In order to receive and maintain federal financial assistance, students
are required to progress satisfactorily toward completion of their course
of study. Federal financial assistance includes grants, loans and employment.
The satisfactory academic progress of students will be monitored at the
end of each spring semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured in three ways:
- Students must progress qualitatively by earning the required number of
grade points.
- Students must progress quantitatively by completing the required minimum
number of credits each year.
- Students must complete their program of study within a reasonable time
period.
1. Qualitative Measure
The Office of Financial Aid strictly adheres to the academic standards
established by Millsaps College and printed in the College Catalog. Students
who have attempted up to a total of 28 hours must earn a 1.5 cumulative
grade point average. Students who have attempted more than 28 hours and
less than 60 hours must earn a 1.8 cumulative grade point average. Students
who have attempted 60 or more hours must earn and maintain a 2.00 cumulative
grade point average. Total hours attempted will include credit taken
at Millsaps College and any credit transferred from another institution.
Grade point averages are based solely upon credits earned while enrolled
at Millsaps College.
Minimum acceptable academic standards are represented in the following
table:
Total Hours Attempted
(Including Transfer Credit) |
Minimum Cumulative GPA
(Millsaps Only) |
| 0-28 |
1.5 |
| 29-59 |
1.8 |
| 60 and above |
2.0 |
Students failing to meet this qualitative measure of academic progress
will be placed on financial aid probation. A student may be placed on
financial aid probation for up to one year. Should the student fail to
complete the minimum cumulative GPA, the student will be placed on financial
aid suspension and will be ineligible for federal financial assistance.
Eligibility may be regained after the student returns a GPA to the minimum
requirement level or through the appeal process. (See Appeal Process)
- Transfer Students
Students transferring into Millsaps College shall be assumed to be maintaining
satisfactory academic progress. Hours transferred from previously attended
schools will be considered when establishing total hours attempted
for GPA requirements, as well as determining the maximum number of
hours allowed for financial aid eligibility.
2. Quantitative Measure
Students receiving financial aid must also must satisfactorily complete
66% of financial aid hours (hours in which a student is enrolled the
last day to add a class) at the end of each spring term.
Passing grades include A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+, C, C-, D+, and D. Grades
of I, CR, W, NR, NC, IP and AU will not be accepted as passing grades.
- Withdrawals
Courses with a grade of W will affect the quantitative measure of academic
progress in determining eligibility and maintaining financial aid.
- Audit Courses
Courses taken for audit do not count for credit or graduation and, therefore,
are not counted in determining eligibility for receiving or maintaining
financial aid.
- Credit/No Credit Grades
Courses taken for credit/no credit grades are not counted in determining
eligibility for receiving or maintaining financial aid.
- Repeat Courses
Repeat courses are counted for credit and will affect cumulative grade
point averages in determining eligibility and maintaining financial
aid as well as determining the maximum number of hours allowed for
financial aid eligibility.
Students failing to meet this quantitative measure of academic progress
will be placed on financial aid probation. A student may be placed on
financial aid probation for up to one year. Should the student fail to
complete the minimum number of credits for one year, the student will
be placed on financial aid suspension and will be ineligible for federal
financial assistance. Eligibility may be regained after the student successfully
completes the required number of credits to meet 66% of all attempted
credits or through the appeal process. (See Appeal Process)
3. Maximum Hours to Complete Course of Study
Students must complete degree requirement within a normal time frame.
To remain eligible to receive financial aid, students must complete their
degree requirements within 150% of the published length of their academic
program. In most cases students will be eligible to receive financial
aid during the first 192 attempted hours as an undergraduate, whether
or not they received financial aid or whether or not the course work
was successfully completed. This includes both College and transfer hours.
A student will be placed on financial aid suspension if his/her course
work is in excess of 192 attempted hours or if at any time it becomes
clear that the student will not meet the quantitative standards by graduation
date.
- Second-Degree Undergraduate Students
Students who have already earned a baccalaureate and are currently seeking
a second undergraduate degree will be reviewed for financial aid eligibility
on an individual basis.
- Graduate Students
Graduate students will be eligible for financial aid until they have
completed six years of study at the graduate level.
4. Appeal Process
Students who have had their financial aid suspended may appeal their
suspension. The student must submit a written appeal to the Office of
Financial Aid detailing the extenuating circumstances which resulted
in the less than acceptable progress as well as a specific plan to meet
the satisfactory academic standards. This appeal will be evaluated by
the SAP Appeals Committee. The student will be notified of his/her eligibility
or ineligibility for continued financial aid.
