St. Lawrence University: Student Handbook

Financial Aid, Eligibility for New York State and Federal Awards
New York State Financial Aid
Eligible students are required to meet qualitative (minimum grade point average) and quantitative (minimum courses accrued) requirements to retain New York State financial aid awards such as the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The New York State Education Department mandates these requirements. The chart below describes the standards of satisfactory academic progress for the purpose of determining continuing eligibility for NYS student aid at SLU. Continuing eligibility is reviewed at the beginning of each semester.

A student whose academic progress is unsatisfactory and who therefore loses eligibility for New York State awards may request one waiver for loss of eligibility through a petition to the SLU financial aid office. Once notified by the St. Lawrence University TAP certifying officer, financial aid office staff informs students when there is a loss of eligibility due to unsatisfactory academic progress.

Calendar: Semester           Program: Baccalaureate Degree
Before Being Certified     A Student Must Have Accrued          With at Least This
for This Payment             at Least This No. of Units*     Grade Point Average

             1st                                      0                                   .0
            2nd                                     1                                  1.1
             3rd                                     3                                  1.2
             4th                                     6                                  1.3
             5th                                    10                                   2.00
             6th                                    13                                 2.00
             7th                                    7                                 2.00
             8th                                    21                                 2.00
             9th                                    25                                 2.00
            10th                                   30                                 2.00

*One unit of St. Lawrence University credit is equivalent to 3.6 semester hours.

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) recipients must be in full-time status to seek a TAP award or other New York State assistance. Full-time status is defined by the New York State Education Department as enrollment for at least 12 semester hours or (3.5 SLU units) of matriculated credit for a term of 15 weeks.

Note: Only HEOP students in approved five-year programs are eligible for more than eight semesters of undergraduate TAP award payments.

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 once per academic year, at the end of the spring semester.

A student is expected to maintain:
1. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2. Satisfactory progress in units completed toward graduation.
3. Satisfactory progress and GPA in the major. (This applies to juniors and seniors who have earned 17 or more units toward graduation.)

A student not meeting these expectations will be placed on probation or suspended from the University; however, a student placed on probation but permitted to remain at the University as an enrolled student shall be considered a student in good standing where questions of eligibility for federal financial aid programs are concerned. The guidelines are located in the academic standing section of this handbook.

In addition to the previously mentioned Federal Grant programs, two new Federal programs began in 2006-2007.

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.

Note that suspended students who can document extenuating special circumstances have the right to appeal to the academic standing committee. Should this committee approve the appeal, the student may then request a waiver for loss of eligibility of federal and SLU funded need-based financial aid through a petition to the SLU financial aid office.

Financial Aid—Student Employment
The Financial Aid office, located in Payson Hall, coordinates the student employment program. Please stop by or contact that office for more information.

Financial Obligations/Student Billing Policies
All charges for fall and spring tuition, room, board and fees must be paid on the respective August and January due dates for each semester. Charges for summer sessions are due the day of registration. Charges for graduate courses are due upon receipt of a bill. Delinquent balances after these due dates are assessed interest at 1% per month.

Registration for subsequent terms and participation in the housing lottery are prohibited and transcripts are not released until all financial obligations have been met. Student Financial Services may approve exceptions in the following situations: there is an approved student loan or a parent loan to pay for the past due balance; the family participates in the monthly payment option administered by Tuition Management Systems and the plan payments are current.

If financial obligations for a prior semester are not satisfied or deferred payment arrangements not approved, students may be administratively withdrawn from the University. Students may be reinstated upon settlement of an account. The University will make every effort to honor the student’s original course selection and housing priority but cannot guarantee those selections.

Return to Student Handbook	Financial Aid Financial Aid, Eligibility for New York State and Federal Awards New York State Financial Aid Eligible students are required to meet qualitative (minimum grade point average) and quantitative (minimum courses accrued) requirements to retain New York State financial aid awards such as the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The New York State Education Department mandates these requirements. The chart below describes the standards of satisfactory academic progress for the purpose of determining continuing eligibility for NYS student aid at SLU. Continuing eligibility is reviewed at the beginning of each semester. A student whose academic progress is unsatisfactory and who therefore loses eligibility for New York State awards may request one waiver for loss of eligibility through a petition to the SLU financial aid office. Once notified by the St. Lawrence University TAP certifying officer, financial aid office staff informs students when there is a loss of eligibility due to unsatisfactory academic progress. Calendar: Semester Program: Baccalaureate Degree Before Being Certified A Student Must Have Accrued With at Least This for This Payment at Least This No. of Units* Grade Point Average 1st 0 .0 2nd 1 1.1 3rd 3 1.2 4th 6 1.3 5th 10 2.00 6th 13 2.00 7th 7 2.00 8th 21 2.00 9th 25 2.00 10th 30 2.00 One unit of St. Lawrence University credit is equivalent to 3.6 semester hours. New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) recipients must be in full-time status to seek a TAP award or other New York State assistance. Full-time status is defined by the New York State Education Department as enrollment for at least 12 semester hours or (3.5 SLU units) of matriculated credit for a term of 15 weeks. Note: Only HEOP students in approved five-year programs are eligible for more than eight semesters of undergraduate TAP award payments. 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 once per academic year, at the end of the spring semester. A student is expected to maintain: 1. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. 2. Satisfactory progress in units completed toward graduation. 3. Satisfactory progress and GPA in the major. (This applies to juniors and seniors who have earned 17 or more units toward graduation.) A student not meeting these expectations will be placed on probation or suspended from the University; however, a student placed on probation but permitted to remain at the University as an enrolled student shall be considered a student in good standing where questions of eligibility for federal financial aid programs are concerned. The guidelines are located in the academic standing section of this handbook. In addition to the previously mentioned Federal Grant programs, two new Federal programs began in 2006-2007. 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. Note that suspended students who can document extenuating special circumstances have the right to appeal to the academic standing committee. Should this committee approve the appeal, the student may then request a waiver for loss of eligibility of federal and SLU funded need-based financial aid through a petition to the SLU financial aid office. Financial Aid—Student Employment The Financial Aid office, located in Payson Hall, coordinates the student employment program. Please stop by or contact that office for more information. Financial Obligations/Student Billing Policies All charges for fall and spring tuition, room, board and fees must be paid on the respective August and January due dates for each semester. Charges for summer sessions are due the day of registration. Charges for graduate courses are due upon receipt of a bill. Delinquent balances after these due dates are assessed interest at 1% per month. Registration for subsequent terms and participation in the housing lottery are prohibited and transcripts are not released until all financial obligations have been met. Student Financial Services may approve exceptions in the following situations: there is an approved student loan or a parent loan to pay for the past due balance; the family participates in the monthly payment option administered by Tuition Management Systems and the plan payments are current. If financial obligations for a prior semester are not satisfied or deferred payment arrangements not approved, students may be administratively withdrawn from the University. Students may be reinstated upon settlement of an account. The University will make every effort to honor the student’s original course selection and housing priority but cannot guarantee those selections. All financial obligations to the University must be met as a condition for graduation, participation in Commencement ceremonies and receipt of transcripts. Financial obligations include loans administered by St. Lawrence, including Federal Perkins Loan, GATE Education Loan, and College Loan. For more information on financial obligations and student billing policies visit www.stlawu.edu/sfs.