Federal Aid Policies

Return of Title IV Funds

The Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term. The Federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations.

If a student leaves the institution prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term, the Financial Aid Office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula.

Percentage of the payment period or term completed = the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total number of days in the payment period or term. Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term. This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:
Aid to be returned = 100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution.

If a student earned more aid than was disbursed, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student’s withdrawal.

The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days after the date of determination of the date of the student’s withdrawal.

Refunds are allocated in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
• Other assistance under this Title for which a Return of Funds is required

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who receive Federal Student Financial Aid (federal loans and work-study) must, in accordance with federal, state and institutional requirements, be in good standing and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward obtaining their degree or certificate. Under Federal Title IV law, the school’s SAP requirements must meet certain minimum requirements and be at least as strict as the college’s standards for Good Academic Standing. This policy applies to students applying for financial aid for terms/periods of enrollment that begin on July 1, 2014 or after.

The federal government requires that an institution use three measurements to determine SAP: qualitative, quantitative and maximum time frame. The student must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of credits attempted, and complete a degree or certificate within a maximum time frame set by law. The standards used to evaluate academic progress are cumulative and, therefore must include all terms of the student’s enrollment (even periods during which the student did not receive SFA funds). In accordance with federal regulations students enrolled in a program longer than two years must have a C average or academic standing consistent with the school’s graduation requirements.

What is the School's Financial Aid SAP Policy?

To be able to receive financial aid at the Bloomberg School, students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward their academic objectives, as measured by:

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Students

1. Minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) – Qualitatively, on a scale of 4.0, students receiving federal financial aid must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all certificate courses.
2. Minimum cumulative completion rate – Quantitatively, financial aid recipients must maintain a cumulative completion rate equal to or exceeding two-thirds (67%) of the credits attempted. The completion percentage will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage using standard rounding rules (e.g., 66.5% will be rounded to 67%).
3. Maximum time frame to completion of certificate – The maximum time frame is the maximum amount of time it takes to complete the certificate. Students must complete the required course work within 3 calendar years from the date of matriculation.

Master's Degree Students

1. Minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) – Qualitatively, on a scale of 4.0, students receiving federal financial aid must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all core coursework.
2. Minimum cumulative completion rate – Quantitatively, financial aid recipients must maintain a cumulative completion rate equal to or exceeding two-thirds (67%) of the credits attempted. The completion percentage will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage using standard rounding rules (e.g., 66.5% will be rounded to 67%).
3. Maximum time frame to completion of degree – The maximum time frame is the maximum amount of time it takes to complete the degree. Students must complete the required course work within 4 calendar years from the date of matriculation.

Doctoral Program Students

1. Minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) – Qualitatively, on a scale of 4.0 students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students must earn a grade of B or better in all core coursework.
2. Minimum cumulative completion rate – Quantitatively, financial aid recipients must maintain a completion rate equal to or exceeding 67% of the credits attempted. The completion percentage will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage using standard rounding rules (e.g., 66.5% will be rounded to 67%).
3. Maximum time frame to completion of degree – The maximum time frame is the maximum amount of time it takes to complete the degree. Full-time students must complete the required coursework within seven calendar years from the date of matriculation. Part-time students must complete the required coursework within nine calendar years from the date of matriculation.

Treatment of W, I, AU, F, S, P, MT, MR and X Grades, No Grade Reported and Repeated Coursework

• Course withdrawals (W grade) are not included in the GPA calculation, but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework.
• Incomplete courses and I-grades are not included in the GPA calculation and are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework until the coursework is completed and graded with a permanent grade.
• "MT" is assigned for multiple-term courses and the grade will be assigned in the subsequent term. A "MT" is not included in the GPA calculation and is not considered in as either a completion or a non-completion of attempted coursework in the initial term. If the "MT" remains on the student coursework in the evaluation of SAP.
• Audited courses (AU grade) and other noncredit coursework is not considered attempted coursework or included within the GPA calculation, nor is the coursework considered for financial aid eligibility.
• A satisfactory (S) grade or a passing (P) grade is treated as attempted credits which are earned but is not included in calculation of GPA.
• F grades are treated as attempted credits that were not earned and are included both in the calculation of GPA and minimum completion rate.
• If no grade is reported or a grade of MR or X, the coursework is not included in the GPA calculation but is considered a non-completion of attempted coursework until the coursework is completed and graded with a permanent grade.
• The most recent grade earned in a course that is repeated will count in the GPA computation, but every attempt will be included in the completion rate determinations.

Students enrolled in all pass/fall courses must earn a pass in at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of their attempted credits in order to meet required quantitative (GPA) standards.

Frequency of Satisfactory Academic Progress Review

Financial aid recipients enrolled in programs longer than one year are reviewed for SAP annually at the end of the 4th term (end of spring). However, SAP will be evaluated at the end of each term (Summer and Terms 1 – 4) for students in the following one-year programs:

• MHS/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• MHS/Biostatistics
• MHS/Environmental Health Engineering
• MHS/Clinical Investigation
• MHS in Health Economics/Health Policy and Management
• MHS in Health Economics/International Health
• MHS/Mental Health
• MHS/Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• MHS/Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
• MPH (full-time program)
• All Certificate programs

Students who fail to meet the required Financial Aid SAP standards (qualitative and/or time frame) will be ineligible for continued financial aid funding beginning with the term immediately following the term in which the SAP requirements were not met. The Financial Aid Office will notify the student in writing of their aid status and the appeal process.

Financial Aid Warning Status

Students in the above listed programs who fail to meet the minimum Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the subsequent term enrollment. Students are still eligible for financial aid during the “Warning” term.

Students receiving financial aid for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning as applicable if they did not meet the minimum grade point average or course completion standards as noted in this policy based on the previous period of enrollment prior to applying for financial aid.

Financial Aid Suspension – Losing Title IV Eligibility

Students who are on an annual review and those who while on Financial Aid Warning fail to maintain the minimum completion rate and/or fail to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status for subsequent terms of enrollment. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent terms of enrollment until the student regains financial aid eligibility.

Students applying for financial aid for the first time will not be eligible for financial aid and will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status as applicable if they did not meet the minimum grade point average or course completion standards as noted in this policy based on their performance in the term prior to applying for financial aid.

Students who do not complete their program within the maximum time frame lose eligibility for financial aid and are placed on Financial Aid Suspension Status.

Financial Aid Probation and Reinstatement of Aid After Financial Aid Suspended Status

Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility after a student is placed in a Financial Aid Suspended status is achieved in one of the following ways:

• The student submits a written appeal and the Appeals Committee approves the appeal. The student is then placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next term/period of enrollment and is eligible for aid during the Financial Aid Probation term. If the appeal is approved, but the Committee has determined that the student will not be able to meet the SAP standards within one term/period of enrollment, then the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation with an Academic Plan which if followed will ensure that the student is able to meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time.
• The student registers for coursework while on Financial Aid Suspension status, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student financial aid, and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards at the end of the subsequent term(s)/period(s) of enrollment.

*Students who are beyond the maximum time frame to completion may only regain financial aid eligibility on a term-by-term basis through the appeal process.

Appeal Process

Students who wish to appeal must submit an appeal of Financial Aid Suspended status in writing to the financial aid office no later than 2 weeks after the start of the next term. The committee will review the appeal and notify students (in writing) of the decision within 14 working days after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its determination. Appeals should include:

• The grounds for the appeal (i.e., the death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances) etc.
• Demonstration that the student understands the reason behind failure to meet the SAP requirements
• Specific plans to rectify the student's current academic status

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and consult with the academic advisers and other involved parties as warranted. If it is determined that the student will not be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of the next term/period of enrollment but the committee is in agreement that the student’s grounds for appeal are reasonable and the student has a reasonable chance to succeed and graduate, then if the appeal is approved the student will also be placed on an Academic Plan. Students will receive written notification of the decision. All decisions on such appeals are final. Students who lose eligibility for financial aid due to not meeting the minimum SAP standards more than one time during their program may submit an appeal each time.

Academic Plan

Students who lose eligibility and submit an appeal may be placed on an Academic Plan if the appeal is approved. The purpose of an academic plan is to support the student in bringing himself or herself back into compliance with the financial aid SAP standards by a specific point in time in order to ensure that the student will be able to successfully complete the degree or certificate program. The academic plan will be specifically tailored to the student and may include milestones and specific requirements such as a reduced course load, specific courses or tutoring. Students on an academic plan are still responsible to meet the SAP requirements in the subsequent period of enrollment and will lose eligibility if the SAP standards are not met, and need to go through the appeal process in order to regain eligibility. The student’s progress in the academic plan will be taken into account in any subsequent appeal process of financial aid eligibility.