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Satisfactory Progress FAQs.

Federal and state regulations mandate that an aid recipient must make satisfactory academic progress toward completing his degree or certificate. This requirement applies to the aid recipient's entire period of attendance at Whitworth, even though for some semesters financial aid may not have been received. Satisfactory academic progress includes: 1) maintaining a minimum grade point average, 2) completing a minimum number of credits, and 3) completing a degree or certificate within a reasonable period of time.

Satisfactory academic progress for the academic year is reviewed at the end of each spring semester. For those attending summer school at the end of their academic year, the academic year review takes place after the summer semester ends.

A minimum term grade point average of 1.0, as well as a minimum semester credit requirement of six credits for full-time undergraduate students (or 50% completion of attempted credits for part-time and graduate students) is required after each semester. Failure to complete the required minimums for a semester will result in suspension of aid for the next semester. See "Minimum Credit Requirement" for more information.

Students who complete the term's minimum grade point average and the term's minimum number of attempted credits but fail to maintain the academic year satisfactory academic progress requirements (such as less than 75% of the year's attempted credits were completed) will be granted one semester of aid eligibility on a probationary status. To regain eligibility due to deficient credits, 75% of the attempted credits for the previous academic year plus the probationary term (or term without aid) must be completed. Failure to regain eligibility after the probationary semester will result in suspension of aid for the upcoming semester. Students will be notified if they have not maintained satisfactory academic progress; however, it is the student's responsibility to monitor his/her own progress.

Minimum Grade Point Average

In addition to the minimum term grade point average of 1.0, each academic year, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater. For Faculty Scholarship, Federal ACG, or SMART grant recipients the cumulative grade point average requirement is 3.0 to continue to receive the scholarship or grant; TEACH Grant recipients require 3.25; international student grant recipients require a 2.5. Only the highest grade obtained is counted in the grade point average when a course is repeated. Transferred credits including those received during consortium study, do not count in the calculation of the GPA, but they are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours. The Federal Department of Education mandates that an aid recipient's cumulative grade point average be 2.0 or higher specifically after the second year of study at Whitworth. If you do not have the required 2.0 after your second year of study, you are ineligible for financial aid for the following semester unless you appeal and your appeal is granted.

Minimum Credit Requirement

While there is a minimum semester credit requirement of six credits for full-time undergraduate students (or 50% completion of attempted credits for part time and graduate students), for the full academic year all full-time undergraduate students must finish at least 18 credits after attending fall and spring semesters (9 credits if the student just attends one semester for the academic year). The 18 credits for the year is based on 75% completion rate of the full-time enrollment minimum level of 12 credits for two semesters. If less than 6 credits is completed in the fall semester, the full-time undergraduate student is ineligible for aid for the spring semester. All part-time and graduate students receiving financial aid must complete at least 75% of the credits that they attempt (rounding to the nearest full credit) for the academic year as a whole, in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress and they must complete at least 50% for each semester.

Whitworth's undergraduate academic scholarships are awarded for four consecutive years of full-time study. In order for a student to finish her degree within the four years, at least 30 credits or more should be finished each year. Transfer-scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive institutional scholarships based on the class standing they are assigned upon admission and evaluation by the registrar's office (i.e., a junior transfer student will have two years of scholarship eligibility).

Incompletes, withdrawals, failed classes, credits by examination, non-credit remedial courses and audits do not count as completed credits. Earned credits received for pass/no pass courses, remedial or ESL coursework do count toward the minimum credit requirement but are not included in the cumulative grade point average. As stated above only the highest grade obtained is counted in the grade point average when a course is repeated; transferred credits including those received during consortium study, do not count in the calculation of the GPA, but they are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours. Students who drop credits during the 100% refund period will have their awards revised to reflect the correct charges and the new enrollment status will be considered the attempted credits for the semester.

To remain eligible for most federal, state  and Whitworth sponsored need-based aid:

Maximum Time Frame

Students are eligible to receive financial aid until they have attempted a maximum of 150% of the minimum number of credits required for the degree or certificate (189 credits for undergraduates), or completed all the coursework to receive their degree or certificate. Transfer students will be evaluated based on the transfer credits accepted toward the degree and credits attempted at Whitworth. Attempted credits include any repeated courses. Students with double majors or students who change majors are still held to this maximum time frame requirement. Please note that some financial aid programs have maximum time limits or funding limits, that are not affected by an appeal. For example, a student may only receive the federal SMART or ACG grants for a maximum of two years of full-time eligibility.

Any student who has reached 165 undergraduate credits (thus getting close to the maximum time-frame limit) and needs additional time to complete her degree, may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee for an extension.  These forms are available in the Financial Aid Office or on the web at www.whitworth.edu/financialaid/forms.  The appeal should explain why the degree could not be completed within the time frame allotted and what additional time will be needed.  The student will need to attach documentation from his/her advisor that substantiates the appeal.

Attempted credits are defined as: the number of enrolled credits as of the last day of the 100% refund period of each term attended at Whitworth University. The number of accepted transfer credits is included when confirming a student's eligibility based on the maximum time frame requirements.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Students who are no longer eligible to receive financial aid because of lack of satisfactory academic progress may submit a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee, care of the Financial Aid Office. We encourage students to submit the appeal form as soon as possible; waiting until once the semester has begun is usually too late for the student to make payment arrangements that include aid.  These forms are available in the Financial Aid Office or on the web at www.whitworth.edu/financialaid/forms. Appeals will be reviewed for circumstances beyond the student's control which prevented the student from maintaining satisfactory academic progress and, whenever possible, should include documentation from a doctor, relative or academic advisor that supports the student's appeal. If a student hopes that a repeated course will modify his grade point average, the student can mention such in the appeal. If the appeal is denied, the student's aid will not be reinstated.

Please note that an Educational Review Board decision to reinstate a student does not mean that a student will once again be eligible for financial aid. Educational Review Board decisions are distinct and separate from those of the Financial Aid Office.

A student can raise her GPA and/or satisfy credit deficiencies by taking additional course work at Whitworth University without receiving financial aid. For example, a student can be reinstated if she finishes at least 75% of her total attempted credits from the previous academic year and the semester without aid or gets her cumulative grade point average up to the required level. A student can only eliminate credit deficiencies, but not GPA deficiencies, by successfully completing course work at another institution and transferring the credits to Whitworth University. Transfer credits used to satisfy credit deficiencies cannot be credits that were earned prior to the term in which the student incurred the deficiencies.

Financial aid reinstatement awards are based on available funds at the time the appeal is granted, therefore, students might not receive a financial aid award that is consistent with prior years.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Records

Financial aid satisfactory academic progress records are kept in the student's financial aid file. These records do not appear on the student's permanent academic record (transcript) in the registrar's office.

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