Board Policies
Chapter 2 -Students
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2.9 Academic Standing and Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

Measurement of student satisfactory academic progress toward achievement of an academic award is an important activity in higher education. Such measurement provides feedback to students and ensures responsible action by colleges and universities regarding effective use of state resources.

Student academic progress must also be monitored to ensure effective and responsible management of federal and state student financial aid. Students within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are often enrolled in more than one institution. Students also transfer frequently among colleges and universities. Therefore, institutional financial aid satisfactory academic progress policies shall be as uniform as possible, consistent with individual institutional missions.

Part 1. Academic Standing Policy. Each college and university shall develop a policy requiring students to maintain good academic standing and describing the academic performance standards students must meet to maintain good academic standing. This policy shall apply to all students, whether receiving financial aid or not. At each institution, the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and Academic Standing Policy shall have the same grade point average requirement and percentage of completion requirement. Institutional policies may provide for reinstatement to enroll in classes following academic suspension under conditions different from those required for financial aid reinstatement.

Part 2. Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Each college and university shall develop an institutional satisfactory academic progress policy that shall apply to all students receiving federal or state financial aid. The Chancellor shall develop a system procedure for Board Policy 2.9 that shall contain required elements and parameters for these institutional policies, and each college and university satisfactory academic progress policy and procedure shall conform to the requirements of the System Procedure.

Part 3. Annual Review and Report to the Board. The Office of the Chancellor shall annually review each college and university financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy and procedure to ensure continued compliance with the System Procedure. Significant exceptions shall be reported to the Board of Trustees.