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:
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.
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 |
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.
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.
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).
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