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Financial Aid Policies

1.  Payment Policies

• When do I receive my aid?

• How do I decline a loan?

2. Refund Policy

• How does the refund policy work?

3.  Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

• What is SAP?

• How do I remain eligible?

• What is Financial Aid probation?

• What is Financial Aid suspension?

When Do I Receive My Aid?
Financial aid funds, except for federal work-study, are disbursed at the beginning of each term.  Funds awarded are first transferred to pay institutional charges. The remaining balance is credited to your Cougar One account no later than 14 days from the day the account was credited, or the first day of class if your application process was completed by the priority processing deadline and you early registered for classes.

If this is your first loan, you must complete the following 2 steps to finalize processing of an educational loan.

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How Do I Decline A Loan?
If your loan funds have been disbursed to you, and you would like to cancel your loan, you should send the Department of Education Repayment Center a personal check for the amount of the loan to the following address:

Department of Education Repayment Center
P.O. Box 74600
Atlanta, GA 30374-6000
1-800-848-0979

If your loan has not been disbursed you may cancel it by submitting a written request to Columbus State University Financial Aid Office within 13 days of the date the loan is credited to your account, or go online to Cougarnet, Enrollment Services link, and reduce/decline your award.

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What is SAP?

COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY
POLICY ON SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

The Columbus State University Financial Aid Office administers Title IV Federal Student Aid under guidelines from the U. S. Department of Education. The Secretary of Education requires schools to develop and implement policies by which academic progress is evaluated and monitored. In order to receive federal or state financial aid, a student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students who fail to maintain SAP will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office.

Eligibility is based upon an evaluation of the cumulative hours accepted for transfer and hours attempted at CSU. When computing the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress, all regular courses (including those with grades of F, WF, W, U, I, and IP); repeated courses; and remedial courses (courses numbered 0001-0999) are included in total hours attempted toward this measure. All grades (first and subsequent attempts) of the attempted hours are computed in the grade point average calculations.

A student will be evaluated on both qualitative and quantitative measures. The minimum acceptable standards for receiving federal or state aid are as follows:

Qualitative. All financial aid recipients are expected to earn the minimum required grade point average (GPA) that corresponds with the total number of hours attempted.

Graduate students must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0.

Quantitative. Students must not exceed 150% of the normal length of the program. For example, the maximum timeframe of eligibility for an undergraduate student is 185 attempted hours for a 123 hour program. The maximum timeframe of eligibility for a graduate student is 54 attempted hours for a 36 hour program.

Students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 67% of the total hours attempted (transfer hours included). Successful completion is limited to grades of A, B, C, D, and S. Unsuccessful attempts include grades of F, WF, W, U, I, and IP.

Students who fall below the minimum overall financial aid gpa, fail to successfully complete 67% of the hours attempted or exceed the maximum timeframe for program completion will be in violation of the SAP policy. SAP is measured at the end of each spring semester.

Students notified that they are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress may request their eligibility for assistance be reinstated upon the removal of the deficiencies or submit a written appeal explaining the unusual circumstances regarding the deficiencies to: Financial Aid Appeals Committee, c/o Financial Aid Office, Columbus State University, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907-5645. Students will receive a written response to appeals within approximately three weeks. Students with approved appeals are placed on financial aid probation.

Students placed on financial aid probation may continue to receive aid but must meet the following requirements every semester while in this status: earn a “C” average, and receive only successful grades (A, B, C, D, and S) in all courses taken.

What is Financial Aid termination?
Students who exceed the maximum time frame for degree completion are considered to be in violation of SAP, thus your financial aid eligibility will be terminated. Allowable maximums are:

What if I Withdraw from Classes?
If you receive an "I" (Incomplete), "W" (Withdrawal), "F" (Failing), "IP" (Incomplete in Progress), "U" (Unsatisfactory) or "WF" (Withdrawal Failing), those courses are included in the total hours attempted toward the maximum time frame for degree completion.

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How Do I Remain Eligible?
In order to remain eligible for financial aid, you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  Follow this link to see the Columbus State University Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress.

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What is Financial Aid Probation?
Students placed on financial aid probation may continue to receive aid but must meet the following requirements every semester while in this status: earn a “C” average, and receive only successful grades (A, B, C, D, and S) in all courses taken.

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What is Financial Aid suspension?
Students who fail to maintain the conditions of financial aid probation will be placed on suspension and will not be eligible for financial aid until the financial aid deficiencies have been corrected.

You may submit a written appeal substantiating the circumstances that prevented you from making SAP. Your appeal should be addressed to:

Financial Aid Appeals Committee
Columbus State University
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, GA 31907-5645

You will receive a written response to your appeal within approximately three (3) weeks.

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How does the refund policy work?
Fees will be recalculated and appropriate adjustments made for students who register and then find it necessary to drop a course before the end of the schedule change period. No refund will be made for a reduction in credit hours after the schedule change period. Students who formally withdraw from the university before the official first day of the semester will be entitled to a complete (100%) refund of all registration fees. Students withdrawing from all courses after the official first day of the semester will be entitled to a prorated refund of tuition, fees and elective charges. The proportion refundable is determined by the date of withdrawal and is equal to that portion of the period of enrollment for which the student has been charged that remains on the last day of attendance, up to the 60 percent point in time of the semester. Specific dates reflecting the above refund schedule are published each semester in the Schedule of Courses.

All students receiving financial assistance who formally withdraw or who stop attending all classes are subject to regulations regarding the return of funds to the appropriate aid program.

Refunds are applied in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan
2. Subsidized Direct Stafford Loan
3. Perkins Loan
4. Direct PLUS Loan
5. Pell Grant
6. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
7. Other Title IV programs
8. OPE Scholarship
9. Other non-Title IV programs

NOTE: The student must return unearned aid for which he/she is responsible by repaying funds to the applicable aid program.

The following steps are performed in refund determination:

    Step 1. Determine the student's Title IV aid and HOPE for the term
    Step 2. Calculate the percentage of Title IV aid and HOPE earned
    Step 3. Determine the amount of Title IV aid and HOPE earned by the student
    Step 4. Determine the total Title IV aid and HOPE to be returned
    Step 5. Determine the amount of unearned Title IV aid and HOPE due from the school
    Step 6. Determine the amount of unearned Title IV aid and HOPE due from the student

     Examples are available in the Financial Aid Office, University Hall.

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