next review period. During this warning period, the student will be eligible to receive Title IV funds. A student who has successfully completed 2/3 of all credit hours attempted at the next review period will return to Financial Aid Good Standing. A student who has not successfully completed 2/3 of all credit hours attempted at the next review period will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

A student on Financial Aid Suspension is no longer eligible to receive federal (Title IV) aid.

Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension

An undergraduate student may appeal his or her Financial Aid Suspension with the Student Financial Services Office if the student believes that extenuating circumstances exist. Appeals should be submitted on the FASAP Appeal Form available in the Student Financial Services Office and on the SAIC website. Appeals must be received at least one week prior to the first day of classes of the following semester. The student’s appeal must include why he or she 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 or 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 an undergraduate student successfully appeals his or her Financial Aid Suspension, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and 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 a student does not successfully meet the previously listed terms of their Financial Aid Probation, he or she will return to Financial Aid Suspension and will 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 undergraduate degree program. If the student reaches a point at which he or she cannot complete the requirements for their degree within 150% of the required hours for their 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:

162 credit hours in the undergraduate programs requiring 132 credit hours for completion;

171 credit hours in undergraduate programs requiring 138 hours for completion.

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 receive federal financial aid for repeat of failed courses until the course is passed, taking into account all other eligibility requirements stated above.

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