| Cumulative Attempted Hours |
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average |
| 0-30.9 |
1.75 |
| 31-45.9 |
1.90 |
| 46 or more |
2.00 |
| Graduate Program |
3.00 |
QUANTITATIVE MEASURE
The quantity of a student's progress is measured by the Cumulative Completion Rate (hours earned divided by hours attempted). Students are required to complete 2/3 of attempted hours while at Benedictine College. Students who receive an I (incomplete), F (failing), W (withdrawal), or WE (excused withdrawal) for a course in a semester or session will have those courses included in the cumulative attempted hours (for definition of grades please see academic policies, regulations, and procedures in the academic). The Cumulative Completion Rate will be calculated in December and May to determine eligibility for financial aid for the following term. All courses will be included in the Cumulative Completion Rate calculated.
Please note the following:
- Repeated courses will add total hours attempted but not hours completed; the grade will simply be replaced. The new grade will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation, which will be considered when progress is again checked; therefore, the repeated course will be included in both qualitative and quantitative calculations.
- Withdrawals, including excused withdrawals, will count toward hours attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate as well as cumulative GPA.
- Audit and Pass/Fail courses will count toward the Cumulative Completion Rate.
- Transfer credit (including that received during consortium study) will count in the calculation of both cumulative attempted credit hours and cumulative completed credit hours. Transfer credit will not count toward the Cumulative Completion Rate. Transfer credit does not count in the calculation of GPA.
MAXIMUM TIME MEASURE
Financial Aid recipients must complete an educational program within a time frame no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program. All attempted withdrawn, and/or transferred credits that apply to a students program count toward this maximum time limit. For example, a student pursuing a bachelor's degree requiring 120 credit hours may attempt up to 180 hours before Financial Aid eligibility is suspended (120 x 150% = 180).
Financial Aid recipients that have reached 100% of the published length of the educational program will be notified in writing that they are approaching their maximum time frame. These warnings will continue to be sent each time academic progress is reviewed until a student reaches 150%. At 150% the student will no longer be eligible to receive federal financial aid. The Financial Aid Office will review the academic progress of financial aid recipients once per academic year (in May). A student may appeal the suspension of aid. Appeals should be sent to the Director of Financial Aid. Responses will be sent in a timely manner.
FINANCIAL AID PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
Failure to meet the minimum academic progress requirements will result in Financial Aid Warning and Suspension. Students are notified in writing of any academic deficiency soon after spring grades are posted and have one semester to make any deficiency up. If the deficiency has not been made up within the prescribed grace period, the result is a loss of federal and state aid, and a reduction of institutional aid for the following term of enrollment.
REINSTATEMENT
Financial Aid may be reinstated when all academic deficiencies have been met.
APPEAL PROCEDURE
Students whose financial aid eligibility have been suspended may make a written appeal for reinstatement of eligibility if extenuating, catastrophic circumstances have contributed to their inability to meet the requirements for satisfactory progress. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Death of an immediate family member
- Severe injury or illness of the student or an immediate family member
- Emergency situations such as fire or flood
- Legal separation from spouse or divorce
- Military reassignment or required job transfers or shift changes
Students who do not meet the above criteria and/or cannot thoroughly document such situations must reestablish eligibility through reinstatement before any additional federal or state aid will be disbursed.
Students who have extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal in writing to the Director of Financial Aid.
RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS
This policy applies to students who complete 60% or less of the enrollment period (i.e., Fall, Spring or Summer session) for which they received Federal Title IV aid. A student who drops a class but still completes one or more classes does not qualify for the Return of Title IV Funds policy. The term “Title IV aid” refers to the following Federal financial aid programs: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford loans, Federal Perkins loans, Federal PLUS (Parent) loans, Federal Pell Grants, and Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant).
To conform with the policy, Benedictine College must determine the student’s withdrawal date. The withdrawal date is defined as:
- The date the student began the withdrawal process or officially notified Benedictine College of their intent to withdraw; or
- The last date of attendance at an academically-related activity by a student who doesn’t notify Benedictine College
The calculation required determines a student’s earned and unearned Title IV aid based on the percentage of the enrollment period completed by the student. The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the period. Calendar days (including weekends) are used, but breaks of at least 5 days are excluded from both the numerator and denominator.
Until a student has passed the 60% point of an enrollment period, only a portion of the student’s aid has been earned. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid for the enrollment period.
Earned aid is not related in any way to institutional charges. In addition, the College’s refund policy and Return of Title IV Funds procedures are independent of one another. A student who withdraws from a course may be required to return unearned aid and still owe the college for the course. For more information on the Benedictine College withdrawal and institutional charges’ policies, please consult the Benedictine College catalog.
The responsibility to repay unearned Title IV aid is shared by Benedictine College and the student. For example, the calculation may require Benedictine College to return a portion of Federal funds to the Federal Title IV programs. In addition, the student may also be required to return funds based on the calculation. A student returns funds to the Federal Stafford loan programs based on the terms and conditions of the promissory note of the loan. A student who receives a Federal Pell Grant may be required to repay 50% of the funds received. The return of Federal aid is in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford loans, Federal Perkins loans, Federal PLUS (Parent) loans, Federal Pell Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National SMART Grant, FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and the TEACH Grant..
HOW TO HANDLE AN OVERPAYMENT
Students who owe funds to a grant program are required to make payment of those funds within 45 days of being notified that they owe this overpayment. During the 45 day period students will remain eligible for Title IV funds. If no positive action is taken by the student within 45 days of being notified, Benedictine College will notify the U.S. Department of Education of the student’s overpayment situation. The student will no longer be eligible for Title IV funds until they enter into a satisfactory repayment agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.
During the 45-day period, the student can make full payment to Benedictine College of the overpayment. The college will forward the payment to the U.S. Department of Education and the student will remain eligible for Title IV funds. Please make check payable to Benedictine College, Attn: Financial Aid.
If a student is unable to pay his or her overpayment in full, he or she can set up a repayment plan with the U.S. Department of Education. Before doing this, please contact the Benedictine College Financial Aid Office. You will need to make sure we have referred your situation to the U.S. Department of Education before any repayment plan can be set up.
For examples of the Return of Title IV Funds calculations or questions regarding the overpayment policy, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
