Enrollment
Eligibility for aid is determined in large part by the student's enrollment in courses each semester in which they seek aid. Therefore, changes in enrollment that occur during an academic period may have a significant impact on a student's aid eligibility in that period.
Changes in enrollment during an academic period may include:
- unofficial and official withdrawals from The University,
- approved Leave of Absence,
- dropping classes,
- ceasing to attend all courses,
- changes in the number of credits taken during the period, or
- changes to your program of study that occur during an academic period.
Students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) before completing 60% of the academic period in which they were enrolled are subject to the federal Return to Title IV calculation, and a portion of any federal student aid received for that academic period may need to be returned (see section on Return of Federal Student Aid for more information). Title IV is the section of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) which creates the federal student aid programs and the regulations that govern them. Withdrawal date is defined as the date on which the student began the institution’s official withdrawal process, the student’s last date of recorded attendance or academically related activity, or the midpoint of the semester if the aforementioned dates cannot be determined. The withdrawal date is determined by the Financial Aid Office.
Faculty award the grade of "NF" (no-show, failure) to any student who has not officially withdrawn and stopped participating at some point in the academic period. The "NF" grade is equivalent to an "F". The Financial Aid Office will review all students who earn all “NF” or all “F” grades in an academic period to determine if a return of funds is required. Students who earn all '"NF" or all "F" grades may be considered to have 'unofficially withdrawn' from the academic period.
Students who withdraw or earn all failing grades during an academic period may also lose future aid eligibility. See the section on Renewal of Awards and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for more information.