Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards for Financial Aid Eligibility (Graduate Students)

Rockford University is required by federal regulation to apply both qualitative and quantitative standards in measuring academic progress for financial aid purposes. These standards apply to all students who receive institutional, state, and federal Title IV funds administered by Rockford University. Federal Title IV programs include Federal PELL Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Work-Study.

Rockford University has established the following criteria in compliance with federal regulations published on October 6, 1993, Federal Register Part 668.16 and in the Higher Education Amendments of 1986:

I. Qualitative Standards of Academic Progress

Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to be eligible for federal financial aid each semester.

Note: When a course is repeated, the most recent grade will be used in the calculation of cumulative GPA.

II. Quantitative Standards of Academic Progress

Graduate student financial aid recipients must earn 70 percent of hours attempted.

To complete a master’s degree at Rockford University, students must complete a minimum of 32 credits. Full-time enrollment at the graduate level is at least nine credits each semester. Half-time enrollment at the graduate level is at least five credits each semester.

III. Schedule for Receiving Financial Aid

In these schedules, years refer to academic years completed and hours refer to the absolute minimum number of credits that must be completed in the corresponding year to maintain financial aid eligibility.

IV. Failure to Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The following actions will be taken for those students who fail to meet any of the above standards:

1. In the first term, students who are not in compliance will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester.

   Student Administrative Services (SAS) will send notification to those who are not in compliance and remind them of the obligations. Eligibility can be reinstated if students complete the designated percentage of attempted semester hours during the probationary period and/or earn the correct GPA.

2. If students are not in compliance after the warning period, eligibility for all federal, state and institutional aid will be withdrawn. Notification will be sent to students, advising them of their suspension. Financial aid will not be reinstated unless student appeals are granted or students request reinstatement after meeting all standards of academic progress.

V. Appeal Procedure

To appeal the financial aid suspension, a student must, within the timeframe noted in the suspension letter, submit to the Student Administrative Services (SAS) office a signed and dated letter of appeal explaining why he/she should not be suspended. A student may appeal for emergency condition (i.e. health, family, catastrophe, etc.). Documentation verifying the situation may be requested.

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will consider the appeal and render a decision, which the director of financial aid will convey in writing to the student. The decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final. If the appeal is approved, financial aid will be awarded for one additional semester on a probationary status.

VI. Additional Information

All attempted hours are counted, including transfer hours, remedial coursework, withdrawals, repetitions, and incomplete grades (whether or not financial aid was received, or the coursework was successfully completed). ESL courses do not count toward SAP as they have no credit hours attached to them. SAP will be recalculated once incomplete grades are converted into actual grades or withdrawals.

VII. Financial Aid Refund Policy: Return of Title IV Financial Aid Funds

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 changed the formula for calculating the amount of aid a student and University can retain when the student totally withdraws from ALL classes. Students who withdraw from all classes prior to completing more than 60 percent of an enrollment term will have their eligibility for aid recalculated based on the percent of the term (semester) completed. For example, a student who withdraws completing only 30 percent of the semester will have “earned” only 30 percent of any Title IV aid received. The University and/or the student must return the remaining 70 percent to the proper aid program. The Rockford University SAS office encourages students to read the following policy carefully. If a student is considering withdrawing from all classes PRIOR to completing 60 percent of the semester, they should contact the SAS office to see how their financial aid award will be effected.

The policy applies to all students who withdraw, drop out or are dismissed from Rockford University, and receive financial aid from Title IV funds.

The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the Federal Financial Aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs: Federal Direct Education Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford, PLUS loans), Federal PELL Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Perkins Loan.

A student’s withdrawal date is the date the student begins the withdrawal process or officially notifies the University of intent to withdraw OR the midpoint of the term (semester) for a student who leaves without notifying the institution OR the student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically related activity.

Refunds on institutional charges, including tuition and fees, will be calculated using the refund policy published in the “Financial Information” section of this catalog as determined by the Rockford University policy.

Title IV aid is earned on a prorated manner, on a per day basis, up to and including the 60 percent point in the semester. Title IV aid and all other aid is considered to be 100 percent earned after that point in time.

The percentage of Title IV aid earned shall be calculated as follows:

Number of days completed by student

Percent of semester completed/Title IV aid earned =

Total number of days in semester*

*The total number of calendar days in a semester shall exclude any scheduled breaks of more than five days.

The percentage of Title IV aid unearned (i.e., to be returned to the appropriate aid program) shall be 100 percent minus the percent earned.

Unearned aid shall be returned first by Rockford University from the student’s account calculated as follows:

Total institutional charges multiplied by the percent of unearned aid = amount returned to programs.

Unearned Title IV aid shall be returned to the programs in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Loan
2. Subsidized Direct Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loans
4. Federal PLUS Loans
5. Federal PELL Grant
6. Federal SEOG

Exception: Only program(s) from which a student received funds are entitled to a refund.

When the total amount of unearned aid is greater than the amount returned by Rockford University from the student’s account, the student is responsible for returning unearned aid to the appropriate program as follows:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Loan*
2. Subsidized Direct Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loans
4. Federal PLUS Loans*
5. Federal PELL Grant**
6. Federal SEOG**

*Loan amounts are returned in accordance with the terms of the promissory note signed by the student/parent.

**Amounts to be returned by the student to federal grant programs will receive a 50 percent discount.