WHAT EVERY STUDENT

NEEDS TO KNOW

Student Financial ServicesElmhurst College

Lesson #1: Financial aid has a lot to do with your

academic progress

• A GPA below 2.0 will jeopardize your future enrollment at Elmhurst College and eligibility for financial aid

• Scholarships are denied if your GPA is below the minimum requirement

• A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to take advantage of long-term Study Away courses

• Low GPAs and failure to successfully complete a full-time course load can jeopardize participation in Varsity sports

• Failing or dropping too many classes will jeopardize your eligibility for financial aid

Semester Reviews• Academic Standings

– To be allowed to return to Elmhurst and continue your education

• Financial Aid– To retain your financial aid

• Satisfactory Academic Progress– Allowed to maintain federal and state financial aid

• Scholarship– Ability to retain scholarship funding

• Athletics– Ability to continue to participate

Separate departments, separate processes, requirements, consequences and deadlines

Semester Reviews:Academic Standings Committee

• Term GPAs as well as cumulative institutional GPAs are reviewed at the end of each Fall and Spring term

• GPAs below 2.0 will be assessed – 1st – Probation

• Exception: all failing grades will be dismissed

– 2nd – Dismissal• First dismissals may be appealed

Semester Reviews:Financial Aid

Both Federal and State financial aid regulations require that the academic records of all students receiving financial aid be reviewed

at the end of each semester (fall, spring and summer) to ensure that each student is making

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

• Cumulative combined GPAs must be 2.0 or greater– Must have a 2.0 combined (including transfer work) GPA by the end of sophomore

year

• At least 67% of the attempted credits must be successfully completed– Course withdrawals and F grades will affect this percentage

• The number of successfully completed course credits cannot exceed 48 without receiving an undergraduate degree

Semester Reviews:Satisfactory Academic Progress

• Consequences of failing to meet the minimum SAP requirements:– 1st semester – Warning– 2nd semester – Suspension• Appeals permitted– If approved, will receive an academic

plan which must be followed for three semesters to continue eligibility

• No appeal or denied appeal– FINANCIAL AID IS DENIED until minimum

requirements are met

Semester Reviews:Scholarships

• All Elmhurst College Scholarships require a minimum GPA for renewal

• Elmhurst College cumulative GPAs are reviewed once a year at the end of the Spring term– If you fail to maintain the minimum GPA, your scholarship will be

denied

• Scholarship appeals may be presented to the Office of Student Financial Services for reinstatement consideration– Deadline for fall term appeal – OCTOBER 1– 1st appeal generally approved– Subsequent appeals approved only if improvement in GPA

Scholarship Reinstatement Form - www.elmhurst.edu/finaid

ScholarshipsFinancial Aid

Minimum GPA Requirements:• 2.75– Founders– Transfer Recognition

• 2.50– Enrichment

• 2.00– Legacy– United Church of Christ (UCC)

ScholarshipsFinancial Aid

Minimum GPA Requirements:• 3.25– Presidential– Transfer Excellence– Phi Theta Kappa

• 3.00– Dean– Transfer Academic Achievement

Semester Reviews:Athletics

• EC scholarships are not affected by sports involvement

• Athletes must following the NCAA rules regarding enrollment and minimum GPA requirements

• Grades and enrollment are reviewed every semester by the Athletic Director and coaches

• Failure to meet the minimum requirements may result in team suspension

Study Away CoursesCPE

• Long-Term (3.0 GPA required)– Summer– Semester– Full year

• Short-Term Travel (NO academic probation)– January– Spring Break– EC Summer short-term

Keep ALL Options OpenCumulative GPA 3.0 or better

Lesson #2: Enrollment has a lot to do with your Financial Aid and

Student Account

• Enrollment effects how much financial aid you are eligible to receive

• Enrollment effects how much aid you are able to maintain if you need to take a break from instruction

• Enrollment effects possible tuition charges

Enrollment:Financial Aid

• Elmhurst College Scholarships and Grants– Must be full-time (3.0 or more credits)

• Federal Scholarships, Grants and Loans:– Must be at least half-time (1.5 – 2.75 credits)

• State Grants (MAP)– Prorated by 1/15th per credit hour for

enrollment less than 3.75 credits each semester

Enrollment:Financial Aid

Dropping Classes• Classes dropped before a term begins:

– Financial Aid is adjusted to reflect enrollment changes

• After the semester begins:– Financial aid may be adjusted to reflect registered

credits– After the 10th week no more adjustments are made to

financial aid (all sources)

Free J-term class – Only if registered full time in fall and spring, if NOT student is charged half the

cost of J-Term course

Enrollment:Financial Aid

COMPLETE WITHDRAWALS

•Official – Withdraw from all classes and complete the intent to withdraw

form– Financial aid is adjusted based on the number of days enrolled

in the semester up to the 60th% date• ~ November 1 for fall term/~ April 1 for spring term

Unofficial– Student ceases attending classes, receives all F grades or does

not register for the next semester– Financial aid is adjusted to 50% unless class records prove

attendance beyond 60th% date of term

Student loans have a 6-month grace period before going into repayment

Enrollment:Financial Aid

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA)

– Treated as withdrawal if LOA begins mid-term– If the LOA exceeds 6 months, loans go into

repayment• Students can apply for an in-school deferment when

they return to school• If student returns to school in less than 6 months

after LOA begins, there is no effect on loans

The length of a LOA set by the institution has no effect on the 6-month grace

policy

Enrollment:Student Account

• Usually by the 6th week of

classes there are no more

adjustments made to

students’ accounts unless full

withdrawal from all classes

– If student has courses less

than 16 weeks in duration the

schedule will be different

• Same schedule applies to

change in EC aid

(scholarships and grants)

• Week 1 $20.00 per course

• Week 2 15%• Week 3 30%• Week 4 50%• Week 5 70%• Week 6 100%

• Federal aid will continue to be adjusted until the 60th percent date of the semester for full withdrawals or dropping course work

WHAT SHOULD YOU REMEMBER?

• Elmhurst College cares about your academic success

• Your grades and attendance are the key to academic success

• Your eligibility to play a sport may be lost if you fail to meet academic standards

Things to Remember:

Things to Remember:

• Know your own limits• Course load• Time commitments• Personal involvements• Family obligations

• Seek help• Instructors• Learning Center• Wellness Center• Coaches• Steps to Success

Things to Remember:

• Communicate• Read your email or mail carefully• Meet appeal deadlines• When in doubt, make a call

• Ask questions• Advisor• Student Financial Services• Coaches

Opportunities forSuccess

• Take advantage of ALL opportunities for academic success

• Students who were admitted under contract should follow through on the requirements of the contract

• If you have been selected for Steps for Success, reach out to your Success Mentor on a regular basis – they want to help

RESOURCES

• Student Financial (630) 617-3015 Services• Academic Advising (630) 617-3450• Learning Center (630) 617-3155• Wellness Center (630) 617-3565

RESOURCES

• Advisors

• Coaches

• Steps to Success Mentors

• Financial Counseling

Questions, Comments?

Thank you.