Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations require that a student maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to remain eligible for financial aid. Grades of A, B, C, D or F (including +/-) are calculated into the cumulative GPA. Grades of W (withdrawal), NP (no-pass), AU (audit) or I (incomplete) are not included in the calculation of the grade-point average.

• Incompletes must be resolved prior to graduation. When the incomplete course is completed and receives a grade, the course grade will retain the “I” and the “new” earned grade will be added (I/X). Once the grade is posted, the student’s GPA will be re-calculated.
• Students can repeat a course in which they receive a grade of C-, D+, D, F, P or NP no more than two times. Students may not repeat a course in which they received a grade of C or better. When a course is repeated, the earlier grade of the course is not included in the GPA. However, the earlier grade remains on the student’s permanent record and will appear on all transcripts.

If a student drops below a cumulative GPA of 2.0, they will be placed on a financial aid warning. While on a financial aid warning, the student will continue to receive their financial aid but will need a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better and complete 67% of their attempted coursework each semester in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations also contain a quantitative component, meaning that students are required to make steady progress toward their degree by completing at least two-thirds (67%) of all their attempted credit hours. For example, if a student attempts 4 credits (16 credit hours) per semester, they would be expected to satisfactorily complete at least 2.68 of these credits (10.72 credit hours) in order to comply with the minimum quantitative standards. This standard does not apply to graduate programs.

All credit-bearing courses are calculated into “credits attempted” for financial aid purposes. Audit courses and no-credit courses are not evaluated in the review of the student’s satisfactory academic progress. Grades of A, B, C, D and P are calculated into “credits successfully completed.” Courses with grades of W (withdrawal), NP (no-pass), AU (audit) or I (incomplete) are not included in the calculation.

If a student does not successfully complete at least 67% of all credit hours attempted, they will be placed on a financial aid warning. While on a financial aid warning, they will continue to receive their financial aid but will need to complete 67% of their attempted cumulative coursework each semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations also contain a maximum time frame component, which specifies that the number of credit hours for which a student may receive federal financial aid may not exceed 150% of the credit hours required for graduation. For example, to earn a bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 32 earned credits (128 earned credit hours) so the maximum time frame would be 48 credits (198 credit hours).

• Withdrawals: Grades of “W” are counted as courses attempted and count toward the maximum time frame.
• Audited courses: Students do not earn any academic credits for audited courses. They do not count in the calculation of “attempted or earned credits.”
• Pass/Fail courses: These credits do count within the total of attempted and earned hours.
• Transfer credits accepted for the student’s academic program or degree are counted when measuring the maximum time frame to complete the degree or program.
• Double majors and/or minors: Students who receive permission to pursue a double major/minor will normally be expected to complete all degree requirements before reaching 48 credits.
• Change of majors: Students who change their majors will normally be expected to complete all degree requirements before reaching 48 credits.

If eligibility for financial aid has been suspended, a student may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee for reinstatement based upon extraordinary circumstances. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• Illness or injury
• Death of a close relative
• Other extenuating circumstances that result in undue hardship

The appeal must be in writing and must be submitted along with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form and all relevant documentation by the stated deadline in the notice of suspension. The Appeal should be addressed to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee and include the following:

• The specific reason(s), events or circumstances that prevented meeting the academic progress requirements
• A specific corrective action plan to improve academic success

Appeals are reviewed after the submission deadline. Notification of the appeal decision will be sent soon after it is reviewed, provided that all necessary documentation is submitted.

Students may be required to provided additional documentation during the appeal review process. Students that do not appeal by the stated deadline will automatically have their financial aid terminated.

If an appeal is approved, financial aid will be reinstated on a probationary basis for one semester. In addition, the Financial Aid Appeals Committee may require an academic plan to help the student progress towards their degree completion successfully. This academic plan will clearly list various academic resources available at the University. If the academic plan standards are met, the probationary period may be extended if needed.

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review academic records at the end of each probationary semester to determine if a student has achieved the minimum SAP requirements (cumulative 2.0 GPA and 67% attempted credit completion rate) and/or complied with the academic plan outlined in the reinstatement letter. Once a student has been reinstated under an academic plan and is making progress under that plan, the student is considered to be eligible to receive their financial aid.

• When a student fails to meet the SAP standard or the conditions outlined in an academic plan during a probationary semester, they will not be allowed to make a subsequent appeal.

• If a student’s financial aid has been terminated, but the student remains in good standing with the University’s Academic Standings Committee, they may still be eligible to continue to attend Elmhurst University at their own expense.

• A student who improves their academic standing and meets the satisfactory academic progress requirements may have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for the subsequent academic terms.

• Readmitted students are required to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements. If they are returning to Elmhurst University after an absence, and their former coursework would indicate that they are below the minimum progress requirements, they will need to appeal for reinstatement for their student aid eligibility by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form explaining:
• A revised academic objective and anticipated graduation date
• Specific corrective action plans made as part of the readmission process

You are considered to be on a financial aid warning when you fail to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements for one or more of the following reasons:

• You are below the 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement
• You are below the 67% minimum course completion rate
• You are close to exceeding the 150% time frame limit

Once you are on a financial aid warning, you must complete at least 67% of attempted courses each semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in order to remain eligible for financial aid. When you are in a warning status you will retain your financial aid for one semester only. If you do not meet the minimum overall progress requirements (2.0 cumulative GPA, and 67% completion rate of hours attempted), after the completion of the Warning semester, your financial aid will be suspended.

You are considered to be in financial aid suspension when you fail to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements for one or more of the following reasons:

• You are below the 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement and you did not meet the terms of your financial aid Warning
• You are below the 67% minimum course completion rate and you did not meet the terms of your financial aid Warning
• You have exceeded the 150% time frame limit