Satisfactory Academic Progress and Maintaining Eligibility

Continued eligibility for scholarships and financial aid programs is dependent upon the maintenance of good academic standing and satisfactory progress toward a degree in accordance with the academic policies of Paul Smith's College and the regulations associated with federally sponsored aid programs.

The conditions for obtaining or to continue to receive financial aid are as follows

1. Merit Scholarships: Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress at the end of each academic year of study to continue to receive these scholarships:
   1. Presidential - 2.50 GPA
   2. Provost - 2.50 GPA
   3. Dean - 2.00 GPA
   4. Faculty - 2.00 GPA
   5. Transfer Excellence - 2.50 GPA
   6. Transfer Recognition - 2.00 GPA
   7. Adirondack Park - 2.5 GPA

2. Paul Smith's Scholarships & Grants: Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress at the end of each academic year to continue to receive the award. Specific academic guidelines are outlined for some awards.

   Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) - (Federal and College) - Financial aid recipients are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The College will evaluate SAP after grades are reported at the end of each academic year. This SAP policy applies to all financial aid programs except for the New York State financial aid programs that have a different policy for academic progress and program pursuit. The SAP policy requires that financial aid recipients achieve a minimum number of earned credits and a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) after each year.

   If you withdraw from a course, it may affect your aid for the next semester/year. The Financial Aid Office strongly encourages you to make an appointment with financial aid before officially withdrawing from a course.

   **In addition to maintaining SAP toward the educational objective after each semester, recipients of Federal Student Aid (FSA) cannot receive FSA funding for more than 150% of the minimum time duration for completing their program. The time frame maximum in which a student must complete his/her Associate degree is three academic years; the time frame maximum for a Bachelor's degree is five academic years.

3. Pell Grant, Supplemental Opportunity Grant, Stafford & PLUS Loans, and Work-Study: The federal requirements for SEOG, Pell Grants, Work-Study, Perkins, Stafford, and PLUS Loans at the completion of each academic year. Cumulative Grade Point Average requirements for recipients of these Financial Aids sources are:

   Associate Degree Candidates
   After 1st Year - 1.50 GPA
   After 2nd Year - 1.75 GPA
   After 3rd Year - 1.90 GPA

   Bachelor's Degree Candidates
   After 1st Year - 1.50 GPA
   After 2nd Year - 1.75 GPA
   After 3rd Year - 1.90 GPA
   After 4th Year - 2.00 GPA
   After 5th Year - 2.00 GPA