Bethel Seminary

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to ensure satisfactory completion of a degree, and in keeping with federal regulations, all financial aid recipients must meet the following minimum standards:

Complete at least 67% of their attempted credits
Complete their first Master of Divinity degree within 216 attempted hours (or 144 hours for a Master of Arts degree)
Maintain a cumulative grade point average that meets or exceeds the registrar's Academic Progress, Probation, and Dismissal policy. Students with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 meet this requirement.

Financial Aid Probation and Termination

Students who do not meet the above standards of satisfactory progress at the end of the academic year (spring term) will automatically be placed on financial aid probation for the following academic year. Financial aid may still be received during the probation period. At the end of the probation period the student must again be making satisfactory academic progress as outlined above or financial aid will be terminated. Students will be removed from financial aid probation if they are again making satisfactory academic progress. Students who are academically dismissed (and not reinstated on appeal) by the Office of the Registrar are immediately terminated from financial aid without a probation period.

Appeals

Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress standards and lose financial aid eligibility can appeal this decision. The appeal must be made in writing and should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. Appeals should be submitted to the Office of University Financial Aid and will be evaluated by the Financial Aid Committee. Acceptable reasons for appeal include injury or illness of the student, illness or death of an immediate relative of the student, or other extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control.

Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who have had their financial aid terminated due to lack of satisfactory academic progress may choose to enroll without benefit of financial aid. Such students may request a review of their academic record after any term in which they are enrolled without the receipt of financial aid to determine whether they have met the satisfactory academic progress standards. If the standards are met, financial aid eligibility is restored for subsequent terms of enrollment. Students should consult with a financial aid counselor in the Office of University Financial Aid if they have any questions about this policy, the appeal process, or reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.

This is a summary of the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. The complete policy is located in the Bethel Seminary catalog.