In order to receive and maintain federal financial assistance, students are required to progress satisfactorily toward completion of the course of study. Federal financial assistance includes grants, student loans, and employment. Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured primarily in three ways:

1. Student must progress qualitatively by earning the required minimum grade point average,

2. Student must progress quantitatively by completing the required minimum number of credits each semester or term, and

3. Student must complete the program of study within a reasonable time period.

Additional Policies

Enrollment Status

Students receiving Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Grants, or Federal Pell Grants are expected to pass 75% of the enrollment hours on which their financial aid was based. Students on suspension are ineligible for additional federal finanical assistance until they enroll at least half-time at their own expense, complete all course, and earn the minimum required grade point average.

Transfer Students

Students transferring into the University will be assumed to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Hours transferred from previously attended schools will be considered when establishing class standing for grade requirements, as well as when determining the maximum number of hours allowed to receive financial aid.

Remedial Courses

Astudent is eligible to recieve federal financial aid for up to one academic year's worth of remedial course work.

Audit Courses

Courses taken for audit do not count for credit or graduation and, therefore, are not counted in determining eligibility for receiving or maintaining financial aid.

Independent Study and Research

Courses taken under this category do not constitute full-time or half-time status, therefore are not counted in determining eligiblity for receiving or maintaining fincancial aid.

Repeats

A limit of two (2) courses or a total of six (6) semester hours will be permitted as repeats without affecting financial aid eligibility.

Cooperative Education

Students are not considered as enrolled for credit hours during the terms they are employed and, therefore, are ineligible to receive financial assistance. Co-op students are, however, considered enrolled for purposes of deferring prior loans during periods of co-op.

Simultaneous Measurement

Academic transcripts of financial aid recipients will be reviewed at the end of each semester or term to ensure that the student simultaneously meets all the minimum Satisfactory Academic Policy requirements stated above.

Appeals

Students who have their aid suspended because they have exceeded the maximum length of time allowed to meet degree requirements may appeal that suspension ONLY for one of the following reasons:

• The student is enrolled in a course of study that normally requires more than 128 semester hours to complete.
• The student has military or vocational (not technical) hours on her or his academic transcript that are not included in her or his program of study.
• The student has attempted less than 192 hours in a course of study that normally requires 128 hours to complete.
• The student is seeking a second undergraduate degree and has attempted less than 206 semester hours.
• The student has graduated and has been official or conditional admitted to graduate school.

Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Forms
Excessive Hours Appeal Form

Students who have their aid suspended because of failure to meet quantitative or qualitative standards may appeal that suspension ONLY for one of the following reasons:

• Death of an immediate family member. "Immediate family member" includes parent, spouse, sibling, or dependent child.
• The extended illness of the student. "Extended illness" is defined as a documented chronic or recurring medical or emotional illness that causes the student to be absent from at least ten class days.
• The extended illness of an immediate family member that places a hardship on the student. "Immediate family member" includes parent, spouse, sibling, or dependent child.
• Other unusal circumstances that may affect a student's ability to meet satisfactory academic progress standards.

Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Forms
Request for Reinstatement Appeal Form (will require supporting documentation, for GPA and withdrawal issues)

Appeals will be evaluated by the Financial Aid office, and students will be notified of their eligibility or ineligibility for continued financial assistance.

Students whose appeals are denied by the Financial Aid Office must enroll at Southern Miss at least half-time until they have removed the deficiency that caused them to be placed on financial aid suspension.