Institutional need-based aid programs, including Vanderbilt need-based grant and scholarship assistance, are awarded for the academic year to eligible undergraduate students on the basis of financial need plus maintaining a minimum grade point average and academic progress. The minimum required cumulative GPA for renewal of university assistance programs is a 2.0 after the freshman year, but we realistically anticipate that the level of academic performance for each student will be higher. In addition, for renewal, the student must be making satisfactory progress toward his/her degree. The academic progress and performance of all financial aid applicants is reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at the end of each academic year and satisfactory progress will be verified by the Financial Aid staff before an award of institutional funds is approved for the subsequent year. For students who are making satisfactory progress, the award commitment for the subsequent year will normally then be made for the entire subsequent academic year. For students who fail to complete the required credit hours within the specified time frame and/or who fail to maintain the minimum 2.0 GPA, the financial aid commitment will be made for one subsequent semester only, and further review will be undertaken at the end of that subsequent semester. After that subsequent semester, institutional aid program eligibility will be terminated for students who fail to complete the required credit hours within the specified time frame and/or fail to maintain the minimum 2.0 GPA required for institutional aid programs. (See Financial Aid Probation.)

The academic progress and performance of all Federal Title IV financial aid recipients will be reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at the end of each academic year and satisfactory progress will be verified by the 39 Financial Aid staff before an award of Federal Title IV funds will be approved for the subsequent year. For students who are making satisfactory progress, the award commitment for the subsequent year will normally be for the entire academic year. For students who fail to complete the required credit hours within the specified time frame and/or fail to maintain the minimum GPA required by their undergraduate school, Title IV eligibility will be suspended. Students may appeal this suspension in writing, as indicated below. (See Appeal and Reinstatement Procedures for All Students.) If the appeal is approved, the financial aid commitment will be for one probationary semester only and further review will be undertaken at the end of that probationary semester. (See Financial Aid Probation.)

At the end of a probationary semester, students must then meet Satisfactory Academic Progress or be meeting the standards set forth in an academic plan that has been established to ensure that Satisfactory Academic Progress will be met by a specific point in time in order to continue receiving Federal Title IV and institutional financial assistance. Students who fail to earn the minimum credit hours and GPA specified above during any probationary semester will be considered as not making satisfactory academic progress and all financial assistance will be terminated or suspended until the academic deficiency is corrected.

For undergraduate students who have approval from the dean of their school to enroll for less than full-time status, credit hours must be earned on a pro-rata basis of the full-time requirements and the minimum specified GPA must be maintained in order for the student to be eligible for federal and/or institutional financial assistance. Peabody (undergraduate) students enrolled for their “professional semester” (student teaching or internship) will be considered to be full-time students for this purpose.

Any student whose Federal Title IV and/or institutional student aid is terminated due to unsatisfactory academic progress may submit an appeal for reinstatement of such assistance to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. The appeal will be considered by the director and/or his/her designate, with the right for further appeal to the vice provost for enrollment. If it is determined that the student’s lack of academic progress was the result of illness, death in the family, or other exceptional or mitigating circumstances, those factors will be taken into account in determining whether or not eligibility for federal/institutional student aid funds might be reinstated on a probationary basis by a financial aid officer.