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Academic Progress Policy

Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy

In order to qualify for Federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan and Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan) and/or any La Roche funded scholarship or grant, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as established by the college in accordance with federal guidelines.

Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Definition

Satisfactory academic progress for Undergraduate financial aid recipients is defined as follows: 

  1. Successful completion of 67% of all credits attempted each semester;
  2. A minimum 2.00 Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) must be obtained each semester;
  3. A bachelor’s degree must be earned within 180 attempted required credits.
  • Courses may be repeated only once to be counted toward making satisfactory academic progress. Students will not receive financial aid for courses attempted more than twice.  
  • “W,” “I,”  “NC,” and “F” grades will count as credits attempted with zero credits earned.
  • Passed grades “P” and “P+” will count as credits attempted and earned toward grade level progression but will not count in the G.P.A. 
  • Remedial courses will be counted toward enrollment status for the semester.
  • Remedial courses will not be counted as credits attempted and earned and calculated into the G.P.A. for the semester that the student received financial aid.
  • Remedial courses will not count toward grade level progression for student loans.
  • Remedial courses may count toward PHEAA State grant progress in certain circumstances.
  • Transfer credits will count as courses earned toward grade level progression but will not count in the G.P.A.
  • LRX classes will count as credits attempted and earned and will count toward grade level progress.

Satisfactory academic progress is checked at the end of each semester.

  • Students who do not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress according to the above definition are placed on Financial Aid Warning status and will receive financial aid for one additional semester.
  • If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the warning status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
  • If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
  • Students who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal the suspension of financial aid in writing and clearly outline the special or unusual circumstances which contributed toward their lack of progress using the appeal form that will be enclosed with their suspension letter.
  •  If the student’s appeal is approved, the student will be place on Financial Aid Probation status and will receive financial aid for one final semester.
  • If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the probation status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
  • If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria. 

Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Definition

Satisfactory academic progress for Graduate financial aid recipients is defined as follows:

  1. Successful completion of 75% of all credits attempted each semester;
  2. A minimum 3.00 Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) must be obtained each semester.
  3. A master’s degree must be earned within 50 attempted required credits.
  • Courses may be repeated only once to be counted toward making satisfactory academic progress. Students will not receive financial aid for courses attempted more than twice.
  • W,” “I,” and “F” grades will be calculated as credits attempted with zero credits earned. 

Satisfactory academic progress is checked at the end of each semester.

  • Students who do not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress according to the above definition are placed on Financial Aid Warning status and will receive financial aid for one additional semester.
  • If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the warning status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
  • If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
  • Students who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal the suspension of financial aid in writing to the Director of Financial Aid.
  • If the student’s appeal is approved, the student will be place on Financial Aid Probation status and will receive financial aid for one final semester.
  • If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the probation status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
  • If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.