Progress Criteria

Grade Point Average

Students will be placed on financial aid probation for failure to meet the minimum GPA requirement. Financial aid funding will continue during the probation. Progress measurements for the students GPA are based on a 4.0 scale and are reflective of all credits attempted by the student, including transfer credits.

Students enrolled in an undergraduate program must meet the following GPA criteria.

Students enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program must maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA throughout the entire program length. Students enrolled in a Master’s program must maintain a 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA throughout the entire program length.

Maximum Time Frame

Undergraduate maximum time frame (MTF) is defined as 150 percent of the program length measured in semester credit hours attempted. A student who needs 128 credits to graduate must do so within 192 credit attempts.

Undergraduate, teacher certification and graduate students willbe placed on a financial aid probation if they fail to earn at least 66.67 percent of the cumulative credits attempted (including transfer credits). Financial aid eligibility will continue during the probationary period. Further federal financial aid funding will be denied if the student fails to resolve the MTF problem within the probationary period.

Example: If a student attempts 24 cumulative credits at the time of measurement, s/he must have earned at least 16 credits (24 X 66.67 percent = 16) toward the program completion.

Incompletes, no credits and withdrawals are considered credits attempted but not earned. Updates of incomplete and no credit grades would constitute re-evaluation and would be reflected in the new hours earned and/or hours graded total.

Transfer Credits

For the purposes of measuring satisfactory academic progress, all credits transferred to Ottawa University from other institutions will be used in calculating the OU GPA and MTF.

Probationary and Denial Status

If placed on probation, the student must improve his/her cumulative GPA and/or complete enough hours to meet the minimum standards stated above, within the probationary period or risk being denied further federal financial aid funding. If a student is denied federal financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress, he or she may be reinstated upon request once the minimum standards are met, or if an appeal is approved.

Appeals

Students have the opportunity to appeal the loss of federal financial aid eligibility by submitting a written appeal to the director of financial aid (or designee). Appeals should include any unusual circumstances which may have affected the student’s academic performance. The director of financial aid (or designee) will review written appeals and may conduct personal interviews with the student. The decision will be communicated to the student in writing and is considered final.

Students who have changed programs may have their transcripts re-evaluated so that only courses applicable to their current program of study are considered.

If, a student is denied federal financial aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress, s/he will be responsible for any resulting financial obligations to Ottawa University.