The general areas of financial assistance at Spalding University are non-repayable awards (scholarships and grants), repayable aid (loans), and work opportunities. All university aid is open to any student regardless of race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. Aid is available to students who are accepted to the University and meet the particular award's eligibility requirements,

Assistance that is funded in whole or in part by the federal government is administered according to federal guidelines covering the particular programs. Such programs are open to students who carry at least six credit hours per term as an undergraduate or FLEX student, or five credit hours per term as a graduate student, and who are American citizens or eligible non-citizens with a social security number. One exception is the Federal Pell Grant program, which is available to eligible students carrying fewer than six credit hours per term.

Classes in which a student does not participate in academic activity will not be counted towards the credit hours for financial aid eligibility. If financial aid has paid on a class before it is determined that academic activity has not occurred than the aid will be adjusted accordingly.

Academic activity for Title IV purposes includes but is not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
• Submitting an academic assignment;
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction;
• Attending a study group assigned by the school;
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

What is not considered academic activity includes and is not limited to:

• Living in on campus housing
• Participating in the school’s meal plan
• Participating in a student-organized study group
• Logging into an online class without active participation
• Participating in academic counseling or advising
• Purchasing a book or supplies for a class.

Assistance that is funded in whole or in part by state governments is administered according to the guidelines enacted by the respective states.

A student seeking financial aid through Spalding University must not be in default on a student loan from Spalding or any other previously attended institution of higher education and must not owe a refund on a government-sponsored grant or loan.

For information on specific awards and eligibility requirements, please see the Financial Aid section of the University's website and/or contact the appropriate financial aid counselor.

Applying for Financial Aid
Any student, except an international student, wishing to be awarded financial assistance at Spalding University must complete the following steps:

1. The student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The FAFSA may be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or a paper copy may be obtained at the Office of Financial Aid located in the Egan Leadership Center. Spalding University's identification number is 001960. The results of the FAFSA determine the student's eligibility for federal and state grant and loan assistance.
2. The student must be accepted to Spalding University. Admission applications are available in the Admissions Office or online at www.spalding.edu.
3. If the student is selected for verification by the federal government, he or she must submit copies of the paperwork used to complete the FAFSA to the Office of Financial Aid, along with a completed verification worksheet. In this event, a written request, and the verification worksheet, will be sent to the student. Federal Verification is a process conducted by the University, under the direction of the Department of Education, to verify accurate information is given when a student applies for financial assistance. Any student may be selected for verification by the federal government during any year he or she files a FAFSA.

Once the above steps have been completed, a Financial Aid Award Letter will be mailed from the Office of Financial Aid to the student. Students are encouraged to review financial aid information on the student portal. If a student wishes to make changes to their financial aid award, he or she must indicate those changes on the letter and return it to the Office of Financial Aid no later than fourteen days from the date of the award. After fourteen days from the date of the award, the Office of Financial Aid automatically certifies the aid package unless the student has requested a change.

Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations mandate that all students make satisfactory, measurable academic progress toward completion of a degree in order to receive federal assistance through Title IV federal grant, work and loan programs. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) includes qualitative progress (grade-point average), quantitative progress (hours earned) toward degree completion and Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion.

These standards are for financial aid purposes only and do not replace or override the academic policies of Spalding University. Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester for currently enrolled students. It is the responsibility of the student to stay informed of the University’s SAP standards and policy.

QUALITATIVE PROGRESS-Cumulative G.P.A

Undergraduate Students
Student must maintain at least a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 and be in good academic standing.

Graduate Students
Student must maintain at least a cumulative G.P.A of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.

QUANTITATIVE PROGRESS
Students must earn at least 75% of the credit hours for which they receive financial aid. For example a student who receives financial aid during the fall and spring semesters for full-time enrollment in each semester (24 hours total) would be required to earn at least 18 credit hours in order to meet quantitative standards. A part-time student who receives financial aid during the fall and spring semesters for 6 hours enrollment in each semester (12 hours total) would be required to earn at least 9credit hours in order to meet quantitative standards. Summer semester hours attempted and completed are also considered in the Quantitative progress.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME FOR DEGREE COMPLETION
Students pursuing a bachelor degree are allowed to attempt 160 credit hours. Exceptions may be made for a student pursuing a bachelor degree which requires considerably more than 120 hours for completion as stated in the university catalog, but the maximum hour allowance will not exceed 133% of the hours required for completion.

The maximum hour allowance will not exceed 133% of the hours required for completion of a graduate degree as stated in the university catalog.

The maximum time frame may be adjusted for students pursuing a second degree. Generally, students will be allowed to attempt up to 133 percent of the additional credit hours required to earn the second degree.

Changes in major and/or double majors do not increase the time frame allowed.

ATTEMPTED HOURS
Incompletes will not be considered as hours earned for an academic year until a grade is received, however, the hours will be considered to be attempted.

Withdrawn hours (including administrative withdrawals) are considered attempted hours for financial aid purposes.

Remedial coursework will be considered in the evaluation of courses attempted.

Repeated hours are considered attempted hours each time the course is taken. If a student enrolls for an excessive number of repeated courses, he/she will not be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the degree program and this could result in a loss of financial aid.

Transfer hours are counted as both hours attempted and hours earned.

Audited courses are not considered credits attempted or earned.

All students receiving financial assistance must be degree-seeking and taking courses applicable to their degree program.

YEARLY SAP REVIEWS
Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each spring semester. Those students not meeting the requirements stated above will no longer be eligible to receive federal, state or institutional financial aid. Students will be notified in writing of the suspension if they fail to meet SAP standards.

SUSPENSION-If the student does not meet the standards for hours earned and/or GPA, then the student is no longer eligible for financial aid until such standards are met. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make satisfactory academic progress. The student may continue to enroll in courses at their own expense.

If a student becomes ineligible to receive financial aid, reinstatement of financial aid will occur either when the student successfully meets the above requirements by a subsequent semester or semesters of enrollment or when the Committee for Financial Aid Appeals approves reinstatement through written appeal by the student. The appeal must include a letter written by the student which clearly states the circumstances regarding the academic performance and must also include supporting documentation. A student may appeal due to extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances may include, but are not limited to: personal or family illness, tragedy, or other circumstances the student feels have bearing on the situation. The appeal must also incorporate an academic plan for success and detail specific actions that will allow the student to demonstrate academic progress at the next evaluation.

An appeal may be approved, denied or approved with conditions. Students who are granted an appeal will be placed on financial aid probation for ONE semester. At the conclusion of the next semester the student’s academic progress will be reviewed. If any modification is made to the academic plan during probation then student must re-appeal to regain eligibility. Students who do not meet SAP at that time will no longer be eligible for financial aid.

Students are eligible for two (2) appeals of SAP suspension during the lifetime of enrollment at Spalding University and no two appeals can be for the same circumstances.

Students whose appeals are denied have the option of paying tuition out of pocket at Spalding or attending another institution.  Students may re-appeal a denial once they have demonstrated progress within the SAP standards as defined for Spalding for the equivalent of one full time semester.

The Committee for Financial Aid Appeals shall consist of multiple individuals from the financial aid office. Decision of the Committee is final.