Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for 2011-2012 

In order to avoid having your aid suspended, you must:

• Maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) every term.
• Complete required credits successfully each term (see chart below).
• Register for and complete only the credits required for your declared degree (including required remedial and pre-requisite courses).

Aid Statuses

• Warning status –This is the status you will receive the first time you fail to meet the standards above. You are still able to receive aid but must successfully complete the next term. Failure to do so will result in suspension.
• Suspension status – This is the status you will receive the second time you fail to meet the standards above. You are not eligible to receive financial aid funds. You have the right to submit a Request for Reinstatement or Extension of Eligibililty appeal.
• Probation status – If your Request for Suspension or Extension of Eligibililty appeal is approved (which will include special conditions you must follow to continue receiving aid), you will be granted a probation status for the term after the appeal.

Qualitative Requirements (GPA)

• Must earn a 2.0 or greater GPA every term
• Your GPA will be reviewed at the end of every term
• Successful grades: A, B, C, D (when acceptable for the degree and term GPA above a 2.0), R, P, and S. You can repeat once for a better grade.
• Unsuccessful grades: F, U, W, X, Y, Z and I. Grades of F, U and I can be repeated until successful. Grades of W, X and Y can be repeated once.

Quantitative Requirements (Timeline)

• Should complete all credits attempted each term
• Reviewed by the financial aid office at the end of each term
• Must complete degree within the maximum timeframe (135 credits for a 90-credit degree and 68 credits for a 45-credit certificate). All attempted credits (including repeat and transferred courses) are counted toward your timeframe.
• If it is determined that you cannot graduate within the maximum timeframe, you will become ineligible for financial aid and be notified immediately.

Additional Information

• You are only eligible to receive financial aid for up to 45 credits of developmental courses. This includes coursework taken at all colleges. There is no appeal process to extend this limit.
• You may change your major one time. A second change will require an Extension of Eligibility appeal.
• If you have already earned a degree, you will need to file an Extension of Eligibility appeal.
• Coursework taken at another institution that is officially transcripted does count toward the 150% maximum.
• GPAs from other schools are not considered in Southwestern’s financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy.
• No more than two suspensions are allowed and no more than two probationary periods are allowed.
• The academic standards of Southwestern are separate from this financial aid policy and are noted as the Academic Notification System in the catalog each year.
• Faculty and staff (other than financial aid staff) are not required to know financial aid policies.
• The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is subject to change.

Your Right to Appeal

• To resolve your financial aid Suspension Status, you will need to submit an appeal. The forms are available online.
• Use the Request for Reinstatement form for GPA and/or term credit completion deficiencies.
• Use the Extension of Eligibility form for timeline, major change, second major, dual major and/or transfer credit requests.
• If the appeal is approved, you will be reinstated to Probation Status for the next term. At the end of your probation term, you must meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements. If you do not, you will be back on suspension.
• If your appeal is denied, you will be notified with the number of credits you must complete successfully in order to be reinstated. These courses must be completed without financial aid and must apply toward your declared degree, be a pre-requisite or a necessary developmental course.