Academic Progress Requirements
For Graduate Students

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To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress.  Satisfactory academic progress is based on the total number of NEW credits that a student passed during an academic year (defined as Fall and Spring) as well as the cumulative quality point average (QPA).  The original enrollment status determines the number of credits that a student must pass.  All students are subject to the progress rule regardless of previous receipt of federal financial aid.  An annual review occurs at the completion of each academic year.  The review determines student aid eligibility for the next enrollment period (summer session and/or the following academic year).

Requirements For Credits Completed

The following chart shows the number of credits which must be successfully completed for a student to maintain satisfactory academic progress:
 
 

Requirements For Quality Point Average (Q.P.A)

Graduate students must maintain a minimum overall quality point average of 2.000 to receive federal financial aid.

Maximum Time Frame for Program Completion

Full time graduate students are expected to complete their studies in 2 years. The total semesters for completion of a program of study for part time students will be extended proportionately. No financial aid will be awarded to any student beyond the limitation unless extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid, exist.

Special Grades

Special grades that will have an adverse impact on academic progress because they are credits attempted and are used to determine the semester enrollment status.

W/Z - Withdrawals from a course after the first day of class.

I/X - Incomplete grades or no grade reported. If the incomplete grade is resolved by the close of the following semester and a passing grade is received, the credits will be counted.

E/F/U - Failure of a course.

L/Y - Classes that are audited.

R - Repeated classes WILL NOT count toward academic progress if the class was passed the first time the student was enrolled and the student is  retaking the class for a better grade.  Only repeated classes that students originally failed will be counted toward academic progress.

Summer School Enrollment

If a student is deficient in credits and/or QPA at the end of the academic year, summer school classes may be used to eliminate the deficiency.  No financial aid (including the loan programs) will be provided to help defray these summer costs. The summer work need not be completed at ESU, but students should be aware that:

• approval from ESU must be obtained prior to taking courses elsewhere to ensure that these credits will be accepted at ESU;
• courses taken elsewhere will not affect your QPA at ESU.  If the students deficiency is in QPA, taking courses at another institution will not make up that deficiency.

Academic Dismissal/Suspension

Academically dismissed students who have been readmitted through the Admissions Appeals process are not automatically reinstated for financial aid.  They may, however, file for a financial aid appeals.

A student whose federal financial aid has been canceled due to unsatisfactory academic progress may appeal this decision (in writing) to the Director of Financial Aid.  Documentation of extenuating circumstances (illness, death in family, etc.) MUST be included.
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