2012 DUS Conference on Academic Advising September 25, 2012 Bonnie Benjamin Office of Student Aid

1. Integrating Academic Advising and Federal Student Aid: How academic decisions can determine financial aid eligibility 2012 DUS Conference on Academic Advising September 25, 2012 Bonnie Benjamin Office of Student Aid

2. Topics • Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) • Sample Students • PSU SAP Policy Review • Best Advice to Meet SAP • SAP Statistics • Change to Pell Grant Regulations • Change to Federal Direct Stafford Loan Regulations • Sample Students Revisited • Questions and Discussion

3. Sample Student 1 • Freshman, Fall 2009 • Evaluation Index - 2.98 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree

4. Sample Student 2 • Freshman, Fall 2008 • Evaluation Index – 3.02 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree

5. Sample Student 3 • Freshman, Fall 2008 • Evaluation Index – 2.17 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree

6. Sample Student 4 • Advanced Standing, Fall 2012 • 2.33 GPA at other colleges • Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree

7. PSU SAP Policy Review • SAP has been a part of federal aid eligibility for as long as there was federal aid for students • Complete policy online at: studentaid.psu.edu/eligibility/federal-student-aid-satisfactory-academic-progress-standard • Revised SAP Policy was effective beginning Summer 2011 • Completion Rate – 67% of all courses attempted • Maximum Time Limit– complete degree within 150% of number of credits required for the degree • SAP review after each semester of enrollment

8. PSU SAP Policy Review • Undergraduate students get one-time warning semester for completion rate below 67% • Graduate students do not get a warning semester for completion rate • All students are monitored for SAP, even if not currently receiving federal aid • Students are notified by email if in warning, unsatisfactory, or maximum time status

9. PSU SAP Policy Review Number of Credits Earned (divided by) Number of Credits Attempted = Completion Rate

10. Best Advice to Students • Create a realistic schedule • Credit load • Course content/combination • Complete the credits you begin • Pass the courses you start with a D or higher • This supports meeting the 67% completion rate • Take courses required for your degree(s) • Complete your degree(s) within the maximum time • Drop/Add at the same time • If you need to add and drop a course, do it at the same time.

11. Best Advice to Students- Appeals • Students who are ineligible for aid due to completion rate may be eligible for an appeal • Circumstances outside student control • 3rd party documentation required • Refer to campus Office of Student Aid to determine eligibility for an appeal • Students who are ineligible for aid due to reaching maximum time may be eligible for an appeal • Transfer students • Students who change majors later in academic career • Students who change from higher credit degrees to lower credit degrees • Refer to campus Office of Student Aid to determine eligibility for an appeal

12. SAP Statistics *These students became Satisfactory, Warning or Unsatisfactory after review.

13. SAP Statistics • The revised SAP has maintained the number of students eligible for aid • Satisfactory, Warning and Probation students are eligible for aid • Unsatisfactory and Maximum Time students are ineligible for aid • Maximum time students may become eligible for aid by completing an appeal • Refer students to the Office of Student Aid at their location for an evaluation of their situation

14. Changes to Pell Grant Regulation What is the Pell Grant? • The Federal Pell Grant is only available to undergraduate students who have not completed a first bachelor’s degree • It is partially determined by using the EFC* that is calculated from the information provided by the student and family on the FAFSA** • 2012-13 full-time award amounts range from $602 to $5,550 • Students can receive the Pell Grant for less than full-time enrollment • studentaid.psu.edu/types-of-aid/grants/federal AND studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell/calculate-eligibility * Expected Family Contribution ** Free Application for Federal Student Aid

15. Changes to Pell Grant Regulation • Available only to 600%, even if first Bachelor’s degree not yet earned

16. Changes to Pell Grant Regulation • Lifetime award of 600%, the equivalent of 6 years of Pell funding. • 600% based on scheduled award, not a total dollar amount • A scheduled award = maximum amount a student can receive in an academic year (PSU year is fall/spring/summer) • 1 scheduled award = 100% • 6 scheduled awards = 600% • Percent used • Use the full scheduled award = 100% • Use less than full scheduled award = less the 100% • Federal Government calculates the percent used and transmits to the university

17. Changes to Pell Grant Regulation – Examples of Lifetime Eligibility Used Adapted from http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell/calculate-eligibility

18. Changes to Federal Direct Stafford Loan Requirements

19. Sample Student 1 • Freshman, Fall 2009 • Evaluation Index - 2.98 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree • Needs 66 (or 78) credits to graduate • 5 fall/spring semesters attempted; 3 completed • 2 summer semesters • Multiple F and D grades in completed semesters • Pell used is 157% (443 available) • Stafford Loan Debt - $17,750 right now ($39,750 with PLUS denials) • SAP Status • Currently Unsatisfactory and Non degree Regular • Need for maximum time appeal determined by future schedules

20. Sample Student 2 • Freshman, Fall 2008 • Evaluation Index – 3.02 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree • Schreyer’s student, 2 majors and a minor • Graduates Spring 2013 • Pell used is 500% (100% available) • Stafford Load Debt $27,318 ($3,682) • SAP - No appeals needed

21. Sample Student 3 • Freshman, Fall 2008 • Evaluation Index – 2.17 • Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree • Needs 57 credits to graduate • Already here 3.5 years (attempted 115 credits) • F or D grade in all but one semester • Has not completed any quantification or 400 level courses • Pell used is 362% (238% remaining) • Stafford Loan Debt $44,250 ($13,250 with PLUS denial) • SAP status • Currently ineligible due to completion rate • Will exceed maximum time limit

22. Sample Student 4 • Advanced Standing, Fall 2012 • 2.33 GPA at other colleges • Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree • 164 credits attempted/142 transferred • Needs 46 credits to graduate • Pell used is 525% (.75% remain) • Stafford Loan Debt $46,192 ($11,308 remain) • One year loan available • Will need Maximum Time SAP appeal (142 = 46 = 188) • FA12 attempted 18 credits; already late dropped 3

23. Best Advising Practice • Continue to care about your students • Provide the 4 steps from ‘Best Advice to Students’ • Watch for frequent late drops and ‘F’ grades; withdrawals • Frequent unrealistic semester credit loads • All retroactive actions can have aid implications • Financial aid can change • Use eLion ‘Student Aid Summary’ Checklist and Status sections • Read email from Office of Student Aid • Open U.S. Mail sent to your home • Refer students to Office of Student Aid • Encourage specific questions • Advise them to take notes, including who they spoke with • studentaid.psu.edu, ‘Contact’ to reach us

24. Questions and Discussion • Bonnie Benjamin • Office of Student Aid