CLEARY UNIVERSITY

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Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The United States Department of Education, and many State of Michigan programs, require students receiving financial aid to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible to receive federal and/or state financial aid funds. This policy has been developed and enforced to help ensure that students are succeeding academically while also minimizing student debt. SAP, which is monitored by the University, is divided into three components: 

  1. Pace of Progression, 
  2. Grade Point Average, and 
  3. Maximum Time Frame.

 A student must be making progress in all three areas to continue receiving financial aid. The standards are cumulative, and a student must meet the requirements of each component at the end of each term of enrollment to remain eligible for federal and/or state aid. Eligibility is based on a student’s entire academic record whether financial aid was given or not during any term. Accountability begins with the student’s start date (semester or session start date) at Cleary University and includes transfer credits from other institutions. Financial Aid standards of academic progress apply only to financial aid eligibility, and not eligibility for continuation at the University, or re-admission to the University.

For more information, see our Tools and Resources page for our full SAP Policy 

Returning Title IV Aid

Title IV financial aid is awarded under the assumption that a student will attend Cleary University for the entire period for which assistance was awarded. When a student withdraws before completing more than 60% of the term, the university is required to calculate the amount of federal aid the student has earned. If the student received more aid than they earned, the unearned portion must be returned, which may result in a balance owed to the university.

A student is considered to have withdrawn for Title IV purposes if they meet any of the following conditions:

  • The student does not complete all the days in the semester, session, or module that they were scheduled to attend.
  • The student does not begin attendance in one or more registered courses.
  • The student receives all failing grades (F, W, or IW) for the term, indicating an unofficial withdrawal.
  • Since Cleary University does not take attendance, the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) is determined based on the last academically related activity reported by faculty. This date is used to calculate the percentage of federal aid the student has earned.

For more information on how withdrawing affects financial aid, please contact finaid@cleary.edu or call 517-338-3326

Federal Direct Loan Annual Limits

The percentage of Title IV aid earned shall be calculated as follows:

                   Number of days completed by student ÷ Total number of days in term = Percent of term complete

The percent of term completed shall be the percentage of Title IV aid earned by the student.

The percentage of Title IV aid unearned (i.e., to be returned to the appropriate program) shall be 100% minus the percent earned. Unearned aid shall be returned first by UHD from the student’s account and is calculated one of two ways:

                   Total institutional charges X percent of unearned aid = amount returned to program(s)

                   OR

                   Total amount of aid – Amount of aid earned = Amount of unearned aid. 

Whichever of the two is the lesser amount would be what the institution would have to return. 

Unearned Title IV aid shall be returned to the following programs in the following order:

  1. Unsubsidized Direct Loan
  2. Subsidized Direct Loan
  3. Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
  4. Federal Pell Grant
  5. Federal SEOG

Pell Grant Adjustment Policy Based on Enrollment Changes

Pell Grant is awarded to students based on enrollment status and intensity (Full-time, half-time, etc.). If a student drops classes before census Pell is adjusted downward to reflect the reduced enrollment level, and similarly if courses are added Pell can be increased if eligible. Pell adjustments will be made in accordance with Federal regulations (34 CFR 690.80), students will receive a notification via email if their Pell Grant changes. Any balance owed due to Pell adjustments is the student’s responsibility.