In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations, Eastern Illinois University is required to establish satisfactory progress standards for federal and state financial aid recipients. These minimum standards ensure that only those recipients demonstrating satisfactory progress toward the completion of their educational objective continue to receive financial assistance.
*This policy is effective fall 2000 and replaces all prior Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). However, if a student was determined ineligible under the school policies prior to fall 2000 the suspension is still in effect.

Minimum Standards

The following are "minimum standards" required by a student to be eligible for financial assistance regardless if a student has previously received federal or state aid (review of all terms for cumulative completed/attempted hours and cumulative GPA):

Minimum Standards regarding GPA and Hours Attempted

Undergraduate students with 59 or less attempted credit hours or undergraduate students who have attended less than four semesters at EIU (including summer semester, if applicable) are subject to the minimum GPA requirements as stated in the university catalog.
Undergraduate students with 60 or more attempted credit hours or undergraduate students who have attended four or more semesters at EIU (including summer semester, if applicable) must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (4.00 scale), AND can not exceed 180 attempted hours.
Graduate students must have an academic standing consistent with the requirement for graduation from the program as stated in the university graduate catalog, AND cannot exceed more than 48 attempted hours.

Minimum Standards for Satisfactory Completion Rate

All students must comply with the minimum standards for Satisfactory Completion Rate. Satisfactory Completion Rate refers to the percentage of cumulative hours completed in relation to cumulative hours attempted. Attempted hours include all transfer credit, proficiency exam credit, hours with A, B, C, D, F, W, WP, WF, I (incomplete0, AU (audit), CR (credit), NC (No credit), X (missing grade), repeated hours, and remedial hours. English 1000, General Studies 1000, General Studies 1100, Math 1270, and Math 1000 are the five courses approved as remedial at present. Completed hours are those classes for which there is a letter grade of A, B, C, D, CR, all transfer credit and proficiency exam credit. The minimum standard governing Completion Rate is as follows:

	Undergraduates		Graduates
Cumulative Hours Attempted	0-60	61-180	0-48
Percentage of Cumulative Hours Completed	60%	70%	75%

*Example: A student who has attempted 28 hours at the end of spring semester must have completed a minimum of 17 hours (round up).
The Office of Financial Aid is NOT notified when a student finishes an incomplete class or receives a grade change. Therefore, it is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid when incompletes are finished and/or grade changes are made. Hours determined to be remedial shall count as completed if passed even though not applicable to graduation requirements.

Review Period

At the end of each semester, the record of every student who has completed the FAFSA or receives financial aid for which satisfactory academic progress must be maintained will be reviewed to determine if the student has made progress according to the minimum standards set by this policy. Any undergraduate student who has completed four semesters at EIU or has 60 or more attempted hours and does not have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 will have his/her financial aid suspended (canceled) without a probationary period.

Financial Aid Probation

If a student is not making progress under minimum standards under this policy (with the exception of a student who must maintain a cumulative 2.0 as noted above) he/she will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and allowed the following semester of enrollment to achieve the minimum standards. If at the end of that probationary semester the student has not achieved satisfactory progress, financial aid suspension will occur. There is no probationary period for a maximum 180 attempted hours as an undergraduate student for 48 attempted hours as a graduate (immediate financial aid suspension occurs). There is no probationary period for an undergraduate student who has completed four semesters at EIU or has 60 or more attempted hours and does not have a cumulative GPA of a 2.00.

Financial Aid Suspension

Any student who has not maintained satisfactory academic progress as defined by this policy after one semester on financial Aid Probation will be considered as a Financial Aid Suspension and not eligible to receive federal and state financial aid funds.

Reinstatement

There are two ways a student's eligibility can be reinstated:
1. Meet minimum standards as set forth in this policy by the end of next enrollment period
2. File a successful appeal

Appeal Process

Student who fails to meet the EIU Satisfactory Progress requirements may submit a written appeal to the Satisfactory Progress Appeals Committee. Appeal forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid or on-line and must be completed within two weeks of notification of cancellation of aid. Appeals must clearly explain and provide proof of why Satisfactory Progress standards were not met. Proof can include medical reasons, family crisis, personal problems, transfer hours accepted that will not apply to degree, change in major, or other circumstances which adversely affected academic performance. Students with "incomplete" hours may ask instructors to provide the following information: percentage of work completed to date, grade on work submitted to date, and projected date for final grade. Completed appeal forms should be sent to the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Appeals are reviewed each semester on an individual basis. Students are notified by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs of the decision of the committee. The decision of the committee is final. The Vice President for Student Affairs chairs the Appeal Committee and the members include staff from student affairs and academic advisement.

Programs Affected by this Policy

This policy applies to the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART), Federal TEACH Grant, Illinois Student Assistance Monetary Award Scholarship (MAP), Correctional Officer's Survivor Grant, Policeman/Fireman Dependent's Grant, Merit Recognition Scholarship, Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, Illinois Future Teacher Corps Scholarship, Special Education Teacher Scholarship, Socio-Economically Disadvantage Student Scholarship, and the Illinois Incentive for Access Scholarship.

Please e-mail Financial Aid for further assistance.
East Wing, Student Services Bldg
(217) 581-3713 phone
(217) 581-6422 fax

Last updated: May 5, 2008

EIU Financial Aid

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