Financial Aid Policies
All institutional aid is subject to coordination with federal, state, and all other aid sources, and is also subject to the policies printed in the catalog and any other printed materials. Availability of all aid is subject to federal, state, institutional, and private funding.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Financial Aid Policies
Students who wish to receive financial aid must be in good academic standing and make satisfactory academic progress towards a degree or certificate program in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria.
Graduate students are evaluated at the end of each semester (Fall II and Spring II) and summer school (Summer III). The following minimum academic standards must be met:
Qualitative Measure
Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in order to be eligible for federal, state, and institutional funds.
Quantitative Measure
Graduate students must complete 67% (just over two-thirds) of all units in which they originally enroll from the time of first attendance. Thus, a first-term graduate student who originally enrolls in nine units, withdraws from three units, and successfully completes the remaining six units, would be meeting the quantitative measure requirement since the student passed at least 67% of the units in which he or she originally enrolled (6/9 = 67%).
The policy applies to cumulative units only. A graduate student who successfully completes 21 units without withdrawing from any classes and then enrolls in six units but drops all of them would still be making satisfactory progress because the student would have completed 21 out of 27 total units (21/27 total units = 78%) which is greater than 67%.
Time Limit for Graduate and Doctoral Programs for Receiving Federal Financial Aid
- 5 years for School of Business Management degrees
- 10 years for the Master of Divinity degree
- 8 years for all other master’s and doctoral degrees
The measurement begins from the date of initial enrollment in the degree program.
Time Limit for Credential Only Programs for Receiving Federal Financial Aid
All Credential only programs will be measured 150% of the total units in their program. This policy refers to all units in the student’s admitted credential only program. For repeated courses, the credits from all attempts will be counted toward the maximum time frame. Students that reach the end of their maximum time limit but fall short by one unit in order to receive aid will automatically receive grace for that one unit.
Grades
The only grades that meet satisfactory academic progress standards are grades for which credit is awarded; A, B, C, P, and CR. (Some departments and/or schools require a higher minimum GPA in order for coursework to meet program requirements.) Withdrawal and incomplete grades are not passing grades. Challenge exams and audited courses are not considered.
Reinstatement
Students who fail to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA will be given one semester of “Aid Probation” in which they must earn a 3.0; additional terms of probation may be continued if a student earns a 3.0 term GPA but the cumulative GPA is not a 3.0 otherwise, the student will be placed on “Aid Suspension” and be ineligible for all financial aid (federal, state, and institutional).
Students who do not successfully complete 67% of all the units they originally enrolled in will be placed on “Aid Suspension” for the following semester. They will have their aid reinstated when they achieve completion of at least 67% of all the graduate classes they have taken.
In addition, students may appeal for reinstatement of assistance if they, a spouse, or dependent children have experienced illness that prevented class attendance for an extended period of time; they have experienced a death in the immediate family (parents, siblings, spouse, or dependent children); or they have experienced some extraordinary situation that prevented them from meeting the minimum standards. Such a situation must be exceptional and nonrecurring in nature. The appeal for reinstatement must explain the cause of the academic difficulty and how the situation has been resolved.
An appeal must be made within 30 days of the date the notice of ineligibility is mailed to the student by the Financial Aid Office. A Financial Appeals Committee will make a ruling on the appeal. Appeals must be in writing.
Financial Aid Deadline
The financial aid deadline coincides with the last day to withdraw from classes for the term in which the student is enrolled. To ensure aid processing for the term, students are required to have their Offer of Assistance and all outstanding forms returned to the Graduate Student Financial Services in the Graduate Center on or before the dates listed in the Graduate Academic Calendar.
Financial Aid Packaging
Azusa Pacific University offers financial aid in the form of employment, loans, grants, and scholarships. In order to serve the large number of students who need financial assistance, the university attempts to coordinate various elements of each student’s financial aid program. The university’s goal is to award all applicants the maximum scholarship, grant, and loan dollars for which they qualify, given restrictions on the availability of funds, institutional policies, and federal guidelines.
Equitable Treatment
Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Appeal procedures exist for anyone who feels that a violation of the above has occurred. Contact the director of Student Financial Services for further information.
Release of Records
It is understood that by signing the Graduate Stafford Loan Worksheet, the student grants Graduate Student Financial Services the right to release the student’s grades and enrollment records to scholarship and loan agencies as needed.
Keeping in Touch
The university will attempt to inform students about deadlines and procedures, but the final responsibility for the timely filling of the FAFSA and related documents lies with each student.
Students must notify the Graduate Student Financial Services in the Graduate Center regarding changes in financial situation, marriage, loss of a job, withdrawal from school, or change of address. This can be done in writing, by phone, or in person. Send all information to:
Graduate Center: Student Financial Services
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
Outside Aid Resources
Students are required to report ALL resources known or expected to be available to them during the period for which they seek financial assistance. These resources include, but are not limited to: veteran’s benefits, scholarships, fellowships, stipends, and unemployment earnings (including spouse’s earnings, where applicable). Failure to report these resources can result in delays in receiving aid funds for which the student may be eligible, cancellation of the award, or even the return of funds already received.
Should any new resources become available, the student is required to report this fact. Withholding or concealing information about these resources may constitute fraud, as the student would be receiving financial aid to which he or she is not entitled.
Overawards
Each year, a number of financial aid recipients are distressed to learn that their aid package is being reduced because of an overaward. In many cases, the student was aware of funds from outside sources and failed to inform the Graduate Student Financial Services in the Graduate Center. Reporting this information will save the frustration and inconvenience that may result from an overaward.
