Financial Aid Standards of Academic Progress (FASAP)

For the Undergraduate Student

Franklin University’s Financial Aid Office reviews Standards of Academic Progress for students receiving Federal Title IV Aid. Progress is reviewed each trimester using three components:

Students must meet the minimum requirements in each of the three components to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

1) GPA - Qualitative

GPA is reviewed each trimester after grades are posted. A minimum cumulative GPA must be maintained per each grade level, based on the following chart:

A student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below the minimum will be placed on probation for three consecutive trimesters. If by the end of this time the CGPA is still below the minimum, eligibility for Title IV aid is withdrawn. Also during this time, the student must make term GPA progression.

2) Hours Attempted Versus Hours Successfully Completed - Quantitative

Successful completion of hours attempted is the second component used to measure FASAP. Any course for which a charge is incurred is considered attempted. Successful completion is defined as a course with one of the following grades: A, B, C, D, or P. Unsuccessful completion is any course which was assigned a grade of E, F, I, NC, NZ, W, Z, or IE. FUPE, CLEP, ACT-PEP, or transfer credit will not be considered when determining successfully completed hours.  If you are placed on probation for an "Incomplete" grade, you must notify your Financial Aid Associate when your grade has been changed to a passing grade.

A student can maintain satisfactory progress for one (1) to four (4) unsuccessful hours per term.  Probationary status is assigned for five (5) or more unsuccessful hours per term (See #4 below).  Once assigned a probationary status for academic progress, any unsuccessful hours would be assigned a withdrawn status (See #5 below).

3) Maximum Time Allowed to Complete a Program - Quantitative

The third component used to measure FASAP is the maximum time a student may take to complete a program. To measure this, a student must successfully complete a percentage of the hours attempted, according to the following chart:

A student who does not complete the required percentage of hours will be on probation for the next three (3) consecutive trimesters. Under no circumstances may a student exceed 150% of the time it normally requires to complete a program.

Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for Second Bachelor's Degree - If a student is seeking a second bachelor's degree at Franklin, at no time is a student allowed to exceed 120% of the time it normally requires to complete the second program. If a student is seeking more than two bachelor's degrees, no additional hours are allowed to complete the program. The student must complete all programs not exceeding Maximum Time Frame for first two bachelor's degrees. If the student exceeds this amount, the student will be withdrawn from Title IV aid.

A student must meet the minimum requirements in each of the three components: GPA, Hours and Maximum Time Frame, in order to maintain financial aid satisfactory academic progress.

4) Probation Status Requirements:

Once a student is placed on FASAP probation, the student remains on probation for three trimesters. Each trimester, the student is required to:

• Successfully complete all hours attempted in any course for which tuition charges are assessed or successfully complete at least 12 attempted hours (if attempting more than 12 hours).
• Make GPA progression. Students must be at the required minimum GPA for their grade level by the end of the probation period.
• Meet all other FASAP requirements.
• Other requirements as specified in the terms of probation letter.
  Students on financial aid probation who do not meet these standards will be withdrawn from Title IV aid at the end of the term.

5) Withdrawn Status -Regaining Eligibility:

Regaining eligibility for Title IV aid may occur in one of two ways:

1. An appeal is approved based on documented extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances, in general, were unknown or nonexistent at the beginning of the trimester, and were not predictable.
2. Make up any deficiencies without Title IV Aid. It is the student's responsibility to request consideration for a Standards of Progress review when all deficiencies have been eliminated. (May not apply if the student is withdrawn for Maximum Time Frame.)

To Appeal:

If you have a legitimate circumstance that can be documented, you may appeal your withdrawn status of financial aid.

Circumstances that are eligible for appeal consideration, which must be documented, include:

• Death of an immediate family member (e.g. spouse, child, parent, sibling)
• Serious illness or injury of self or of a person for whom you are the caregiver (e.g. child, parent)
• Catastrophic event (e.g. fire to your home)
• Maximum Time Frame - exceeding 150% of the maximum number of credit hours allowed for completing your degree program. You may appeal if you changed your major during your time at Franklin or you transferred a large number of credit hours to Franklin that cannot be applied to your degree program.

If you have a legitimate appeal circumstance that you can document, you should follow the steps outlined on the appeal form (link at bottom of this page). Mail or fax your completed appeal form, with documentation attached, to Financial Aid at the address/fax number on the form. It is not necessary to contact our office during the appeal process.

If you do not have a circumstance which may be appealed, you must successfully complete any deficient hours with a grade of A, B, C, D, or P and/or increase your Grade Point Average to the required level for your academic rank. After successfully completing deficient hours without Title IV aid and satisfying your SAP requirements, you may submit an appeal for re-consideration of Title IV financial aid.

Your appeal will take approximately two weeks to review once it is received. Upon the completion of our review, you will be mailed a letter notifying you of the appeal decision. It is not necessary to contact Financial Aid once you submit your appeal. If you are enrolled while your appeal is pending and if your appeal is denied, you will be responsible for all tuition and fees incurred. If you are withdrawn because of an "Incomplete" grade, you must notify your Financial Aid Associate once that grade is changed to a passing grade.

To view or print this appeal form, click here: Standards of Academic Progress Appeal Form

updated 12.31.08