Policy 220.31 - Financial Aid - Satisfactory Academic Progress - Graduate

ORIGINATOR: Associate Vice President, Financial Aid

SUBJECT: Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress - Graduate Students

Financial aid is intended to meet the financial needs of the student who otherwise could not or would not consider continuing their education. Students who receive financial aid must not only demonstrate financial need, but must also make satisfactory progress as determined by University of Maryland University College in accordance with federal regulations. Financial aid recipients are required to be in good standing and to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree requirements for each semester/term in which they are enrolled. Satisfactory academic progress, as described below, is evaluated each year following the posting of all spring grades. Students on probation are also reviewed following the fall semester. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress, as described below, may result in cancellation of financial aid awards, and the student may have to repay any funds already received.

1. Basic Standard for Graduate Students
   UMUC's institutional requirements for minimum satisfactory performance for financial aid recipients are defined as follows:
   1. Minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA).
      Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
   2. Minimum cumulative completion rate.
      Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of credits attempted (66 percent).
   3. Maximum timeframe to completion.
      The federally mandated maximum timeframe to complete the program or degree. The student must complete his or her educational program within a time frame no longer than 150 percent of the published length of the educational program (for example, complete his or her program after attempting a maximum of 54 credits for a 36-credit program).

   Federal regulations require that UMUC track the academic progress of financial aid recipients from the first date of enrollment at UMUC, whether or not financial aid was received. Credits transferred from all other credit sources will be considered as attempted and completed credits in the evaluation of the completion rate standards. Students who do not earn their degree within the maximum timeframe to completion, outlined above, will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status, not Financial Aid Probation. No financial aid will be disbursed for the student during subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment unless the student has made an appeal of the Financial Aid Denied and the appeal is granted.

2. Treatment of W, I, AU, F, S, P, RT, H and G Grades, No Grade Reported and Repeated Coursework
   1. Course withdrawals (W) after the drop/add period are not included in the GPA calculation, but are considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework.
   2. Incomplete (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation and are considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework until the Incomplete grade is replaced with a permanent grade and academic progress can be re-evaluated.
   3. An audit (AU) grade is not considered attempted coursework. It is not included in the GPA calculation or completion rate determinations.
   4. A satisfactory (S) grade, a passing (P) grade or a repeat through transfer credit (RT) grade is treated as attempted credits which are earned, but is not included in calculation of GPA.
   5. F grades will be treated as attempted credits that were not earned and so will be included both in the calculation of GPA and minimum completion rate.
   6. If a grade pending (G) or no grade is assigned, for any reason, it will not be included in the GPA calculation and will not be considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework until a grade is assigned and academic progress is reevaluated.
   7. The highest grade earned in a course that is repeated will count in the GPA computation, but every repeated attempt will be included in the completion rate determinations.
3. Financial Aid Probation Status
   Graduate students who fail to meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average standard or fail to complete at least two-thirds of cumulative credits attempted will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment. Financial aid can be received during the semesters/terms of probation. Financial aid disbursements for the next period of enrollment will be held until the grades and course completions have been reviewed for the probationary semesters/periods of enrollment of Financial Aid Probation.
   
   Students receiving financial aid for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Probation if they do not meet the minimum grade point average or course completion standards as noted in this policy in a previous semester/period of enrollment at UMUC.
4. Financial Aid Denied Status
   Students who, while on Financial Aid Probation or on Financial Aid Denied status, fail to maintain the minimum completion rate of 66 percent and/or fail to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status for subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment until the student is removed from Financial Aid Denied status.
   
   Graduate students who do not earn their degree within the maximum timeframe to completion will be placed in Financial Aid Denied status. No aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment unless the student has made an appeal and the appeal is granted for that semester/period.
5. Reinstatement of Aid After Financial Aid Denied Status
   Reinstatement of financial aid after a student is placed in Financial Aid Denied status is achieved in one of the following ways:
   1. The student submits a written letter of appeal and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the appeal. The student is placed on Financial Aid Probation for the semester/period of enrollment rather than in Financial Aid Denied status.
   2. The student attends UMUC, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student financial aid, and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards. Students who are in Financial Aid Denied status for failure to graduate within the maximum timeframe to completion cannot regain eligibility this way. Students who are beyond the maximum timeframe to completion cannot regain financial aid eligibility except on a semester/period of enrollment-by-semester/period of enrollment basis through the appeal process.
6. Appeal Process
   The student must submit an appeal of Financial Aid Denied status in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee by the date specified in the Financial Aid Denied notification letter. The committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing of their decision within 14 working days after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its determination.