In accordance with federal regulations, all recipients of federal financial aid must maintain a satisfactory rate of progress toward the completion of a degree (i.e. pace) and must be in good standing based on a cumulative grade point average (GPA), regardless of whether financial aid was received previously. Progress will be measured at the end of each Academic Year (Spring Semester).
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients
Federal regulations require institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for students receiving Title IV federal aid. All university course work must be considered, regardless of whether the student received federal financial aid at the time.
Financial aid at the University of Mary Washington is awarded to students for the entire academic year or summer session. If an aid recipient’s grade point average falls below the minimum standards at the end of the spring semester, the recipient will be placed on financial aid suspension. The student will be ineligible for financial aid for the subsequent enrollment period and will not receive consideration for aid again until the standards have been met. A student may attend summer school to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress to regain eligibility. The student should notify the Office of Financial Aid when standards for satisfactory academic progress have been met.
The standards for determining progress at the University of Mary Washington are composed of three separate measurements.
- Grade point average (qualitative)
- Incremental progress (quantitative)
- Accumulated hours (maximum time-frame)
A student whose average drops below the minimum requirement will be placed on financial aid suspension after the spring semester.
Course in Program of Study (CPOS)
The federal government has limits on the amount of credits for which a student may receive financial aid funding. Under federal regulations, financial aid will only pay for one undergraduate degree. An undergraduate degree at the University of Mary Washington is earned at 120 credits. Within that degree, students take course selections to complete general educations, major requirements and elective options. Each of the degree majors have a set pattern of course requirements for graduation. Once a major is earned the distribution of courses the student has completed at UMW, transferred in from other post-secondary institutions or completed and transferred from dual enrollment and AP coursework in high school are assigned to their place in the degree audit. Student can review how completed or transferred credits apply toward their declared degree by running a degree audit through Banner.