PROPOSED REVISION TO: REG 02.70.02 – Financial Aid – Eligibility for Continued Receipt of Financial Aid
Rationale:
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid received guidance from the Department of Education regarding satisfactory academic progress requirements for federal financial aid recipients. That guidance requires updates to our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility. This regulation update will ensure the University will meet the required federal compliance standards. The following individuals were consulted and provided feedback in the policy revision: Dr. Louis Hunt, Sr. Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Services and University Registrar, Dr. Peter Harries, Associate Dean for the Graduate School, and Kirk Nuss, College of Veterinary Medicine Student Services Specialist.
Consultation Process:
7/31/17_Louis Hunt, Senior Vice Provost, Enrollment Management and Services authorizes transmittal of PRR for review
7/17/17General Counsel preliminary review
_6/5/17Graduate School review (Peter Harries)
_6/5/17College of Veterinary Medicine (Kirk Nuss)
8/1/17General Counsel final review, if changes have been made
8/8/17Chancellor’s Cabinet Meeting, or official with delegated authority to review PRR
8/14/17University Council (recommendation/notification), if applicable (OGC will complete)
N/ABoard of Trustees (approval/notification), if applicable (OGC will complete)
Policies, Regulations and Rules / Authority
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Title
Eligibility for Continued Receipt of Financial Aid
Classification
REG02.70.02
PRR Subject
Academic Affairs / Financial Aid
Contact Info
Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid (919-515-2866)
History: First Issued: March 23, 1984. Last Revised: July 1, 2017.
Related Policies:
NCSU REG02.05.01 - Continuation of Undergraduate Enrollment (Suspension Regulation)
NCSU REG02.05.03 Satisfactory Academic Progress
NCSU REG02.25.10 - Time Limit for Completion of Graduate Degree
NCSU REG02.45.01 -Academic Difficulty
RUL02.66.01 – Undergraduate Readmission and Appeals
RUL02.66.03 – Non-Degree Studies Enrollment
Additional References:
Federal Regulation - 34 CFR 668.34 Satisfactory Progress
1.PURPOSE
1.1 The federal government requires all institutions to establish a policy specifying the academic requirements a student must meet to be eligible for continued financial aid. NC State’s policy is established and enforced by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid in consultation with the Office of Registration and Records, the Graduate School, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
1.2 Students must make Ssatisfactory Aacademic Pprogress as defined in this regulation in order to remain eligible for continued receipt of financial aid. Students that fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid eligibility are subject to aid ineligibility from the point it is determined the student is not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
1.3 The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid reviews each student’s academic performance at the end of the spring term of the academic year (summer term – spring term) to determine Ssatisfactory aAcademic Pprogress for financial aid eligibility. Students that are receiving financial aid while studying abroad will be evaluated at the point the study abroad transcript is received.
1.3.1 Students that are receiving financial aid while studying abroad will be evaluated at the point the study abroad transcript is received. Students that fail Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid eligibility are subject to aid ineligibility from the point it is determined the student is not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
1.4 Some institutional scholarships or grants may require higher academic achievement in order to maintain eligibility than those listed for satisfactory academic progress. In addition, private aid offered by agencies outside the University is not subject to this regulation but will be administered according to donor specifications.
2.DEFINITIONS[BCT1]
For students receiving financial aid, the following definitions apply:
2.1 “Financial Aid” means all forms of federal grants, loans, work-study employment, state financial aid programs and institutional need-based aid programs received by students at NC State.
2.2 “Attempted Hours” mean all hours for which a student is registered as of or after the official census enrollment date for the term, as well as transfer courses accepted for credit towards the NC State degree. ,ThisAttempted Hours includes withdrawals, grade exclusions, dropped courses, remedial courses (if countable towards a degree), repeated courses, courses with incompletes or failing grades, unreported grades (NR), and audited or no credit courses. Students who withdraw or drop hours after the census date of each term will be held accountable for hours attempted but not passed during that term. Credits transferred are included in the maximum timeframe calculation and the attempted hours for the career.
2.3 [BCT2]“2/3 Successful Completion Rate” means the student must pass 2/3 of all attempted hours. The number of passed hours divided by attempted hours is calculated and rounded up.
2.4 “Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal” means the comprehensive documentation related to and required for an eligible student appealing their Satisfactory Academic Progress status.
2.5 “Supporting Documentation” means the comprehensive documentation related to and required for an eligible student submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal.
2.6 “Academic Plan” means the requirements established for students exceeding the maximum time frame for degree completion and/or failing the 2/3 career measure[BCT3]. [BCT4]
2.73 “Financial Aid Probation” means a term of financial aid eligibility for which a student may be eligible based on an approved Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility Appeal. All students with approved appeals are considered to be on Financial Aid Probation.
2.4“Satisfactory Academic Progress” means maintaining and achieving academic success sufficient to allow continued eligibility for Financial Aid. In order to make Satisfactory Academic Progress, students must meet the Two-Thirds Successful Completion Rate requirement, Minimum 2.0 Cumulative GPA and Eligible Academic Standing requirement, and Maximum Time Frame requirement as outlined and defined in Section 3.
3.DETERMINATION OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY
3.1 Two-Thirds Successful Completion Rate TWO-THIRDS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION RATE
3.1.1 Undergraduate, Agriculture Institute, Graduate, Professional and Non-Degree Students must successfully completetwo-thirds (2/3) of all attempted Attempted hoursHours. In order to successfully complete a course for the purposes of this calculation, students must have earned a grade of A, B, C, S, SR, CR, or D. To calculate the completion rate, the number of successfully completed hours is divided by the number of aAttempted hHours and rounded up.
a)Cumulative Course Completion - Has passed (with grades of A, B, C, S, CR, or D) 2/3 of all attempted hours within the career
b)The number of passed hours divided by attempted hours is calculated and rounded up to determine if the student satisfied this measure.
3.2 Minimum 2.0 Cumulative GPA and Eligible Academic Standing MINUMUM 2.0 CUMULATIVE GPA and ELIGIBLE ACADEMIC STANDING
3.2.1 Undergraduate Degree and Agriculture Institute Students
Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and an academic status that allows for continued enrollment (see NCSU REG02.05.01 –Continuation of Undergraduate Enrollment (Suspension Regulation)).
3.2.2Graduate Students
Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and an academic status that allows for continued enrollment, and is not terminated-reinstated or on academic probation (seeNCSU REG02.45.01 -Academic Difficulty).
3.2.3Professional Students
Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and an academic status that allows for continued enrollment.
3.2.4Non-Degree Students enrolled in Teacher Licensure or Pre-requisite coursework determined to meet financial aid eligibility requirements
Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and an academic status that allows for continued enrollment (see RUL02.66.03 – Non-Degree Studies Enrollment).
3.3MAXIMUM TIME FRAMEMaximum Time Frame
3.3.1Undergraduate Degree and Agriculture Institute Students
Students must graduate or be able to graduatebefore attempting more than 150% of the hours required for their degree program (e.g. 180 hours for a 120-hour degree program). Transfer credits accepted toward degree completion are counted as attempted hours.
3.3.2Graduate Students
Students must not exceed the time limit for completion of his or her degree as set forth in NCSU REG02.25.10 - Time Limit for Completion of Graduate Degree.
3.3.3 Professional Students
Students must complete the professional degree within a maximum total of 6 years.
3.3.4Non-Degree Students enrolled in Teacher Licensure or Pre-requisite coursework determined to meet financial aid eligibility requirements.
Students must not exceed the maximum hour requirements as set forth in RUL02.66.03 – Non-Degree Studies Enrollment.
4.REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY
4.1 Appeal financial aid eligibilityEligibility Appeal.
4.1.1Students failing to meet the sSatisfactory Aacademic Pprogress eligibility criteria, as defined set forth in section 3 above, may appeal for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. Thise appeal should be submitted to ___ within _____ days of a determination of financial aid ineligibilityAppeals should be submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
4.1.2 Appeals must document why the student failed to make sSatisfactory Aacademic pProgress and why the student believes that he or she will be able to achieve Satisfactory Academic pProgress in the future. TheIt is strongly encouraged that appealing students should submit documentation supporting the appeal and the student’s request for reinstatement.
4.1.3An appeal for an exception may be granted for circumstances such asincluding, but not limited to, the following:
a)Extended illness or hospitalization of the student;
b)An accident which incapacitates the student for an extended period of time;
c)Death or extended illness of an immediate family member; or
d)Other extenuating circumstances.
4.1.44.1.4 Additional Documentation
Comprehensive Ssupporting documentation is strongly encouraged for all appeals and required for the following:Additional documentsdocumentation and information is required for the following appeals:
a)Students who have previously appealed;.
b)Students exceeding the maximum time frame for degree completion. In these cases, Sstudents must provide an approved course plan that corresponds with a graduation or program completion date;.
c)Students that cannot meet the cumulative 2/3 cumulative Successful Ccompletion Rate requirement after one probationary term. In these cases, Sstudents must provide an approved course plan that corresponds with a date in which the student will meet the cumulative 2/3 Successful cCompletionRate requirement; and.
d)Supporting documentation may beAs otherwise requested at the discretion ofby the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
4.2 1.5 Appeal Decision and Probation
4.2.1 Students who appealAfter review of the financial aid eligibility decisionEligibility Appeal, students with documented exceptional circumstancesfinancial aid eligibility decision may be approved for receipt of financial aid for one term, and will be considered on financial aid probation during that term.
4.2.2 Students that are not able to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements standards after one probationary termmay be placed on an academic plan, which will outline the requirements for meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, for the remainder of the probationary term.
4.12.6 3 If the student’s academic progress does not meet the sSatisfactory Academic pProgress standards at the end of the probationary term, the student may be denied financial aid.
4.2 Eligibility Reinstatement Without Appeal
Students who do not appeal may restorA student’s eligibility for financial aid may be reinstatede financial aid eligibility after the student’s academic progressimproves and is measured to meet Ssatisfactory Academic pProgress standards as defined set forth in Section 3 above.
{N0022140.5}
[BCT1]After these are finalized, they should be in alphabetical order.
[BCT2]I don’t think this needs to be a defined term. Rather, it can be addressed below.
[BCT3]“Successful Completion Rate requirement” -?
[BCT4]Not sure these need to be defined terms in the Regulation.