Satisfactory Academic Progress
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress / Financial Aid Warning, Suspension, and Probation
To maintain aid eligibility, federal regulations require that all federal financial aid recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Cumberland University monitors each student who receives federal aid to ensure that their cumulative GPA, completion rate, and maximum time limits for the completion of a degree meet requirements. Students should note that this standard may differ from the “good standing” policy of the University.
Cumulative GPA
To be eligible for financial aid, undergraduate and graduate students’ cumulative GPA must meet at least the minimum requirements indicated in the undergraduate and graduate academic standing, respectively. Only course work taken at Cumberland University is used to calculate the cumulative GPA to determine satisfactory academic process. Grades will be reviewed at the end of each semester.
A repeat grade in a course will become a standing grade for that course even if it is lower than the first grade received in the course and will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation. All first attempt grades will still appear on the student's permanent record, but will not be calculated into cumulative grade point average or total hours earned.
The following standards of progress are used to determine good standing for Undergraduate students:
Students must, at a minimum, complete the requirement for cumulative credit hours for which they receive Federal student financial assistance payments as follows:
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0 - 29 semester hours attempted
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1.50 GPA
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30-59 semester hours attempted
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1.80 GPA
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60 + semester hours attempted
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2.00 GPA
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Completion Rate
Students must earn an “overall combined” 67% of cumulative attempted credit hours, including withdrawals, incompletes, courses repeated, and courses receiving non-passing grades, i.e., “IN,” “FA,” “FC,” “W,” “WF, ”or “F.” Course work taken at Cumberland University and transfer hours from other universities/colleges attended are used to calculate overall completion rate, even if financial aid was not awarded for those courses. Completion rate will be reviewed at the end of each semester.
Time Limits
The maximum time for the completion of a first undergraduate degree is limited to 150% of the program’s published length, typically 180 credit hours. Maximum hours include all hours from Cumberland University and transfer hours from other universities/colleges attended, even if financial aid was not awarded for those courses.
Last Day of Attendance
The last day of attendance will be determined by the Office of the Registrar and provided to the Office of Financial Aid along with a withdrawal form.
Note: Please see the last day of attendance and withdrawal date sections found in the Withdrawal Process section of this document.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who are in “Financial Aid Good Standing” will be placed on “Financial Aid Warning” if their completion rate becomes less than the required 67%. During the semester that students are in a “Warning” status, they remain eligible for financial aid. Students will change from a “Warning” status to a “Financial Aid Suspension” status if a cumulative “overall combined” 67% is not earned by the end of the “Warning” semester.
Students who fail to meet the established GPA benchmarks for "Financial Aid Good Standing" will be placed on "Financial Aid Warning". During the semester that students are in a "warning" status, they remain eligible for financial aid. Students will change from a "warning" status to a "Financial Aid Suspension" status if their cumulative GPA does meet the established benchmark for the attempted number of credit hours by the end of the "warning" semester.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students who were previously placed on “Financial Aid Warning” and did not achieve the required cumulative GPA benchmark or the required 67% of their cumulative “overall combined” attempted credit hours will be suspended from eligibility for federal grants, loans, federal work-study employment, and all state grants or scholarships
Students who do not meet the university's benchmarks for satisfactory academic progress are placed on academic probation and/or subsequently academically suspended are automatically suspended from receiving financial aid. Students who are academically suspended and sit out a term or successfully appeal to be academically readmitted must also appeal to the Financial Aid Committee for reinstatement of aid.
Students may appeal financial aid suspensions if sufficient documentation can be provided to justify why satisfactory progress was not made. Students who wish to submit an appeal must do so in writing to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal should include a signed letter of appeal and any supporting documentation. The written appeal may be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid in person (MH-103) or electronically through the financial aid drop box. A secure link to the dropbox may be obtained by emailing financialaid@cumberland.edu.
Students who have been academically suspended and have not been granted an appeal to their academic suspension may not appeal or receive any type of federal or state financial aid.
Financial Aid Probation
Students who have a suspension appeal approved will be placed on “Financial Aid Probation” and will be eligible for financial aid. To maintain eligibility, they are required to earn 75% of their attempted credit hours for each semester until regaining a “Good Standing” status (“overall combined” 67% or above and the cumulative GPA required for the number of credit hours attempted).