General Contact Information

Phone: 646-312-1360

Fax: 646-312-1361

Email:

financial.aid@baruch.cuny.edu

Mailing Address:

Baruch College, Financial Aid
One Bernard Baruch Way,
Box H-0880
New York, NY 10010-5585

Walk-In Address:

151 25th Street, Room #880

Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Title IV Aid

For purposes of determining financial aid eligibility under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, all institutions, including Baruch College, must establish reasonable standards for measuring whether a student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP). On October 29, 2010, the Secretary of Education published final rules aimed at improving the integrity of programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA, as amended.

Effective July 1, 2011, institutions must comply with the published regulations that impact SAP. The Office of Financial Aid Services has revised its satisfactory academic progress policy to comply with the new regulations.

Baruch College students who do not make satisfactory academic progress towards their degree will not be eligible for the following federal Title IV aid programs.

Federal Pell Grants (PELL)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
Federal Work Study Program (FWS)
Federal Perkins Loans (PERK)
Federal Direct Loan Programs, both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans.
Federal Parent Plus Loan Program
Federal Graduate Plus Loan Program.

The Office of Financial Aid Services will review academic records annually after each spring semester to monitor that students are making progress towards degree completion. Students are required to make qualitative, quantitative and not exceed 150% of their established program length to be considered to be making progress towards their degree.

Qualitative Measure Standards

To maintain the qualitative standards of satisfactory academic progress, students must meet the cumulative grade point average as outlined in the chart below.

Undergraduate Students
Students who have attempted 1 through12 credit hours.	Must have earned a cumulative 1.50 GPA or greater
Students who have attempted 13 through 24 credit hours.	Must have earned a cumulative 1.75 GPA or greater
Students who have attempted 25 or more credit hours.	Must have earned a cumulative 2.00 GPA or greater
Graduate Students
Students who have attempted 1 or more credit hours	Must have earned a cumulative 3.00 GPA or greater

Quantitative Measure Standards

To quantify academic progress, students must meet a maximum time-frame of no more than 150% of an academic program's published length as the maximum time-frame in which the student is expected to finish the program. To ensure quantitative progress standards are met throughout the course of study, students must also meet a minimum pace or percentage of credits successfully completed each academic year.

Below are the quantitative measurement standards that students must meet to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Undergraduate Quantitative Standards

150% Program Length CAP

Students may not attempt more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.

(Example: If program length is 120 credit hours, students may not attempt more than 180 credit hours. 120 credits x150% =180 CAP)

Regular Standard

If a student has attempted fewer than 150% of the total program credits, his or her earned credits must be equal to or greater than two thirds the cumulative credits attempted.

(Example: If a student has attempted 24 credit hours, they must earn 16 credits of those attempted. 16 earned credits / 24 attempted credits= 2/3)

Conditional Standard

If the above regular standard is not met but the student has attempted fewer than 150% of the total program credits, eligibility may be retained by meeting the following conditional standard:

NOTE: For baccalaureate programs, student’s earned credits must be equal to or greater than [(.75 x cumulative credits attempted) - 18]

Undergraduate Pace of Progress
Attempted Credits	15	30	45	60	75	90	105	120	135	150	165	180
Regular Standard Earned Credits	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
Conditional Standard Earned Credits	0	5	16	27	39	50	61	72	84	95	106	120

Graduate Quantitative Standards

Earn credits toward the degree greater than or equal to two-thirds the cumulative credits attempted.

Example: If a student has attempted 12 credit hours, they must earn 8 credits of those attempted. 8 earned credits / 12 attempted credits= 2/3)

Not have attempted more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.

Example: If program length is 33 credit hours, students may not attempt more than 49.5 credit hours. 33 credits x150% = 49.5 CAP)

Determination of Attempted Credits and Earned Credits

The accumulation of attempted credits usually reflects course loads maintained in a student’s permanent record at the college. Accumulated credits should reflect credits that the student has earned towards the completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled. Hours attempted include all hours pursued towards degree completion and are counted in the program length whether or not financial aid was received. Attempted hours also include the following: withdrawals, incompletes, failing grades, repeated coursework, and transfer credits accepted by Baruch College.

1. Remedial Courses

Since remedial courses and the remedial component of developmental and compensatory courses do not carry degree credit, enrollment in these courses will not result in the inclusion of the non-credit portion as cumulative attempted credits.

2. Withdrawals

Withdrawals as part of the program adjustment period will not be included as cumulative attempted credits. Withdrawals which are recorded on a student’s permanent record will be included as cumulative attempted credits and will have an adverse effect on a student’s capability to meet the appropriate standard.

NOTE: Retroactive “non-punitive” administrative withdrawal activity may result in the requirement for the student to repay any assistance received as a result of the student’s enrollment at the time of receipt of the student assistance funds.

3. Incomplete Grades

Courses with incomplete grades are included as cumulative attempted credits. However, these courses cannot be used as credits earned toward the degree since successful completion is the criterion for positive credit accumulation.

If the student fails to meet the appropriate standard for credit accumulation due to the lack of successful completion grades for these courses, the recording of successful completion grades within a term which brings the accumulated credit level to the appropriate standard will restore eligibility for the term and subsequent terms within the academic year.

4. Repeated Courses

Successfully completed courses can generally be accepted toward degree requirements once. However, each time a student attempts a course, it is included as part of the cumulative attempted credit record. Therefore, repeated courses, regardless of the prior grade, reduce a student’s capacity to meet the appropriate credit accumulation standard.

Treatment of Non-Standard Situations

1. Readmitted Students

Upon readmission after at least a one-year period of non-reenrollment, the student will receive assistance for the terms in the academic year of readmission and will be evaluated for future eligibility at the end of the spring term against the appropriate standard for the degree program for which the student is enrolled. If a student is readmitted after less than one year of non-enrollment, the academic record will be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress under these standards as the record stood at the end of the last term of attendance.

2. Transfer Students

Transfer students from colleges inside and outside of CUNY shall have their status initialized for purposes of satisfactory academic progress measurement by using the number of credits determined to be acceptable toward the degree as both the students’ cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits.

3. Second Degree Students

Students enrolling for a second degree, either baccalaureate or graduate, shall have their status initialized for purposes of satisfactory academic progress measurement by using the number of credits determined to be acceptable toward the degree as both the students’ cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits.

4. Change of Major

If a student changes majors within the same degree, you must complete the academic program within the maximum timeframe allowed.

5. Change of Degree

If astudent changes their educational objective and begin pursuing a different degree without having earned the first degree, they must complete your academic program within the maximum timeframe allowed.

Evaluation and Notification of Federal Title IV aid ineligibility.

The Office of Financial Aid Services will review all students’ academic records annually after the spring semester. Students who are not making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree will immediately lose eligibility for future Title IV aid. Students will be notified of their ineligible status via e-mail from the Office of Financial Aid Services.

Note: If a student has a grade change or correction to their academic record subsequent to the review process, they should notify their respective academic advisor in writing to request a re-evaluation of their Title IV academic progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Title IV Aid Appeals

Although federal regulations do not mandate institutions to offer an appeal process, Baruch College has established a Title IV SAP appeal process. Students who have unforeseen extenuating circumstances that prevented them from making SAP may submit an in person appeal to the Office of the Registrar. Examples of appeal worthy circumstances are; serious physical or mental illness of the student, serious physical or mental illness of a student’s immediate family member, death of a student’s immediate family member and other extreme circumstances. These circumstances must be documented. A student may initiate the SAP appeal process by completing a Title IV Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form with all substantiating documentation in person to the Office of the Registrar. Furthermore, the appeal must include a detailed explanation regarding: a) why the student failed to make SAP and b) what has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation. The Committee of SAP Appeals will meet and review the students’ submitted documentation. A determination will be made whether the students appeal will be approved or denied. All appeal decisions are final.

Reinstatement of Title IV funding

A student whose appeal has been denied or who has lost eligibility by not meeting the standard without appeal may regain eligibility by leaving the institution for at least one year. Upon re-admittance, the student will receive assistance for the terms in the academic year of re-admittance and will be subject to SAP evaluation of eligibility at the end of that year.

Students who choose to remain enrolled without the receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance may request a review of their academic records after any term in which they are enrolled without such benefits to determine whether the appropriate standards for the degree programs in which the students are enrolled have been met. If the standards are met, eligibility is regained for subsequent terms in the academic year.