Policies - Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations mandate that all students make satisfactory, measurable academic progress toward completion of a degree in order to receive federal assistance through Title IV federal grant, work and loan programs. The academic progress of all financial aid applicants and recipients will be reviewed for Qualitative Progress (grade point average), Quantitative Progress (hours earned) and Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion. Students must maintain satisfactory progress in all three areas whether or not they have received financial aid in the past.

EKU has adopted the following standards of satisfactory academic progress in order to comply with requirements of the US Department of Education. These standards are for financial aid purposes only and do not replace or override the academic policies of Eastern Kentucky University. Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester and summer term for currently enrolled financial aid recipients. Students considered to have special circumstances may be reviewed at the end of each enrollment period. The academic progress of new financial aid applicants will be reviewed as ISIR data is received by EKU. It is the students' responsibility to stay informed of the University's SAP standards and policy.

QUALITATIVE PROGRESS

DEGREE PROGRAM CUMULATIVE G.P.A.

Undergraduate Students 2.0

Graduate 3.0

This denotes the minimum acceptable grade point average based on whether the student is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. This standard is consistent with the university's minimum scholastic standards as published in the academic catalog.

QUANTITATIVE PROGRESS

Students must earn at least 75% of the credit hours for which they receive financial assistance. For example, a student who receives financial assistance during the fall and spring semesters for full-time enrollment in each semester (24 hours total) would be required to earn at least 18 credit hours in order to meet quantitative standards. A part-time student who receives financial assistance during the fall and spring semesters for 6 hours enrollment in each semester (12 hours total) would be required to earn at least 9 credit hours in order to meet quantitative standards. A student who receives aid for 6 credit hours during a summer term would be required to earn at least 4.5 credit hours in order to meet quantitative standards. Quantitative progress will be reviewed at the conclusion of each spring and summer term.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME FOR DEGREE COMPLETION

Students pursuing a bachelor degree are expected to earn their degree before they have attempted 180 credit hours. Exceptions may be made for a student pursuing a bachelor degree which requires considerably more than 128 hours for completion as stated in the university catalog, but the maximum hour allowance will not exceed 150% of the hours required for completion.
Students pursuing an associate degree are expected to earn their degree before they have attempted 90 credit hours.
Students pursuing a graduate degree are expected to earn their degree before they have attempted 40 credit hours (120%). Students pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology or Communications Disorders are expected to earn their degree before they have attempted 72 credit hours (120%).
Students pursuing a second associate or bachelor degree will be monitored on an individual basis to ensure they are taking courses that are applicable toward their degree program.

Changes in major and/or double majors do not increase the time frame allowed. Once it tis determined that a student is not on track to earn his/her degree before hitting the maximum credit hours, aid is denied. If it is determined that a student has completed all degree requirements, but simply has not yet applied for or received the degree, the student will no longer be eligible to receive aid for that degree.

Monitoring Maximum Time Frame

Reports will be run at the conclusion of every term (fall, spring, summer) to identify students who are not on track to complete their degree before reaching the maximum credit hours allowed. Holds will be placed on each student's account to prevent future financial assistance to be processed and/or applied for that student. The student will be notified of their financial aid status by mail.

ATTEMPTED HOURS

Incompletes will not be considered as hours earned for an academic year until a grade is received, however, the hours will be considered to be attempted.
Bankrupted hours are considered attempted hours for financial aid purposes.
Withdrawn hours (including administrative withdrawals) are considered attempted hours for financial aid purposes.
Repeated hours are considered attempted hours each time the course is taken. If a student enrolls for an excessive number of repeated courses, he/she will not be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the degree program and this could result in a loss of financial assistance.
Remedial/developmental courses are considered as hours earned, but the course grades are not included in the calculation of grade point averages. Any student who enrolls for more than 30 hours of remedial/developmental courses will not be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion and could be subject to a loss of financial assistance.
Transfer hours are considered as both attempted and earned hours.
All students receiving financial assistance must be degree-seeking and taking courses applicable to their degree program.

Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility