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Estimated Cost of Attendance for financial aid purposes

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) establishes standard student budgets each year as a basis for awarding financial aid funds. These budgets reflect typical "modest but adequate" expense patterns of Pittsburg State University students based on research conducted by the OSFA. While actual expenses will vary based on your lifestyle and level of enrollment, the estimated costs listed below should assist you in planning your own budget. "Direct" educational expenses include Tuition/Fees, Books and Room/Board. "Indirect" educational expenses include Transportation and Miscellaneous expenses. Please note that actual indirect educational expenses vary by student.

2017-2018 Cost of Attendance Table

Resident and Gorilla Advantage (In-State Tuition Program) 

 Non-Resident 

*Tuition/Fees

The numbers used are estimated tuition and fees for the academic year. Actual tuition is set by the Kansas Board of Regents each July, and additional fees may be incurred for certain courses. The rates listed above are for a full-time credit hour load, defined by the University as 10 or more credit hours per term for undergraduates, and 9 or more credit hours per term for graduate students.** Undergraduate students who elect fewer than 10 credit hours and graduate students enrolled in fewer than 9 credit hours per term will be charged on a per-credit-hour basis. Current full- and part-time tuition and fees are available from the Registrar's Office.

**PLEASE NOTE: Full-time enrollment requirements for students receiving federal financial aid are defined as 12 or more credit hours per term for undergraduate students, and 9 or more credit hours per term for graduate students.

Books

Costs vary by program, course load and classes selected. You may be able to reduce your costs significantly by purchasing used books, renting, or purchasing ebooks.

 If you qualify, take advantage of the PSU Bookstore Voucher.  

Room/Board

Housing costs can vary significantly based on the living arrangements you select. The University residence halls offer a variety of room types and meal plans. A detailed schedule of room and board options and their rates are available from the PSU University Housing Office.

Transportation and Miscellaneous

This category represents other miscellaneous student expenses, including transportation, meals not covered under the standard meal contract, communication (cell phone, internet), clothes, personal hygiene, entertainment, etc. It is the most variable and personal component of anyone's budget. Personal spending can make or break a college budget! The most important thing is to set yourself an allowance, keep track of your expenses, and stick to your budget. Keep in mind:

• If you live off-campus, you may save money by having roommates.
• The four C's - cars, clothes, credit cards and calls - can bust your budget!

Download return of Title IV Policy

Download return of Title IV Policy for Summer

Information on the University's academic programs and degree offerings is available from the various Schools/Colleges and admitting offices. See the University Catalog for more information.

Federal guidelines require that financial aid recipients maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to remain eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Work Study, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent PLUS Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan, and TEACH Grant).

The SAP Policy for students receiving financial aid must be held to the same standard as those who are not receiving federal aid, and must be applied consistently.

The Policy must include both a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative (pace and maximum timeframe).

Students who qualify for Academic Fresh Start can petition for, and if approved will have ALL PSU hours and credit points removed from their transcript. Financial Assistance is required to include ALL hours completed and ALL hours attempted for each individual aid recipient, so these hours will be added back in when we calculate the total completion rate.

Students that are aware of learning or other disabilities should contact the Center for Student Accommodations so appropriate accommodations can be made. A student with a documented disability and/or functional limitations is still held to the same academic expectations as other students.

Qualitative (Cumulative Grade Point Average) Requirements

Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA according to the chart below (this includes students seeing a Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Teacher Certification)

CUMULATIVE SEMESTERS ATTEMPTED     CUMULATIVE GPA 

BY END OF THE SECOND SEMESTER             1.8
BY END OF THE FOURTH SEMESTER              2.0

Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Quantitative-Pace (Overall Completion Rate)

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete a minimum of 67% of the credit hours attempted. This is determined using the following calculation

Completed Hours / All Attempted Hours = Completion Rate

Examples of Completion Rate:

• Student completes 75 credit hours and has attempted 85 credit hours, the completion rate would be 88.24%. Since this is higher than the minimum 67% required, the student meets pace requirement.
• Student completed 15 credit hours and has attempted 24 credit hours, the completion rate would be 62.5%. Since this is below the 67% required, the student does not meet the pace requirement.

The following grades/codes are considered completed on the academic transcript: A, B, C, D, P.

A - Excellent achievement, credit given, four grade points per semester hour.
B - Above average achievement, credit given, three grade points per semester hour. 
C - Average achievement, credit given, two grade points per semester hour. 
D - Below average achievement, credit given, one grade point per semester hour.
P - Passing work (equivalent to “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” achievement), credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not used in the computation of the grade point average.

The following grades/codes are considered incomplete on the academic transcript:
F, XF, IN, IP, W, WX, NC.

The Pittsburg State University grading system includes the following grades: “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “P”, “F”, “XF”, “IN”, “IP”, “W”, "WX" ,“NC”, “NR”. 

F -  Failing work, zero credit given, this grade is given at the end of the semester or if the student with-draws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is doing failing work. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes. Included in computation of grade point average. 

XF - Indicates the “F” was the result of academic dishonesty. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes. Included in computation of grade point average.

IN - Incomplete grade is to be utilized in rare instances when a student is unable to complete a course due to circumstances beyond his/her control. The student must have successfully completed a majority of the course work to be eligible. The instructor must state clearly in writing what is needed to successfully complete the course. This information will be provided via GUS to both the student and the department chairperson. The plan cannot require the student to repeat the course as an option for removing an “IN” grade. Instructor must provide the grade the student would earn if no additional work is completed by entering a grade of “IB” “IC” “ID” “IF”, calculating the missing work as zero grades. The second letter supplies the default grade that will replace the “IN” grade at the end of one full subsequent fall or spring semester if no additional work is completed. Instructor permission may extend the semester deadline up to one year beyond the initial deadline. If the student opts to graduate prior to the allowed deadline for removal of an incomplete, the default grade will be recorded, and the student may not complete the work to achieve a higher final grade after graduation. Counted as a course attempted, for Financial Assistance purposes

IP - In Progress, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. Temporarily recorded as a grade when a student is enrolled in a course that requires the student to engage in projects that extend past the end of the semester. The “IP” signifies that the faculty member acknowledges the student is enrolled in a long term project and that the project is not yet complete. Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student’s grade point average. An In Progress course must be satisfactorily completed within one year from the date the “IP” was given. An In Progress not removed within one year shall be regarded as a failure and the “IP” grade will be changed to “F” and included in the computation of the student’s GPA. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

Courses to be established for the use of the “IP” grade must be legislated through department/college curriculum committees and the Faculty Senate/Graduate Council. Courses can be legislated to be excluded from the one-year regulation of changing to “F” if the course is not completed. These courses may qualify for special circumstances in the Financial Assistance office. Please contact the office for further detail.

W - Withdrawal, zero credit, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not computed in the grade point average. This grade is given under two conditions: 1) when a student withdraws from a course prior to the end of the eleventh week; 2) when a student withdraws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is passing. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

WX - Administrative Withdraw. A grade of WX is recorded for Administrative Withdrawals from the 11th day of class and beyond. Proportionate deadlines apply to summer sessions and less than full term courses. The grade of WX is not computed in the grade point average and therefore involves no academic penalty. The Registrar must authorize the recording of this grade based on documentation provided.

NC - No Credit, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. No credit given (does not necessarily imply failure). Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

NR - Not Recorded. The instructor has not submitted a grade for this course. The aid recipient will receive zero credits for these hours completed, and they will be included in the hours attempted.

POLICY ON REPEAT COURSES

Students who have received a passing grade of "D" may retake the course for a higher grade one time for financial aid. Courses in which a grade of "F", "W" (withdrawal), or "NC" (no credit) is recorded, do not count as credit hours completed and may be repeated one time for financial aid.

Quantitative-Maximum Timeframe

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete their degree within 150% of the published length of the program. There is no limit to the number of times a student can change his/her degree, major, or minor; however, all attempted hours will count toward the maximum timeframe calculation.

Students that do not complete their degree within the maximum time frame will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

The chart below shows what hours attempted will be considered 150% of a program

Degree                Average Length of Program         Maximum Time Frame (hours attempted)

Associate Degree                   64                                                  96
Teacher Certificate            18-24                                                  36
1st Bachelor Degree             124                                                186
2nd Bachelor Degree            124                                                186
1st Graduate Degree              32                                                 48
2nd Graduate Degree             32                                                 96

Calculations
Associate Degree: 64 x 1.5 = 96

Teacher Certificate: 24 x 1.5 = 36

1st Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186

2nd Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186 (including 1st Bachelor Degree)

1st Graduate Degree: 32 x 1.5 = 48

2nd Graduate Degree: 32 x 1.5 + 48 (1st Graduate Degree credit hour assumption) = 96

Students that go on Financial Aid Suspension as a result of exceeding the maximum time frame may submit an appeal to request a reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility.

Immediate Financial Aid Suspension

Students receiving Title IV Federal Aid will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension without a Warning term if

• The student completes zero credit hours for the term,
• The student is academically dismissed,
• The student has exceeded the maximum time frame to complete the degree, or
• The student does not meet all the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards while on Financial Aid Probation

Financial Aid Warning

Students that do not meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (Qualitative & Qualitative) at the end of a term will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status, unless the student falls in the category of Immediate Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Warning Status will apply to the next term that the student receives Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU. If the student does not meet all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the Warning term, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

A student is not eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU while on Financial Aid Suspension. A student may reestablish eligibility by:

• Having an appeal approved by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee (see Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal section for more information), or
• Meeting all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, qualitative and quantitative. A student that believes they have become eligible by meeting these requirements should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for a review of eligibility.

While it may be taken into consideration in a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal, a student will not reestablish eligibility by:

• Having a period of nonattendance
• Being academically reinstated after academic dismissal
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at PSU (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at another institution (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

A student on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal to have their eligibility reinstated by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Appeals should include a thorough explanation of the reason the student did not meet the minimum standards as well as copies of any documentation to support your appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee at least three times per year, once before the beginning of each term. Please see our website or contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for upcoming deadline dates.

Appeals submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed until the next committee meeting.

Possible appeal outcomes:

• Denial-If an appeal is denied, the committee will set requirements for the student in order to reestablish eligibility. This may include but is not limited to
• Retaking a specific class with a specific grade
• Completing a certain number of hours without Title IV Financial Assistance with a specific GPA
• Approval with the requirement of an Academic Plan-If an appeal is approved and the committee determines that the student will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the upcoming term, the student will be required to have an Academic Plan in place (see Academic Plan section for more information)
• Approval-If an appeal is approved and no additional requirements are set by the committee, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and become eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

Financial Aid Probation

A student that has had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on probation and is eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

If it is possible for the student to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, probation will last for one semester. If the student does not meet the minimum standards by the end of the probationary term, he will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension with no Financial Aid Warning term.

Academic Plan

If a student has a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved but will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of one semester, the student will have an Academic Plan in place.

An Academic Plan will be developed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance along with the student, the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee and any other office or individual PSU faculty or staff member that would have relevant input to the student’s successful progression toward program completion.

An Academic Plan will be designed to ensure the student is able to meet the minimum standards by a specific point in time, which could include program completion.

A student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension if the Academic Plan requirements are not met. A student must appeal any changes to an Academic Plan.

Change of Status

A student may request the Office of Student Financial Assistance to review their eligibility status for reasons including but not limited to:

• Grade Changes
• Completion of Incomplete
• Receipt of transfer transcript

Request for review may be made at any point during the academic year, to be applicable for the next term.

A review of eligibility status may determine that the student is still on Financial Aid Suspension or that the student has regained eligibility for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance at PSU.

The Pittsburg State University Police has state certified police officers, public safety officers, and parking enforcement officers who patrol the campus area. These officers are supported by communications officers, administrators, and investigators. University Police is a service-oriented department whose mission is to contribute to and promote a safe and secure community while respecting the rights and dignity of all persons utilizing facilities and programs of the University.

The University Police distributes the University's Campus Safety handbook and Annual Security Report. These reports include statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Pittsburg State University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from campus. The reports also include institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can view the Campus Safety Handbook and the Annual Security Report online.

In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, many offices at Pittsburg State University collect and maintain information about students. Although these records belong to the University, both University policy and federal law accord students a number of rights concerning these records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) establishes the rules and regulations regarding access to and disclosure of student records.

To fulfill FERPA requirements, the University has established a Student Rights and Student Records policy. This policy outlines a student's rights regarding his/her records, where records about the student may be kept and maintained, what kinds of information are in those records, the conditions under which the student or anyone else may have access to information in those records, and what action a student can take if it is believed that the information in his/her record is inaccurate or that the student's rights have been compromised. Contact the Registrar's Office, (620) 235-4200, for more information.

Because the University does not maintain all student records in one location, each office that maintains student records is required by the Pittsburg State University Regents to develop a written statement of its policies and procedures for handling those records; that statement is available for students to examine in the respective offices.

• Office of Undergraduate Admissions:
  107 Horace Mann, 1701 S. Broadway
  (620) 235-4251 (800) 854-7488
• Office of Graduate Admissions:
  112 Russ Hall, 1701 S. Broadway
  (620) 235-4223

Steps to apply and receive financial aid:

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. This application is available January 1st every year for the following fall semester. 
   • Documents needed before you file your FAFSA
   • Apply for a FSA ID (this is needed to sign your FAFSA)
   • Helpful hints to questions asked on your FAFSA
   • Things to know after you file your FAFSA
   • PSU FAFSA online assistance is available to students who would like help completing the FAFSA.
2. Check your application status. After filing the FAFSA, you will need to follow-up with each university listed on your FAFSA. Each university may require different documentation to verify the information submitted on your FAFSA.
   • To see if PSU is requesting any documentation for your financial aid file, you can check your FAFSA Application Status online through your GUS account. If you don't have GUS access, you can contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) to find out if anything is being requested.
     • You will need to be admitted to PSU before gaining access to GUS. To apply for Admissions, please contact the Admissions Office.
     • If you need assistance logging into GUS, please contact Gorilla Geeks.
   • Any missing documentation will cause a delay in receiving your financial aid. Please submit any requested documentation in a timely manner to avoid receiving your financial aid late.
   • If you need to retrieve your tax information, please review the options for submitting your 2016 tax information.
3. Check your online Award Letter status. Once your financial aid file is complete, OSFA will create an online Award Letter for you to review and accept your financial aid awards.
   • You will receive an email to your GusMail account with instructions on how to view and submit your Award Letter online once it is available.
   • You can check your Award Letter status online through GUS.
     • You will need to have access to GUS to create a GusMail account. If you need assistance setting up the GusMail account, contact Gorilla Geeks.
4. Complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling online. If you are borrowing a Direct Loan for the first time at PSU, you will need to complete both the MPN and Entrance Counseling online before these funds will be disbursed.
   • Complete the MPN.
   • Complete the Entrance Counseling.
5. Verify your enrollment online through GUS. Each semester you are required to verify your enrollment online before any funds will be disbursed to you.
   • Make sure that you do not have any University holds on your account that will prevent you from verifying your enrollment and/or disbursing your funds.
   • You will need to verify your enrollment before any federal aid or scholarships will be disbursed.
6. After the semester has started...
   • After you have completed all the steps necessary to apply and receive financial aid, your financial aid monies will be directly applied to any outstanding balance due to PSU for the current semester's tuition and fees and/or on-campus housing.
   • If you have a credit balance after your financial aid has been applied, this credit will be given to you as a refund. See the Cashier's and Student Accounts policy on how refunds will be given to students.
   • If you are receiving any type of financial aid and are planning on dropping a class or withdrawing from the University, you need to check with OSFA before to find out what effect this will have on your financial aid and future semesters at PSU.
   • • How do I withdraw from PSU?
     • What are the consequenses of withdrawing during the semester?
     • What happens if I drop a class or don't pass all of my classes?

Monitor your GusMail account for correspondence from all PSU administrative offices (Financial Assistance, Registrar's, Cashier's, and Admission's). If you need help setting this account up, please contact Gorilla Geeks. 

• Basic Requirements
• Undergraduates Who Have Already Received One or More Bachelor's Degrees
• Students Enrolled at More than One Institution
• Special Note to Out-of-State Students
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Basic Requirements:

Although each aid program has certain specific requirements, there are basic eligibility conditions all students must meet to be eligible to receive financial aid. These include:

• be a US citizen or eligible non-US citizen (federal regulations and Univerisity policy severly limit the types of financial assistance available to non-citizens, see International Programs and Services for more information);
• have a valid Social Security Number (SSN);
• have financial need (except for some loan programs and several scholarship programs)-need is established by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be sure to apply by the deadline dates listed on this site to be considered for all eligible aid programs;
• be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a program leading to a degree or certificate;
• register with Selective Service, if required;
• be making satisfactory academic progress, as established by the University;
• not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on any federal educational loan;
• use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

For more information about eligibility to receive federal aid, also see The U.S. Department of Education's Student Guide. For more information on eligibility for specific financial aid programs, see our Types of Financial Aid Available.

Students Who Have Already Received A Bachelor's Degree(s):

Undergraduate students who have already received a bachelor's degree will only be eligible for certain aid programs, such as loans, TEACH, and Work-Study while pursuing additional bachelor's degree(s). This includes students in dual degree programs who have already met the requirements for one of their degrees and are continuing their education toward the additional degree. Financial aid is limited to two undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees.

Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more specific information that is required for this situation.

Students Enrolled at More than One Institution:

Students who are enrolled at more than one college or university at the same time may receive financial aid from only one of the institutions, not both. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.

Special Note to Out-of-State Students

While the Office of Student Financial Assistance does not have sufficient funds to meet the full demonstrated need of out-of-state students directly, those students who are eligible for scholarships from Pittsburg State University or private sources can often cover their costs through these combined resources. Another option often utilized by out-of-state families is the Federal PLUS Loan available to the parents of dependent undergraduate students.

For questions about residency requirements Prospective Students should contact the Office of Admission and Enrollment Services, current PSU Students should contact the Registrar's Office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal guidelines require that financial aid recipients maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to remain eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Work Study, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent PLUS Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan, and TEACH Grant).

The SAP Policy for students receiving financial aid must be held to the same standard as those who are not receiving federal aid,  and must be applied consistently.

The Policy must include both a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative (pace and maximum timeframe).

Students who qualify for Academic Fresh Start can petition for, and if approved will have ALL PSU hours and credit points removed from their transcript. Financial Assistance is required to include ALL hours completed and ALL hours attempted for each individual aid recipient, so these hours will be added back in when we calculate the total completion rate.

Students that are aware of learning or other disabilities should contact the Center for Student Accommodations so appropriate accommodations can be made.  A student with a documented disability and/or functional limitations is still held to the same academic expectations as other students.

Qualitative (Cumulative Grade Point Average) Requirements

Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA according to the chart below (this includes students seeing a Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Teacher Certification)

Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Quantitative-Pace (Overall Completion Rate)

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete a minimum of 67% of the credit hours attempted.  This is determined using the following calculation

Completed Hours / All Attempted Hours = Completion Rate

Examples of Completion Rate:

• Student completes 75 credit hours and has attempted 85 credit hours, the completion rate would be 88.24%.  Since this is higher than the minimum 67% required, the student meets pace requirement.
• Student completed 15 credit hours and has attempted 24 credit hours, the completion rate would be 62.5%.  Since this is below the 67% required, the student does not meet the pace requirement.

All attempted and completed hours are included in the calculation, regardless of whether or not they were at PSU, if aid was received for the courses or if the classes were for a degree/major/ minor that has since changed.  Remedial Courses will be counted as completed as well as attempted even if not applicable toward degree completion.

The following grades/codes are considered completed on the academic transcript: A, B, C, D, P.

A    Excellent achievement, credit given, four grade points per semester hour.
B    Above average achievement, credit given, three grade points per semester hour.
C    Average achievement, credit given, two grade points per semester hour.
D    Below average achievement, credit given, one grade point per semester hour.
P    Passing work (equivalent to “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” achieve­ment), credit given, zero grade points per semester hour.  This grade is not used in the computation of the grade point average.

The following grades/codes are considered incomplete on the academic transcript:

F, XF, IN, IP, W, WX, NC.

The Pittsburg State University grading system includes the following grades:  “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “P”, “F”, “XF”, “IN”, “IP”, “W”, "WX" ,“NC”, “NR”.

F    Failing work, zero credit given, this grade is given at the end of the semester or if the student with­draws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is doing failing work.  Zero grade points given per semester hour.  Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes.  Includ­ed in computation of grade point average.

XF  Indicates the “F” was the result of academic dishonesty.  Zero grade points given per semester hour.  Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes.  Included in computation of grade point average.

IN   Incomplete grade is to be utilized in rare instances when a student is unable to complete a course due to circumstances beyond his/her control. The student must have successfully completed a majority of the course work to be eligible. The instructor must state clearly in writing what is needed to successfully complete the course.  This information will be provided via GUS to both the student and the department chairperson. The plan cannot require the student to repeat the course as an option for removing an “IN” grade.  Instructor must provide the grade the student would earn if no additional work is completed by entering a grade of “IB” “IC” “ID” “IF”, calculating the missing work as zero grades. The second letter supplies the default grade that will replace the “IN” grade at the end of one full subsequent fall or spring semester if no additional work is completed. Instructor permission may extend the semester deadline up to one year beyond the initial deadline. If the student opts to graduate prior to the allowed deadline for removal of an incomplete, the default grade will be recorded, and the student may not complete the work to achieve a higher final grade after graduation. Counted as a course attempted, for Financial Assistance purposes

IP   In Progress, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour.  Temporarily recorded as a grade when a student is enrolled in a course that requires the student to engage in projects that extend past the end of the semester.  The “IP” signifies that the faculty member acknowledges the student is enrolled in a long term project and that the project is not yet complete.  Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student’s grade point average.  An In Progress course must be satisfactorily completed within one year from the date the “IP” was given.  An In Progress not removed within one year shall be regarded as a failure and the “IP” grade will be changed to “F” and included in the computation of the student’s GPA. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

Courses to be established for the use of the “IP” grade must be legislated through department/college curriculum committees and the Faculty Senate/Graduate Council.  Courses can be legislated to be excluded from the one-year regulation of changing to “F” if the course is not completed. These courses may qualify for special circumstances in the Financial Assistance office.  Please contact the office for further detail.

W   Withdrawal, zero credit, zero grade points per semester hour.  This grade is not computed in the grade point average.  This grade is given under two condi­tions:  1) when a student with­draws from a course prior to the end of the eleventh week;  2) when a student with­draws from the univer­sity after the last day of the eleventh week and is passing. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

WX   Administrative Withdraw.  A grade of WX is recorded for Administrative Withdrawals from the 11^th day of class and beyond.  Proportionate deadlines apply to summer sessions and less than full term courses.  The grade of WX is not computed in the grade point average and therefore involves no academic penalty.  The Registrar must authorize the recording of this grade based on documentation provided. 

NC  No Credit, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour.  No credit given (does not necessar­ily imply failure).  Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

NR  Not Recorded. The instructor has not submitted a grade for this course. The aid recipient will receive zero credits for these hours completed, and they will be included in the hours attempted.

POLICY ON REPEAT COURSES 

Students who have received a passing grade of "D" may retake the course for a higher grade one time for financial aid.  Courses in which a grade of "F", "W" (withdrawal), or "NC" (no credit) is recorded, do not count as credit hours completed and may be repeated one time for financial aid.

       Quantitative-Maximum Timeframe

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete their degree program within 150% of the published length of the program.There is no limit to the number of times a student can change his/her degree, major, or minor; however, all attempted hours will count toward the maximum time frame calculation.

 Students that do not complete their degree within this maximum time frame will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

 The Chart below shows what hours attempted will be considered 150% of a program

 Calculations

Associate Degree: 64 x 1.5 = 96

Teacher Certificate:  24 x 1.5 = 36

1^st Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186

2^nd Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186 (including 1^st Bachelor Degree)

1^st Graduate Degree: 32 x 1.5 = 48

2^nd Graduate Degree:  32 x 1.5= 48 

Students that go on Financial Aid Suspension as a result of exceeding the maximum time frame may submit an appeal to request a reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility.

Immediate Financial Aid Suspension

Students receiving Title IV Federal Aid will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension without a Warning term if

• The student completes zero credit hours for the term,
• The student is academically dismissed,
• The student has exceeded the maximum time frame to complete the degree, or
• The student does not meet all the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards while on Financial Aid Probation

Financial Aid Warning

Students that do not meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (Qualitative & Qualitative) at the end of a term will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status, unless the student falls in the category of Immediate Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Warning Status will apply to the next term that the student receives Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU.  If the student does not meet all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the Warning term, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

A student is not eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU while on Financial Aid Suspension.  A student may reestablish eligibility by:

• Having an appeal approved by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee (see Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal section for more information), or
• Meeting all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, qualitative and quantitative.  A student that believes they have become eligible by meeting these requirements should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for a review of eligibility.

While it may be taken into consideration in a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal, a student will not reestablish eligibility by:

• Having a period of nonattendance
• Being academically reinstated after academic dismissal
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at PSU (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at another institution (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

A student on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal to have their eligibility reinstated by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.  Appeals should include a thorough explanation of the reason the student did not meet the minimum standards as well as copies of any documentation to support your appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee at least three times per year, once before the beginning of each term.  Please see our website or contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for upcoming deadline dates.

Appeals submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed until the next committee meeting.

Possible appeal outcomes:

• Denial-If an appeal is denied, the committee will set requirements for the student in order to reestablish eligibility.  This may include but is not limited to
  • Retaking a specific class with a specific grade
  • Completing a certain number of hours without Title IV Financial Assistance with a specific GPA
  • Approval with the requirement of an Academic Plan-If an appeal is approved and the committee determines that the student will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the upcoming term, the student will be required to have an Academic Plan in place (see Academic Plan section for more information)
  • Approval-If an appeal is approved and no additional requirements are set by the committee, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and become eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

Financial Aid Probation

A student that has had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on probation and is eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

If it is possible for the student to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, probation will last for one semester.  If the student does not meet the minimum standards by the end of the probationary term, he will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension with no Financial Aid Warning term.

Academic Plan

If a student has a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved but will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of one semester, the student will have an Academic Plan in place.

An Academic Plan will be developed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance along with the student, the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee and any other office or individual PSU faculty or staff member that would have relevant input to the student’s successful progression toward program completion.

An Academic Plan will be designed to ensure the student is able to meet the minimum standards by a specific point in time, which could include program completion.

A student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension if the Academic Plan requirements are not met.  A student must appeal any changes to an Academic Plan.

 Change of Status

A student may request the Office of Student Financial Assistance to review their eligibility status for reasons including but not limited to:

• Grade Changes
• Completion of Incomplete
• Receipt of transfer transcript

Request for review may be made at any point during the academic year, to be applicable for the next term.

A review of eligibility status may determine that the student is still on Financial Aid Suspension or that the student has regained eligibility for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance at PSU

Federal guidelines require that financial aid recipients maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to remain eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Work Study, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent PLUS Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan, and TEACH Grant).

The SAP Policy for students receiving financial aid must be held to the same standard as those who are not receiving federal aid, and must be applied consistently.

The Policy must include both a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative (pace and maximum timeframe).

Students who qualify for Academic Fresh Start can petition for, and if approved will have ALL PSU hours and credit points removed from their transcript. Financial Assistance is required to include ALL hours completed and ALL hours attempted for each individual aid recipient, so these hours will be added back in when we calculate the total completion rate.

Students that are aware of learning or other disabilities should contact the Center for Student Accommodations so appropriate accommodations can be made. A student with a documented disability and/or functional limitations is still held to the same academic expectations as other students.

Qualitative (Cumulative Grade Point Average) Requirements

Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA according to the chart below (this includes students seeing a Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Teacher Certification)

CUMULATIVE SEMESTERS ATTEMPTED     CUMULATIVE GPA 

BY END OF THE SECOND SEMESTER             1.8
BY END OF THE FOURTH SEMESTER              2.0

Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Quantitative-Pace (Overall Completion Rate)

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete a minimum of 67% of the credit hours attempted. This is determined using the following calculation

Completed Hours / All Attempted Hours = Completion Rate

Examples of Completion Rate:

• Student completes 75 credit hours and has attempted 85 credit hours, the completion rate would be 88.24%. Since this is higher than the minimum 67% required, the student meets pace requirement.
• Student completed 15 credit hours and has attempted 24 credit hours, the completion rate would be 62.5%. Since this is below the 67% required, the student does not meet the pace requirement.

The following grades/codes are considered completed on the academic transcript: A, B, C, D, P.

A - Excellent achievement, credit given, four grade points per semester hour.
B - Above average achievement, credit given, three grade points per semester hour.
C - Average achievement, credit given, two grade points per semester hour.
D - Below average achievement, credit given, one grade point per semester hour.
P - Passing work (equivalent to “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” achievement), credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not used in the computation of the grade point average.

The following grades/codes are considered incomplete on the academic transcript:
F, XF, IN, IP, W, WX, NC.

The Pittsburg State University grading system includes the following grades: “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “P”, “F”, “XF”, “IN”, “IP”, “W”, "WX" ,“NC”, “NR”.

F -  Failing work, zero credit given, this grade is given at the end of the semester or if the student with-draws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is doing failing work. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes. Included in computation of grade point average.

XF - Indicates the “F” was the result of academic dishonesty. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted, for both academic and Financial Assistance purposes. Included in computation of grade point average.

IN - Incomplete grade is to be utilized in rare instances when a student is unable to complete a course due to circumstances beyond his/her control. The student must have successfully completed a majority of the course work to be eligible. The instructor must state clearly in writing what is needed to successfully complete the course. This information will be provided via GUS to both the student and the department chairperson. The plan cannot require the student to repeat the course as an option for removing an “IN” grade. Instructor must provide the grade the student would earn if no additional work is completed by entering a grade of “IB” “IC” “ID” “IF”, calculating the missing work as zero grades. The second letter supplies the default grade that will replace the “IN” grade at the end of one full subsequent fall or spring semester if no additional work is completed. Instructor permission may extend the semester deadline up to one year beyond the initial deadline. If the student opts to graduate prior to the allowed deadline for removal of an incomplete, the default grade will be recorded, and the student may not complete the work to achieve a higher final grade after graduation. Counted as a course attempted, for Financial Assistance purposes

IP - In Progress, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. Temporarily recorded as a grade when a student is enrolled in a course that requires the student to engage in projects that extend past the end of the semester. The “IP” signifies that the faculty member acknowledges the student is enrolled in a long term project and that the project is not yet complete. Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student’s grade point average. An In Progress course must be satisfactorily completed within one year from the date the “IP” was given. An In Progress not removed within one year shall be regarded as a failure and the “IP” grade will be changed to “F” and included in the computation of the student’s GPA. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

Courses to be established for the use of the “IP” grade must be legislated through department/college curriculum committees and the Faculty Senate/Graduate Council. Courses can be legislated to be excluded from the one-year regulation of changing to “F” if the course is not completed. These courses may qualify for special circumstances in the Financial Assistance office. Please contact the office for further detail.

W - Withdrawal, zero credit, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not computed in the grade point average. This grade is given under two conditions: 1) when a student withdraws from a course prior to the end of the eleventh week; 2) when a student withdraws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is passing. Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

WX - Administrative Withdraw. A grade of WX is recorded for Administrative Withdrawals from the 11th day of class and beyond. Proportionate deadlines apply to summer sessions and less than full term courses. The grade of WX is not computed in the grade point average and therefore involves no academic penalty. The Registrar must authorize the recording of this grade based on documentation provided.

NC - No Credit, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. No credit given (does not necessarily imply failure). Counted as a course attempted for Financial Assistance purposes.

NR - Not Recorded. The instructor has not submitted a grade for this course. The aid recipient will receive zero credits for these hours completed, and they will be included in the hours attempted.

POLICY ON REPEAT COURSES

Students who have received a passing grade of "D" may retake the course for a higher grade one time for financial aid. Courses in which a grade of "F", "W" (withdrawal), or "NC" (no credit) is recorded, do not count as credit hours completed and may be repeated one time for financial aid.

Quantitative-Maximum Timeframe

All students receiving Title IV Federal Aid must complete their degree within 150% of the published length of the program. There is no limit to the number of times a student can change his/her degree, major, or minor; however, all attempted hours will count toward the maximum timeframe calculation.

Students that do not complete their degree within the maximum time frame will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

The chart below shows what hours attempted will be considered 150% of a program

Degree                Average Length of Program         Maximum Time Frame (hours attempted)

Associate Degree                   64                                                  96
Teacher Certificate            18-24                                                  36
1st Bachelor Degree             124                                                186
2nd Bachelor Degree            124                                                186
1st Graduate Degree              32                                                 48
2nd Graduate Degree             32                                                 48

Calculations
Associate Degree: 64 x 1.5 = 96

Teacher Certificate: 24 x 1.5 = 36

1st Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186

2nd Bachelor Degree: 124 x 1.5 = 186 (including 1st Bachelor Degree)

1st Graduate Degree: 32 x 1.5 = 48

2nd Graduate Degree: 32 x 1.5 = 48 

Students that go on Financial Aid Suspension as a result of exceeding the maximum time frame may submit an appeal to request a reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility.

Immediate Financial Aid Suspension

Students receiving Title IV Federal Aid will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension without a Warning term if

• The student completes zero credit hours for the term,
• The student is academically dismissed,
• The student has exceeded the maximum time frame to complete the degree, or
• The student does not meet all the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards while on Financial Aid Probation

Financial Aid Warning

Students that do not meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (Qualitative & Qualitative) at the end of a term will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status, unless the student falls in the category of Immediate Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Warning Status will apply to the next term that the student receives Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU. If the student does not meet all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the Warning term, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

A student is not eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid at PSU while on Financial Aid Suspension. A student may reestablish eligibility by:

• Having an appeal approved by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee (see Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal section for more information), or
• Meeting all of the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, qualitative and quantitative. A student that believes they have become eligible by meeting these requirements should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for a review of eligibility.

While it may be taken into consideration in a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal, a student will not reestablish eligibility by:

• Having a period of nonattendance
• Being academically reinstated after academic dismissal
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at PSU (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)
• Completing a semester without Title IV federal aid at another institution (unless the student now meets all minimum standards)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

A student on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal to have their eligibility reinstated by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Appeals should include a thorough explanation of the reason the student did not meet the minimum standards as well as copies of any documentation to support your appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee at least three times per year, once before the beginning of each term. Please see our website or contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for upcoming deadline dates.

Appeals submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed until the next committee meeting.

Possible appeal outcomes:

• Denial-If an appeal is denied, the committee will set requirements for the student in order to reestablish eligibility. This may include but is not limited to
• Retaking a specific class with a specific grade
• Completing a certain number of hours without Title IV Financial Assistance with a specific GPA
• Approval with the requirement of an Academic Plan-If an appeal is approved and the committee determines that the student will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of the upcoming term, the student will be required to have an Academic Plan in place (see Academic Plan section for more information)
• Approval-If an appeal is approved and no additional requirements are set by the committee, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and become eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

Financial Aid Probation

A student that has had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on probation and is eligible to receive Title IV Federal Financial Assistance.

If it is possible for the student to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, probation will last for one semester. If the student does not meet the minimum standards by the end of the probationary term, he will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension with no Financial Aid Warning term.

Academic Plan

If a student has a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved but will not be able to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards by the end of one semester, the student will have an Academic Plan in place.

An Academic Plan will be developed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance along with the student, the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee and any other office or individual PSU faculty or staff member that would have relevant input to the student’s successful progression toward program completion.

An Academic Plan will be designed to ensure the student is able to meet the minimum standards by a specific point in time, which could include program completion.

A student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension if the Academic Plan requirements are not met. A student must appeal any changes to an Academic Plan.

Change of Status

A student may request the Office of Student Financial Assistance to review their eligibility status for reasons including but not limited to:

• Grade Changes
• Completion of Incomplete
• Receipt of transfer transcript

Request for review may be made at any point during the academic year, to be applicable for the next term.

A review of eligibility status may determine that the student is still on Financial Aid Suspension or that the student has regained eligibility for Title IV Federal Financial Assistance at PSU.