Financial Aid (Graduate Student Satisfactory Progress for Federal, State and Institutional Aid)

Financial Aid Policy for Repeating Courses

DOES THIS APPLY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS? The first and second time a student enrolls in a course, the course will be considered eligible hours for federal financial aid. However, the third time a student repeats a course for which he/she received a passing grade of D or better, the repeated credit hours will be ineligible for federal financial aid calculations, regardless of whether or not the student was receiving financial aid the first and second time they enrolled in the course. (Note: Graduate students will be dismissed if repeating the same course a second time with less than a B-.)

A student may repeat classes with failing grades (F) and receive financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Federal, State, and Institutional Aid

DOES THIS APPLY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS? The federal government requires that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of academic success for students to remain eligible to receive federal and state financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, F.S.E.O.G., Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Nebraska Opportunity Grant).  Nebraska Wesleyan University will follow these same guidelines for the awarding of institutional aid as well.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is maintained by meeting the following standards:

Qualitative – a student must have the following cumulative grade point average as follows:
1-25 attempted credits – 1.60
26-57 attempted credits – 1.80
58 or more attempted credits – 2.00

Incremental – the total number of credit hours earned divided by the total number of credit hours attempted (including transfer hours) must be at least 67%.

Overall – the maximum time for a student to complete their degree is 150% of the standard.  Candidates for all baccalaureate degrees must complete 126 credit hours, meaning the maximum time frame a student is eligible to receive financial aid is 189 credit hours.

The guidelines are established to encourage students to successfully complete courses for which financial aid is awarded and received.  Successful completion is defined as receiving a passing grade (not an “F”).  Courses transferred from other institutions will be included in the number of semester hours earned and attempted.  Courses with grades of “W”, “I”, or “F” are counted as hours attempted.

Procedures

Nebraska Wesleyan University will check SAP for students at the conclusion of the academic year (spring semester). 

If at the end of the academic year a student does not meet the SAP requirements, the student will have their financial aid suspended.  The Financial Aid Office will notify the student by NWU email.  A notice may also be mailed to the student’s most recent permanent mailing address.

Students in suspension may appeal their status by submitting a letter of explanation, and any supporting documentation, to the Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid by NWU email or postal mail. The letter of appeal should contain what the significant mitigating circumstances were that impacted the student’s ability to succeed (i.e. – serious illness or injury of the student, death or illness of a close relative or friend, etc.)  The appeal should also contain what the student learned from the situation, steps they have taken to make sure the circumstances will no longer impact the student’s academic success, and an academic plan of how they will regain satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation.  A letter of support from their academic advisor or other faculty member concerning the student’s ability to succeed would be beneficial as part of the appeal process.  Filing a letter of appeal does not guarantee continued eligibility for federal, state, or institutional financial aid.

If a student’s appeal is granted, the student will be notified by NWU email and given a probationary semester.  For the probationary semester the student may be considered academically eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

If an appeal is denied, the student will be notified by NWU email.  A notice may also be mailed to the student’s most recent permanent mailing address.  The decision is final for that semester.  The student may re-establish eligibility once they meet satisfactory academic progress requirements.