Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Eligibility

To be eligible for financial aid, continuing graduate and professional students must maintain the academic standards and degree progress required for their programs of study as provided by statements on file in the Graduate School. A professional student is defined as a student pursuing a post baccalaureate professional degree. Students whose academic standing or degree progress falls below the standard will be placed on financial aid warning during the next semester of registration. If their academic standing or degree progress is not raised to the standard by the end of the semester of financial aid warning, all financial aid will be terminated for these students until the requirements have been met.

Reasonable Degree Progress: Full-Time Students

Reasonable degree progress for full-time graduate and professional students is in accord with definitions for their respective programs on file in the Graduate School.

Basic Eligibility

Full-Time Students Full-time students pursuing professional degrees can apply for financial aid for the number of units of course work required for the particular program of study. Course work transferred to the university in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements will be subtracted from the unit allowance.

Full-time students pursuing graduate degrees can apply for financial aid for each semester of full-time registration up to and including the semester in which they complete course work and/or qualifying exam requirements for their degree.

Part-Time Students Students pursuing graduate and professional degrees who are enrolled at least half-time but less than full-time, as defined by their particular programs of study, can apply for prorated financial aid according to a schedule set by the Financial Aid Office. The same unit and semester allowances as defined above will apply. Part-time students should be aware of possible limitations in some aid programs and should consult with the Financial Aid Office for specific information.

Aid while Preparing for a Comprehensive or Qualifying Examination

Students in master's degree programs can apply for financial aid for one semester of registration while preparing for a comprehensive or qualifying exam. Students in doctoral degree programs can apply for financial aid for two semesters of registration while preparing for a comprehensive or qualifying exam.

Candidates in master's degree programs requiring a thesis can apply for financial aid for a maximum of three semesters of registration following completion of course work and/or comprehensive exam requirements. Candidates in doctoral degree programs requiring a dissertation can apply for financial aid for a maximum of six semesters of registration following completion of course work and qualifying exam requirements.

Dual Degree and Part-Time Semester Eligibility

Full-time graduate and professional students in the authorized dual degree programs of generally longer duration than single degree programs may be granted an increase in the semester allowances commensurate with the additional program requirements if they notify the Financial Aid Office of their dual degree status by no later than the end of their second semester of registration in the program. The student should obtain a written certification by one of the student's academic units of his or her dual degree status and an expected date of graduation.

Full-time students in graduate and professional programs who enroll less than full-time in a particular semester can apply for prorated financial aid for that part-time semester according to a schedule set by the Financial Aid Office. Full-time students who withdraw from course work, and therefore become part-time in a particular semester, must receive departmental certification that they are full-time students in good academic standing before financial aid will be granted for the next semester of enrollment.

Regaining Eligibility

Students who are no longer eligible for financial aid can have their eligibility reinstated if they successfully complete sufficient units and/or improve their academic averages to meet stated requirements. Students who are notified that they are on financial aid warning should consult their academic advisors.

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