General Information

Lindsey Wilson College's financial aid program offers a variety of federal, state, and institutional funds. Financial aid packages may include grants, loans, and part-time employment. Scholarships may also be awarded to students based on their financial need and/or academic achievement. All financial aid programs administered through the College require acceptance for admission to the College and completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students who complete requirements by March 15 receive priority. Applications submitted after that date will be subject to availability of funds. Each applicant will be notified of financial aid eligibility. Awards will be made to qualified students until funds are depleted. Students who are not eligible for Federal programs due to default status, drug related charges, or are rejected by the Federal government for other reasons will not be eligible to receive any financial assistance.

NOTE: Grants and scholarships are awarded only in amounts equal to the direct educational assistance needed for the academic year at hand. Direct educational expenses at Lindsey Wilson are defined as: tuition and fees, in addition to room and board for residential students. All institutional grants and scholarships are awarded, according to individual need, after federal and state awards have been made. Institutional grants and scholarships will be adjusted to prevent over-awarding.

No student will receive more than one institutional academic scholarship. Except for the Begley Scholarship Program, all tuition scholarships and grants will cover only the first 12-18 hours each fall and spring semester. Students must pay for any hours more than 18.

Institutional grants and scholarships are available for eight consecutive semesters for Baccalaureate Degree programs, and four consecutive semesters for Associate Degree programs, when all other restrictions are met. All institutional scholarships and grants are subject to change without notice.

In accordance with federal regulations for students receiving federal assistance, Lindsey Wilson has a policy concerning a drug-free environment. This policy is available for review in the office of the Vice President for Administration & Finance.

Return of Title IV Federal Student Aid

If a student completely withdraws from school during a semester, a portion of the federal Title IV aid disbursed to the student must be returned to the financial aid programs. The percentage of Title IV aid required to be returned is based on the percentage of time remaining in the semester as of the student's date of withdrawal. (This is the date a student provides a properly completed withdrawal form to the Registrar's Office indicating the student's intent to completely withdraw from the College.) The amount of assistance that a student has earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. The College must determine the treatment of the student's Title IV program assistance on a payment period basis. The percent of the payment period represents the percentage of aid earned by the student.

Funds will be returned first to the Title IV loan programs and then the Title IV grant programs in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal Plus Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Policy

Students may receive federal financial aid as a full-time or part-time student. Part-time attendance will be prorated accordingly. To remain eligible, the student must meet the conditions of minimum acceptable academic progress.

Minimum Acceptable Academic Progress

A student's academic performance will be reviewed fall and springs semesters based on GPA. Normal academic progress, based on grade point average, will be determined after each semester based on cumulative hours attempted. Minimum academic progress, based upon hours earned, will be determined at the end of the spring term. As student must meet minimum acceptable academic progress by complying with the standard in order to achieve and/or maintain good academic standing. Any student with a .0 to .5 term GPA may be suspended.

Note: Compliance with standards of minimum acceptable academic progress does not imply that students meet program criteria applicable to particular major fields. In addition, student athletes must adhere to the standards of their individual sports program in order to maintain athletic eligibility.

GPA Standards	Required GPA Earned Credit Hours
1.25	1 - 23
1.50	24 - 54
1.75	55 - 90
2.00	91 - 128
2.00	128+

 Minimum acceptable academic progress, based on grade point average, will be determined after each semester based on cumulative hours attempted. Students failing to meet minimum acceptable academic progress, as outlined above, are subject to the following sanctions.

Warning Semester

Students below the minimum acceptable standards for academic progress for the semester will be placed on warning for the following semester. During the warning term, sanctions may include repeating of courses, limitation of credit hours, structured study times in the Academic Success Center, development of individual learning contracts, adjustment of housing assignments, or limitation of participation in non-class, College-sponsored activities. Student status will be reviewed at the end of the warning semester.

Probation Semester

At the end of the warning semester, students who continue to fall below the minimum acceptable standards for academic progress will be placed on probation. Probation sanctions may include those named in the warning sanctions, as well as financial sanctions. While probation is in effect, a student is subject to suspension from the College at any time when, in the opinion of instructors and the Vice President for Academic Affairs or Associate Dean, the student's academic effort or social conduct fails to evidence a responsible approach to studies. Student status will be reviewed at the end of the probation semester.

Suspension Semester

At the end of the probation semester, students who continue to fall below the minimum acceptable standards for academic progress will be suspended from the College for a semester. However, students have the right of appeal to the Academic Affairs Council. The suspension decision and appeal will be reviewed individually according to the following considerations:

1. past performance;
2. mitigating circumstances (e.g., health, family, personal considerations);
3. the performance trend as reflected in the GPA performance over earlier semesters;
4. achieving the minimum GPA for the student's credit hour standard as defined above;
5. performance/compliance within the programs assigned as condition of probation; and
6. other individual circumstances and considerations.

Readmission after Academic Suspension

Students may be readmitted to the College after a semester through application to the Admissions Committee. The readmission decision will be based upon students' compliance with conditions of suspension, evidence suggesting potential for improvement, and/or other individual factors. Readmission to the College is not guaranteed and should not be assumed.

Other Causes for Academic Suspension

Students who demonstrate a callous disregard for learning as stated in the "Student Codes" section of the current Student Handbook, may be subject to suspension by the Academic Affairs Office, together with either the Vice President for Student Services, or the Dean of Students. In addition, students who commit academic dishonesty may be subject to suspension or expulsion from the College (see Academic Integrity).

Drug Violations Penalties and Financial Aid Eligibility

Under Section 485 and 484r of the Higher Education Act, students become ineligible for federal student aid upon conviction during any period of enrollment of any offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs. Federal aid includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, Federal TEACH Grants and Perkins Loans.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA asks if the student has ever been convicted of a drug related offense. Failure to answer the question will automatically disqualify the student from receiving Federal Aid. Answering this question falsely, if discovered, could result in fines up to $20,000, imprisonment, or both.

Penalties for Drug Convictions

Ineligibility Period for Possession of Illegal Drugs (controlled substance):

• First offense: 1 year from the date of conviction
• Second offense: 2 years from the date of conviction
• Third offense: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction

Ineligibility Period for Sale of Illegal Drugs (controlled substance):

• First offense: 2 years from date of conviction
• Second offense: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction

How to Regain Eligibility

If a student successfully completes a drug rehabilitation program, he or she can regain eligibility for federal student aid funds as of the day the student successfully completes the program.

To be sufficient to reinstate financial aid eligibility, the program must:

• Include at least 2 unannounced drug tests AND
• be recognized as a Federal, State, or local government agency program