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 obtain a post-secondary education. Financial aid recipients are responsible for using the funds provided in an acceptable manner. Therefore, a student who wishes to benefit from the receipt of financial aid funds must maintain "satisfactory progress" as defined in this policy.

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 student who does not meet these standards is not eligible to receive federally-funded financial aid. In most instances, Southern Illinois University Carbondale shall make these standards applicable to all state and institutional aid programs for the purpose of maintaining a consistent and reasonable financial aid policy. However, 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, DORS, and the NCAA.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale requires that a student be making "satisfactory progress" toward a degree if he or she wishes to receive financial aid funds. A student is making "satisfactory progress" toward a degree if successfully meeting each of four academic standards:

1. Minimum SIUC Credit Hours Passed for SIUC Terms Enrolled: Each semester a student is enrolled for six (6) or more, but less than twelve (12) credit hours, counts as one-half (1/2) term enrolled. Each semester a student is enrolled for twelve (12) or more credit hours counts as one (1) term enrolled. A student is expected to have passed at least the prescribed number of cumulative credit hours at SIUC for the total number of terms enrolled at SIUC according to the following chart:

    

   SIUC Terms Enrolled	SIUC Hours Passed Cumulative	SIUC Terms Enrolled	SIUC Hours Passed Cumulative
   0.5	4	6.5	57
   1.0	8	7.0	62
   1.5	12	7.5	67
   2.0	16	8.0	72
   2.5	20	8.5	78
   3.0	24	9.0	84
   3.5	28	9.5	90
   4.0	32	10.0	96
   4.5	37	10.5	102
   5.0	42	11.0	108
   5.5	47	11.5	114
   6.0	52	12.0	120

    

2. Maximum SIUC Terms To Graduate: A student enrolled in a program leading to an Associate's Degree is expected to complete their degree in no more than three (3) academic years - six (6) semesters at SIUC. A student enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor's Degree is expected to complete their degree in no more than (6) academic years - twelve (12) semesters at SIUC.

    

3. Maximum Credit Hours Attempted: A student enrolled in a program leading to an Associate's Degree is expected to complete their degree before accumulating ninety (90) credit hours attempted including both SIUC and accepted transfer credit hours. A student enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor's Degree is expected to complete their degree before accumulating one hundred eighty (180) credit hours attempted including both SIUC and accepted transfer credit hours.

    

4. Minimum Grade Point Average: A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the end of each spring semester. Failure to maintain the grade point average requirement also has implications regarding scholastic standing. For additional information, see "Grading and Scholastic Regulations" in the current Undergraduate Catalog Bulletin.

The academic records of all students will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester to determine continued aid eligibility. A student who does not meet any one of the four standards set forth above is not maintaining "satisfactory progress" toward a degree and will be granted a one time only probationary period. The probationary period will extend until the next annual review (spring semester).

There are five circumstances that will result in the automatic termination of aid eligibility. No probationary period will apply.

1. Withdrawal from the University two consecutive semesters;
2. Receipt of all F and/or WF grades two consecutive semesters;
3. Failure to earn any academic credit two consecutive semesters;
4. Attaining the maximum number of SIUC terms needed to graduate; and
5. Reaching the maximum number of credit hours attempt threshold.

It shall be the responsibility of the Financial Aid Office to publish this policy and to notify any student who is on probation or is no longer eligible to receive financial aid funds. Said notice shall be addressed to the student's permanent address on file with the University. IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO INFORM THE UNIVERSITY OF A CORRECT PERMANENT ADDRESS AT ALL TIMES.

Students will have their eligibility to receive financial aid reinstated for enrollment after having reached the level of satisfactory progress required of them by this policy. They may achieve this status by receiving passing grades for courses previously incomplete or incorrectly recorded as withdrawals or failing grades and/or earning sufficiently more than the required number of passed hours for a term or terms of attendance without the benefit of financial aid.

Any student shall have an opportunity to appeal in writing to explain "mitigating circumstances." The appeal should be sent to the Financial Aid Office within 15 days of the notice of termination. The Financial Aid Office will review the "mitigating circumstances" documented in the appeal and provide a written decision within 20 days after the receipt of the appeal. The Financial Aid Office makes the final determination as to the validity of the mitigating circumstances presented on a case-by-case basis.

Credit hours attempted

shall be defined as the total SIUC hours for which the student has been enrolled at SIUC and the total accepted transfer credit hours.

 

Credit hours passed

shall be defined as the total number of academic credit hours for which a student receives a passing grade. Failing grades are not considered credit hours passed. Incompletes, withdrawals, audits, and remedial courses that do not count toward a degree shall not be considered as credit hours passed.

 

Eligible students

shall be defined as those students who are admitted to the University in a degree-seeking classification. All other students are not eligible for financial aid.

 

Full-time attendance

for undergraduates shall be defined as enrollment in twelve (12) hours or more per semester.

 

Half-time attendance

for undergraduates shall be defined as enrollment in six (6) or more, but less than twelve (12) hours, per semester.

 

Mitigating circumstances

are the reasons that explain why the student has not met the Satisfactory Progress standards and can include medical reasons, family crisis, personal problems, change of major, or other circumstances which adversely affected student performance.

 

Probationary period

is a one year period in which the student who does not meet the requirements of satisfactory progress is eligible for financial aid.

 

Undergraduate

shall be defined as a student who is a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or a senior with a Bachelor's degree seeking a second Bachelor's.