Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require Framingham State University (FSU) to develop and apply a consistent and reasonable standard of academic progress. Schools are required to measure academic progress by evaluating grade point average (GPA), pace of completion, and maximum time frame. The following standards apply to any student receiving federal or state financial aid.

GPA STANDARDS

Students must meet FSU academic standards by earning a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 1.70 until they have passed 8 course credits (32 semester hours), and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 after that, or after four semesters (excluding winter intersession but including summer courses) at FSU (whichever comes first).

PACE OF COMPLETION AND MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME

The maximum time frame for completing an undergraduate degree is 150% of the published length of the program, as measured by credits (including transfer credits). To ensure that students meet this requirement, schools must measure how many courses students complete against how many they attempt. To be making satisfactory academic progress at FSU, students must successfully complete 67% of the courses attempted. This is a cumulative measurement, and the number of courses attempted and earned will be reviewed at the end of each year at the conclusion of the spring semester. Rounding will be used in calculating the pace of completion.

Since a degree at FSU requires 32 course credits (128 semester hours), 48 course credits (192 semester hours) is the maximum amount that students can attempt within the 150% completion time frame. Students who have attempted 48 course credits (including semester hour credits transferred to FSU that count toward the student’s degree program) and have not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree will become ineligible for financial aid.

Courses transferred to FSU are counted towards the number of course credits/semester hours attempted and completed but are not included in the calculation of the GPA.
 

Examples:

A student has taken a total of 30 course credits (120 semester hours) and passed 18 course credits (72 semester hours). The student is not making satisfactory progress because the student is passing at the rate of 60% (18 divided by 30).

A student has attempted 40 course credits (160 semester hours) at FSU and has transferred in 10 course credits (40 semester hours) from another institution, but has not yet earned a degree. The student is not eligible for financial aid because the student has attempted 50 course credits (200 semester hours), or more than 150% of the allowable amount for the program.

ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS

Course Withdrawals:  If a student withdraws from one or more courses before the end of the Add/Drop period, the course(s) will not be counted as a course attempt.  Any courses dropped after the Add/Drop period will be counted as credits attempted for determining academic progress.

Incompletes:   A grade of incomplete will count as an attempted course.  Once the course work is completed and a grade is determined, the completion rate and GPA may change based on the grade that is earned.  The time frame to remedy an incomplete grade for satisfactory progress is the same as that for all students (see the university catalog).

Courses taken Pass/Fail: A Pass grade grants the student course credit but does not count in computing the student's GPA. A Failed grade counts as a course attempted with zero points.

Repeated courses:  Courses taken more than once will count as attempted courses for each attempt, but will count only once as earned course credit toward degree completion. Please note that additional federal regulations restrict the number of courses that students can repeat while receiving financial aid. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you plan to repeat courses.

STANDARDS ARE CUMULATIVE

Satisfactory academic progress standards are cumulative and include all periods of the student's enrollment, including those for which the student did not receive financial aid.

APPEAL PROCESS

Students who are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress may appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal should include a detailed account of why the student did not meet the required academic standards and should include any information on special circumstances that may have affected the student’s academic performance. Examples of special circumstances include but are not limited to: an injury to a student, an illness of the student, or the death of a close relative of the student. The appeal should also include information on what has changed to allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress in the future.

If a student’s appeal is approved, they will receive a semester of financial aid probation, and may also be placed on an academic plan. Academic progress will be checked again at the end of the probationary semester.

REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID

If financial aid is lost because satisfactory progress has not been achieved, some ways that the student can repair his or her record over time include:

  • Raising the cumulative GPA to the required level
  • Raising the completion rate to the required level by earning passing grades in all attempted courses
  • Successfully appealing and improving academic performance while on Financial Aid Probation or adhering to the requirements of the assigned academic plan.

Although satisfactory progress is monitored once per year at the conclusion of the spring semester, eligibility may be restored at any time throughout the year. If a student’s GPA or completion rate changes due to grade changes, repeated courses, or courses transferred in from other schools, the student should notify the Financial Aid Office.

* For information regarding the Graduate Satisfactory Academic Policy please click here.