Progress Criteria

Students must maintain an adequate rate of progress toward graduation as defined below.  All periods of the student's enrollment will be evaluated after the Spring 2 enrollment period (e.g. May).

This rate of progress is measured using two criteria:  Grade Point Average (GPA) and Maximum Time Frame (MTF).  Students who fail to meet the satisfactory academic progress criteria will not be eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid until the minimum eligibility criterion are met or until the student has had an appeal approved by the Director of Financial Aid (see below for more information on appeals).

GRADE POINT AVERAGE CRITERIA

Students enrolled in an undergraduate program must meet the following GPA criteria.  Progress measurements for the student's GPA are based on a 4.0 scale and are reflective of all credits attempted by the student, including credits that are accepted for transfer toward the student's Ottawa University program of study.

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

Students enrolled in a graduate program must meet the following GPA criteria:

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME CRITERIA

Maximum Time Frame (MTF) is defined as 150% of the program length measured in credit hours attempted.  An undergraduate student who needs 128 credits to graduate must do so within 192 credit attempts.  Likewise, a graduate student who needs 36 credits to graduate must do so within 54 credit attempts.  A student will lose eligibility for financial aid once it is determined that s/he is mathematically incapable of completing their program of study within the defined maximum time frame.

Undergraduate and undergraduate post-baccalaureate Teacher certification students will be placed on  a Financial Aid suspension if they fail to meet the minimum time frame requirement as shown below:

Graduate students will be placed on a Financial Aid suspension if they fail to meet the minimum time frame requirement as shown below:

Calculation Example: If an undergraduate student attempts 40 cumulative credits at the time of measurement, s/he must have earned at least 24 credits (40 X 60% = 24) toward the program completion.

No credits and withdrawals are considered credits attempted but not earned. Grade changes and updates of 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 transfer credits accepted toward the student's Ottawa University program of study will be used in calculating the Ottawa GPA and MTF.

PROGRAMS LESS THAN AN ACADEMIC YEAR IN LENGTH

Students who are enrolled in a program of study that is less than an academic year in length (24 undergraduate credits or 18 graduate credits) will be evaluated at the end of each term.  Failure to meet the minimum requirements will result in the immediate suspension of financial aid eligibility.

APPEALS

Students have the opportunity to appeal the loss of federal financial aid eligibility by submitting a written appeal with supporting documentation to the Director of Financial Aid (or designee). Appeals should include information and supporting documentation regarding why the student failed to make SAP (e.g. death of a relative, injury or illness of the student or some other special circumstance) and what has changed in the student's situation that would allow the student to successfully complete the program of study.

The student should also provide details of what steps will be taken to prevent further SAP issues.  The decision by the Director of Financial Aid (or designee) 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.

ACADEMIC PLANS, PROBATION, AND DENIAL STATUS

In some cases, an appeal will be approved and an academic plan may be developed that, if followed, will enable the student to meet minimum SAP criterion and be removed from Financial Aid suspension.  The student's academic performance will be monitored after grades are posted each term to ensure compliance with the plan.  Because there can be a delay in the timing of grades and SAP evaluations, the financial aid disbursements will be delayed pending confirmation that satisfactory progress is being maintained.  Failure to comply with the terms of the academic plan can/will result in the student losing Title IV eligibility at Ottawa University.

If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.  The student must improve his/her cumulative GPA and/or complete enough hours to meet the minimum standards stated above within the terms of the probation 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 another appeal is approved. 

Students denied Federal Financial Aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress are responsible for any resulting financial obligations to Ottawa University.