Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
Financial Aid Probation
Appeals
Reinstatement of Aid Eligibility
Incompletes, Withdrawals, Audits and Repeats
Refunds

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

To remain eligible for financial aid at Saint Mary's University, a graduate student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined below:

Full-time:

• Complete eight semester credits per term, and attain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first term of at least 2.0 subsequent terms at Saint Mary's University.
• Complete an educational objective in a maximum of twelve terms during which the student will be considered eligible for federal financial aid programs, provided they meet all other satisfactory academic progress standards
  

Half-time:

• Complete four semester credits per term, and attain a cumulative GPA as defined above.
• Complete an educational objective in a maximum of twenty-four terms and meet all other satisfactory progress standards to remain eligible for federal financial aid programs. (Individual aid programs may have other restrictions.)

Readmitted and transfer students:

• Students who transfer to Saint Mary's University are considered to be in good standing, and will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of their first term at Saint Mary's University. Students who are readmitted to the university are considered to be in good standing and will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of the first semester after returning to the university.

Cumulative grade point averages and credits earned will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of each term. Students not maintaining satisfactory academic progress will receive written notification.

Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained during all periods of enrollment whether or not financial aid is being received.

Financial Aid Probation

If a student does not meet satisfactory academic progress standards at the end of the first term of attendance (falling below cumulative GPA standards), the student will be placed on financial aid probation during the next term. To be removed from financial aid probation, the full-time student must successfully complete the required number of credits to earn 16 credits by the end of the second term, and must raise the cumulative GPA to the required level at the end of the probationary period. If these conditions are met, financial aid eligibility is reinstated.

If these conditions are not met, the student's aid eligibility is terminated. Students will be notified in writing if their aid eligibility is terminated, and they may appeal this decision by following the steps listed in the following section.

Appeals

Appeals for special circumstances when aid eligibility is terminated may be directed (in writing) to the Director of Financial Aid. The director will present the written appeal to the Financial Aid Committee for review. Appeals must be received within two weeks after the student's notice of termination is received. Appeals will be considered for medical reasons, family/personal emotional problems, learning disability, and other extenuating circumstances.

If the Financial Aid Committee determines that mitigating circumstances existed during the probation period, one additional term of aid eligibility can be extended to the student. During this term the student must complete the minimum number of credits for his/her status (8 credits for full-time and 4 credits ½ time) with a semester GPA of 2.0. Successful completion of the extended probationary period will reinstate the student's aid eligibility for the next term. If the student does not meet these conditions, aid eligibility is terminated; no further appeal will be granted.

Reinstatement of Aid Eligibility

If a student's aid eligibility has been terminated because of failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards during the probationary or appeals periods, the student's eligibility can only be reinstated if the student, at his/her own expense, completes one term of at least half-time attendance and meets all satisfactory academic progress standards required at the end of that term.

Incompletes, Withdrawals, Audits and Repeats

Only those courses for which academic credit is received will be considered in meeting satisfactory academic progress standards. Repeated or audit courses will not be counted. Incomplete will be considered if the Academic Dean has given permission to the student to carry the incomplete.

Students who withdraw from the University are eligible for a refund in accordance with the policy in the University catalog. Federal aid will be refunded in accordance with the Department of Education Return of Title IV Funds. (See Refunds.) If financial aid is awarded to assist with costs incurred before the withdrawal, that term is considered in the total number of terms allowed to complete the student's educational objective. The term is also considered in the total credits and GPA for satisfactory academic progress, therefore, it is likely that the student will be placed on financial aid probation if he/she returns for the following term.

Refunds

Federal law requires institutions and/or the student to return the portion of your financial aid that is considered unearned. This policy applies only when, during the term, the student withdraws from all classes and the percentage of the term completed is equal to or less than 60%. Course load reductions that leave a student with at least one remaining class are not affected by this policy.

The following example illustrates how the new policy works:

1. Calculate the percentage of the term completed (# days completed ˜ # days in semester x 100). If greater than 60%, then no return of financial aid is required. If less than or equal to 60%, then proceed to step #2.
2. Determine the percentage of financial aid earned by multiplying the total amount of financial aid received for the term by the percentage in step #1. You are permitted to keep this amount in your student account.
3. Determine the amount of unearned financial aid that must be returned to financial aid programs accounts by subtracting the amount of earned financial aid (determined in step # 2) from the total amount of financial aid received for the term.
4. There are specific calculations that determine how much of the unearned financial aid must be returned to the federal program(s) by the institution and how much must be returned by the student.
5. There is a prescribed order in which funds must be returned to the programs: (1) federal loans, (2) federal grants, (3) other federal aid.

It is possible, depending on the date of withdrawal, to have no refund of tuition and fees, although part of the financial aid may be required to be returned. For example, if a student withdraws from the university after the end of ALL refund periods, it is possible that the student may owe the full amount of billed costs. Even if the student does not finish the term, he/she may still be charged for these fees.

Furthermore, if the withdrawal occurs after the end of all refund periods but on or before 60% of the term is completed, the student may be required to repay all or part of the financial aid as determined in steps #1-5 above. If the student is required to repay all or part of your financial aid, they will be notified of the amount required to be repaid. In addition, future registration at Saint Mary’s University and requests for academic transcripts may be denied until repayment is complete.