SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS: In order for you to remain eligible for Federal Student Aid, the U
In order to receive Federal Student Aid, the U.S. Department of Education requires that students maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their degree. Federal Student Aid includes Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal SMART Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant (LEAP), Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), Federal GRAD PLUS and Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Also, other Federal Agencies may require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for their aid programs. The academic record of all students will be monitored to ensure compliance with the requirements specified below. Therefore, even the academic record of those who have not received Federal Student Aid in the past may impact future eligibility. Failure to meet the following standards will result in financial aid suspension of eligibility for Federal Student Aid.
1. QUALITATIVE MEASURES
Undergraduate Students:
An undergraduate student must meet minimum academic progression standards as established by the South Dakota Board of Regents. These standards are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average and system term grade point average. The system term grade point average is based on credits earned from the six Board of Regents universities during a given term. The cumulative grade point average includes all credits earned (transfer plus system credit). All remedial and audited coursework is excluded from this calculation. Making satisfactory academic progression is as follows:
1. A student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is considered to be in good academic standing.
2. If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 in any academic term (i.e. fall, spring, summer), the student is placed on academic probation the following term.
3. While on academic probation, the student must earn a system term grade point average of 2.0 or better.
4. When a student on academic probation achieves a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, the student is returned to good academic standing.
5. A student on academic probation who fails to maintain a system term grade point average of 2.0 or better is placed on academic suspension for a minimum period of two academic terms.
A review takes place at the end of every term (summer, fall, spring). A student placed on academic suspension is also placed on financial aid suspension. Being reinstated academically does not guarantee financial aid reinstatement. The student must separately appeal the financial aid suspension as outlined below (Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension).
Graduate Students:
Generally speaking, graduate students must maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA in order to remain in good academic standing. However, since the Graduate Office monitors the academic progress of graduate students, any questions or concerns should be directed to their office.
2. QUANTITATIVE MEASURES
In order to maintain satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degree, all students must successfully complete 67% of cumulative attempted credit hours. Attempted credit hours include all hours that would appear on a student’s academic transcript at the end of any given term, including withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, remedial coursework, transfer hours and hours attempted at any time when not receiving Federal Student Aid. Audited coursework is not included. Hours that may have been part of a successful academic amnesty appeal will still be included. Successfully completed hours for both graduate and undergraduate students include grades of A, B, C, D and S. A grade of EX for undergraduate students is also considered successful completion. All other grades would not be considered successful completion. Evaluation of this quantitative standard will be measured once per year, generally at the end of the spring term.
3. MAXIMUM ATTEMPTED CREDIT HOURS
The U.S. Department of Education has established a limit on the number of credit hours a student can attempt and still remain eligible for Federal Student Aid. This limit is based on 150% of the credit hours needed to complete the degree for which the student is pursuing. The maximum attempted credit hours at SDSM&T are as follows:
|
TYPE OF DEGREE PROGRAM |
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS ATTEMPTED |
|
Associate |
96 based on 64 hour degree program * |
|
Bachelors |
192 based on 128 hour degree program (non-engineering) * |
|
Bachelors |
204 based on 136 hour degree program (engineering) * |
|
Masters |
45 based on 30 hour degree program (48 for 32 hour thesis) * |
|
PHD |
120 based on 80 hour degree program * @ |
APPEALING A FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION
Students who have had their eligibility for Federal Student Aid suspended may complete a Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form to explain mitigating circumstances. Students are advised to carefully read the procedures for submitting an appeal listed on the appeal form and submit the requested documentation with their appeal. The academic plan (the courses you need to enroll in order to complete your degree and what you plan to do differently to ensure academic success at the School of Mines), is required to be reviewed by your advisor. If your advisor is not available, you must make the effort to contact your department and make arrangements to meet with someone else. Each appeal will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; therefore, each appeal is evaluated on its own merits or lack thereof. As a result, no appeal is guaranteed to be approved. Simply failing to attend classes, complete class assignments and/or take exams are not considered valid reasons for submitting an appeal.
To ensure a timely review, appeals for the fall 2008 semester must be received in the Financial Aid Office no later than Friday, July 18, 2008. If you will not be returning until the spring 2009 semester, appeals must be received by Monday, December 1, 2008. You will be notified by phone (with a follow up letter) by Friday, August 8, 2008 for the fall 2008 semester and by Thursday, December 18, 2008 for the spring 2009 semester.
Appeals received after the due dates will be reviewed as soon as possible; however, if your appeal is approved we cannot assure you that your financial aid would be available for either fall or spring fee payment. In either case, you are encouraged to submit your appeal as soon as possible.
The Appeal Form and all supporting documentation can be dropped off at our office or sent to us by any means listed at the bottom of the Appeal Form (mail, FAX or e-mail).
Based upon the circumstances of an approved appeal, the Appeal Committee reserves the right to place conditions which the student must meet in order to be considered for financial aid on a probationary basis for subsequent terms. Unless the appeal approval covers what is to be the student's last semester of attendance, the approval letter will indicate the conditions the student must meet in order to be considered for aid for any subsequent semester.
If you choose not to appeal or your appeal is denied, you must fully meet the SAP requirements before you will be considered for aid again. However, if after paying for at least one year of coursework from your own resources you show a marked improvement in your academic record (such as completing all credit hours you enroll for in any given semester with grades of C or better), you are encouraged to submit another appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.
REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY
Students who have lost their Federal Aid eligibility, but have subsequently met the qualitative and/or quantitative standards as stated above, will have their aid eligibility reinstated. Reinstatement will be considered effective with the next term of attendance.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGESS AND NON-FEDERAL AID
There are also non-federal sources of financial assistance (institutional, local, private, state), which may require students to meet satisfactory academic progress standards. Students who apply for non-federal forms of aid are advised to review their academic standards in order to determine or ensure continued eligibility.
*An exception to the maximum credit hour limitation may be made if you have changed your degree program, or you already have an Associate or your first Bachelors, Masters or PHD. However, a written appeal must be submitted to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee which gives a detailed academic plan for completing the degree you are currently pursing. Each situation is different, but generally only 3 additional semesters of Federal Student Aid are provided.
@ This includes hours required for the Masters Degree.
For more information contact...
Financial Aid Office
SDSM&T
501 E Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3995
Work Phone 605-394-CASH (2274)
FAX 605-394-1979
Toll Free 1-877-877-6044
financialaid@sdsmt.edu
Contact: SDSM&T Financial Aid
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Last Modified: 06/17/2008 |
