| The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended by Congress mandates
institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards
of “satisfactory progress” for students receiving Federal
financial aid. These standards apply to all Federal Title IV aid
programs including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan,
Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans and Federal Work-Study.
Regardless of whether the student had previously received Title
IV financial aid, the minimum requirements for undergraduates to
meet the university’s definition of academic progress for
Federal financial aid purposes are as follows:
Enrollment Status Definitions for Academic
Progress
Full-Time: Students enrolled for at least 12 undergraduate
credits or 9 graduate credits per semester are considered to be
full time.
Three-Quarter Time: Students enrolled for at least 9 but
less than 12 undergraduate credits per semester are considered to
be three-quarter time.
Half-Time: Students enrolled for at least 6 but less than
9 undergraduate or graduate credits per semester are considered
to be half-time.
Satisfactory Progress Measurements
Each student will be measured for sufficient progress annually in
May after spring grade processing. This evaluation will determine
if the student has sufficient progress to be eligible for Title
IV funding for the next financial aid award year. Students who have
not met the minimum requirements will receive a letter informing
them that they are not eligible for continued financial aid.
The standards of satisfactory progress have both a quantitative
and qualitative measure that must be met. Slippery Rock University
has established the following quantitative and qualitative standards
that must be met.
Quantitative Measures (credits earned):
- Full-time undergraduate students must complete a minimum of
24 new credits (18 new credits for graduate students) by the end
of each academic year.
- Three-quarter time students must complete a minimum of 18 new
credits by the end of each academic year.
- Half-time students must complete a minimum of 12 new credits
by the end of each academic year.
- Students enrolled less than half time must complete the number
of credits for which they enrolled by the end of each academic
year.
 Qualitative
Measures (Quality Point Average):
- Students who have completed 2 academic years or its equivalent
must have at least a 2.0 cumulative quality point average at the
end of each academic year.
- Students who have not completed 2 academic years or its equivalent
must have at least a 1.5 cumulative quality point average at the
end of each academic year.
- Graduate students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative quality
point average at the end of each academic year.
January Admits: If an undergraduate student is admitted
in January, that student must complete at least 12 credits for full
time study (9 credits for three quarter time study, 6 credits for
half time study and all credits for less than half time) and meet
the minimum quality point average requirement to have continued
financial aid eligibility. If the student is deficient in credits
or quality point average, the student will receive a warning letter.
Aid will be continued for the fall semester, however at the end
of the fall semester, the student will be checked for the completion
of the appropriate number of credits based upon the enrollment status
and appropriate quality point average. Federal financial aid will
be continued for those students who have met both requirements.
Students who have not met both requirements will be notified of
their ineligibility for Federal financial aid and informed of the
options to regain eligibility.
Readmitted Students: If a student is readmitted to the
University, satisfactory academic progress will be based on the
student’s previous attendance at SRU. Students who have not
met the minimum requirements will be notified of their ineligibility
for Federal financial aid and informed of the options to regain
eligibility.
Maximum Time Frame for Federal Financial
Aid
Undergraduate students may receive Federal financial assistance
for no more than 150 percent of the established length of their
program of study. Slippery Rock University has defined this maximum
time frame to be 6 years for full-time students, 9 years for three-quarter
time students and 12 years for half-time students. A year consists
of fall, spring and summer. The maximum time frame will be adjusted
based on the student’s enrollment status. Credits transferred
from other institutions to Slippery Rock University count toward
the maximum time frame. A year for maximum time frame and credits
transferred is defined as thirty-six credits.
Students changing majors, pursuing a double major or pursuing a
second undergraduate degree may be eligible for an extension of
time on an individual review basis.
Special Grades and their use in Academic Progress
Determination
| I |
|
Incomplete: No credits are received for incomplete
grades. If the incomplete grade is resolved by the close of
the following semester and a passing grade is received, the
credits will be counted. |
| NC |
|
No Credit: No credits are received. |
| W |
|
Withdrawal: No credits are received. |
| AU |
|
Audit: No credits are received. |
| P |
|
Pass: Student receives credits, but QPA is not affected. |
| X |
|
No grade given: No credits are received. |
Impact of Repeat of Course on Academic
Progress Measurements
The last grade earned is always used in calculating the QPA. If
the student failed the course the first time but passes it the second
time, the appropriate number of credits will be received after the
second attempt. If, however, the student passed the course the first
time, repeats it in an attempt to improve the QPA but receives a
failing grade, the appropriate number of credits will be deducted
from the cumulative credits earned total. Maximum hours earned for
any course cannot exceed the number of credits listed for that course
in the catalog.
Impact of Summer School on Academic Progress
Deficiencies
If a student is deficient in credits and/or QPA at the end of the
academic year, the student may use the following summer to eliminate
the deficiency. Summer work need not to be completed at Slippery
Rock; but students should be aware that:
- Transient clearance must be obtained prior to taking any courses
elsewhere if the credits are to be transferred back to SRU.
- Only credits transfer back to Slippery Rock, GRADES DO NOT.
If the student’s deficiency is in QPA, taking courses at
another institution will not make up a QPA deficiency. Credits
must be accepted by the Office of Academic Records in order to
be counted towards satisfactory progress.
If the student chooses not to attend summer school to make up the
deficiency, but opts instead to make up the deficiency during a
subsequent semester, only credits successfully completed over and
above the required minimum number of credits based on enrollment
status will work toward eliminating the deficiency. However, financial
aid will not be processed for that semester.
Appeal Process
If the student believes that the academic deficiency is a result
of extenuating circumstances (illness, injury, etc.) a written appeal
may be submitted to the Academic Progress Appeal Committee c/o Associate
Director of Financial Aid. The student must CLEARLY state the reasons
for the appeal and explain the circumstances that are believed to
have caused the deficiency. The student’s social security
number and documentation of the extenuating circumstances must be
included. Students are encouraged to file their appeal before August
1 for the fall semester, or before November 1 for the spring semester.
You will receive a written response to your appeal request. If the
committee denies the request for special consideration, an appeal
may be made to the Associate Provost for Enrollment Services.
Regaining Eligibility for Federal Financial
Aid
If a student does not meet the satisfactory academic progress standards
at the beginning of the academic year but later meets the standards
during the academic year, the student can be eligible to receive
the Federal Pell Grant, FFEL funds, and if available, campus-based
program funds beginning with the academic term during which the
student first meets the academic progress standards. It is the student’s
responsibility to contact the Office of Financial Aid after they
complete course work if it will allow them to regain eligibility
for financial aid.
Academic Progress Requirements for PHEAA
Grant
Academic progress requirements for the Pennsylvania State Grant
are communicated directly to recipients with their state grant notification
by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Financial Aid for the Summer Term
Students may be able to qualify for financial aid for the summer term
dependent upon their enrollment status, eligibility for aid, and the
availability of financial aid funds. The following sources of financial
aid may be available for the summer term: Federal Pell Grant, Pennsylvania
State Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans and PLUS.
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid in
the early spring regarding application procedures for financial aid
for the summer term. Study Abroad Programs
SRU students may be eligible for financial aid funds to attend a
study abroad program that is approved by SRU. Financial aid eligibility
for study abroad programs is reviewed by individual request. The
terms and conditions of the study abroad program have a direct impact
upon the student’s eligibility for financial aid. Students
interested in financial aid for a study abroad program should contact
the Office of Financial Aid.
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