Rules governing application, eligibility for financial assistance

The Financial Aid Program Summary chart outlines the major financial aid programs offered through the college. While the filing priority date for the 2012-2013 academic year has passed, you are welcome to contact the Financial Aid Office to ask about any funds that might still be available.

To apply for financial aid you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All information should be as complete and accurate as possible. The FAFSA must be submitted after January 1 and received by the processor prior to March 1 to receive priority consideration for all types of financial aid. Students may still apply for aid after the priority date; however, aid will be awarded on a funds available basis.

Initially, to apply, simply file the FAFSA, listing Bridgewater State University (school code 002183) as a college to receive information. You may be asked to verify certain information that was submitted to the Department of Education or you may receive letters requesting additional documentation to clarify conflicting information on the FAFSA. Be sure to respond immediately to these requests to insure your eligibility for all aid.

You must reapply for financial aid each year. The Department of Education may e-mail you an electronic renewal application that must be updated and verified by you. This application form is sent to students who applied for aid in the previous year. If you did not receive a renewal form, you may file electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Once the renewal or the FAFSA is on file, the Financial Aid Office will send an award letter with your eligibility for financial aid. Remember the March 1 priority deadline.

Code 002183 must be used on the FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA to insure that the students information is released to Bridgewater State University.

Bridgewater State University does not require an institutional application but may request tax transcripts and/or other documents at a later date to assure that all information is accurate. To qualify, a student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and must also maintain satisfactory academic progress. To be eligible for any type of financial aid, a student must be accepted into a degree or eligible certificate program, and must not be in default of any student loan or owe a refund on a federal grant.

IMPORTANT DEADLINE NOTICE: To be considered for the maximum financial aid available, you should file your FAFSA or Renewal Application form after January 1 but before March 1. The FAFSA form will show a June 30 deadline, however, June 30 is the final date of the award year for receipt of applications, not the priority deadline. All applications received after March 1 will be considered for financial aid on a funds available basis. Notification of eligibility prior to the college billing due date is not guaranteed for late applications.

Important Financial Aid Dates and Deadlines

March 1, 2012	Priority Financial Aid Deadline for 2012-2013 academic year (already passed)
December 2012	Exit Counseling/Interviews for students who have received any type of loan while attending Bridgewater State University
March 1, 2013	Priority Financial Aid Deadline for 2013-2014 academic year
April 2013	Exit Counseling/Interviews for students who have received any type of loan while attending Bridgewater State University
May 2013	Exit Counseling/Interviews for students who have Received any type of loan while attending Bridgewater State University

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Student Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal policy that measures two components: Quantitative and Qualitative progress.

The quantitative portion requires students attending an institution that awards federal financial aid be making progress toward the completion of their degree within a reasonable period of time. All attempted credits count toward the calculation, and withdrawals, failures, and incomplete grades will all negatively impact a student's progress. Both the state of Massachusetts and Bridgewater State University's institutional financial aid programs adhere to the same standards. Since standards are applied to all students, one does not necessarily have to be a financial aid applicant to fall under the auspices of this regulation.

The maximum time frame for completing an undergraduate degree is 150% of the published length of the program. For programs that are 120 credits, a student would be allowed to attempt no more than 180 credits before completing the requirements for their degree. Generally, for full time students, this is equal to six years. Students who have not completed their degree within this parameter would be deemed ineligible for financial aid.

Since a student has 150% of the published length of a program to complete their degree, one must complete at least 75% of all credits attempted to maintain compliance with the satisfactory progress standards. Courses that do not carry credit, but are successfully completed, are not considered punitive under the calculation. Repeating a course to obtain a higher grade may negatively impact compliance and eligibility. The credits will be counted as attempted, but not as earned since they have been previously earned. New regulations prohibit receiving financial aid for the repeating of a previously passed course. Students who received credit for a course, and repeat the course to earn a higher grade will not have that repeated course counted in the enrollment level for financial aid purposes. (See details in Repeat Coursework Policy). Progress is measured over time, and the entire academic record is reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students who do not meet the university's standards are notified of the loss of financial aid eligibility prior to the start of the next semester. When a student is notified of their ineligibility, they are also given the opportunity to appeal, in writing, based on mitigating circumstances. Summer classes are included as attempted and/or completed credits in the following academic year (unless a special condition is imposed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee).

To remain in compliance with the satisfactory academic progress policy, a completion rate of 75 percent is required. Simply stated, a student must complete at least 75 percent of all attempted credits at the end of each academic year. To determine the number of credits required to maintain satisfactory progress, multiply the total number of attempted credits by 75 percent.

The following chart provides an example:

Student Example	Total of Attempted Credits (All Semesters)	Required to Complete (75 percent)
#1	30	23
#2	20	15
#3	65	49
#4	9	7

All appeals are reviewed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee, whose representatives are from Academic Affairs, Academic Achievement Center, and the Financial Aid Office. Decisions by the committee are final. A student whose appeal is approved will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated on a probationary basis. These students must be especially diligent in completing all attempted credits until compliance with the policy is reestablished. In some cases, a student's eligibility may be regained for only one semester, with the stipulation that the student successfully complete all attempted credits to regain eligibility for the next semester.

Transfer credits are not evaluated toward the BSU completion rate that is performed at the end of each academic year. However, transfer credits will affect the maximum timeframe in which a student must earn their degree. For example, a student who transfers 60 credits toward an undergraduate degree would presumably have to earn 60 more credits to complete their BSU degree. Using the federal 150% rule, the student would be allowed to attempt only 90 more credits before losing financial aid eligibility. The same calculation applies to students pursuing a second degree.

The qualitative component of the policy deals with progress as it relates to the student's Grade Point Average (GPA). Satisfactory academic progress standards adhere to the College's policy for academic standards. (See chart below). Students who are academically separated from the College are not eligible for financial aid funds, unless they successfully appeal to the appropriate Academic Dean and are subsequently reinstated. If such a student has met the quantitative component of the SAP policy, no further appeal is required, and financial aid can be reinstated. However, if the quantitative standard has not been met, the student must present an additional appeal to the satisfactory progress committee.

Academic Standards:

Credit Hours Attempted	Probation GPA	Academic Warning	Separation Below This GPA
0-16	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.00
17-31	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.50
32-46	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.65
47-61	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.75
62-89	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.85

Eligibility can be regained in two ways: a student who is deemed ineligible may find an alternative funding source, continue to take classes, and regain eligibility on their own over time, or a student may instead decide to appeal to the Satisfactory Progress Committee. Students, who submit their appeal by the deadline that is communicated in their letter, will retain their on-time status if their FAFSA was received by the published preferred deadline of March 1 and all other required documents, if any, are submitted to the financial aid office in a timely manner. Appeals received after the deadline, if approved, will be awarded on a funds-available basis regardless of the FAFSA receipt date. Appeals will be reviewed throughout the academic year. Taking a semester off or paying for classes without financial assistance does not re-establish financial aid eligibility.

This policy may be subject to changes or updates. The policy on the financial aid web page supersedes the policy in this handbook.

Repeat Coursework Policy

New regulations state that a student may not receive financial aid when repeating a previously passed course. In other words, repeat courses will not be counted in the enrollment level for financial aid purposes.

For example, if a student receives a grade of D in a course and wants to repeat it for a better grade, that course cannot be included in the enrollment level for financial aid purposes only. This student enrolled for 12 credits (full-time) would be considered enrolled for 9 credits (3/4 time). If, however, this student enrolled for 15 credits (full-time), they would receive financial aid for full-time enrollment (12 credits), since full time is 12 or more credits.

Financial aid may be available in the event a student repeats a previously passed course and will receive additional credit for the course.

There is no limit on the number of times a student may receive financial aid to retake a failed course. Once the course is passed for the first time, they will no longer be eligible for funding if they choose to repeat the passed course.

Repeating a course for which credit has already been earned will also have an effect on satisfactory progress as previously mentioned.

Bridgewater State University - Financial Aid Program Summary

	Residency Statuss	Enrollment Level	Matriculation Requirements	Financial Eligibility	General Application Procedures*	Yearly Filing Priority Dates
Federal Pell Grant	None	Minimum 1/4 time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	June 300
Federal Work Study	None	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 11
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant	None	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
Teach Grant*	None	Minimum 1/4 time	Accepted into specific graduate and undergraduate programs	None	FAFSA required	None
BSU Tuition Waiver	MA resident	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree courses only program Applies to state funded undergraduate degree courses only	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 11
BSU Tuition Grant	MA resident	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
BSU Fee Grant	None	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
MA Grant	MA resident	Must be full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	May 1
MA Part-Time Grant	MA resident	Minimum 1/2 time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Pell eligible, show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
MA No Interest Loans	MA resident	Must be full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
Federal Perkins Student Loan (5% Interest)	None	Minimum 1/2 time, priority given to full time	Accepted into undergraduate degree program	Must show need according to FAFSA	FAFSA required	March 1
Federal Direct Subsidized/ Unsubsidized Loan (See website for current interest)	None	Minimum 1/2 time	Accepted into undergraduate degree or **graduate degree or eligible certificate program	Must show need (subsidized only) according to FAFSA need analysis	FAFSA required	Rolling Basis
Federal Direct Plus Loan (Variable Interest)	None	Minimum 1/2 time	Parent of dependent student in undergraduate degree program or graduate student	Credit worthy; annual limit equals (=) cost of attendance minus (-) Financial Aid	FAFSA required, submit BSU Plus Loan Application to Financial Aid Office	Rolling Basiss
General Application Information: - To receive priority consideration for all types of financial aid, your FAFSA or Renewal application must be received by the Federal Processor by: March 1, each year - Applications received after March 1 will be reviewed and awarded on a funds available basis. - Notification of eligibility prior to the college billing due date is not guaranteed for late applications. - Bridgewater State University does not require an institutional application but may request tax transcripts and/or other documents at a later date to assure that all information is accurate. - To qualify, a student must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen, and must also maintain satisfactory academic progress. - To borrow any of the loans listed, the student and/or parent (for PLUS loans) must complete a Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at BSU. - To be eligible for any type of financial aid, a student must be accepted into a degree or eligible certificate program. - Students who are Pell-eligible and enrolled less than full time in either the fall or spring semesters may be able to utilize their grant to offset the cost of summer classes. Pell-eligible students are encouraged to contact the financial aid office during the summer registration period. Other funding (with the exception of an alternative loan) is not typically available for the summer session. *This program has specific GPA, major and progression requirements - see website for details. **Graduate students are eligible for only unsubsidized federal loans

	Federal Ford Direct Subsidized Loan Limits ***	Federal Ford Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits ***
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate	3,500 4,500 5,500 5,500 -0-	2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 20,500
*** A student may not borrow more than the grade level loan limit for Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, or a combination of both, not to exceed total cost of attendance.
Bridgewater State University Financial Aid Office 508 531-1341 finaid@bridgew.edu	Note: Federal, state or institutional regulations and policies may necessitate revision in the eligibility criteria of the above financial aid programs at any time. The amounts given above are the maximum yearly amounts a student can borrow in both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. You may receive less than these yearly maximum amounts if you receive other financial aid that is used to cover a portion of your cost of attendance.

 

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