Academic Progress Requirements
For Undergraduate Students

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Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for financial aid.  This includes the federal grants, athletic grant-in-aids, student employment and all federal loans (Perkins, Stafford and PLUS).  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)

Federal regulations require that, upon completion of four (4) semesters at East Stroudsburg University, the student must have attained an overall quality point average (QPA) of at least a 2.000 in order to receive federal financial aid.  For students enrolled less than four (4) semesters, the following chart shows the minimum quality point average that must be achieved in order to continue receiving federal financial aid:
 
 

Academic Probation

Matriculated undergraduate students will be placed on academic probation for one (1) semester the first time the quality point average is lower than the above values.  A student on probation may retain federal financial aid for the one (1) semester that the probation occurs, unless the student has been enrolled at ESU for at least four (4) semesters.

If, at the end of the probation semester, the semester quality point average is raised to a level that satisfies the academic standing -- but the overall quality point average is still below the above values, THE STUDENT WILL BE INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

Maximum Time Frame for Program Completion

Full-time undergraduate students are expected to complete their program of study within (5) years or the equivalency of ten (10) semesters of full-time enrollment.  Full-time students enrolled in an Associates Degree Program are expected to complete their program within two and one half (2.5) years. The total semesters for completion of a program of study for part-time students will be extended proportionally.

For transfer students the enrollment at prior institution(s) will be pro-rated by counting every eighteen (18) credits or part thereof that is transferred in as one semester. That total number of semesters will be subtracted from the ten (10) semester maximum time frame, with that remaining number being the number of semesters a student can receive financial aid at East Stroudsburg University.

No financial aid will be awarded to any student beyond the undergraduate limitation unless extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid, exist.

Remedial Credits

Remedial classes successfully completed will be counted toward the academic progress requirement for federal financial aid.  They DO NOT count toward a student's total credits for graduation, nor do they count in the determination of grade level for student loans. For the PA State Grant program, the successful completion of a remedial class may not always count toward the PA State Grant academic progress requirement.  Students receiving a PA State Grant who are taking remedial courses should consult with the Office of Student Financial Aid.

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.

PA State Grant Academic Progress

The basic requirement for academic progress for PA State Grant purposes is that the student successfully complete the minimum total number of credits in the academic year (Summer, Fall, Spring) appropriate to the student's enrollment status during the terms for which State Grant aid was received.
    Example: Student enrolled full-time for Fall but did not have a PA State Grant.  Student passed 15 NEW credits.  Student enrolled for 12 credits in the Spring and received a PA State Grant.  The student passed 9 NEW Spring credits.
 

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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