Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require that all recipients of student financial assistance make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Students applying for assistance through the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, TEACH Grant, Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG), Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Direct Parent PLUS Loan and Direct Graduate PLUS loan programs must meet THREE requirements to maintain their financial aid eligibility at NSU:

1. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average for all courses attempted or completed.

2. Students are required to complete (pass) a certain percentage of all hours they attempt.

3. Students must complete their degree within a timely manner.

These three requirements are summarized in the following charts. Failure to meet ALL of these minimum academic standards will result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. Students are expected to know, based on this Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, when they may be placed on financial aid warning, probation, or suspension. Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed at the end of each academic semester once grades have been posted.

1. Grade Point Average Requirement

Each student must meet a minimum cumulative grade point average (for all courses attempted) to remain eligible for federal student aid.

NOTE: The following degree programs are required to have a higher GPA to graduate and therefore their academic progress must be evaluated by their specific program GPA requirements.

• Bachelors of Social Work (B.S.W.) requires a 2.50 minimum GPA
• Baccalaureate education degrees (B.A.Ed, B.S.Ed, and B.M.E) require a 2.50 minimum GPA

Remedial Coursework

Remedial coursework for grades of P or S is calculated as a 2.0 GPA for the course. Grades of F are calculated with 0.0 GPA.

Pass or Fail

Pass or fail coursework GPA is included in the cumulative GPA calculation. Courses that receive a grade of P will be measured with a GPA of 2.0 for Undergraduate students and a 3.0 for Graduate students. Grades of F are calculated with 0.0 GPA.

 

2. Satisfactory Completion of Semester Hours Requirement

Students must also successfully complete and pass 67% of all courses they attempt. Grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, S, W, AW, WP, WF, I, N, NA, NP, X, and U are all considered attempted hours. All transfer hours are included in this calculation for undergraduate students. However, grades of F, AW, W, N, NA, NP, I, or U are not considered satisfactorily completed.

Incomplete/ X Grades

Incomplete or grade of I are considered to be GPA neutral until the coursework is complete and the student receives a letter grade for the course. Grades of I are counted in hours attempted, but not hours passed in the completion rate.

Students working on their thesis may receive a grade of X until all coursework is completed, the X will be considered as GPA neutral. Once a grade is earned the X will be changed to P or F and will at that time count towards the cumulative GPA. Grades of X count towards hours attempted.

Withdrawals

Students who withdraw after census date and receive grades of AW or W count as hours attempted, but are considered to be GPA neutral.

 

3. Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

Students must complete their degree program within an allotted time frame to remain eligible for financial aid. All students enrolled in a degree or certification program may attempt 150% of the hours required in pursuit of the degree or certification. The limitation scale is as follows: 

Title IV funds may only pay for one repeat of a previously passed course. More than one repeated course will not be calculated in your enrollment status pertaining to Title IV funds.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the conclusion of each academic semester after grades have been posted. All attempted and transfer hours are counted during this evaluation. (Transfer hours are only applicable to undergraduate degrees)

Rules are applied uniformly to all students whether or not aid has been received previously.

• A warning is given to students for one semester who do not meet either one or both requirements I. and II. shown above. This is a warning status and students can receive financial aid during their next semester of attendance. Note: A warning is not given to students regarding maximum time frame, it is the student's responsibility to know how many hours they have attempted and where they stand.
• Suspension will be required for any students who fail to meet either one or all requirements I. and II. at the conclusion of their warning semester. Students cannot receive funds from the aid programs listed above while suspended.

A student with extenuating circumstances may appeal a financial aid suspension by submitting an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Services. Appeals must explain in detail why the student failed to meet the minimum academic standards, what extenuating circumstances caused the failure, and how the situation has since improved. Examples of extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to; illness, medical issues with immediate family members, a death in the family, natural disaster, or COVID-19 disruption. Personal or financial issues with family, friends, or roommates are not considered extenuating circumstances. The appeal should include supporting documentation to substantiate the request for reinstatement. A student's appeal should include:

1. The reason(s) why the student failed to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
2. Supporting documentation that may be pertinent to the student's appeal.
3. An academic plan for success. (Details will be outlined in students suspension letter)

The Office of Student Financial Services appeal committee will evaluate all documentation submitted and the student's appeal will be approved or denied. The results of the appeal will be emailed/posted to the student's NSU Greenmail account within approximately ten working days. All decisions are final, unless the student can provide additional details not previously disclosed, the student will then have the ability to submit a revised appeal for the next appeal committee meeting.

If denied, the student is responsible for paying for their own educational costs until the student improves his/her scholastic record to meet the minimum standards. Students who were denied due to maximum time frame are responsible for paying for their own educational costs for the remainder of their degree program.

If approved, the student will either be:

1. Placed on probation for one semester only, or
2. Placed on a continued probation based on the academic plan for success that they submitted with their appeal.

The student's approval email/letter will explain all requirements that must be met during his/her probationary period to continue to receive financial aid.

A student who fails to complete a single course or has a complete withdrawal from the university after receiving financial aid may be automatically placed on suspension.