Satisfactory Progress Policy

PURPOSE
The Federal Government, the States, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale have invested large sums of money in order to provide financially needy students the opportunity to attain a post-secondary education. Financial aid recipients are responsible for using the funds provided in an acceptable manner. Therefore, a classified graduate student who wishes to benefit from the receipt of financial aid must maintain satisfactory progress as defined in this policy.

AUTHORITY
The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended and the final regulations set forth by the Department of Education in 34 CFR 668 require that institutions of higher education establish reasonable standards of satisfactory progress. A classified graduate student who does not meet these standards is not eligible to receive applicable federally funded and/or state funded financial aid. Southern Illinois University Carbondale shall make these standards applicable to the following federal aid programs: Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study, Stafford Loan Programs, and the Supplemental Loans for Students. Applicable state progress are identified by the state agencies. Nondeclared graduate students are only eligible to be considered for a Stafford Loan or a Supplemental Loan for Students during one twelve-month period while preparing for a classified program of study.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS STANDARDS
SIUC requires that a classified graduate student be making satisfactory progress toward a degree if that student wishes to receive financial aid funds. A classified graduate student is making satisfactory progress toward a degree if successfully meeting three basic academic standards. First, a classified graduate student is given a maximum time to graduate. Second, a classified graduate student must complete a reasonable number of credit hours attempted each academic year in attendance. Third, a classified graduate student must maintain a scholastic standing, derived from grades, that allows for continued enrollment at the University under current academic guidelines. The following parameters will be used to define these basic academic standards:

1. Maximum Time to Graduate. A student's eligibility is terminated after the academic year in which a cumulative total of 75 masters hours--90 for the Master of Fine Arts degree--or 100 doctoral hours is attempted. (Also see Time Limits for completion of degree elsewhere in this chapter.

2. Credit Hours Completed. A graduate student must complete at least 75% of the credit hours attempted during any year. The student's progress will be measured annually after Spring Semester to determine the progress made for the last academic year of attendance.

3. Grades. A student must be in compliance with the University's policy concerning academic standing, grades, and grade point average as defined under the topic "Retention" and all other provisions in the current Graduate Catalog. A graduate student who is academically suspended from the Graduate School is not making satisfactory progress.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as a reduction of external requirements by other federal, state, public, or private agencies when they award or control financial aid. Examples of such agencies are: Veterans Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the NCAA.

DEFINITIONS
Credit Hours Attempted shall be defined as those credit hours for which a student is registered and will receive a grade from SIUC.

Credit Hours Completed for the purpose of the policy shall be defined as the total number of academic credit hours for which a graduate student receives any grade from SIUC other than incomplete and failing, withdrawal, unsatisfactory, or audit. Deferred grades count as credit hours completed.

Eligible Students shall be defined as those classified graduate student who are admitted to the Graduate School and to a specific degree program.

Grade Point Average (GPA) is defined in the Graduate Catalog under the topic "Retention".

NOTIFICATION OF INELIGIBLE STATUS
It is the responsibility of the Graduate School to notify by letter any graduate student who is no longer eligible to receive financial aid funds. Said notices shall be addressed to the graduate student's most current permanent address on file with the University. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO INFORM THE UNIVERSITY OF A CORRECT PERMANENT ADDRESS AT ALL TIMES. The Financial Aid office will provide the Graduate School with a list of graduate students who are no longer eligible to receive federal or applicable state financial aid.

REINSTATEMENT
Graduate students will have their eligibility to receive financial aid reinstated when they have reached the level of satisfactory progress required of them by this policy. They may achieve this status by the correction of incorrect grades, or by completing the required number of attempted hours during the next academic year of enrollment without the benefit of applicable financial aid.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS PROBATIONARY PERIOD
A graduate student who has not met the satisfactory progress requirements 2 and 3 specified above will be granted an extension for the following calendar year and will remain eligible for financial aid during this period. At the end of the probationary period, the student must have rectified the deficiency and be in compliance with all other established criteria in order to be considered eligible for federal financial aid. Only one such probationary period will be granted a student during graduate studies.

APPEAL FOR MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
A graduate student shall have the opportunity to appeal in writing to explain mitigating circumstances. The appeal should be sent to the Graduate School with endorsement of the student's program within 30 days of receipt of the notice of ineligible status. The Graduate School will review the mitigating circumstances documented in the appeal and provide a written decision within 20 days after the receipt of the appeal.

The Graduate School will provide written notification to the Financial Aid office concerning all graduate students who have been granted an exception for mitigating circumstances.

Questions regarding the Graduate Assistantship\Fellowship Office: Contact gaoffice@siu.edu