SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Students who receive financial assistance from any federal program
authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 must
meet minimum standards of academic progress. These programs include:
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Federal Stafford Loans
- Federal PLUS (Parent) Loans
Certain state, institutional, and private assistance programs will
also require that students maintain these standards of satisfactory
academic progress.
STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Pursuant to the Act and regulations issued by the United States
Department of Education, Francis Marion University has determined
that students are considered to be making Satisfactory Academic
Progress if they meet the following minimum standards:
1. Receive admission to and are enrolled in an eligible program
of study.
2. Meet University standards for continuing enrollment as published
in the in this catalog including continuance based on appeal.
3. Earn a minimum of 75 percent of all credit hours attempted at
Francis Marion University. This includes all academic terms (fall,
spring, and summer).
4. Complete their degrees within attempting 180 hours for an undergraduate
degree, 54 hours for a graduate degree in education or business,
and 86 hours for a graduate degree in psychology. Attempted hours
include all transfer, advanced placement, and College Level Examination
Program credits.
TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY
The satisfactory academic progress of all students receiving financial
assistance is checked at the end of the fall and spring semesters.
At the end of the fall semester, students not making satisfactory
academic progress are notified and encouraged to use the spring
semester to demonstrate academic progress. Financial assistance
eligibility is not terminated at the end of a fall semester with
the following two exceptions:
1. Students for whom fall
semester brings their attempted hours up to the maximum level
(180 for undergraduate students, 54 for education and business
graduate students, 86 for psychology graduate students).
2. Students who were approved
by appeal through fall semester only.
At the end of the spring semester, students who received financial
assistance during the spring semester are evaluated. Those who do
not meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards will
be notified that their financial assistance is terminated.
REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for financial assistance may be reinstated in one of
two ways:
1. Improving the percentage
of hours completed to 75 percent by enrolling in and completing
courses with personal funds.
2. The approval of an
appeal submitted by the student to the Office of Financial Assistance
for presentation to the Financial Assistance Committee. The appeal
should include explanation and documentation of any unusual circumstances
that prevented the student from performing his or her best academically.
Appeal guidelines are available from the Office of Financial Assistance.