SEARCH:
HOME | GATEWAYS | ACADEMICS | ADMISSION | DIRECTORIES | VISIT | LOG IN | SITE INDEX
Home | Gateways | Academics | Admission | Directories | Site Index SEARCH:

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
113 Bray Hall
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-6706
(315) 470-4734 (Fax)
finaid@esf.edu

SUNY-ESF Federal School Code: 002851

SUNY-ESF TAP Codes:
 · Undergraduate-0950
 · Graduate-5555

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order for students to receive federal, state, and instutional aid, they must be making "satisfactory academic progress" toward a degree. The rules for satisfactory academic process depend upon the type of aid involved:

TOP
ESF College Aid

Students receiving any of the following ESF awards are eligible to have their awards renewed in future years if they maintain an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) as indicated:

  • Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - 3.00 GPA
  • ESF Transfer Scholarship - 2.50 GPA
  • ESF Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship - 3.00 GPA
  • ESF College Aid Grant - 2.50 GPA
  • ESF Renewal Grant - 2.50 GPA
  • ESF Presidential Scholarship - 3.00 GPA
  • ESF in the High School - 3.00 GPA
  • ESF National Scholarship - 3.00 GPA
  • Federal SMART Grant - 3.00 GPA

TOP
Federal Student Aid

Undergraduate and graduate students must meet specified criteria in order to be eligible for Title IV Federal Student Assistance, which includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Student Loans, the Federal College Work-Study Program, and the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students.

The criteria that students must meet to be eligible for Title IV student aid are the same criteria all ESF students must adhere to in terms of institutional academic policies and, specifically, academic

The evaluation criteria are the following:

  • an appropriate grade point average to ensure satisfactory academic progress;
  • the successful accumulation of credits toward a degree;
  • receipt of a degree within the prescribed time limit for that program. (Limits vary for individual programs; see below for standard).

Students receiving federal student aid funds must make steady academic progress toward their degrees. While most students pursue their degrees on a full-time basis, others do not. In order to allow for maximum flexibility to complete a degree, federal regulations state that students' maximum time to be eligible for federal aid shall not exceed 150 percent of the published length of time it takes to complete that degree on a full-time basis.

Additionally, federal student aid (Title IV) eligibility is related to the successful completion of credit hours earned versus attempted. This component of eligibility is referred to as Pursuit of Program. Pursuit of Program is defined as: The number of credit hours attempted divided by the number of credit hours earned. This equation is tied back into the overall credits needed to be earned to graduate for any of our degrees. Generally, the number of credits a student must earn each semester and year to remain fully eligible is 67 percent (.67).

This measurement is reviewed each semester and again at the end of each academic year. Students receiving federal student aid from Title IV programs must be making progress towards their degree at a rate of .67 earned out of hours attempted. An example is:

  1. Fall Semester Credits Attempted = 15
  2. Fall Semester Credits Earned = 12
  3. Pursuit of Program = 12 divided by 15 = .80

The earned credits exceed .67 and the student is eligible for continuing to receive Title IV aid by successfully meeting the Pursuit of Program component.

An example of an unsuccessful attempt is:

  1. Fall Semester Credits Attempted = 15
  2. Fall Semester Credits Earned = 6
  3. Pursuit of Program = 6 divided by 15 = .40

The credits earned fall below the standard of .67 and therefore the student does not meet the Pursuit of Program standard and will be reviewed by the Financial Aid office and Academic Standards Committee to determine if the student can be placed on probation or given a warning in order to continue to receive Title IV aid.

In severe cases the student may indeed lose eligibility for all Title IV aid.

Title IV Aid : Warning – Probation – Suspension and Appeals

Students receiving Federal Title IV aid will be reviewed by the College as stated above in order to comply with our responsibility with the regulations. This review will monitor progress towards a student’s degree as well as their overall grade point average. As a result of this semester or annual review, the student may receive a warning that indicates they are in danger of not making progress. Some students may be placed on probation yet allowed to receive aid. Students in this category will receive a suggested academic path to ensure their continued progress toward the degree. Students will remain eligible as long as they stay on target with the recommendation provided.

Some students may have their eligibility for Title IV aid revoked. If that occurs, the student can appeal that decision. Students who make an appeal of their loss of Title IV aid must contact the director of Financial Aid in written form. The appeal must contain information regarding:

  • Why the student failed to make progress toward the degree
  • What has changed for the student that will allow the student to make progress
  • What corrective action the student has taken to ensure successful completion toward the degree?

The following chart lists the maximum number of credit hours a student may take and still receive federal student aid. These figures are based on 150 percent of the credit hours required to complete each of the degrees offered by the College—regardless of the time it takes to complete that degree.

Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purpose of Determining Eligibility for Federal Aid
Degree
Credit Hours Required
Maximum Hours Allowed
Associate in Applied Science
  Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation
75
112
  Forest Technology
78
117
  Land Surveying Technology
78
117
Bachelor of Science
125
187
  Aquatic and Fisheries Science
126
189
  Bioprocess Engineering
127
190
  Biotechnology
123
184
  Chemistry
121
181
  Conservation Biology
126
189
  Construction Management
128
192
  Environmental Biology
126
189
  Environmental Resources Engineering
125
187
  Environmental Science
125
187
  Environmental Studies
121-124
186
  Forest Ecosystems Science
128
192
  Forest Engineering
125
187
  Forest Health
126
189
  Forest Resources Management
129
193
  Natural History and Interpretation
126
189
  Natural Resources Management
122
183
  Paper Engineering
136
204
  Paper Science
126
189
  Wildlife Science
126
189
  Wood Products Engineering
128
192
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
150
225
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture/Master of Science
150/30
225
Master of Forestry
30
45
Master of Landscape Architecture
66
99
Master of Professional Studies (unless otherwise noted)
30
45
  Chemistry
33
49
  Environmental and Forest Biology
42
63
  Environmental Science
39
58
Master of Science
30
45
  Environmental Studies
37
55
Doctor of Philosophy
60
90
Appeal, Probation, Reinstatement

Students who fall below the minimum standards may appeal to the Associate Provost for Instruction and Dean of the Graduate School to retain their academic eligibility to receive Title IV Federal Student Assistance.

Appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances such as injury or illness, and the likelihood that the student will be able to return to the appropriate standard. If the Associate Provost for Instruction and Dean of the Graduate School places a student on “academic probation,” the student remains eligible for Title IV aid as defined by the Statement of Good Academic Standing.

TOP
New York State Aid

All students who are awarded financial assistance will be required to maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester in order to keep their awards. Academic progress standards for all awards provided by New York are listed below. Recipients of a New York state award must adhere to the following state requirements:

  • Academic Progress: Students must meet the minimum standards listed in the following charts to be eligible for an award the next semester.
  • Program Pursuit: Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours each semester based on a full-time course load of 12 credit hours.
    • Associate in applied science degree students must complete 75 percent of the full-time credit load. Therefore, they must receive at least nine credits per semester (.75 x 12 = 9).
    • Bachelor’s degree students must complete 100 percent of a full-time credit load (12 credit hours) each semester.
    • Graduate degree students must complete 100 percent of a full-time credit load (12 credit hours) unless they have an assistantship. Graduate students with an assistantship should see the section on credit hour load in the graduate academic policies section of this catalog for the definition of full-time status.
    • C Average: Students having completed their second academic year (or 24 payment points) must have a cumulative C (2.000) grade point average to retain their New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Award.
Waivers for New York State Awards

Students who fall below the credit or grade point average requirements listed on the following charts may apply for a waiver to continue their eligibility for financial aid. Students are allowed only one waiver during undergraduate work and only one waiver during graduate work. A waiver will be granted only after the student and College officials agree that a waiver is in the best interest of the student. The waiver is not automatic. The waiver must be filed within the academic period it should cover. Requests are made through the director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Waivers for the cumulative grade point average requirement may be granted only when failure to meet this requirement is due to:

  • the death of a relative of the student;
  • the personal injury or illness of the student;
  • other extenuating circumstances.

Requests for a waiver are made through the director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purpose of Determining Eligibility for New York State Student Aid

The charts below list the credit hours a student must complete and the grade point average a student must maintain to receive the award payment.

For students pursuing an associate degree program at ESF:

Payment
Credit Hours
Grade Point Average
#1
0
.000
#2
6
1.300
#3
15
1.500
#4
27
1.800
#5
39
2.000
#6
51
2.000

Noncredit remedial instruction can be counted toward a full-time academic load as set forth in 145-2.1 of the Commissioner’s Regulations. The number of credits in this chart refers to work completed toward the degree.

For students pursuing a bachelor’s degree program at ESF:

Payment
Credit Hours
Grade Point Average
#1
0
.000
#2
1
1.500
#3
15
.1.800
#4
27
1.800
#5
39
2.000
#6
51
2.000
#7
66
2.000
#8
81
2.000
#9
96
2.000
#10
111
2.000

Noncredit remedial instruction can be counted toward a full-time academic load as set forth in 145-2.1 of the Commissioner’s Regulations. The number of credits in this chart refers to work completed toward the degree.

For students pursuing any graduate degree program at ESF:

Payment
Credit Hours
Grade Point Average
#1
0
.000
#2
6
2.000
#3
12
2.500
#4
21
2.750
#5
30
3.000
#6
45
3.000
#7
60
3.000
#8
75
3.000
Improve Your World
SUNY-ESF
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY-ESF | 1 Forestry Drive | Syracuse, NY 13210 | 315-470-6500
Copyright © 2013 | Information | Webmaster