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Biola University
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Students attending Biola University who wish to receive financial aid (including federal, state, Veterans benefits, Social Security benefits, etc.), in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria, must maintain satisfactory academic progress in their degree or certificate program as described below. Quality of Progress "GPA Requirement" Students requesting aid must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA as follows: Minimum Cumulative GPA Undergraduate: 2.0 Graduate: 2.5 • GPAs are reviewed at the end of each academic term (Fall, Spring, and Summer). • Students who fail to maintain the minimum GPA will be given a warning status for one academic term, during which they will continue to receive financial aid. At the end of the term, the cumulative GPA requirements must be met, or they will be suspended from their aid eligibility until they once again meet the applicable GPA requirement. Quantity of Progress "Pace Requirement" Students requesting aid must complete 67% of all credits attempted. Pace is reviewed at the end of each academic term (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students who fail to maintain the pace requirement will be given a warning status for one academic term, during which they will continue to receive financial aid. At the end of the term, the Pace Requirement must be met, or they will be suspended from their aid eligibility until they once again meet the requirement. Duration of Progress "Maximum Time Frame" Students requesting aid are expected to complete an academic program within a reasonable time frame (including transfer credits) as follows: Undergraduate
Federal Direct Student Loan, Direct PLUS Loan (Work Study is not included in the withdrawal calculation). State Aid: Includes Grants awarded by the California Student Aid Commission, i.e. Cal Grant A, B. Institutional Aid: Includes all sources of financial aid awarded by Biola University, i.e. scholarships, grants and campus-based loans. Outside Assistance: Includes any aid received from outside organizations, i.e. churches, civic organizations, Employee Tuition Waivers, private foundations, scholarship associations, etc. When a student wishes to withdraw from Biola University, a "Departure Card" must be obtained from and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. The official withdrawal date is the earlier of either the date the student begins the withdrawal process, or the date the student provided official notification of the intent to withdraw, and received acknowledgment of the same from the Office of the Registrar. Students who unofficially withdraw (fail to submit departure card, but stop attending class) will be given an official withdrawal date determined by the last date of class attendance. If the last date of attendance cannot be determined, the official withdrawal date will be the 50% point of the semester. Return of Aid Title IV Aid: Federal aid must be returned to the Title IV program(s) if a student withdrew on or before completing 60% of the enrollment period (semester or term). The percentage of Title IV aid to be returned is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the semester divided by the number of calendar days in the semester. Scheduled breaks of more than four consecutive days are excluded. Note: If prior to withdrawing, funds were released to a student because of a credit balance on the student's account, the student may be required to repay the federal funds back to Biola upon withdrawing. State Aid: State aid must be returned in the amount of the difference between the State aid awarded for the enrollment period and the actual tuition charged once the tuition refund is reflected. Institutional Aid: In most cases, institutional aid is reduced when a student withdraws during the first eight weeks of the semester. The institutional aid is reduced by the same percentage of tuition refund. For example, a student has a $1000 scholarship for the semester, and withdraws during the third week of the semester (80% tuition refund). The student keeps 20% of the scholarship, or $200; $800 is returned to the institution. Aid is usually not reduced after the eighth week of the semester, unless the student has contracted for the aid, i.e. athletics, music. Outside Aid: Outside organizations providing financial aid are contacted when a student withdraws and receives a tuition refund that produces a credit on the student account. The organization can decide if any of the aid must be returned to them. Some organizations specify beforehand the terms of their scholarship if a student withdraws. Unless requested, outside aid sources are not contacted when the withdrawal occurs after the eight week refund period. Private/Alternative Loans : Alternative loans are only adjusted upon request of the student. Returning excess funds remains the responsibility of the student.
Full-time: 11 semesters Part-time: 17 semesters Graduate Full-time: 11 semesters Part-time: 17 semesters
Time frame is reviewed at the end of each academic term (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students may appeal for extended time by submitting a
letter of petition to the Financial Aid Office. Financial Aid Suspension Appeals
Any student whose aid has been suspended may appeal for a term of aid probation, by completing the "Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form," which is available on the financial aid website. By the end of the probation term, the student must meet all Satisfactory Academic Requirements, as specified above, to regain financial aid eligibility.
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