Financial Aid
Dakota State University makes every effort to help eligible students secure the finances
needed to begin and complete their college education. The university provides
financial aid assistance to qualifying students in the form of scholarships,
grants, loans and work. In addition, all sources of student financial aid
(agency, private, federal, state and institutional) are coordinated through the
Office of Enrollment Services. Any funding in addition to the student and
family contribution is considered financial aid and is processed through this
DSU office. Veteran Benefits and National Guard Assistance are also coordinated
by this office. For more veteran information, see the section on Veteran
Benefits in this catalog.
For a complete listing of
financial aid programs, costs, policies, other financial aid information sites
and alternative financing options, visit the Office of Enrollment Services or
the DSU home page. Application information, eligibility requirements, loan
counseling, Federal Work-Study Job Listings, and links to current loan
information can be accessed via the DSU home page. Eligibility is determined
annually based on the results of the Federal application-FAFSA, DSU scholarship
application, student date of application and student financial aid satisfactory
academic progress (See Financial Aid Policies). The priority date for annual
financial aid application is March 1. Electronic applications for
institutional, federal aid, and other aid sources may be done through links
found on our home page.
Professional staff are
available to assist students in determining educational funding options and in
understanding available programs. If students have a change in their family
situation during the school year, they should contact the Office of Enrollment
Services regarding special circumstance consideration. In addition, DSU Student
Emergency Loans are coordinated through that office.
The following types of available student income or
assistance are described in more detail in the Financial Aid brochure:
Scholarships -
a variety of DSU awards are available. Application deadline is March 1st each
year. Also, visit the DSU Financial Aid web site for regional listings.
Program Grants -
Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant,
State Student Incentive Grant Program or Leveraging Education Assistance Program
(Not funded by SD Legislature for the upcoming year).
Jobs -
The Federal Work Study Program, Job Development positions
Loans -
Federal Perkins Loan/Federal Family Education Loan Program/Alternative Loans
Outside Agency Assistance - Workforce Investment
Acts, Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Funds exist
for those who qualify.
Dakota State University programs are approved by the South Dakota State
Approving Agency as eligible programs for veteran benefits.
Any veteran or dependent entitled to benefits, including tuition assistance
through the National Guard, should provide eligibility documents to the Veterans
Affairs Coordinator at DSU.
The Office of Enrollment Services coordinates and certifies student
Veteran Benefits required for payment.
In order to receive Federal Student Aid, the U.S.
Department of Education requires that students maintain satisfactory academic
progress toward the completion of their degree. Federal Student Aid includes
Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG),
Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Leveraging Educational Assistance
Partnership Grant (LEAP), Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized),
and Federal PLUS Loan. Also, other Federal Agencies may require students to
maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for their aid programs. The academic
record of all students will be monitored to ensure compliance with the
requirements specified below. Therefore, even the academic record of those who
have not received Federal Student Aid in the past may impact future eligibility.
Failure to meet the following standards will result in financial aid suspension
of eligibility for Federal Student Aid.
Qualitative Measure
Undergraduate
Students
An undergraduate student must meet minimum
academic progression standards as established by the South Dakota Board of
Regents. These standards are based on the student’s
cumulative grade point average and system term grade point average. The
system term grade point average is based on credits earned from the six Board of
Regents universities during a given term. The cumulative grade point average
includes all credits earned (transfer plus system credit). All remedial and
audited coursework is excluded from this calculation. Making satisfactory
academic progression is as follows:
1. A student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is
considered to
be in good academic standing.
2. If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 in any
academic
term (i.e. fall, spring, summer) the student is placed on academic
probation the
following term.
3. While on academic probation, the student must earn a system term grade
point
average of 2.0 or better.
4. When a student on academic probation achieves a cumulative grade point
average of 2.0 or better, the student is returned to good academic
standing.
5.
A student on academic probation who fails to maintain a system term grade
point
average of 2.0 or better is placed on academic suspension for a minimum
period
of two academic terms.
A review takes place at the end of
every term (summer, fall, spring). A student placed on academic suspension is
also placed on financial aid suspension. Being reinstated academically does not
guarantee financial aid reinstatement. The student must separately appeal the
financial aid suspension as outlined below (Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension).
Graduate Student:
A graduate student must meet all requirements
listed above with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Quantitative
Measures
In order to maintain satisfactory progress
toward the completion of their degree, all students must successfully complete
67% of cumulative attempted credit hours. Attempted credit hours include all
hours that would appear on a student’s academic transcript at the end of any
given term, including withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, remedial
coursework, transfer hours and hours attempted at any time when not receiving
Federal Student Aid. Audited coursework is not included. Hours that may have
been part of a successful academic amnesty appeal will still be included.
Successfully completed hours for both graduate and undergraduate students
include grades of A, B, C, D and S. A grade of EX for undergraduate students is
also considered successful completion. All other grades would not be considered
successful completion. Evaluation of this quantitative standard will be measured
once per year, generally at the end of the spring term.
Maximum Attempted Credit Hours
The U.S.
Department of Education has established a limit on the number of credit hours a
student can attempt and still remain eligible for Federal Student Aid. This
limit is based on 150% of the credit hours needed to complete the degree for
which the student is pursuing.
| Type of Degree
Attempted |
Maximum Credit Hours |
|
Associate of
Arts, Health Information Technology (68-hour program) |
102 |
|
Associate of
Arts, Science or Applied Science (64-hour program) |
96 |
|
Associate of
Science - Respiratory Care (75-hour program) |
113 |
|
Bachelor of
Science/Science in Education (128-hour program) |
192 |
|
Bachelor of
Business Administration (128-hour program) |
192 |
|
Master of
Science in Information System (45-hour program) |
68 |
Master’s in
Education in Computer Education and
Technology (36-hour program) |
54 |
Appeal of
Financial Aid Suspension
Students who have had their eligibility for
Federal Student Aid suspended may complete an appeal form to explain mitigating
circumstances. There is no guarantee for approving a financial aid eligibility
appeal. Such appeals will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. An appeal form
is available in the Office of Enrollment Services or on-line at
www.departments.dsu.edu/financial/Newsite_Forms.htm. To ensure a timely
review, students must have submitted an appeal prior to the census date of the
term for which they wish to receive aid. Based upon the circumstances of an
approved appeal, the Appeal Committee reserves the right to place conditions
which the student must meet in order to be considered for financial aid on a
probationary basis for subsequent semesters.
Students suspended from receiving Federal
Student Aid must appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee, which is separate
from and in addition to the academic appeal process. Being reinstated
academically does not guarantee financial aid reinstatement. A notification will
be provided to the student regarding the financial aid appeal decision.
Students who have lost their Federal Aid
eligibility, but have subsequently met the qualitative and/or quantitative
standards as stated above, will have their aid eligibility reinstated.
Reinstatement will be considered effective with the next term of attendance.
There are also non-federal sources of financial
assistance (institutional, local, private, state), which may require students to
meet satisfactory academic progress standards. Students who apply for
non-federal forms of aid are advised to review their academic standards in order
to determine or ensure continued eligibility.
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