Federal and St. Lawrence Student Financial Aid:  Recipients of assistance under the Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Parent Loan, and St. Lawrence University financial aid programs must also meet minimum qualitative and quantitative academic progress standards.  Academic progress is determined by two criteria: the quality of academic achievement as indicated by the cumulative grade point average and progress toward the degree.  With the exception of suspended students, continuing eligibility for federal and SLU need-based assistance is reviewed twice per academic year, at the end of each the fall and spring semesters.

To make satisfactory academic progress, a St. Lawrence University undergraduate student must earn at least the number of units and the cumulative GPA indicated in the table below. The units and average must be earned by the beginning of the term in which the financial aid is to be disbursed.  In order to continue to receive Federal financial aid, an undergraduate financial aid recipient must complete his/her program within 150% of the published length of the program measured in units attempted.  For instance, if the published length is 33.5 units, the maximum time frame to complete the program cannot exceed 50 attempted units.  The table below applies to full time students. 

Please Note: for St. Lawrence University financial aid programs, the maximum length of eligibility will not exceed 8 semesters.

In addition to the above mentioned programs, there are two additional Federal grant programs with specific SAP standards. 

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): The ACG is for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The ACG provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant (and are U.S. citizens – permanent residents do not qualify) and who have successfully completed a rigorous high school academic program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 prior to the start of their sophomore year. Note that the ACG is only available to first and second year students. The U.S. Department of Education will establish future award limits of the ACG each year.

Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (Smart Grant): The Smart Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time (as determined by the SLU Financial Aid Office) students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants (and are U.S. Citizens – permanent residents do not qualify) and who are majoring in academic programs determined to be critical to national security (these currently include some specific mathematics, technology, engineering and foreign language majors). Qualifying academic majors are determined by the U.S. Department of Education each year. The student must also maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. The Smart Grant currently provides up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study. Future award limits for the Smart Grant will be established by the U.S. Department of Education, and will rely on the availability of funding each year.

Additionally, students must maintain minimum enrollment requirements of 3.5 units to remain eligible for most Federal and St. Lawrence resources.  Contact the SLU financial aid office for details as different minimum enrollment requirements exist for various Federal aid programs.

Waiver of Standards: The above standards for satisfactory academic progress may be waived provided fully documented medical or unusual personal circumstances can be shown to exist.  The appeal must be made in writing.  The appeal should include the circumstances specific to the issue of the student's inability to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA and/or units earned as of the end of a particular semester or term.  Some examples of a request for a waiver of SAP requirements may include: the death of a relative of the student, the personal injury or illness of the student, or other extenuating circumstances. Waivers of standards are granted on a semester by semester basis only.