Financial Assistance

Chicago State University (CSU) makes every effort to assist students in financing their education. A variety of federal, state, institutional, and private programs are available to qualified students. In some cases the student applicant must demonstrate financial need; in others, financial need is not a consideration when awards are made.

All information, as set forth below, as well as additional and continually updated information can be found on the CSU Office of Student Financial Aid website. Simply go to www.csu.edu and click on Financial Aid.

Students should access the Office of Student Financial Aid website on a regular basis for important information concerning issues that may affect financial aid eligibility. Students should also take time to explore the website. They will, in many cases, find answers to questions they might have regarding the financial aid process and eligibility requirements to receive financial aid funds. There are also numerous “links” embedded in the website to other areas of both the CSU web and World Wide Web where students may become better informed about the financial aid process and possible funding sources for their education.

All notification from our office to students is via e-mail (once a student has been admitted and assigned a CSU e-mail address, or to the e-mail address provided on the FAFSA of first time students until they have been admitted and provided a CSU e-mail address). In those rare instances where an e-mail address is not available, regular mail will be utilized. Once an e-mail address for a student has come into our system it will be used for all subsequent correspondence.

(Questions/problems concerning CSU e-mail accounts should be directed to the CSU Information Technology “Help Desk” at (773) 995-3963.)

CSU X-Press (CSU’s electronic student information system) is available to all enrolled students and applicants. It gives students access to their entire financial aid record at CSU. Even if a student has not received correspondence from us he/she should access the financial aid section of CSU X-Press to periodically review his/her financial aid standing. Sometimes issues which may affect financial aid eligibility may arise over the course of an academic year. If it is an issue specific to just one student it will be posted to his/her account on CSU X-Press . If it is an issue that affects all students it will be posted to the website.

If we send e-mail notification regarding an issue which is specific to one student, or a general issue affecting all students, there is always the possibility that it may not be received it because a box is full, it is deleted it by accident, or because of a hardware/software problem. The Office of Student Financial Aid cannot be responsible for failure of an e-mail notification to reach any student for any of these, or similar, reasons. All students (prospective and admitted) have access to both the Office of Student Financial Aid website and CSU X-Press, which is not dependent upon e-mail notification. Remember, as stated in the previous paragraph, any information we might send you via e-mail would also be available for review on either our website if it is of a general nature, or CSU X-press if it concerns a private/personal matter which may affect financial aid eligibility.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL STUDENTS TO KEEP THEMSELVES INFORMED AS TO ISSUES THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY BY REGULARLY ACCESSING THE OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID WEBSITE AND CSU X-PRESS.

All applicants for financial assistance are required to apply for state and federal financial assistance before they will be considered for institutional assistance. Students who wish to receive consideration for financial aid funds (grants / loans / student employment, and many scholarship programs) must complete the financial aid application process every academic year. At CSU the academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer semester.

The first step a student must take is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students are encouraged to file on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov (link to this website through the Office of Student Financial Aid page of the CSU website) or obtain a paper FAFSA from a high school guidance office, community college or in the lobby of the CSU Office of Student Financial Aid. CSU’s Federal school code is 001694. Applicants will need to enter this code on the FAFSA so that CSU will receive a copy of the application once it has been processed by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). By filing the FAFSA first time candidates for Bachelor degrees automatically apply for:

Federal Pell Grant
Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)
Federal ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant)
Federal SMART (National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
State of Illinois MAP Grant (for Illinois residents only)
State of Illinois IIA Grant (for first time Illinois freshman only)

Additionally, the information provided on the FAFSA will also help determine eligibility for:

Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Federal Work-Study
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance and Higher Education Grant Program)

Funding for Federal SEOG and Federal Work-Study is limited. In order to receive consideration for these funds students should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st of each year for the upcoming academic year. Funding for the State of Illinois MAP Grant is also limited. In order to receive consideration for this fund students are encouraged to file their FAFSA no later than January 31^st for the upcoming academic year.

Once a FAFSA has been processed the applicant will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the USDE. If the applicant filed via the internet (and signed the FAFSA with a USDE PIN) and provided an e-mail address on the FAFSA he/she will receive, within two business days, e-mail notification from the USDE that his/her SAR is available for on-line review. If a paper FAFSA was filed, or filing was via the internet without providing an e-mail address, an applicant can expect to receive a printed copy of a SAR in approximately four weeks. Our office will receive electronic copies of all SARs (provided our Federal school code was included) once processing is completed.

Review / Make Corrections / Provide Missing Information

Applicants should review the SAR thoroughly. If additional information is required, or an error was made in any of the information provided in the original FAFSA filing, it is the applicant’s obligation to provide the additional/correct information in order to complete the FAFSA process. Our office will receive electronic copies of any additions/corrections made.

Verification

Approximately 30% of FAFSAs/SARs are selected by the USDE for a process called “Verification”. If a student is selected for Verification he/she must complete a CSU “Institutional Verification Form” (available for download from the Office of Student Financial Aid website) and submit it to our office along with the appropriate tax return(s) and income information. In some instances students must also provide us with copies of proof of registration for Selective Service (males only), birth certificates, Social Security cards, etc.

If an applicant is a current CSU student we will send an e-mail to his/her CSU assigned e-mail account notifying them that they have been selected for Verification.

If an applicant is a new student, and has provided an e-mail address on the FAFSA, we will send you e-mail notification to that address.

If we have no e-mail address for the applicant we will mail notification via the U.S. Postal Service.

In all these instances the notification will be of a generic nature and will refer the applicant to CSU X-Press , CSU’s electronic student information system. When a student has accessed his/her record on CSU X-Press they will be able to review what documents need to be provided or what additional information is required to complete the processing of their financial aid package.

Financial Aid Awards

We will, upon receipt of a SAR (and any corrections made to it), send notification via e-mail (if we have an e-mail address for the applicant), or by regular mail in the absence of an e-mail address, informing the student that a listing of his/her financial aid awards, if he/she is eligible, is available for your review and acceptance on CSU X-Press . It is important that students complete the acceptance process of awards as funding for some awards is limited.

If an applicant is selected for “Verification” (discussed above) please note that the amount of his/her awards could change if the documentation provided conflicts with the information provided on the original FAFSA (and any subsequent corrections made). Should the amount of any award change (increase, decrease or be eliminated altogether) we will send another notification that a student needs to, once again, review their status on CSU X-Press .

Loan eligibility will be reflected in an “Offered” status in CSU X-Press . A student may accept any loan in whole, or in part, or may decline a loan altogether. Once a student has accepted a loan he/she should refer to the Office of Student Financial Aid website for further information as to completing the loan application process.

Deadlines for Financial Assistance Applications*

The Office of Student Financial Aid will accept SARs on an ongoing basis. Deadlines, if any, imposed by CSU, or federal or state agencies involved in the student aid process will be posted to the CSU Office of Student Financial Aid website. Awards of campus-based assistance will be made to those students with the greatest documented need as indicated by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ⁽¹⁾ as reflected on a student’s SAR, on a first-come first-served basis for those applicants meeting any financial aid deadlines. Awards will be processed only after a student’s SAR is received and any required documentation has been received by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Informational Notes:

1) EFC is the amount that a student's family is expected to contribute towards the Cost of Attendance(2), usually based on the family's income and assets as determined by the USDE based upon the information provided on a student’s FAFSA. The EFC is used to award aid for the Federal Pell Grant, campus-based, and Federal Stafford Loan programs.

2) A student’s “Cost of Attendance” includes not only tuition and fees, but the student's living expenses while attending school. The Cost of Attendance is estimated by CSU, within guidelines established by federal law. The Cost of Attendance is compared to a student's EFC to determine the student's need for financial assistance.

Financial Assistance Eligibility

In general, students are eligible for federal and state financial assistance if they meet the following requirements:

Must be admitted to CSU.
Must be in good academic standing.
Must be enrolled (at least on a half-time basis) in a program leading to an undergraduate degree (not “at-large” or enrolled in contract courses).
Must be making satisfactory academic progress.
Must not be in default on a Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford loan, Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), or Federal Perkins Loan.
Must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant,SEOG Grant. ACG Grant or SMART Grant.
Must be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and CSU policies.
Must complete, submit and/or sign any required documentation.
Must demonstrate financial need.
Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

Note: Undergraduate students enrolled for less than 6 credit hours may be considered for a Federal Pell Grant, a State of Illinois MAP Grant or other financial assistance. See a financial aid advisor for additional information.

Financial Assistance Programs

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined on the basis of demonstrated financial need as reflected by the EFC on the SAR. The maximum and minimum award amounts may vary annually dependent upon U.S. government legislation and funding. Federal Pell Grants can be used to pay educational related expenses incurred by the student.

Pell Grants will be processed continually throughout the award year, which begins on July 1st and ends June 30th of the following year. All students must have available SARs and be enrolled in order to be eligible for payment. Students who wait until the academic year is over to submit SARs to the Office of Student Financial Aid will not be eligible for the Pell Grant.

Chicago State University: Year-Round Federal Pell Grant Policy

Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year students may be eligible for up to 2 scheduled awards (200%) per year of Pell grant. Students who first receive Pell Grants on or after July 1, 2008, will be limited to 18 full-time semesters or 900% of Pell Grant.

For the summer of 2010, CSU will pay Pell grants out of the 2009-2010 year during the transition period for the new Pell Grant awards. If students use their first scheduled award and they enroll in a minimum of 4 credit hours they can be eligible for a 2 ^nd scheduled award. For example, if the student received a full-time award in fall 2009 and spring 2010 (and successfully earned credit for all enrolled hours), and then enrolls in 4 hours or more in summer they would receive Pell grant, for the summer payment period from the 2009-2010 year, providing they are otherwise eligible. For the summer 2010 only, no consideration will be given to 2010-2011 student eligibility during the cross-over payment period and no consideration will be given to academic progression requirements.

For the summer 2011, Chicago State University will consider the term to be a “cross-over” payment period and will pay Pell grant out of the 2010-2011 or 2011-2012, whichever award year provides the student with the most Pell eligibility. Students must have a valid FAFSA on file for the year used to determine Pell grant eligibility and meet all other federal aid eligibility criteria. If a student uses their first scheduled award (and successfully earns credit for all enrolled hours) and they enroll in a minimum of 4 credit hours for summer they can be eligible for a 2 ^nd scheduled award. Students must have one hour of enrollment during the summer which would go into their second year. For example, Chicago State University defines its year as 24 credit hours; if the student receives a full-time award in fall 2010 and spring 2011 and enrolls in 4 credit hours or more in the summer they would receive Pell grant, for the summer payment period from the 2010-2011 or the 2011-2012 award year based on whichever will provide the largest scheduled award, providing they are otherwise eligible. Pell grant for a payment period may be combined using the first and second scheduled awards if the student is eligible. For the summer 2011, students will also need to meet applicable academic progression requirements for the 2010-2011 awards or they may be ineligible for the first scheduled award from the 2011-2012 year. For summer terms in all subsequent years, after 2011, the rules applied in summer 2011 will be applied using the correct aid year as determined by federal regulations.

Academic year completion requirements:

Annual grant limits are tied to completion of an academic year. Chicago State University uses 24 credit hours to define a financial aid academic year. For purposes of determining eligibility for a second scheduled Pell grant award, a student must first earn a minimum of 24 credit hours. Earned credit hours are defined as those hours for which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D or P. Classes for which a student received a grade of W, WA, WN, WF, WP, F,I,X, will not be counted as earned credits under this policy.

Special circumstances consideration:

The Financial Aid Director determines if a student was unable to complete the hours of the first academic year due to “circumstances beyond the student’s control”. All determination must be documented and made on a student by student basis.

May include, but are not limited to:

Student withdrawing from classes due to illness.
Student being unable to register for classes necessary to complete his or her eligible program because classes were not offered or were filled or cancelled.

Special Circumstances beyond a student’s control does not include:

Withdrawing to avoid a particular grade.
Failing to register for necessary class that is offered during the term to avoid a particular instructor.
Classes are full and is unable to register.

Transfer students:

If a student received 100% of a first scheduled Pell grant award at a previous institution, Chicago State University will assume the student completed a full academic year for the summer 2010 semester.

If a student received less than 100% of a first scheduled Pell grant award at a previous institution, Chicago State University will assume the student completed the same ratio of academic year as Pell grant received. For example, if a student received 75% of first scheduled Pell grant at a prior institution, we would assume student complete 18 credits toward academic year (75% x 24) credit hours in Chicago State University’s federal financial aid academic year.

For summer 2011, transfer student will be required to provide the Office of Student Financial Aid with an official academic transcript from their previous college/university if they want to be considered for a second scheduled award of Pell.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The federal government annually allocates a limited amount of funds to CSU for SEOG. This program is for undergraduate students only. All awards are made on the basis of demonstrated financial need (EFC). Awards generally range from $300 to $4,000 per academic year and are awarded on a first come basis to those students who file a FAFSA and deliver a SAR in early January, for the upcoming award year, to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant (for Illinois residents only)

By applying for financial aid (FAFSA) and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) a student will be considered for the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. If a student is determined to meet the eligibility criteria for MAP, an award amount will be included in the student’s financial aid package.

Eligibility for MAP is tracked by ISAC by the equivalent number of semester hours of MAP benefits paid on a student’s behalf. This is called MAP Paid Credit Hours. Payment for each term is being made according to the equivalent number of credit hours eligible for MAP payment, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 MAP Paid Credit Hours.

There is a limit on the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be paid while a student is classified by his/her school as a freshman and sophomore. This limit is the equivalent of 75 MAP Paid Credit Hours. If this maximum is reached, a student must attain junior status for MAP eligibility to resume. Once a student attains 120 MAP Paid Credit Hours the student’s award eligibility is reduced by half. The maximum number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be received is capped at 135.

For additional information please consult the ISAC website at www.collegezone.com .

The number of grants made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA)

The purpose of the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program is to improve access and retention for students who have limited ability to pay for college, and possibly to reduce the amount of loan dollars borrowed by these students. To be eligible for IIA, a student must be a freshman, have an EFC of zero, and meet other MAP eligibility requirements. Currently, the IIA Program provides a grant of up to $500 delivered in two disbursements of $250 per term.

For additional information please consult the ISAC website at www.collegezone.com.

The number of grants made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount award, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Chicago State University Presidential Scholars Program

The Presidential Scholars Program recruits academically talented students who have demonstrated leadership ability, community service and maintained a 3.35 cumulative grade point average and an ACT composite score of 20 or higher.

A limited number of tuition awards are available to incoming freshmen students. Tuition awards are also available for other students. Students must be enrolled full-time. Applicants are required to apply for state and federal financial aid, although financial need is not a requirement for receipt of this award. All recipients of the Presidential Scholars award must volunteer 40 hours of community service each semester, attend academic and professional development workshops, and attend monthly Presidential Scholars meetings. Applications for this program are available in the Career Development Center located in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building. For more information, contact the Presidential Scholars Program at 773/821-2541.

Illinois Merit Recognition Scholarship

This program provides a one-time, non-renewable $1,000 award to Illinois students who rank in the top 5% of their high school classes by the end of the third semester before graduation or score among the top 5% of scores on the ACT, SAT or Prairie State Achievement Exam. Financial need is not a factor. This scholarship can be used to meet tuition, fees, or other expenses.

High schools certify and send the names of students who are eligible applicants to ISAC. ISAC then sends applications to those students. CSU will be asked to confirm a student’s enrollment once a student has been accepted for admission and has completed the enrollment process.

For additional information please consult the ISAC website at www.collegezone.com.

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Special Education Teacher Scholarship Program

This program provides scholarships to students who plan to take courses in preparation for teaching special education. These scholarships may be awarded to undergraduate students or to holders of a valid Illinois Teacher Certificate who wish to take graduate courses. Recipients of this scholarship are required to teach in an approved school beginning within one year and continuing for two of the five years immediately following graduation or termination of enrollment.

For additional information and to make application for this scholarship please consult the ISAC website at www.collegezone.com.

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG)

IVG, administered by ISAC, pays tuition and allowable fees for four years of full-time attendance for Illinois residents who are veterans having at least one year of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. For information on how to complete the application process for this grant, with ISAC, please consult the CSU Veterans Affairs website. In addition to completing the necessary application and providing our Office of Veterans Affairs with a copy of your acceptance letter, you will need to provide us with a copy of your DD214.

For additional information please consult the CSU Veterans Affairs website.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program

Members of the Illinois National Guard may be eligible for ING which pays tuition and allowable fees.

For additional information please consult the CSU Veterans Affairs website.

MIA/POW Scholarship

Tuition and certain fees for any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or stepchild of an Illinois veteran or service person who has been declared by the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Veterans Administration to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, or who has died as the result of a service-connected disability, or is 100% disabled.

For additional information please consult the CSU Veterans Affairs website.

Illinois State Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship

This scholarship covers in-state tuition during the period a recipient is enrolled in the ROTC program. Recipients must be Illinois residents, enrolled at CSU, and in the Army ROTC program. If awarded, the scholarship is retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Students who enter from an Illinois community college must have completed all possible work at the community college. Military obligation is not incurred by the acceptance of this scholarship.

Application forms are available at the Chicago State University Army ROTC Unit, located in Douglas Hall.

Grants Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers

Grants to cover tuition and allowable fees are available to the spouse and children of Illinois police, fire and correctional personnel killed in the line of duty who meet eligibility requirements.

For additional information and to make application for this scholarship please consult the ISAC website at www.collegezone.com.

Federal Perkins Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan)

The federal government annually allocates limited funds to CSU for the Federal Perkins Loan program. Students are eligible based on demonstrated exceptional financial need. Students may borrow up to $5,500 annually.

For further information please consult the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford and Parent PLUS loans)

Low interest Federal Stafford (both Subsidized and Unsubsidized) and Parent PLUS loans are available to students (or the parent[s] of dependent undergraduate students) who are enrolled at least half-time.

Students must demonstrate financial need in order to be eligible for a Subsidized Stafford Student Loan. If a student’s EFC is too high he /she may not be leibile for Subsidized Stafford. Unsubsidized Staffords are not based on need and therefore most students qualify without regard to their EFC. The combination of the loan(s) and all other forms of assistance cannot exceed the student’s Cost of Attendance.

Repayment of principal is deferred (unless an election is made to the contrary) while a student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Payments generally begin six months after a student graduates, or stops attending. Payment can be deferred if a student experiences financial difficult or hardship.

Direct Loans sets a maximum total of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans a student may borrow at the undergraduate level. A student is limited to $57,500 in Stafford, of which no more thatn $23,000 may be Subsidized.

PLUS loans enable parents to borrow up to the Cost of Attendance (less other aid received) for each dependent child who is enrolled at least half time. There is no maximum total for PLUS loans, provided the dependent student is enrolled in a qualified undergraduate program.

Please consult the Office of Student Financial Aid website for additional information regarding the loan process.

Loan Counseling

Students who receive Stafford loans are required to participate in an Entrance Interview (loan counseling session). This requirement must be completed on-line. For further information, or to complete this process, please consult the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

A limited number of positions, available throughout the university, are funded through the Federal Work-Study program. Students with exceptional financial need are awarded FWS, and given the opportunity to be employed. Rates of pay vary, depending upon the type of work and level of responsibility.

Eligibility for Federal Work-Study funds is determined by demonstrated financial need (EFC) and is awarded on a first come basis to those students who file a FAFSA and deliver a SAR to the Office of Student Financial Aid in early January, for the upcoming award year.

For further information please consult the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Scholarships

For information pertaining to scholarships, other than those listed above, please consult both the Office of Student Financial Aid website and your academic department.

The Office of Student Financial Aid maintains a comprehensive website containing thousands of scholarship opportunities. There are individual categories on the website devoted to such areas as Illinois residents, nursing candidates, education majors, minorities, etc., as well as links to major scholarship foundations and internet search engines.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The Chicago State University (CSU) Undergraduate and Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy measures whether eligible undergraduate and graduate students are progressing at a responsible rate towards the completion of their educational objectives. Students must be in compliance with this policy in order to maintain their continued financial aid eligibility and to participate in the following financial aid programs:

Federal Pell Grant
Federal SEOG
Federal TEACH
Federal Work-Study
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
Federal & State Veterans Programs
All State of Illinois Gift Assistance Grants/Scholarships

Chicago State University’s SAP policy includes both qualitative and quantitative measures. Failure to meet any one of the criteria will result in the cancellation of the student's financial aid award for current and/or future semesters, depending upon the time of the review. However, if students are not meeting SAP at the end of the spring term, they will be ineligible for financial aid for the summer term, regardless if they already have a financial aid award and are enrolled/attending classes. Please be aware, once enrolled for a term students accept responsibility for any bill assessed regardless of their financial aid status. Students not meeting the SAP requirements will be notified accordingly via email at the end of each semester.

All periods of a student's enrollment, whether or not the student received aid, are also included in the SAP review. In addition, all credit hours transferred to CSU for the current enrollment level are included and counted towards a student's maximum time frame and are reflected in the student's cumulative grade point average (GPA). Please note, this is only the case if a GPA was able to be determined based upon the transcript(s) provided to the Office of Records and Registration.

Qualitative Measure (cumulative grade point average):

Undergraduate - Undergraduate students must have at least a 2.0 (or “C” average) cumulative GPA by the end of each semester. For example, this would apply to students whose first semester of attendance at CSU was Fall term or earlier when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the Spring term. If the cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 (when SAP is reviewed) after the student’s second semester, the student’s aid will be cancelled. Some grades such as “P, W/P, W/F, W/A, W/N, I, X, I/F, P1, PW, PS, and PN” will not be included in the cumulative GPA.

Graduate/Professional - Graduate and professional students must have at least a 3.0 (or “B” average) cumulative GPA at the end of each semester. For example, this would apply to students whose first semester of attendance at CSU was Fall or earlier when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the Spring term. If the cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 (when SAP is reviewed) after the student’s second semester, the student’s aid will be cancelled. Some grades such as “P, W/P, W/F, W/A, W/N, I, ID, X, I/F, P, PW, PS, and PN” will not be included in the cumulative GPA. Please note, most colleges and departments have stricter standards to remain in good academic standing. Students should consult with their particular college or department for the requirements to remain in good academic standing for their program.

Certification & 2nd Bachelors- Certification and 2nd Bachelors students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester. For example, this would apply to students whose first semester of attendance at CSU was Fall or earlier when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the Spring term. If the cumulative GPA is below a 2.5 (when SAP is reviewed) after the student’s second semester, the student’s aid will be cancelled. Some grades such as “P, W/P, W/F, W/A, W/N, I, X, I/F, P, PW, PS, and PN” will not be included in the cumulative GPA. Please note, most colleges and departments have stricter standards to remain in good academic standing. Students should consult with their particular college or department for the requirements to remain in good academic standing for their program.

Quantitative Measures (maximum time frame and course completion ratio):

Undergraduate - Regulations state that undergraduate students must complete their program within 150% of the published length of their program. The minimum number of credit hours required for an undergraduate degree at CSU is usually 120. Therefore, in this case undergraduate students are allowed to attempt a maximum of 180 credit hours while pursuing their degree. The 180 credit hour maximum timeframe still applies, regardless of how many times a student changes majors or if he/she is pursuing multiple majors or degrees. The required number of credit hours does vary based upon degree, so the maximum number of credit hours that a student may attempt will vary in some cases. If at the time when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the spring term (or any other term) it is determined that a student has exceeded the maximum number of attempted credit hours based upon their degree, the student’s aid will be cancelled.

In addition to the maximum number of credits undergraduate students may attempt while pursuing their degree, they must also successfully complete 67% of the cumulative attempted credits at CSU. Credits attempted are those hours a student is registered for at the conclusion of the add/drop period each semester as defined by the Office of Records and Registration. All classes for which a student is registered after that date will be included. Successfully completed course work is defined as the total number of hours which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, P. If when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the spring term (or any other term), a student falls below the 67% cumulative standard. When a student enters a warning period the student’s aid will be cancelled unless he/she is on financial aid probation and is meeting the requirements of their probation.

Graduate/Professional - Graduate and professional students’ financial aid eligibility is contingent upon completing their degree requirements within 150% of the program’s published length in accordance with the standards established by their respective college or department. Students should consult with their particular college or department regarding the published length of their specific program. Please be aware that students seeking a second graduate or professional degree, who have exhausted their eligibility, will need to file a SAP appeal to regain financial aid eligibility.

In addition to the maximum timeframe, students must also successfully complete 67% of the cumulative attempted credits at CSU. Credits attempted are those hours a student is registered for at the conclusion of the add/drop period each semester as defined by the Office of Records and Registrations. All classes for which a student is registered after that date will be included. Successfully completed course work is defined as the total number of hours which a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, P. If when SAP is reviewed at the conclusion of the spring term (or any other term), a student falls below the 67% cumulative standard. When a student enters a warning period the student’s aid will be cancelled unless he/she is on financial aid probation and is meeting the requirements of their probation.

Treatment of course withdrawals, incomplete(s)/not reported, repeated courses and non-credit remedial courses:

Withdrawals (W): Courses dropped before the conclusion of the add/drop period each semester as defined by the Office of Records and Registration will not count as a class attempted. Classes dropped after this point will count as a class attempted. Students who totally withdraw after the conclusion of the add/drop period in any semester will have all of their classes counted as attempted. Before students drop a class, they need to take into consideration their SAP status.

Incompletes (I) or Not Reported (NR): Courses in which a student has an incomplete or the faculty has not reported a grade at the time in which SAP is reviewed will be included in the attempted hours. However, as there is no current grade in the system, theses courses will not be included in the cumulative GPA determination at such time.

Repeated courses: For courses repeated, only the most recent grade is included in the students cumulative GPA. When determining if a student is meeting the quantitative SAP standards, all courses will be included in the attempted hours.

Non-credit remedial course (NC): Non-credit remedial courses are included in both the attempted hours and the students cumulative GPA.

Please Note:

Developmental coursework is deducted from the 180 credit hours limit. Students may receive financial aid for an additional maximum of 30 credit hours of attempted coursework if the 30 hours are classified developmental
GPA and hours attempted/completed under a Financial Aid Consortium Agreement with a school other than CSU are also included in the SAP policy compliance requirements.

* * * THIS POLICY IS EFFECTIVE BEGINNING WITH THE FALL 2011 SEMESTER * * *

NOTE: Policy is subject to change without notice based on changes with government regulations or university policy.