Financial Aid: Academic Progress

Students receiving financial assistance under the federally supported Title IV Programs/Veteran's Benefits must comply with the following set of standards to be eligible for such assistance. Academic Progress is measured on an academic year basis.  Measurement is conducted at the close of the spring semester.  An academic year runs from the beginning of the fall semester to the end of the spring semester.

Download Satisfactory Academic Progress Waiver Form

  1. Quality of academic performance: Students must be matriculated and must maintain that quality of academic performance required to remain a matriculated undergraduate or graduate student at the University.

    An undergraduate student is subject to dismissal from Western if his/her cumulative GPA is:

                 Less than 1.7 with up to 30 credits attempted
                 Less than 2.0 thereafter

    A graduate student is subject to dismissal from Western if his/her cumulative GPA is:

                 Less than 3.0 with up to 18 completed semester hours (except for MBA)
                 Less than 3.0 with 24 completed semester hours

    Students who are on academic probation, unless otherwise ineligible, will be able to receive financial aid if they meet the “speed of completion” standard of the Academic Progress Policy outlined below.
  2. Speed of Completion of the Bachelor's Degree:
    1. For full-time undergraduate students: Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the successful completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours of academic work per academic year for students who enroll for both Fall and Spring semesters, and 12 credit hours of academic work for those enrolled for only one semester. Non-credit developmental courses recommended by the student's academic advisor do count, but failed courses, audited courses, withdrawals, incompletes, repetitions, and courses transferred from another institution prior to your attendance at Western Connecticut State University will not be counted toward the number of required credits.
    2. Full-Time Undergraduate Students will not be eligible for financial assistance for more than 12 semesters of full-time attendance or until certified for graduation by the University, whichever comes first. (Regardless of whether or not they received financial aid for those 12 semesters).
    3. For Part-Time Undergraduate Students: Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the successful completion of the number of credits that a student starts the semester with. (i.e.-if you register for 9 credits, withdraw from a 3 credit course and pass only 6 credits, you have not maintained satisfactory academic progress. You must pass all 9 credits). Non-credit developmental courses recommended by the student's academic advisor do count, but failed courses, audited courses, withdrawals, incompletes, repetitions, and courses transferred from another institution prior to your attendance at Western Connecticut State University will not be counted toward the number of required credits.
    4. Part-Time Undergraduate Students will not be eligible for assistance for more than 24 semesters of part-time attendance or until the student is certified for graduation by the University, whichever comes first.
  3. Speed of completion of the Graduate Degree:
    1. For Full-Time Graduate Students: Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the successful completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours of academic work per academic year and 9 credit hours of academic work for those enrolling in one semester. Failed courses, audited courses, withdrawals, incompletes, repetitions, and courses transferred from another institution prior to your attendance at Western Connecticut State University will not be counted toward the number of required credits.
    2. Full-time Graduate Students may not receive financial assistance for more than four semesters of full-time attendance or until the student is certified for program completion by the University, whichever comes first. Matriculated MBA students may not receive financial assistance fore more than six semesters of full-time attendance or until the student is certified for program completion, whichever comes first.
    3. For Part-Time Graduate Students: Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the successful completion of the number of credits that a student starts the semester with. Failed courses, audited courses, withdrawals, incompletes, repetitions, and courses transferred from another institution prior to your attendance at Western Connecticut State University will not be counted toward the number of required credits.
    4. Part-Time Graduate Students will not be eligible for assistance for more than eight semesters of part-time attendance or until the students is certified for graduation by the University, whichever comes first. Matriculated MBA students may not receive financial assistance for more than 12 semesters of part-time attendance or until the student is certified for program completion, whichever comes first.
  4. Alternatives for Completion of Academic Progress
    1. Undergraduate and graduate students who do not attain the above levels of Satisfactory Academic Progress may complete the needed hours in Winter Intersession and Summer Sessions.   The student needs to submit in writing to the Financial Aid Office, that they have completed their credits.
    2. Upon presentation of evidence of medical emergencies, undergraduate and graduate students who have been denied financial assistance under this policy may appeal to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Committee.
  5. Title IV Programs are:
    1. Federal Pell Grant
    2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
    3. Federal College Work-Study
    4. Federal Perkins Loan Program
    5. Federal Family Educational Loan Program (inc. William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loans):
      1. Subsidized Student Loans
      2. Unsubsidized Student Loans
      3. Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loan)

Related Links: