When a student withdraws, or ceases to attend, from all Clarkson College courses, the student may be required to return/repay a certain percentage of federal financial aid that has been or could have been disbursed. The amount of repayment required is based on formulas mandated by the U.S. Federal Government. Federal funds that may have to be returned, in order of their required return are Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan, Federal Subsidized Direct Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant and Federal SEOG Grant.

When a student graduates, transfers or is no longer enrolled half time at Clarkson College, the student will be responsible for repayment of all Direct loans and Federal Nursing loans. Payments will start within six (6) months of leaving for direct loans and nine (9) months for Federal Nursing Loans. A student reenrolling in another college within six (6) months after attending Clarkson who is at least a half time student may qualify for deferment of his loans while he is a student at the other college.

Clarkson College has established a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy in accordance with federal financial aid regulations. These regulations require that students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in their degree program in order to receive federal financial assistance. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that limited federal financial assistance is disbursed only to those students who are meeting the academic standards.

The following standards apply to students in both undergraduate and graduate programs and to continuing and former students. All students must meet the academic standards before federal assistance is certified and disbursed to the student. Federal financial aid regulations state that all periods of enrollment count when assessing progress, regardless of whether or not aid was received.

Timing and Frequency of SAP Calculation

SAP for financial aid recipients will be calculated after each term of attendance once grades have been verified by the Registrar’s office.

Standards

As required by federal financial aid regulations, Clarkson College’s SAP policy has three standards by which a student’s cumulative academic record must be compared. To be considered in compliance, a student must meet all three standards outlined in this policy showing progression toward graduation.

Standard 1: Pace of Completion (Percentage of attempted credit hours completed successfully)

A student must achieve a minimum pace. Pace is the percentage of total attempted credit hours that are completed successfully. Pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of successfully completed credits by the cumulative number of attempted credits. Grades of A, B, C, D, and P are considered successfully completed for purposes of financial aid. Grades of F, W, WP, WF, NP, and I are considered attempted and not successfully completed for purposes of financial aid.

Undergraduate and Graduate Standards: minimum pace of 67%

Standard 2: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

A student must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA. Refer to the Grading System section of the academic catalog for more information on how cumulative GPA is calculated.

Undergraduate Standard: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
Graduate Standard: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Standard 3: Maximum Timeframe

A student may not receive financial assistance once he or she has attempted 150 percent of the credit hours required to complete the degree. The total number of credit hours includes courses taken at other institutions which are applied to Clarkson College degree requirements. For example, if the degree requires 100 credit hours for completion, the student may receive financial aid for up to 150 credit hours.

Undergraduate and Graduate Standards: a student may attempt up to 150% of the credit hours required to complete his or her degree

SAP Statuses

Good Standing: Students who meet all three SAP standards are considered to be in Good Standing. To remain in Good Standing a student must meet all three SAP standards each term. Good Standing is a status which is eligible for financial aid.

Warning: A student who fails to meet one or more of the SAP standards will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester. The student’s academic progress will be verified at the end of the warning period. Warning is a status which is eligible for financial aid.

Suspension: A student who fails to meet SAP standards at the end of the warning period will be placed on Suspension. Suspension is a status which is not eligible for federal and non-federal financial aid.

Probation: A student who has been placed on Suspension is eligible to appeal. If the appeal is approved the student will be placed on Probation. Probation is a status which is eligible for financial aid. A student on probation must enter into an Academic Plan that, when followed, will ensure the student will meet SAP standards by a specific time. A student who fails to meet the conditions of his or her academic plan will be placed on permanent Suspension.

Appeal Process

Students who are suspended have the right to appeal. Appeals will be considered if the student has experienced circumstances that significantly contributed to his or her failure to meet the minimum standards. Supporting documentation from a physician, counselor, academic advisor, or faculty member may be included but is not required. Students must submit the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form that is sent with the notice of Suspension.

The SAP Committee will review the student’s appeal for reinstatement of financial assistance. The student will be notified by mail of the committee’s decision.

An appeal denied by the Financial Aid Committee may, at the student’s request, be forwarded to the Director of Student Financial Aid for further review. The Director’s decision will be final.

Treatment of the Following Types of Courses for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Audit Courses

Audit courses are ineligible for financial aid and do not count toward the number of attempted credits or the number of earned credits.

Repeated Courses

Repeating a course counts as attempted credit hours (for each time the course is taken) and if credit is earned (repeats as well) then it will also count as completed/earned credit hours in Pace and Maximum Timeframe calculations.

Incomplete Grades

An Incomplete course counts as credit hours attempted but does not count as credit hours completed or earned until a passing grade has been assigned. An incomplete grade like a withdrawn course can negatively affect a student’s Pace and financial aid eligibility. Once an Incomplete course has been assigned a final grade, a student’s SAP status will be recalculated. The student will be notified of any changes his or her SAP status.

Withdrawn Courses

A course from which a student withdraws (grades of W, WP, or WF) counts as credit hours attempted but does not count as credit hours successfully completed.

Transfer Courses

Credits transferred to Clarkson College from another institution count as attempted and earned credits as well as toward the maximum timeframe but do not affect cumulative GPA.

Advanced Standing Courses

Advanced Standing Credit is a method by which students can earn credit without completing a course. Credit is granted after the student earns a satisfactory score on an examination or a satisfactory evaluation of the portfolio on the first attempt. Such credits count as attempted and earned credits as well as toward the maximum timeframe but do not affect cumulative GPA.

Changing Majors or Earning an Additional Degree

Change of Major

Clarkson College does not limit the number of times a student may change his or her major. Credit hours earned for all degrees will be used in calculating SAP standards.

RN to MSN Program

In the RN to MSN program students may have semesters where they enroll in both undergraduate and graduate level coursework at the same time. Students in this program will be evaluated based on the undergraduate SAP policy standards until they have officially graduated with their bachelor’s degree. After that point, students will be evaluated based on the graduate SAP policy standards.

Notification

Once SAP is calculated after the end of each semester, students placed on Warning or Suspension will be notified of their status by letter via U.S. mail and a notice sent to his or her official Clarkson College email.

Reinstatement of Good Standing

A student who has failed to maintain SAP standards may regain his or her financial aid eligibility (Good Standing) by successfully completing sufficient semester hours and/or attaining the required cumulative grade point average. A student remains ineligible for financial assistance until the semester following his or her attainment of the SAP standards.

Clarkson College Student Financial Services professionals (including anyone working in the offices of Financial Aid, Student Accounts or Fiscal Services) is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her responsibilities, specifically including all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in Student Financial Services, regardless of whether such entities are involved in government sponsored, subsidized, or regulated activity. In doing so, Student Financial Services professionals will ensure that:

1. No action will be taken by Student Financial Services staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
   1. Employees within the Student Financial Services department will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
   2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publically disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
   3. A borrower’s choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institutions preferred lender list.
   4. No amount of cash, gift or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a Student Financial Services staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
2. Information provided by the Student Financial Services department is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
3. Institutional award notification and/or other instructionally provided materials shall include the following:
   1. A breakdown of individual components of the institution’s Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
   2. Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work or loan.
   3. Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of award letter terms.
   4. Renewal requirement for each award.
4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site and in any printed materials easily identified and found, and labeled as “Consumer Information.”
5. Student Financial Services professionals will disclose to Clarkson College any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution as a business relationship.

The primary goal of Student Financial Services professional is to assist students in achieving their educational goals through financial support and resources. Student Financial Services professionals are required to exemplify the highest level of ethical behavior and demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and shall:

Advocate for Students

• Remain aware of issues affecting students and continually advocate for their interests at the institutional, state and federal levels.
• Support federal, state and institutional efforts to encourage students to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school.

Manifest the highest level of integrity

• Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
• Deal with others honestly and fairly, abiding by our commitments and always acting in a manner that merits the trust and confidence others have placed in us.
• Protect the privacy of individual student financial records.
• Promote the free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession.

Support student access and success

• Commit to removing financial barriers for those who want to pursue postsecondary learning and support each student admitted to our institution.
• Without charge, assist students in applying for financial aid funds.
• Provide services and apply principles that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or economic status.
• Understand the need for financial education and commit to educate students and families on how to responsibly manage expenses and debt.

Comply with federal and state laws

• Adhere to all applicable laws and regulations governing federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
• Actively participate in ongoing professional development and continuing education programs to ensure ample understanding of statutes, regulations, and best practices governing the financial aid programs.
• Encourage colleagues to participate in the financial aid professional associations available to them at the state, regional, or national level and offer assistance to other aid professionals.

Strive for transparency and clarity

• Provide our students and parents with the information they need to make good decisions about attending and paying for college.
• Educate students and families through quality information that is consumer-tested when possible. This includes (but is not limited to) transparency and full disclosure on award notices.
• Ensure equity by applying all need-analysis formulas consistently across the institution’s full population of student financial aid applicants.
• Inform institutions, students, and parents of any changes in financial aid programs that could affect their student aid eligibility.

Protect the privacy of financial aid applicants

• Ensure that student and parent private information provided to the Student Financial Services department by financial aid applicants is protected in accordance with all state and federal statutes and regulations, including FERPA and the Higher Education Act, Section 483(a)(3)(E) (20 U.S.C. 1090).
• Protect the information on the FAFSA from inappropriate use by ensuring that this information is only used for the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, state aid, or aid awarded by eligible institutions.

The purpose of this policy is to comply with a new federal mandate relating to identity theft. It requires creditors who have entered into business arrangements that meet the definition of “covered account” to establish an identity theft prevention program. Although we believe the risk of identity theft is low at Clarkson College, we believe implementation of a prevention program is in the best interest of our students and those that we serve. Review the complete Identity Theft Prevention policy