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Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Effective July 1, 2011

In order to receive and maintain federal financial assistance, students are required to progress satisfactorily toward completion of their course of study. Federal financial assistance includes grants, loans and employment. The satisfactory academic progress of students will be monitored at the end of each spring semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured in three ways:

  • Students must progress qualitatively by earning the required number of grade points.
  • Students must progress quantitatively by completing the required minimum number of credits each year (PACE).
  • Students must complete their program of study within a reasonable time period.

1. Qualitative Measure

The Office of Financial Aid strictly adheres to the academic standards established by Millsaps College and printed in the College Catalog. Students who have attempted up to a total of 28 hours must earn a 1.5 cumulative grade point average. Students who have attempted more than 28 hours and less than 60 hours must earn a 1.8 cumulative grade point average. Students who have attempted 60 or more hours must earn and maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. Total hours attempted will include credit taken at Millsaps College and any credit transferred from another institution. Grade point averages are based solely upon credits earned while enrolled at Millsaps College.

Minimum acceptable academic standards are represented in the following table:

Total Hours Attempted
(Including Transfer Credit)		 Minimum Cumulative GPA
(Millsaps Only)
0-28 1.5
29-59 1.8
60 and above 2.0

Transfer Students

Students transferring into Millsaps College shall be assumed to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Hours transferred from previously attended schools will be considered when establishing total hours attempted for GPA requirements, as well as determining the maximum number of hours allowed for financial aid eligibility.

2. Quantitative Measure (PACE)

Students receiving financial aid must also satisfactorily complete 66% of financial aid hours (hours in which a student is enrolled the last day to add a class) at the end of each spring term.

Passing grades include A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+, C, C-, D+, and D. Grades of I, CR, W, NR, NC, IP and AU will not be accepted as passing grades.

Withdrawals
Courses with a grade of W will affect the quantitative measure of academic progress in determining eligibility and maintaining financial aid.

Audit Courses
Courses taken for audit do not count for credit or graduation and, therefore, are not counted in determining eligibility for receiving or maintaining financial aid.

Credit/No Credit Grades
Courses taken for credit/no credit grades are not counted in determining eligibility for receiving or maintaining financial aid.

Repeat Courses
Repeat courses are counted for credit and will affect cumulative grade point averages in determining eligibility and maintaining financial aid as well as determining the maximum number of hours allowed for financial aid eligibility.

3. Maximum Hours to Complete Course of Study

Students must complete degree requirements within a normal time frame. To remain eligible to receive financial aid, students must complete their degree requirements within 150% of the published length of their academic program. In most cases students will be eligible to receive financial aid during the first 192 attempted hours as an undergraduate, whether or not they received financial aid or whether or not the course work was successfully completed. This includes both College and transfer hours. A student will be placed on financial aid suspension if his/her course work is in excess of 192 attempted hours or if at any time it becomes clear that the student will not meet the quantitative standards by graduation date.

Second-Degree Undergraduate Students

Students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree and are currently seeking a second undergraduate degree will be reviewed for financial aid eligibility on an individual basis.

Graduate Students

Graduate students will be eligible for financial aid until they have completed six years of study at the graduate level.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements will be placed on financial aid suspension. Students on financial aid suspension are NOT eligible to receive federal financial aid. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make satisfactory academic progress. The student may appeal the Financial Aid Suspension if unusual circumstances beyond their control prevented them from meeting satisfactory academic progress (see appeal process).

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial aid eligibility can be reestablished after the student improves their academic record to meet the minimum standards required by the SAP Policy, without the assistance of financial aid funds. Similarly, financial aid eligibility can be reestablished by successfully appealing your suspension.

Appeal Process

A student may appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility if extenuating circumstances interfered with the ability to meet satisfactory academic progress standards. In order to appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility, the student must submit a detailed appeal letter explaining the extenuating circumstances that resulted in the lack of academic progress and documentation to support extenuating circumstances. To complete the appeal process, the student may be required to submit an academic plan provided by the director of academic advising.

Circumstances must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Prolonged illness, medical condition, or injury to student or immediate family member
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control

Appeal must include the following information:

  • A detailed appeal letter
  • Circumstances and how the circumstances affected academic performance
  • Dates and time periods involved
  • Explanation of how your situation has changed and the steps you are taking to resolve the circumstances

Documentation may include:

  • Physician’s letters and hospital records (must include dates of illness and recovery time)
  • Death certificate or obituary
  • Court or police documents
  • Letters from third party professionals on his/her letterhead

Students that have exceeded the maximum time frame must include additional information:

  • Explanation of why you were unable to complete your program within the time frame allowed for your degree
  • Number of hours needed to complete current degree and intended graduation date
  • Copy of your academic degree plan listing all remaining classes needed to graduate

ATTENTION:  No appeal will be accepted without supporting documentation. The appeal may not be based upon the need for financial aid assistance or the lack of knowledge that the financial aid assistance was in jeopardy.

Appeals may be mailed to:
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee
Millsaps College
Box 151150
Jackson, MS  39210
or
Fax to 601.974.1224

Appeal Decisions

  • Requires approximately 3 weeks
  • Notification will be mailed to the student’s financial aid address currently on file and emailed to the student’s Millsaps email account
  • If approved, financial aid will be awarded on a probationary period for one semester

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial aid eligibility can be re-established after the student improves their academic record to meet the minimum standards required by the SAP Policy, without the assistance of financial aid funds. Similarly, financial aid eligibility can be re-established by successfully appealing your suspension.

Approved Appeals and Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation

For approved appeals, the student will be placed on Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation. (Financial Aid SAP Probation is for financial aid purposes only and is separate from academic probation.)  While on Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation, certain conditions for academic performance will be set and monitored.

Students placed on “Probation” regain eligibility for financial aid if:

  • The student meets ALL of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of one subsequent period of enrollment; or
  • The student is placed on an academic plan leading to graduation that, if followed, ensures that the student is able to meet ALL of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress by a specific point in time. Student progress will be monitored at the end of each semester while on an academic plan.

Students who meet all of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress while on “Probation” will be placed in “Financial Aid Good Standing” at the conclusion of the period of enrollment or academic plan period. Progress in an academic plan is measured at the end of each period of enrollment. Students who do not meet all of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress or academic plan requirements while on “Probation” will be placed on “Suspension” without the option for a second appeal.

This policy is subject to change without notice in order to remain compliant with federal regulations.

Student’s Rights & Responsiblities

Student Rights

You have the right:

  • to apply for financial aid
  • to know how to apply for financial aid
  • to know the deadlines for applying
  • to know what financial aid programs are available at Millsaps
  • to know how financial aid will be distributed, how distribution decisions are made, and the basis for such decisions
  • to know how your financial need was determined
  • to know what resources were considered in calculation of your need
  • to know how much of your financial need, as determined by Millsaps, has been met
  • to request an explanation of the various programs in your student aid package
  • to know Millsaps’ refund policy
  • to know what portion of the financial aid you received must be repaid, what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the payback procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin
  • to request a sample repayment schedule
  • to know whom to consult concerning your financial assistance

Student Responsibilities

It is your responsibility:

  • to complete all application forms accurately and truthfully and submit them on time to the proper location
  • to reapply each year that you want financial assistance
  • to return all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by the Office of Financial Aid
  • to read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign
  • to inform the Office of Financial Aid of any outside resources
  • to notify the Office of Financial Aid of any change in your financial resources
  • to accept the responsibility for all agreements that you sign
  • to perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a Work-Study award
  • to inform the Office of Financial Aid if you withdraw from Millsaps, drop any courses, or change your name or address
  • to sign the Statement of Educational Purpose and the Certification Statement on Over-payments and Defaults
  • if you have a loan, to inform the Office of Financial Aid of any name or address change and to answer any inquiry from them concerning your loan, now and after you leave school
  • if you have a Federal Perkins loan, to go to the Business Office during your last semester of attendance at Millsaps and arrange an exit interview concerning the terms of your repayment
  • if you have a Federal Stafford loan, to take part in the required online entrance and exit interviews available at https://studentaid.gov

Millsaps Scholarship/Grant Guidelines and Conditions for Renewal

  • For renewal of merit-based institutional financial aid:
    • You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
    • You must maintain a minimum academic course load of at least 12 hours per semester.*
    • You must remain continually enrolled at Millsaps (excluding summer terms).
    • You must reside on campus; off campus residency will result in scholarship reduction of 35% or removal of any housing grant funds.
    • Scholarships for entering freshmen are renewable for up to 3 years, for a total of 8 semesters of eligibility (fall and spring semesters).

    For renewal of need-based institutional financial aid (Millsaps Major Grant), you must also complete a FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa each year and have demonstrated need per the results of your FAFSA. Any significant changes in your family’s financial situation (i.e., loss of job, death of a parent, catastrophic illness) should be reported to the Office of Financial Aid.

    Cost of attendance is subject to change each academic year. Millsaps merit scholarship amounts remain constant over the 4 years of eligibility. Millsaps need-based financial aid remains constant over the 4 years of eligibility as long as there is demonstrated need as determined by the results of the FAFSA each academic year.

    You are required to report to the Office of Financial Aid any scholarships, awards, or other funding received from outside sources to be used at Millsaps. Your financial aid award will be revised to include outside aid after notification is received.

    *For students enrolled in the M PLUS program during their 8th semester and enrolled in a combination of undergraduate and graduate coursework totaling less than 12 hours, the 12 hour per semester condition will be waived for the 8th semester. Students will be billed at full-time undergraduate tuition and fees and will have the full amount of their Millsaps scholarship/grant aid applied to their semester charges.

    NOTE: This exception applies to Millsaps scholarship/grant eligibility only. Federal and state financial aid funds are regulated by federal and state regulations.

Millsaps Transfer Scholarship/Grant Guidelines and Conditions for Renewal

For renewal of merit-based institutional financial aid:

  • You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • You must maintain a minimum academic course load of at least 12 hours per semester.*
  • You must remain continually enrolled at Millsaps (excluding summer terms).
  • You must reside on campus; off campus residency will result in loss of any housing grant funds.
  • The number of semesters of scholarship renewal for transfer students is calculated as the number of semesters needed to meet the requirements for graduation after taking into account the number of hours accepted for transfer from the previous institution.

Cost of attendance is subject to change each academic year. Millsaps merit scholarship amounts remain constant over the course of enrollment.

You are required to report to the Office of Financial Aid any scholarships, awards, or other funding received from outside sources to be used at Millsaps. Your financial aid award will be revised to include outside aid after notification is received.

*For students enrolled in the M PLUS program during their final semester and enrolled in a combination of undergraduate and graduate coursework totaling less than 12 hours, the 12 hour per semester condition will be waived for the final semester. Students will be billed at full-time undergraduate tuition and fees and will have the full amount of their Millsaps scholarship/grant aid applied to their semester charges. NOTE: This exception applies to Millsaps scholarship/grant eligibility only. Federal and state financial aid funds are regulated by federal and state regulations.

Scholarship Extension Appeals

Effective beginning with the 2020–21 Academic Year

Millsaps scholarships are normally restricted to eight semesters of eligibility. Occasionally, students may face circumstances that would significantly impair their ability to complete an undergraduate degree in four years. An additional semester(s) might be required for a student to successfully finish degree requirements.

Recognizing that extenuating circumstances may be beyond a student’s control, Millsaps College has established an appeal process to request additional scholarship eligibility. This extension of Millsaps scholarship funding would be capped at 10 semesters of total scholarship eligibility.

A student may complete an appeal form and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal will be reviewed by the Scholarship Review Committee. The Office of Financial Aid will notify the student of the results of the review. Note: This appeal is limited to extension of scholarship eligibility. The student must continue to meet all other scholarship guidelines and conditions, as published on the Millsaps website. This appeal is for Millsaps-funded scholarships only and does not extend to federal and/or state funding eligibility.

Student Loan Code of Conduct

In compliance with the Student Loan Code of Conduct requirements in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the Millsaps College Office of Financial Aid prohibits all of the following:

  • Revenue sharing agreements with lenders
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Accepting gifts above a nominal value from lenders and guarantors
  • Accepting private loans conditioned on the use of lender’s Title IV loans
  • Contracting arrangements with a lender that provides compensation to school staff
  • Assigning a lender to a borrower or refusing to certify a loan for a borrower’s choice of lender or guarantor
  • Accepting from lenders any staffing assistance for call center or financial aid office
  • Accepting compensation for service on an advisory board, except that reasonable expenses associated with that service may be reimbursed by the lender or guarantor

For the following purposes, it is not considered a “gift” to the school for a lender or guarantor to provide:

  • Standard materials, activities or programs on issues related to a loan, default aversion, default prevention or financial literacy (i.e. brochures, workshops, training)
  • Food, refreshments, training, or informational material that is designed to improve the service of a lender, guarantor or servicer if the training contributes to the professional development of the school staff
  • Favorable terms, conditions and borrower benefits, as long as these are provided to all students at the school
  • Entrance and exit counseling services, as long as the school controls the counseling and does not promote the products and services of the lender
  • Philanthropic contributions not tied to loan volume

FASFA Verification Information

Verification is a process required by the Department of Education (DOE) to confirm the accuracy of the information listed on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student’s FAFSA may be selected by either the Department of Education or by the institution. Through the collection and review of additional documents, this process ensures fair and accurate distribution of federal funds and need-based institutional funds when financial aid is awarded.

After completion of the FAFSA, a student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education. If selected for verification, the SAR will contain a comment notifying the student of the selection. The Office of Financial Aid at Millsaps College has contracted with KHEAA Verify to process student FAFSA verifications for Millsaps. KHEAA uses a secure portal to collect verification documentation from students. KHEAA will communicate with students directly to complete the verification process.

Schools are required to correct any inaccurate information discovered through the verification process and use the verified FAFSA results when determining eligibility for financial aid. Corrections to your FAFSA may result in a change in your eligibility and result in revisions to aid offered prior to the completion of verification. If corrections to a student’s FAFSA are required as a result of the verification process, they will be sent electronically to the Department of Education. Once verification is completed, any resulting changes in a student’s financial aid award will be communicated by a revised financial aid award letter.

No federal or need-based institutional awards can be disbursed to a student’s account until verification is completed. All required documentation should be submitted as soon as possible to finalize an accurate financial aid award. However, to receive federal funds or need-based institutional funds, verification must be completed by October 31st. If a student has not completed the verification process by that date, federal and need-based institutional aid will be removed from the student’s financial aid award and the student will be responsible for covering the resulting balance on their student account in the Business Office by other means.

Additionally, if a student requests consideration of extenuating circumstances not reflected on the FAFSA, Millsaps College will complete verification of the student’s FAFSA prior to determining if any adjustments can be made to the FAFSA as a result of the extenuating circumstances.

The Department of Education requires schools to refer any credible information indicating that an applicant for federal student aid may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with his or her application to the Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). Fraud is the intent to deceive as opposed to a mistake. Millsaps College, in compliance with the Department’s guidance, will refer suspected cases of fraud to the OIG for further review.