Please review the new 2011-2012 Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Regulations for Students with Federal Aid.
The standard academic program in the day colleges at Saint Joseph’s University calls for students to progress toward their degree in eight regular (fall and spring) semesters in which five courses are taken each semester. Following such a program a student will have completed 40 courses, which should represent a minimum of 120 credits, by the end of the eighth semester. Transfer students are reminded that a minimum of 20 courses are to be taken in the fall and spring semesters at Saint Joseph’s University.
Satisfactory academic progress at Saint Joseph’s University requires students to earn a minimum of 24 credits in at least eight courses in each school year, beginning in September and ending in August. It is the policy of the University to allow for a ninth and sometimes a 10th semester if significant reasons or a change in major justify such an extension. Permission for a ninth or 10th semester will ordinarily be obtained from the associate academic dean of the appropriate college. The deans of the colleges reserve the right to consider special cases differing from the above statement.
Students who are receiving federal, state, or University aid need to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to keep their eligibility. Evaluation of a student’s academic progress to determine financial assistance eligibility will be made at the end of the spring semester. Students not meeting criteria for satisfactory progress will be informed in early summer that their current academic record disqualifies them for financial assistance. Students should not assume that Saint Joseph’s University would necessarily recommend and/or award financial aid for more than eight semesters. Students intending to complete their degree program in more than eight semesters should first consult with the appropriate academic dean and the Office of Financial Assistance.
In addition to the quantitative parameter of 24 earned credits within each academic year as a requirement for retaining financial aid, Saint Joseph’s University also adheres to the qualitative parameter defined as follows:
Utilizing the academic probation structure as described in the University Catalog, the recommendation of the Board on Student Academic Review, and approval of the appropriate dean to impose an academic dismissal on a student automatically includes the termination of financial aid by the University. Under no circumstances will a student be eligible for financial aid beyond the second consecutive academic probation. Academic dismissal is mandatory if the student has not achieved the required cumulative grade-point average at the end of the second academic probation. The Board on Student Academic Review may recommend the continuation of a second academic probation only for a student who has completed six semesters of study or for a student who has changed his/her major during the second probation. Academic dismissal may also occur after the first probation if sufficient improvement in academic performance has not been shown.
In rare instances academic dismissal may be given without previous probation if the student’s academic standing reveals that academic probation would not be in the student’s best interest. The qualitative parameter for financial aid is linked to the academic dismissal procedures of the University. Since these judgments involve issues of academic qualifications and performance as well as federal and state regulations concerning financial aid, decisions about the loss of financial aid will be made jointly by the Director of Financial Assistance and the appropriate academic dean, acting on the recommendation of the Board on Student Academic Review.