Satisfactory Academic Progress for Title IV Eligibility
Federal law and regulations require institutions of higher education to establish, publish and enforce minimum academic standards for the continued receipt of Federal Title IV Financial Aid. The following policy is applicable only to a student’s eligibility for federal student aid. This policy is distinct from the School’s general Academic Progress policy, which is published separately.
The measurement of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility shall occur in increments which correspond to the “payment periods” for Federal Title IV Financial Aid. A “payment period” is defined as one half (as measured in both weeks and instructional hours) of the student’s scheduled academic year/program or remaining period of instruction (whichever is less). If the remaining period of instruction is less than one half of an academic year, it shall be considered a single payment period.
The Standard: The following is the standard for Satisfactory Academic Progress for Title IV Eligibility at E.D.P. School
Definitions and Grading Policy: All issues of grading policy, Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation, attendance, etc. are calculated in accordance with the general academic policies of E.D.P. School.
Completed/Attempted Clock Hours: “Completed Clock Hours” means the number of clock hours a student attended in a payment period. “Attempted Clock Hours” means the number of scheduled hours in a payment period. All scheduled clock hours of instruction shall be considered “attempted”, regardless of grade received.
Return after an Absence: A student who returns after a withdrawal, dismissal, or other absence of 180 calendar days or less, shall be evaluated in the same manner as if the absence had not occurred, with the exception of any necessary changes to the start and end dates of planned payment periods.
Transfer Students: Accepted transfer credit shall be considered as completed coursework for purposes of this policy. However, since no grades are assigned to transfer courses, they will not impact the students GPA. Payment periods for transfer students shall be defined individually based upon the remaining period of instruction.
Timing of Evaluations and Evaluation Process: Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility shall be measured at the end of each payment period. Hence, students continued eligibility for financial aid in a subsequent payment period shall be dependent upon his/her academic record as of the end of the previous payment period.
Financial Aid Warning Status: Financial aid applicants/recipients who fail to meet the standards defined above will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status for the following payment period. Students in Financial Aid Warning Status remain eligible for federal student aid.
If a student has not returned to “good” academic standing (according to the chart) by the end of the Financial Aid Warning Status payment period, the student will lose eligibility for federal student aid from that point forward. Such dismissal/loss of eligibility may be subject to appeal (see below).
Data Corrections: If a student’s academic record is changed subsequent to the evaluation date, a student may submit a written request to the Financial Aid Office for re-evaluation of the student’s academic status/aid eligibility.
Regaining Academic Eligibility
1. Mitigating Circumstances Appeal: A determination of loss of eligibility for federal financial aid may be appealed based on mitigating circumstance(s). A mitigating circumstance is defined as an exceptional or unusual event(s) beyond the student’s direct control, which contributed to or caused the academic difficulty. Examples include: the death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. Appeal letters should be addressed to the Financial Aid Director and must include a complete description of the circumstances that led to the academic difficulty, how those circumstances have changed, and a plan for future academic success. Copies of supporting documentation should be included. All appeals are reviewed by a committee of academic and administrative staff whose determination is final. A mitigating circumstance appeal may not be used to override the Maximum Timeframe Standard. Further, appeals will not be granted to students for whom the completion of the program will not be mathematically possible within the Maximum Timeframe Standard (see above).
A student for whom a mitigating circumstance appeal is approved will be placed in Financial Aid Probation Status for one payment period. If the student has not returned to good academic standing (according to the chart) by the end of a probationary payment period, the student will lose eligibility for future financial aid.
2. Regaining Eligibility Other Than Through Appeal: Students who have lost federal financial aid eligibility may potentially regain academic eligibility by one or more of the following methods: 1) make up the academic deficiencies at The EDP School without benefit of federal financial aid, and/or 2) be accepted into a different eligible academic program at EDP School, if the re-evaluated student’s record (based upon the courses applicable to the new program) will be in compliance with all academic standards.
In each of the circumstances listed above, approval is at the discretion of the School Director. Students for whom the completion of the program will not be mathematically possible within the Maximum Timeframe Standard (see above) will not be approved for regained federal financial aid eligibility.
Return to Good Standing: Once a student has returned to good academic standing, any previous academic difficulty, warning, or probation shall have no future bearing on the student’s status. Hence, such students will have benefit of all provisions of this policy, including a warning payment period.