Policies

All students receiving federal/state student financial aid must adhere to the college's policy on satisfactory progress. That policy, as published in the college catalog and student handbook, is separate from this policy. The intent of this policy is to ensure that students who are receiving federal/state financial aid monies for their education are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree in a reasonable period of time.

Pursuant to regulations issued by the U. S. Department of Education, the following standards defining satisfactory progress for students receiving federal/state financial aid monies at the Savannah College of Art and Design have been approved by the college.

All students are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they

1.	are admitted and enrolled as degree-seeking students.
2.	meet the college standards for continued enrollment as specified in the Savannah College of Art and Design course catalog and student handbook for undergraduate and graduate students.
3.	earn no fewer than 30 credit hours per academic year if enrolled full-time (15 or more quarter hours attempted), or no fewer than 20 credit hours per academic year if enrolled part time (fewer than 15 hours attempted). Grades of "W", "F", and "N" are non-earned hours as related to hours attempted/hours earned toward degree requirements. Incomplete grades have no impact on hours attempted or hours earned toward degree requirements for this annual review. In addition, for graduate students, a grade of "D" earned results in non-earned hours toward degree requirements. Also, a grade of "C" earned by a graduate student in an undergraduate prerequisite (provisional) course assignment results in non-earned hours toward degree requirements.
4.	have after completing six quarters of attendance, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for undergraduate level students or a 3.0 for graduate level students.
5.	have completed requirements for a degree within a reasonable length of time as specified below.

Undergraduates
a.	The total number of quarters of full-time enrollment (15 or more quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of 18 quarters for the four-year baccalaureate degree, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.
b.	The total number of quarters of part-time enrollment (fewer than 15 quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of 18 full-time quarters for the four-year baccalaureate degree, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.

Graduates
a.	The total number of quarters of full-time enrollment (15 or more quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of five quarters for a one-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.
b.	The total number of quarters of part-time enrollment (fewer than 15 quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of five full-time quarters for the one-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.
c.	The total number of quarters of full-time enrollment (15 or more quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of nine quarters for a two-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.
d.	The total number of quarters of part-time enrollment (fewer than 15 quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution does not exceed the equivalent of nine full-time quarters for a two-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.

•	Under these standards, a student will be ineligible to receive further federal/state financial aid monies if his or her "quarterly" grade point average results in the student's ineligibility for continued enrollment in his or her chosen course of study as specified in the Savannah College of Art and Design college catalog or student handbook;
	or
•	The number of his or her earned credit hours earned falls below the prescribed number per academic year toward degree requirements;
	or
•	The "cumulative" grade point average after completing six quarters of attendance falls below the prescribed minimum standard;
	or
•	The number of his or her quarters of enrollment as a full-time student (15 or more quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution exceeds 18 quarters for the four-year baccalaureate degree or exceeds the equivalent of five quarters for the one-year graduate program or exceeds the equivalent of nine full-time quarters for the two-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established;
•	The number of his or her quarters of enrollment as a part-time student (fewer than 15 quarter hours attempted) at any postsecondary institution exceeds the equivalent of 18 full-time quarters for the four-year baccalaureate degree or exceeds the equivalent of five full-time quarters for the one-year graduate program or exceeds the equivalent of nine full-time quarters for the two-year graduate program, after transfer credit toward the degree has been established.

In other words, any student whose quarterly grade point average subjects him or her to suspension or who does not earn the minimum number of quarter hours required per academic year, or does not meet the minimum cumulative grade point average after completing six quarters of attendance, or who has been enrolled for more than the maximum number of quarters for his or her program (based upon full-time or part-time enrollment equivalency after transfer credit has been established), is thereby ineligible to receive further federal/state monies.

The office of financial aid, in conjunction with the office of the registrar, monitors the satisfactory progress of all students receiving federal/state financial aid monies. Those students determined to be ineligible for receipt of further federal/state financial aid monies are notified via SCAD student e-mail and by letter sent to their mailing address on file with the college.

Aid eligibility may be reinstated after successfully completing a full-time quarter (15 credit hours) and meeting the minimum quarterly grade point average. For students who did not earn the required minimum credit hours, aid can be reinstated after the student has earned the additional credit hours needed without federal/state aid assistance if they request reinstatement of eligibility by writing a letter to the financial aid office.

If the student did not earn the minimum required credit hours and feels it was due to an extreme one-time circumstance such as divorce or death of a close family member, he/she may appeal the aid suspension. Information about the appeal process and the "Unsatisfactory Progress Appeal for Reinstatement of Federal/State Aid" form is available online.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s educational records. All FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student when a student attends a postsecondary institution, regardless of parental information that may have been required when applying for financial aid. Therefore, we are unable to discuss matters with members of the student’s family (parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, etc.) or other third parties without the express written consent from the student him/herself.

All financial aid records are kept in locked areas with restricted access. These records are considered private and will not be released without express authorization from the student. An Authorization for Release of Information form is available on the college’s Web site and can be completed by any student who wants to authorize the release of his or her information to parents or any other third party.

All financial aid records are maintained in the financial aid office at the college and may be accessed by a student through appointment. Due to the income sensitive nature of the financial aid records, a student’s access is limited to his or her personal information, such as document receipt dates, aid awarded, aid disbursed, aid cancelled, student loan indebtedness, lender information, etc. A student may also request photocopies from the college of his or her personal information in those files. Original documents turned in to the college become college property and will not be released. All requests made by a student will be addressed within 15 business days of receiving the request.

If a student is dismissed or suspended from the college as a result of disciplinary action during a college term, he or she is responsible for all tuition and fees (including all unused residence hall fees) and will not receive a refund or credit to his or her account. Any financial aid received prior to the dismissal/suspension due to disciplinary action is subject to the rules outlined in the next section, "Withdrawal and Refund Policies for Financial Aid Recipients."

If a student is dismissed by the academic services office for unsatisfactory academic progress, all monies paid for tuition and meals for a subsequent term will be refunded; unused housing fees are nonrefundable.

Dropping classes
The first five business days of every quarter are designated as the official drop/add period at the college. During this time, classes can be added or dropped without penalty. Once this period is over, any financial aid that is approved and has met all requirements for disbursement will be placed into the student's account with the college. If for some reason a student is officially dropped from one or more classes after the end of the designated drop/add period, their aid will be adjusted accordingly. Being dropped from a class at any time during the quarter is the same as if the student never started enrollment in that class. Therefore, aid eligibility is determined for the entire quarter based on the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled once the drop in class(es) is complete.

Withdrawing from classes
Students who withdraw from classes before their aid disburses may still be eligible for some or all of their aid. Where the student is in the financial aid awarding process determines eligibility for aid. Students should consult with their financial aid counselor to obtain a complete understanding of what aid they may or may not receive if they withdraw before disbursement.

Students enrolled for 15 or more hours, who withdraw to 10 hours after disbursement, are then enrolled half time. Students enrolled half time who are recipients of SCAD scholarships, fellowships, Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG) and the Georgia HOPE Scholarship are affected. All recipients of SCAD scholarships or fellowships must remain enrolled full time (15 hours) through the end of the term to retain use of the full amount of these funds. Recipients of GTEG and the HOPE Scholarship must remain enrolled full time (15 hours) through the 21st day of the term or forfeit use of all or part of those funds as determined by state regulations. Loss of these funds may result in an increased student account balance with the college and may not be compensated for by other financial aid funds.

Students enrolled in 10 or more hours, who withdraw to five hours after disbursement are then enrolled less than half time. Any student enrolled less than half time will forfeit scholarship, fellowship and State of Georgia funds as described above. In addition, any student enrolled less than half time who has received Federal PLUS loan or Stafford loan monies will immediately enter their "grace period" for each loan. Repayment of loans begins at the end of the loan program's grace period unless the borrower is granted a loan deferment or postponement of repayment. Contact your lender for disclosures, details and/or forms for your loan program. Loss of these funds may result in an increased student account balance with the college and may not be compensated for by other financial aid funds.

Students who totally withdraw from all classes (cease to be enrolled) are subject to policies No. 1 and No. 2, described above and, if the total withdrawal occurs within the first six weeks of the quarter (60 percent of the term), may not be entitled to keep all of the aid disbursed to them. If the college must return some of the funds back to the appropriate program, it may result in a balance with the college. A balance due is payable immediately, in full, and can impact the eligibility to register for future quarters if not paid. See the "Return of Title IV Funds" policy stated below for a complete understanding of this issue.

Federal and State of Georgia regulations address the "earned" and "unearned" portion of financial aid, in relation to the length of the term and the length of time the student was enrolled for that term, for all students who totally withdraw during a term. The exact date the student ceased to attend classes is determined according to federal regulations and that date is used in calculating the number of days attended for the term. This is then used to determine the amount of aid "earned" for the term. All "unearned" portions of federal and state aid are returned to the appropriate programs in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford loan program, Subsidized Stafford loan program, Federal PLUS loan program, Federal Pell Grant program, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, and State of Georgia funds. Students will be notified in writing of any funds returned and the effect it may have on their student account balance with the college.

Students are reminded that staff in the offices of financial aid, bursar and registrar cannot advise on when and if they should withdraw from classes or the exact impact such a withdrawal will have on their status as a student. Students must make their own decisions on when this course of action is appropriate. However, all financial aid recipients are reminded that excessive withdrawals, audits, incomplete grades and failing grades jeopardize the renewal of Georgia HOPE Scholarship eligibility and/or "Satisfactory Progress for Federal Title IV Aid Recipients" toward completion of their degree. Students should review and be familiar with all college, state and federal policies that govern student eligibility for continued receipt of aid.