Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Aug 1, 2007-June 30, 2011

Financial Aid Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require that all students receiving Federal Title IV Financial Aid funds maintain standards of satisfactory academic progress in the pursuit of their degree or certificate. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as passing a required number of hours and achieving a required grade point average during any semester or academic year. Federal regulations require that a student's entire academic history be considered. This includes semesters or terms during which the student did not receive financial aid.

Satisfactory academic progress shall be monitored each aid year. An aid year includes a fall, spring, and summer term. For students not attending summer school, satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester for the preceding fall and spring terms. For students attending summer school, satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated at the end of the summer term for the preceding fall and spring. It is the student's responsibility to stay informed of the university's SAP standards and to monitor their progress.

This policy provides the framework for monitoring the standards for satisfactory academic progress for students to be eligible to participate in the federal Title IV financial aid programs. To remain eligible, a student must:

Maintain the required cumulative grade point average (GPA)
Complete the minimum number of credit hours associated with classification as listed below
Complete the degree or certificate within the maximum allowable timeframe

General Guidelines

15 or more credit hours enrolled

Classification	Requirements	Required GPA
Freshmen	pass at least 12 hours	1.75
Sophomores	pass at least 12 hours	2.00
Juniors/Seniors	pass at least 15 hours	2.00
Graduate Students	pass at least 15 hours	3.00

12-14 credit hours enrolled

Classification	Requirements	Required GPA
Freshmen	pass at least 9 hours	1.75
Sophomores	pass at least 9 hours	2.00
Juniors/Seniors	pass at least 12 hours	2.00
Graduate Students	pass at least 12 hours	3.00

9-11 credit hours enrolled

Classification	Requirements	Required GPA
Freshmen	pass at least 6 hours	1.75
Sophomores	pass at least 6 hours	2.00
Juniors/Seniors	pass at least 9 hours	2.00
Graduate Students	pass at least 9 hours	3.00

6-8 credit hours enrolled

Classification	Requirements	Required GPA
Freshmen	pass at least 3 hours	1.75
Sophomores	pass at least 3 hours	2.00
Junior/Seniors	pass at least 6 hours	2.00
Graduate Students	pass at least 6 hours	3.00

5 credit hours enrolled or below

Classification	Requirements	Required GPA
Freshmen	pass all hours pursued	1.75
Sophomores	pass all hours pursued	2.00
Juniors/Seniors	pass all hours pursued	2.00
Graduate Students	pass all hours pursued	3.00

Only one appeal will be allowed for each aid year. Once a decision is rendered, appeals for the same aid year will not be accepted. Students are eligible to appeal a maximum of three (3) times during their undergraduate career and two (2) times during their graduate career.

Maximum time Frame

The maximum timeframe of credit hours a student may pursue and be considered eligible for financial aid is as follows:

Associate Degree Program	90 credit hours pursued
2nd Associates Degree Program	45 credit hours beyond 1st Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree Program (4 year program)	180 credit hours pursued or a maximum of 6 years from their original term of entry
2nd Bachelors Degree	60 credit hours beyond 1st Bachelors Degree
Alternate Teacher Certification	45 credit hours beyond 1st Bachelors Degree
Masters Degree Program	48 credit hours beyond Bachelors Degree
2nd Masters Degree Program	25 credit hours beyond 1st Masters Degree
Doctorate	60 credit hours beyond Masters Degree or 7 years

Students seeking a third bachelors or masters degree will not be considered eligible for federal financial aid.
Students seeking double majors must complete their degree program for the primary major within the limits set for that major. Students requiring more hours to complete their double major program of study may appeal for extended hours.
Transfer credits accepted by Southeastern Louisiana University will be included in the credit hours earned. Transfer students will be entered in the system as financial aid probation unless it has been determined that maximum time frame has

been exceeded. Students that have exceeded maximum time frame will be placed on suspension. Transfer students must meet all standards defined at Southeastern Louisiana University to be eligible forfinancial aid.
Students pursuing Alternate Certification will ONLY qualify if the coursework is required for elementary or secondary teacher certification or recertification in the state where the student plans to teach. Optional courses that the student elects to take for professional recognition or advancement, and courses recommended by the school but not required for the certification, do NOT qualify. The student must provide documentation verifying that the courses are required by the state for teacher certification.
The above limits were based on averages for the University's certificate and degree programs. If a student is enrolled in a program that requires a greater number of hours, the additional hours will be considered.
The definition of “hours pursued” includes all hours (courses) enrolled as of the close of registration in which a grade was awarded, except classes that were audited. Audited classes are not included in hours pursued. All courses on the transcript, including those with W, P, NC, U, I, F count toward the total hours pursued and may adversely impact the percent of completion. Hours pursued also include any suspended, non-credit remedial, developmental, repeat, and transfer hours. These standards apply to all students applying for federal financial aid, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received for all or part of the hours pursued. (Note: Courses approved for academic renewal are still considered in the number of hours pursued.)

A student who has reached the maximum timeframe of hours pursued without earning the degree must be excluded from further participation in federal financial aid programs.

Financial Aid Probation

Students who do not meet the minimum SAP standards will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible to receive financial aid during the financial aid probation period. If the required standards are not met after the probationary period, financial aid suspension will result.

Financial Aid Suspension

At the conclusion of the probationary period, if the minimum standards are not met, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. If the student is placed on Academic Suspension, they will automatically be placed on financial aid suspension. Students on financial aid suspension are NOT eligible to receive financial aid. Financial aid eligibility may be regained by enrolling at the student's own expense and completing the required number of pursued hours with the required GPA for one full academic year. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make satisfactory academic progress. The student may also appeal for financial aid reinstatement if unusual circumstances beyond their control prevented them from meeting satisfactory academic progress (see appeals process).

Appeal Process

Students not meeting these established criteria might seek to appeal if extenuating circumstances affect academic performance. Extenuating circumstances are defined as a change in the academic program, illness, death of a family member, or other traumatic life-altering events of the student. Examples of extenuating circumstances are: prolonged illness under a doctor's care or an illness or accident requiring hospitalization requiring a prolonged absence from class and death of an immediate family member or prolonged illness of a dependent. These circumstances are normally based on some unusual situation or condition, which prevented the student from completing the required hours. No appeal will be accepted without documentation. The appeal may not be based upon the need for assistance or the lack of knowledge that the assistance was in jeopardy. If the appeal is denied, the student will be notified in writing and may resubmit an appeal only if they have additional supporting documentation for the initial appeal. If a student's financial aid appeal is approved, they will be notified in writing and will be packaged the financial aid they are eligible to receive.

Appeal decisions require approximately ten (10) business days. Students are encouraged to submit their appeal as soon as possible upon notification of financial aid suspension. An appeal should be submitted no later than July 15 for students who do not attend summer school and August 15 for students who are enrolled in summer school. Appeals will be accepted after these deadlines; however, appeals received during the registration period will not be reviewed until the week after final registration. Therefore students who anticipate paying their fees using financial aid must make provisions to pay their fees with other sources during this time.

Appeals must be submitted in writing and must include complete and appropriate supporting documentation. Students who lose their federal financial aid eligibility will automatically be re-instated after any academic year in which Satisfactory Academic Progress was achieved. The Financial Aid Office will notify students who regain their eligibility. Students who are unsure of their situation should contact their financial aid counselor. All appeals should be mailed or faxed to:

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee
SLU 10768
Hammond, LA 70402

Fax: 985-549-5077
Telephone: 985-549-2244

Chat with us

Send Email