Financial Aid
Undergraduate Catalog 2008-2010 PRINT PAGE
Financial aid is money provided from outside the family to help students pay college expenses. Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs. Eligibility for most aid programs is determined based on financial need. Financial aid programs are subject to availability of funds and to federal, state, and institutional guidelines.
Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. by the priority deadline of June 1. Based on the U.S. Department of Education formula, the information submitted will determine the family’s expected family contribution, (EFC) or the amount the family should be able to provide. Financial need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the school’s cost of attendance.
To be eligible for federal student aid, students must (1) have a high school diploma or a GED Certificate; (2) be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; (3) comply with Selective Service registration, if required; (4) have a valid Social Security number; (5) be accepted as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program; (6) meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the school in accordance with federal regulations; and (7) certify federal student aid will be used for educational purposes only.
Satisfactory Progress Policy:
1. Students must be enrolled and seeking a degree to receive financial aid. Students who owe a repayment or are in default on any of the Title IV Programs will not be eligible for financial aid.
2. Undergraduate students must complete degree requirements within 6 years of full-time enrollment. Students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree or teacher certification must complete degree/certification requirements within 2 years of full-time enrollment. Graduate students must complete degree requirements within 3 years of full-time enrollment. Any semester of less than full time enrollment will be considered proportionately.
3. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average consistent with the institution's graduation standards as listed in the college catalog to receive student financial aid. Students who are suspended because of failure to maintain the minimum GPA are not making satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for financial aid until the minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA has been earned. NOTE: REINSTATEMENT TO CLASS BY THE ADMISSION/ADJUSTMENTS COMMITTEE DOES NOT REINSTATE A STUDENT TO THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS.
4. Students awarded aid on a full-time basis must enroll in 12 or more hours per semester and complete a minimum of 20 hours per year (or 10 hours per semester). Students will be awarded aid as three-quarter time if enrolled in 9 to 11 hours per semester and must complete a minimum of 15 hours per year. Students will be awarded aid on a half-time basis if enrolled in 6 to 8 hours per semester and must complete a minimum of 10 hours per year. Students awarded on a less than half-time basis must complete all the hours in which they enroll. (Summer school hours may be used to fulfill the yearly minimum hour requirement.) A student's official enrollment status will be determined on the 11th day of classes and aid will be awarded accordingly. Satisfactory Progress will be reviewed each semester. Warning letters will be sent at the end of the fall semester. Ineligible letters will be sent at the end of the spring semester.
5. An incomplete grade (I) will be treated as an "F" until work is completed and the grade is recorded. Remedial course work is counted toward quantitative (number of hours completed) satisfactory progress; however, remedial course work is not calculated into the cumulative GPA as college level course work. Repeated course work is counted toward quantitative (number of hours completed) satisfactory progress; however, the qualitative (academic) measurement is consistent with the school's policy (see school catalog).
6. A student who withdraws from the University on or before the 11th day of classes and receives no financial aid will not be held responsible for completing minimum required hours. A student who withdraws after the 11th day of classes will be held responsible for the minimum required hours for his/her enrollment status. In order to receive aid, a student must be making Satisfactory Progress, regardless of whether he or she has previously received Title IV aid.
7. Students who have not met the requirements for Satisfactory Progress can have financial aid funds reinstated the semester following the completion of the required number of hours and the attainment of the required cumulative grade point average.
8. An initial disbursement of Title IV aid will be made to transfer students just as for any other student who is enrolling for the first time at HSU. However, the maximum time frames listed in #2 above will be applied to the student and the required cumulative grade point average will include any grades accepted by the Office of the Registrar from another institution.
9. Students with extenuating circumstances (such as an illness of the student or the death of a family member) may submit an appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Office within 30 days of the time the student is notified of non-compliance. Appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee. All decisions of the Financial Aid Committee are final. There is no further appeals process.