Financial aid is available through the Federal Direct Student Loan Program to graduate students who are U.S. citizens and who are enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester. The criteria used for selecting student aid recipients include both the computed need and the academic standing of the individual student. To determine need in a consistent way for aid applicants, Emory & Henry suggests that graduate students seeking financial assistance submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by August 1. Forms and further information about the needs analysis system may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA and the Graduate Student Financial Aid Application are available in the Financial Aid Office after June 1, with a deadline of August 1.

Financial aid loan funds are credited to student accounts after completion of the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Promissory Note and Entrance Interview Loan Counseling for first-time borrowers. Financial aid awards are conditional on students maintaining satisfactory progress in their graduate program. Satisfactory progress for financial aid purposes parallels the grade point average (GPA) necessary to avoid probation in the graduate program. Any student in a graduate degree program whose GPA falls below 3.00 after attempting nine or more semester hours of course work will not be in good standing and will be placed on financial aid warning. If, at the end of any subsequent semester, the student again does not attain minimum satisfactory academic progress, he or she will be considered ineligible to receive financial aid for the following semester.

The academic progress of students who fail to meet minimum standards will be reviewed each semester of the school year. A student who wishes to appeal the denial of financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress may make an appeal to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. Procedures after such an appeal are the following:

• The student will indicate in writing to the Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid (a) reasons why he or she did not achieve minimum academic requirements and
  (b) reasons why the aid should be reinstated.
• The letter will be forwarded to the Coordinator of Financial Aid who will, in turn, present the appeal to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee.
• The committee will review the appeal and determine whether the financial aid should be reinstated.
• The student will be advised, in writing, of the decision.
• The committee will have the authority to approve financial aid for a one-semester probationary period in order to give the student the opportunity to raise his or her GPA and/or semester hour deficiency to the required level.

As a recipient of federal aid, each student has rights and responsibilities. Knowing what these rights and responsibilities are will place the student in a better position to make decisions about their educational goals. The financial aid office has additional information on students’ rights and responsibilities.