A student must maintain satisfactory academic progress to renew federal financial aid. Satisfactory academic progress is based on the total number of NEW credits that a student passed during an academic year (fall and spring) as well as the cumulative quality point average (QPA). The original enrollment status determines the number of credits that a student must pass. All students are subject to the progress rule regardless of previous receipt of federal financial aid. The review determines student aid eligibility for the next enrollment period (summer session and/or the following academic school year).

The following chart shows the number of credits which must be successfully completed for a student to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Students enrolled full-time, three-quarter or half-time for only one (1) semester must pass one-half of the requirement for the academic year. Less than half-time students enrolled for one (1) semester must pass all of the classes in which they originally enrolled.

Students must also meet a qualitative measure of progress. At East Stroudsburg University the student must have attained an overall quality point average (QPA) of at least a 2.00 in order to receive financial aid.

Academic Probation—Matriculated undergraduate students will be placed on academic probation for one (1) semester the first time the quality point average is lower than the required values unless the student has been enrolled at ESU for at least four (4) semesters. A student on probation may retain federal financial aid for the one (1) semester that the probation occurs. If, at the end of the probation semester, the semester quality point average is raised to a level that satisfies the academic standing - but the overall quality point average is still below the required values, the student will be ineligible for federal financial aid.

Academic Dismissal/Suspension—Students who have been academically dismissed or suspended are not entitled to federal financial aid. Those students who are readmitted through the admission appeals process do not have their financial aid reinstated unless they have been granted a financial aid appeal or satisfied their deficiency.

Maximum Time Frame

Students are expected to complete their program of study within five years or the equivalent of ten semesters of full-time enrollment. Full-time students enrolled in an Associate Degree Program are expected to complete their program within two and one-half years or five semesters. Students enrolled less than full-time will have their semesters pro-rated proportionally.

For transfer students, the enrollment at prior institution(s) will be pro-rated by counting every eighteen credits or part thereof transferred in as one semester. That total number of semesters will be subtracted from the ten semester maximum time frame. The number remaining is the number of semesters a student can receive financial aid at ESU.

No financial aid will be awarded to any student beyond the undergraduate limitations unless extraordinary circumstances exist, as determined by Enrollment Services.

Remedial Classes

Remedial classes successfully completed will count towards satisfactory academic progress. They do not count towards graduation nor do they count in the determination of grade level for student loans.

Special Grades

The following grades will have an adverse impact on academic progress because they are credits attempted and are used to determine the semester enrollment status:

Eliminating Deficiencies

If a student is deficient in credits and/or QPA at the end of the academic year, summer school classes may be used to eliminate the deficiency. No federal financial aid will be provided to help defray summer costs. Summer work need not be completed at ESU, but students should be aware that:

• Transient clearance must be obtained prior to taking courses elsewhere to ensure that these credits will be accepted at ESU;
• Courses taken elsewhere will not affect the QPA. If the student's deficiency is in QPA, taking courses at another institution will not make that deficiency.

In addition, credits received from Advanced Placement Exams & College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests will not be used to satisfy a credit deficiency.

Pennsylvania State Grants

Students are required to make satisfactory academic progress for receipt of State Grant aid. For each academic year (summer fall and/or spring term) during which State Grant aid is received, a student must successfully complete the minimum number of credits appropriate to the student's enrollment status during the terms for which State Grant aid was received. Full–time students must complete 12 new credits per term and part–time students must complete a minimum of 6 new credits per term.

• Example 1: A student enrolled full–time for Fall and Spring semesters who received a PA State Grant for both terms would be required to complete 24 new credits during that time.
• Example 2: A student enrolled full–time fall and full–time spring received a PA State Grant for the spring only term. This student would be required to complete 12 credits during the spring term. Credits completed in the fall semester will not count towards academic progress.
• Example 3: A student enrolled full–time fall and half–time spring who received a PA State Grant for both terms would be required to complete 18 new credits during that time.
• Example 4: A student enrolled full–time summer and full–time academic year who received a PA State Grant for all three terms would be required to complete 36 new credits during that time.

Remedial Credits—the successful completion of a remedial class may not always count towards the PA State Grant academic progress requirement. Students receiving a PA State Grant who are taking remedial courses should consult with the Center for Enrollment Services.

Financial Aid Appeals

Any student whose financial aid has been canceled because of unsatisfactory progress may appeal this decision in writing to the Associate Director of Enrollment Services/Financial Aid. Documentation of extenuating circumstances (illness, death in the family, etc.) must be provided.