Federal regulations require that a student maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree program in order to receive Title IV Federal financial aid.  Title IV funds include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and Federal PLUS Loan.  Checking satisfactory progress involves a measurement of student's performance qualitatively, through grade point average, and quantitatively, through successful completion of credit hours attempted.  A third area looks at the maximum credit hours attempted for a student to earn a degree.

Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility is evaluated separately from the institution’s academic policies.  Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress will have their Title IV Federal financial aid eligibility suspended.

A student must maintain ALL THREE STANDARDS listed below in order to remain eligible for Federal Title IV financial aid.

1. A Student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average according to his/her current grade level:

A review of the student's cumulative GPA takes place at the end of each semester.  A student is placed on probatioin at the end of a semester if he or she fails to maintain the required cumulative GPA.  Financial Aid GPA includes all coursework, including grades excluded by academic amnesty.  If this GPA is below the standard while on probation, the student's financial aid eligibility will be suspended.  (See appeal process.)

2. A student must complete with a passing grade (A, B, C or D) at least 70 percent of the credits attempted.  A cumulative review takes place at the end of the Spring semester and encompasses all periods of the student's enrollment, including periods during which the student did not recieve Title IV aid.

"Credits attempted" is defined as the number of hours (regular and remedial) for which a student is registered after the final add/drop date (generally two weeks or less after the semester begins).  Courses that are repeated are counted toward the total credits attempted.  Grades of "F" (failure), "I" (incomplete), "W" (withdraw), and "NC"  (no credit) will count as credits attempted but not satisfactorily completed.  Students who do not maintain the 70 percent completion standard will have their financial aid eligibility suspended. (See appeal process.)

3. The University of Sioux Falls has established a limit on the maximum number of credit hours attempted for which a student may receive Title IV financial aid.  All credits attempted, including transfer hours, repeated hours and those for which the student received no financial aid are included in the total.  (Remedial coursework hours are excluded.)  The maximum number of credits is based on the degree pursued.

A student exceeding the maximum number of credit hours allowed for the intended degree program will not be eligible to receive Title IV financial aid. (See appeal process.)

Appeal Process of Financial Aid Suspension
Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may appeal the suspension of their financial aid eligibility.  The student must request a Financial Aid Appeal Form from the Financial Aid Office.  All appeals must include an unofficial copy of the student's most recent academic transcript.  Students must submit an appeal by the date listed on the suspension letter.  Appeals will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.  All students filing an appeal will be notified in writing of the committee's decision.

Reinstatement of Eligibility
A student whose appeal is denied or who chooses not to appeal can reestablish eligibility by enrolling at his or her own expense and successfully completing twelve credits with a 2.00 GPA or higher.  The student should then provide an academic transcript to the Financial Aid Office and a written request for reinstatement of aid eligibility.

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