General University Scholarships

Palmetto Fellows

LIFE Scholarships

Teaching Fellows

12 per semester

General University Scholarships Not checked

Palmetto Fellows 30 per year

LIFE Scholarships Average of 30 per year

Teaching Fellows 30 per year

General University Scholarships -- 3.0 USC GPA only

Palmetto Fellows -- 3.0 USC GPA only

LIFE Scholarships -- 3.0 LIFE GPA

Teaching Fellows -- 2.75 USC GPA only

General University Scholarships -- Not Applicable

Palmetto Fellows -- Do Not Count in Hours Needed to Renew

LIFE Scholarships -- Count in Hours Needed to Renew

Teaching Fellows -- Counts in Hours Needed to Renew in the First Year Only

This information current as of June 8, 2006

Satisfactory Academic Progress

This is a common statement that we have heard students say and then cannot explain where it came from or why. Here is a brief explanation of this statement.

For a student to retain any type of Federal Financial Aid there are criteria that must be met. Those criteria are as follows:

Deficit Hours –

This is a term that we use in academics and also it is used in the financial circles. This means that a student has dropped below the full time standard of 12 hours and the government paid the money for full time. For example – a student registers for 12 hours and drops his hardest class so now he has 9 hours – he is in deficit of 3. This can be fixed by taking 15 hours in the next semester because 9 and 15 equal 24. Students can also bank hours such as taking 15 and 15 gives 30. This student has banked 6 hours that can come in handy later.

If a student comes to you and asks about dropping a class and receiving a “W”, academically it is a sound decision not to hurt the GPA but you want to send the student over to Financial Aid. The student could loose all the federal funds that s/he is receiving which may be prevented.

Other ways students receive deficit hours:

I (incompletes): When the incomplete is completed, it can be fixed but the student may receive notification that his/her is in jeopardy.

NR (no record): When the “no report” is changed, it can be fixed but the student may receive notification that his/her is in jeopardy.

F: This one cannot be fixed other than taking an additional class the next semester.

After it has been ruled that a student has not met Satisfactory Academic Progress, the student can appeal the decision to deny aid. In doing so, s/he may request a letter from his/her advisor. If you write one please remember that the Financial Aid does put a lot of weight on what we say about a student’s record. It is best not to use a form letter since no two students are a like so should their letters be unique.