The School of Graduate Studies academic departments and the Dean of Graduate Studies review the qualitative and quantitative measurements to determine if students enrolled in the school of Graduate Studies have met the SAP requirements for Ph.D and MS programs. Specific details are delineated by each program in the catalog/student handbook. For financial aid purposes, an academic year includes fall, spring, and summer terms. Summer is considered a regular semester and is a trailer term for the academic year. SAP for, financial aid purposes, is evaluated at the end of the summer term. Changes in a student’s academic status are communicated to the financial aid department by the Dean of Graduate Studies or designated staff.
- Qualitative Measurements-Graduate Studies
In order to receive and continue on federal student aid, students enrolled in the School of Graduate Studies must successfully complete a minimum of 6 credit hours each term all coursework for the academic year with a cumulative 3.00 GPA. Incomplete grades, missing grades, withdrawals, and failing grades are counted as attempted, but unearned hours in applicable completion ratio. Non-credit remedial courses, which are not offered at LSUHSC, do not have an impact on GPAs.
- Quantitative Measurements-Graduate Studies
All LSUSHC-S coursework and terms are counted in the maximum timeframe allowed, even if financial aid was not awarded during the term that the coursework was taken. The maximum time allowed for each degree starts when the student is accepted in a LSUHSC Graduate Studies program. The maximum time allowed for Ph. D students is seven years. The maximum time allowed for MS students is 4 years. Students required or allowed to repeat a course are eligible to receive federal aid while repeating the course and will be counted toward the maximum time frame. Courses taken for audit do not count when determining enrollment for financial aid, but are considered against the maximum time frame. Transfer credits will not count toward the maximum time frame. Non-credit remedial courses, which are not offered at LSUHSC, do not have an impact on maximum timeframes.
- Probation-Graduate Studies
Students placed on academic probation are eligible to receive federal student aid while on probation for no more than three consecutive semesters (summer is counted as a semester). Students on probation must obtain a 3.00 GPA at the end of the 3 semester probation period. A graduate student on probation who fails to meet these standards will become ineligible for federal student aid. A student who withdraws while on probation and return for enrollment is ineligible for financial aid the next time that the student returns to school.
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Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility-Graduate Studies
The student may regain eligibility for financial aid by completing, at the student’s expense, a minimum of 5 credit hours while earning a 3.00 cumulative GPA upon completion of the 5 credit hours.
