Federal regulations require Centenary College to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act.

The law requires institutions to develop policies regarding satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Each institution must design criteria that outline the definition of student progress towards a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Centenary students who wish to be considered for financial aid must maintain satisfactory progress in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.

 

Institutional Policy

The FAO evaluates student academic progress at the end of each semester. Students are evaluated on the basis of grade point average (G.P.A.), credit hour completion, and maximum time frame limitation.

 

Grade Point Average/Credit Hour Completion

Undergraduate—Full-time: All full-time undergraduate students receiving financial aid are subject to the following minimum academic requirements. It should be noted, however, that undergraduate full-time students are expected to complete their degree programs in eight semesters and can only receive aid for eight semesters.

• To receive financial aid, a full-time student must achieve and maintain minimum qualitative and quantitative measures of progress defined below:

Semesters Completed	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Min.Credit Hours Completed	12	24	36	48	60	72	86	96
Current or Cumulative GPA	1.5	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

Transfer students (other than freshmen) must achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA in their first semester at Centenary and thereafter meet the above minimum academic requirements.

 

Undergraduate—part-time: Undergraduate part-time students receiving financial aid are expected to complete at least fifteen credit hours per academic year. These students may receive financial aid for twelve semesters and can only receive aid for twelve semesters.

To receive financial aid, a part-time student must achieve and maintain minimum qualitative and quantitative measures of progress defined below:

 

Semesters Completed	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Min.Credit Hours Completed	6	15	21	30	36	45	51	60	66	75	81	90
Current or Cumulative GPA	1.5	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

Graduate— To receive financial aid, Education graduate students must enroll in and complete at least six credit hours per semester/summer—MBA students must enroll in and complete at least three credit hours per session. Graduate students may receive financial aid for a maximum of six semesters or the equivalent of three years.

 

Institutional Procedures

Failure to maintain satisfactory progress
If, as a result of (1) poor grades; (2) course incompletes; and/or (3) withdrawals, a student fails to earn the minimum grade point average or the required number of credit hours, that student will be placed on a “warning” period for one semester. If at the end of that period, the student has not completed the necessary number of hours for the current semester enrolled with the minimum grade point average, then that student will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does achieve the necessary hours and grade point average at the end of the “warning” semester, the student will continue to be eligible to receive financial aid.

Students receiving academic scholarships must maintain a specific cumulative grade point average (GPA) designated for the scholarship. This GPA is monitored every semester. The first-semester freshman is given two semesters in which to achieve the necessary minimum cumulative GPA. If, after that point, the GPA dips below the minimum cumulative GPA for that particular scholarship, the student will be ineligible for the scholarship.

Students who re-enroll at Centenary College after academic suspension will not be eligible for financial aid for that semester.

Appeals and reinstatement of financial aid eligibility: Students may have legitimate reasons for not maintaining satisfactory progress, not maintaining the necessary cumulative grade point average for academic scholarships, or not completing their degrees in the number of semesters required. In these cases, students may petition the Scholarships and Financial Aid Committee to continue to receive their financial aid and/or scholarships.

The student petition and the decision of the Committee will be in writing and will become a permanent part of the student’s file. The Committee will require a student to complete an action plan developed by the Director of the Student Resource Center as a condition for financial aid reinstatement. Each student’s action plan will lay out specific steps that the student will take to improve his/her academic performance and return to good standing.

In cases where no appeal is made or where the student petition is denied, the student will be ineligible for financial aid during the next semester enrolled.