Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

academic plan which will ensure that they areable to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress by aspecific point in time. This timeframe mustcoincide with the maximum timeframe outlined inthe University’s Satisfactory Academic Policy.Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPAof 3.00. The maximum allowable hours that agraduate student can attempt and remain eligible toreceive Title IV funds are outlined below:MaximumCredit HoursDescription70 Maximum allowed for a traditional master’sdegree.80 Maximum credit hours allowed for those seekinga graduate business degree100 Maximum credit hours allowed for a specialist'sdegree or a second master's degree (Both includehours taken for a master's degree)120 Maximum credit hours allowed for a doctoraldegree program (includes master's degree hours)Grades of "I" received during the first twosemesters, by graduate students enrolled inThesis or Dissertation courses are exempt,from being included in the total hoursattempted.Title IV funds will not be granted tograduate students who have attempted morethan 120 credit hours.However, in all cases graduate students are requiredto earn at least 67% of the hours which they attempt.All periods of a student enrollment count whencalculating Satisfactory Academic Progress, evenperiods in which the student did not receive Title IVfunds.WithdrawalsStudents who withdraw from classes officially orunofficially should understand how withdrawslsaffect their eligibility for financial aid as determinedby this Satisfactory Academic Progress procedure.Withdrawals affect students Cumulative Grade PointAverages. Financial aid will not be awarded, if theGrade Point Average (GPA) falls below the requiredlevel. Moreover, hours enrolled in which a studentfailed to complete will affect the student's completionrate. If the student falls below the required number ofhours that must be completed, the student will beineligible for further aid until all deficiencies havebeen resolved. In determining whether the studentmeets the qualitative and quantitative components,the following will not be considered as creditssuccessfully completed: Grades of “F”, “I”(Incomplete), “W” (Withdrawals), “WP”(Withdrawals while Passing); or “FA” (Failure toAppear). These grades, however, are counted ashours attempted. Transfer hours accepted towardcompletion of a student’s program must be countedas hours attempted and hours earned. Repeatedcourses will also be included in the total hoursattempted and earned.Financial Aid Appeals ProcessStudents losing aid may appeal to have their Title IVaid reinstated only under the following conditions:undue hardship as a result of extenuatingcircumstances such as; student’s illness, or the illnessor death of a parent or spouse. All students seeking toredress a financial aid decision must file an appealwithin two weeks of the date the student is notified ofthe financial aid suspension. For more information onthe Appeals process visit the financial aid web siteat:http://www.aamu.edu/Admissions/fincialaid/importantinformation/Pages/Satisfactory-Academic-Progress-Policy.aspx.22