Financial Aid Suspension
After the end of each academic year, a computer program examines the academic records of every undergraduate student who receives financial aid administered by the Student Financial Services office. The names of those students whose records show that they do not appear to have met the required academic standards are referred to the appropriate dean's office. There are two standards that must be met, and two possible actions available to the dean's offices: financial aid probation and financial aid suspension.
Policy:
Students who receive financial aid must meet two standards: a cumulative grade-point average equal to or greater than 2.00, and a certain minimum total number of units applicable toward their bachelor's degree program. If a student does not meet BOTH standards, the student is eligible for either financial aid probation or financial aid suspension.
Comments:
In general, financial aid is available for eight fall/spring semesters. The table below shows the minimum cumulative units acceptable for each semester.
For engineering students, the minimum cumulative units by semester is:
End of first semester: 10 units
End of second semester: 20 units
End of third semester: 32 units
End of fourth semester: 45 units
End of fifth semester: 60 units
End of sixth semester: 75 units
End of seventh semester: 97 units
End of eighth semester: 120 units
Financial aid probation and suspension decisions are made only once each year, usually in June. Thus, if a student does not meet either or both standards at the end of a fall semester, the student's financial aid status will not change until after the next spring semester's data are included.
If a student does not meet one or both standards, the School's Registrar has only two choices: financial aid probation or suspension. The first June that the student does not meet the standard(s), the Registrar will inform the student by letter that the student is on financial aid probation status. If the student has not raised his/her academic records to meet the minimum standards by the end of the next academic year, the Registrar has no other choice but to place the student on financial aid suspension.
Very few engineering students are placed on financial aid suspension, because most students in academic trouble are placed on academic probation and/or suspension long before they face financial aid suspension. There are occasions when a student does not have enough cumulative units, and the student's financial aid is suspended. The usual tactic for restoring aid is to go to another school, usually with lower tuition, and take courses that will transfer back here, which will make the student’s cumulative total units acceptable here. If a student is just below the required total units in June, he/she may go to summer school to bring his/her cumulative total units to an acceptable level, and have financial aid restored.