Academic Progress & the Financial Aid Office

1. Academic Progress & the Financial Aid Office Alicia Keaton Senior Associate Director Office for Student Financial Affairs

2. Academic Progress Components Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (AP) to remain eligible for federal financial assistance. There are qualitative and quantitative standards that SFA monitors each semester. • Qualitative Standard • Cumulative GPA that a student must achieve at each evaluation • A student is considered to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress if the student has a cumulative “C” average, or its equivalent or academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation as determined by the institution, at the end of the second such academic year.

3. Academic Progress Components • Quantitative Standards • Completion Percentage to ensure completion within the maximum timeframe • Divide the cumulative number of hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. • Maximum Timeframe to complete degree/program of study • The 150% maximum timeframe applies to the student’s eligibility to receive Title IV funds and to the student’s program of study.

4. Meeting UF Academic Progress Components • Undergraduate and Professional School students maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0or above. • Graduate students maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.0or above. • All students must successfully complete at least 75% of all credit hours attempted. • All students progress to ensure academic program completion within the maximum timeframe of 150% of the required hours in a student’s program of study.

5. Meeting Academic Progress Components • Regulations require that all attempted or accepted transferred credit hours are included when calculating: 1) 75% completion percentage 2) 150% maximum timeframe • AP, IB, dual enrollment, study abroad, change of majors, addition of minors, certificate programs, pre-requisites for health professions program (i.e. med school) will be included as SFA monitors progression to degree completion. • This results in SFA reviewing more petitions for reaching maximum timeframe.

6. Academic Progress Warning Status • Students who do not meet the AP standards will be placed on “Financial Aid Warning” at the end of the semester in which they did not meet the standard(s). • They will be eligible to receive federal financial aid funding for the following semester. Students given this status are not required to petitionfor possible reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility. • Students placed in the Financial Aid Warning status will be sent a notification advising them of their status, the impact of their future financial aid eligibility, and the importance of seeking guidance/advising/counseling from UF staff (academic advising, counseling and wellness staff, professor, and/or SFA advisers).

7. Academic Progress Warning Status Verbiage on ISIS: Your financial aid eligibility has been placed in a Warning status because “insert reason.” Please click here for further information. (Clicking the link will take the student to the Warning Status verbiage below.) • “Insert Reasons” • Your cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for your current academic standing. Undergraduate, Law School, Medical School, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine students must maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. All other graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. • You have not earnedi at least 75% of the total hours that you have attempted. • You are approaching the maximum hours attempted for your degree. Financial aid academic progress requirements are set forth in the university’s financial aid academic progress. Your financial aid eligibility for the current semester is not in jeopardy and you may continue to receive federal and need-based financial aid for this semester. However, you are expected to improve your academic progress so that you meet the requirements by the end of the semester.

8. Academic Progress Warning Status Continued verbiage on ISIS: You are strongly encouraged to seek out the various resources offered at UF such as, the Counseling and Wellness Center, the Disability Resource Center, and the Dean of Students Office. Undergraduate students may receive academic advising assistance from the UF Advising Office. Graduate/professional students should contact their program of study for academic advising assistance. These and other offices on campus offer advising, counseling, tutoring, time management strategies, testing learning disabilities, as well as other services that can help to improve your academic progress. If you do not meet the requirements by the end of the semester, your financial aid eligibility will be Terminationuntil you either 1) meet the academic progress requirements or 2) submit an academic progress petition that is approved by the Office for Student Financial Affairs and you are placed on Financial Aid Probation. If you do not wish to receive federal, state, or need-based institutional financial aid funding you are not required to take any action.

9. Academic Progress Termination Status • Students who do not meet the AP standards after this period of Financial Aid Warning will be denied financial aid eligibility for future semesters and placed in a Financial Aid Termination status until they: 1) meet the AP standards or; 2) submit an AP petition that is approved

10. Academic Progress Termination Status Verbiage on ISIS: Your financial aid eligibility has been terminated because “insert reason.” Please click here for further information. (Clicking the link will take the student to the Terminated Status verbiage below.) • Insert Reason: • You are enrolled as a Post-Baccalaureate or unclassified student • Your cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for your current academic standing.  Undergraduate, Law School, Medical School, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medical students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.  All other graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. • You did not meet the petition committee's requirements for aid. • You have failed to earn at least 75% of the hours you have attempted. • You have attempted the maximum credit hours allowed for your degree • An explanation is needed of your prior term GPA and enrollment status. Explanation must be submitted within 15 days of the last day of classes for the most recently completed semester. See 'Instructions For Verification of GPA or Enrollment' Financial aid academic progress requirements are set forth in the university’s financial aid academic progress policy. As a result of your not meeting the academic progress standards, your continued eligibility for financial aid has been terminated.

11. Academic Progress Termination Status Continued verbiage on ISIS: If you have extenuating circumstances that contributed to your failure in meeting these requirements, you may complete and submit an Academic Progress petition for possible financial aid reinstatement. If you choose to submit a petition please review the instructions thoroughly and make certain you provide any and all relevant documentation. The petition, instructions, and important deadlines are available on the Student Financial Affairs website at www.sfa.ufl.edu/additional/academic-progress. A petition approval does not guarantee that you will receive financial aid. All other financial aid eligibility requirements must be met in order to receive financial aid. Taking a leave of absence or paying for one’s own tuition without other mitigating circumstances are not sufficient reasons for a petition approval. In such a case a student would still be required to submit a petition to request the reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility. If you do not wish to receive federal, state or need-based institutional financial aid funding you are not required to take any action.

12. Your Role in the AP Process Academic Warning Students • The student has been advised that they are still eligible for aid and are not required to submit an AP petition. • Please know that you may receive calls, emails, and/or appointments from students asking for your expert advice. • The goal being to assist the students and help them take corrective action BEFORE their aid eligibility is terminated.

13. Your Role in the AP Process Academic Terminated Status • Students will be required to submit an AP petition to request reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility. • The academic advisor will need to provide a plan of work. • The plan should address the student’s specific AP issueand the steps the student should perform in order to be removed from the AP terminated status, during the subsequent semesters.

14. Your Role in the AP Process Completing Plan of Work for GPA • The plan of work should outline: • Courses that will: • Aid the student is raising their cumulative GPA to the minimum requirement • The length of time it will take for the student’s GPA to meet the minimum requirement • Indicate if the courses are required for degree, major, or approved minor completion.

15. Your Role in the AP Process Completing Plan of Work for Completion Percentage • The plan of work should outline: • Courses that will: • Aid the student is raising their completion percentage up to to the minimum requirement • Courses that you believe the student could successfully complete • Indicate if the courses are required for degree, major, or approved minor completion.

16. Your Role in the AP Process Completing Plan of Work for Maximum Timeframe • The plan of work should outline: • The remaining courses required for graduation and the length of time for the student to complete the courses. • List the courses by semester. • It should also provide an explanation if the student is exceeding the maximum timeframe (i.e., admitted as a transfer student, major change, excessive repetitive coursework, student is working on a 2nd program of study).

17. Your Role in the AP Process • Reduced Course Load Plan of Work • Feel free to list or indicate a recommendation or advisement for a reduced course load. • Concerns/Reservations/Clarification • There are instances in which the student has already registered for courses that you would not have recommended or advised. • Feel free to list or indicate any concerns, reservations, and clarification to the petition. • We rely upon your input. You can never tell us too much.

18. Your Role in the AP Process • Courses that are eligible for federal financial aid funding: • That will satisfy requirements for: • Degree Completion • Major Completion • Approved Minor • Courses that are ineligible for federal financial aid funding: • Unapproved Minor • Completion of Certificate • Pre-requisites for admission into another program (i.e. med, dental school)

19. Student’s Role in the AP Process • Provide along with the AP Petition: • A detailed personal statement explaining the circumstances that led to him/her not meeting the AP standards. • Support documentation that substantiates what was outlined in the personal statement. • A plan of work from the academic advisor. • A plan for moving forward (i.e. counseling, tutoring, therapy, reduced work hours, medication, etc.)

20. Academic Progress Probation Status • Students that submit an AP petition that is approved will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. • The length of the probation status will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The length of the probation status will be based on the length of time and/or course load necessary for the student to meet the AP standards. • The student’s progression will be monitored during the probation status to ensure the student is following the prescribed academic plan of work and successfully matriculating through their program of study.

21. Financial Aid Probation Extension • If the student meets the conditions of the Financial Aid Probation status but cannot meet the AP standards within the semester of the initial petition the student can submit a subsequent plan of work for future semester(s) that will move them in the direction of meeting the AP standards or graduation. • If the student fails to meet the conditions of the Financial Aid Probation status their financial aid eligibility will be terminated.

22. Financial Aid Updates

23. Financial Aid Timeline • Completing the FAFSA early is critical for timely award notification. • www.fafsa.ed.gov is the correct website to complete the FAFSA. • Students and parents are encouraged to complete the FAFSA with estimated income in order to meet the on-time application deadline. • They can correct the FAFSA after their taxes have been filed. • Use IRS Data Retrieval System to import their tax information as well.

24. Tax Returns vs. Tax Transcripts • Effective this year, financial aid offices can no longer accept tax returns from students and parents. • If requested, students and parents must contact the IRS and request a copy of their tax transcript. • To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, contact the IRS at 1-800-908-9946, or go to www.IRS.gov and click on the “Order a Return or Account Transcript” link.

25. Repeat Coursework • Financial aid funding will not be available for an additional retake, or a three-peat. • If a student enrolls for a third time in a course for which they have received two prior passing grades, SFA will not include hours for that course when calculating financial aid eligibility and funding will be reduced accordingly.

26. Repeat Coursework Example 1: An institution can include this course in a student’s enrollment and pay when repeating a course an infinite number of times if all previous attempts were failures or withdrawals. • Math 1108 = 4 credit hours • Student’s Enrollment for each term = 12 credit hours • Financial Aid will disburse aid for 12 credit hours

27. Repeat Coursework Example 2: An institution cannot include this course in a student’s enrollment for Spring 2013. An institution can pay a student for only one retake of any previously passed course. • English 1101 = 3 credit hours • Student’s Enrollment for each term = 12 credit hours • Spring 2013 Financial Aid will reduce student’s eligibility from 12 credit hours to 9 credit hours. Aid will be adjusted.

28. Financial Aid Communications • Gatorlink Emails • ISIS • Facebook, Twitter, Podcasts, Newsletters • YouTube Videos/Tutorials from the SFA Website • Federal Student Aid • Reporting Additional Aid • ISIS and Your Federal Loans • Using NSLDS to Track Your Loan History • Bright Futures Reinstatement/Restoration Tutorial • Study Abroad • Federal Direct PLUS Loans • Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans

29. Questions