Satisactory Academic Progress
To comply with federal regulations, students at Northwestern must maintain "satisfactory academic progress" for the disbursement of federal student assistance funds.
Defining Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students are considered to maintain satisfactory academic progress if they complete both:
- An average of nine units of academic credit per year
- Their educational programs within 18 quarters of enrollment.
This is considered equivalent to the successful completion of three units of credit (a minimum full-time course load) during each academic quarter.
Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be awarded assistance for one additional quarter to re-establish "satisfactory" standing. If they successfully complete a minimum full-time course load during this period their academic progress will be again be considered satisfactory.
If they do not successfully complete a minimum full-time course load during this period, the will be ineligible for additional assistance during subsequent quarters. They can become eligible again if they do one of the following:
- Successfully complete a minimum full-time course load for one quarter while ineligible.
- Present the Office of Financial Aid with evidence of unusual circumstances, which the staff considers sufficient to justify an exception to this policy. Students must submit evidence within two weeks of notification of ineligibility.
Exceptions to the above procedure:
- If students are academically dismissed from the University according to the academic policies of their particular school and program.
Students will be eligible for federal financial assistance during the first quarter of full-time study on returning to Northwestern in order to reestablish "satisfactory academic progress". On successful completion of a minimum full-time course load with a 2.0 grade point average, they will again be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and will be eligible for both federal and institutional financial assistance in subsequent quarters. - If students have already been in attendance at Northwestern for 12 quarters or the equivalent (unless the course of study normally requires more than 12 quarters of enrollment). Students are ineligible for financial assistance from University funds beyond the 12th quarter, even if they are maintaining satisfactory academic progress. However, the Committee on Financial Aid to Students may decide to continue aid when unusual circumstances exist and students demonstrate academic promise.
More information on Northwestern's policy regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog 2008-09 (pdf), pages 21-22.
