US Federal Student Aid

Overview

The US Federal Law (34CFR 668.34) requires all students receiving US Federal Financial Aid (Direct Loan Subsidized, Direct Loans Unsubsidized and/or PLUS) to progress satisfactorily towards completion of their chosen academic program.

Recipients of US Federal Financial Aid will be evaluated each term and progress will be monitored in the following areas:

1. Academic standing

2. Maximum timeframe (Academic progression)

Academic Standing

To remain eligible for the William D. Ford Direct Loan program:

Students must meet and maintain the following minimum GPA (on a 4.0 grading scale) each term for the SAP requirements:

• • 2.0  All Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees EXCEPT the following

  • 2.3  Bachelor of Arts in History

  • 2.5  Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Adventure Based Youth Counselling, and Religious Studies: Pre-Professional

  • 2.5  Bachelor of Education

Students failing to meet the minimum GP SAP requirements will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status.

Maximum Timeframe

Students must be enrolled at least half time (60% of a full course load) in each and every term they receive US Financial Aid.

Undergraduate students are entitled to receive aid for 150% of the allocated course time frame, provided they achieve the required GPA:

• Three-year degree – eligibility for aid 4.5 years

• Four-year degree – eligibility for aid 6 years

Students failing to meet the minimum timeframe for program completion will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status.

Financial Aid Warning Status

If a student fails to meet SAP in any term they will be given a Financial Aid Warning status. This notice will sent by postal service and email, notifying the student:

• Financial Aid Warning status has been issued for the current/upcoming term and

• Provide the area(s) of non-compliance with SAP standards, and

• Warning that the Federal Financial Aid could be discontinued in subsequent terms if SAP standards remain unmet.

Financial Aid Probation Status

If a student fails to meet SAP requirements after one term of Financial Aid Warning Status, the student will be given a Financial Aid Probation status. This notice will be sent by postal service and email notifying the student:

• Financial Aid Probation status has been issued for the current/upcoming term, and

• Providing the area(s) of non-compliance with SAP standards as previously outlined in the Financial Aid Warning, and

• Loss of US Federal Aid will occur at end of current term if SAP standards remain unmet, and

• Notify student of appeal process.

Appeal Process

When a student loses FSA because they failed to make satisfactory progress, they may appeal that result on the basis of:

1. Student’s injury or illness

2. The death of a relative

3. Other special circumstances

The appeal must explain why they failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. (Federal Student Aid Handbook: Volume 1, Chapter 1, Pg 11)

• The appeal should also include steps the student has taken to ensure that the cause issues has been resolved and any supporting documents. Please submit appeal and all documents to the office of Student Financial Services where the Student Finance/Financial Aid Committee will review it.

• If the appeal is denied, the student has no further recourse.

• A student may regain eligibility by meeting the SAP policy without the use of financial aid at Burman University. To do this they must:

  1. Enrol at Burman University or a Registrar-approved institution.

  2. Complete at least 9 credits applicable to the degree.

  3. Must successfully achieve the number of credit hours and/or cumulative average required for the SAP policy.