Gwynedd Mercy University
AY2023-2024 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
basis who are carrying a minimum of six credit hours per semester may apply for financial aid and will receive all consideration for every type of assistance for which they qualify based on availability .
Students will receive notification that their aid package is available for review via email . Students must log into their GMercyU Self Service account to view and accept their financial aid package .
Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Federal regulations require that all students who receive any financial aid meet federal academic progress standards while taking courses toward a degree or certificate program . This policy applies to all
terms of enrollment , even if not receiving federal aid , and all enrollment types ( full-time / part-time ). Academic progress is measured by cumulative grade point average , percentage of credits successfully completed , and the time it takes to complete the degree program . The financial aid office checks student academic progress after each term .
Academic Progress Standards
• Completion Rate ( 67 % Rule ): Students must receive a satisfactory grade in courses attempted by completing at least 67 % of the credits for which they are enrolled . This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted . All withdrawals , failures and incompletes are counted as attempted , but not earned credits . o Exception to the 67 % Rule : It is important to note that the 67 % completion rule applies to most types of financial aid . However , specific programs may mandate a higher completion rate . For example , the PA State Grant requires that a full- time student earn 24 credits ( repeated coursework does not count in this total ) in an academic year and requires a minimum of 12 credits for part-time students .
• Cumulative GPA Minimum Requirements ( GPA Rule ): The maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for upper classmen and 1.8 for freshman students . Graduate , second bachelor ’ s degree and doctoral students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average . Additionally , specific grants and scholarships may require a higher minimum cumulative grade point average .
• Developmental Courses : Developmental courses are evaluated in the progress calculation , including completion rate , maximum hours , and cumulative grade point average . Federal financial aid may be awarded for 30 semester hours of developmental coursework .
• Withdrawals , Incompletes , Audits and Repeat Courses : Withdrawals , Incompletes and Audits do not count as passing grades , but these grades are counted in attempted credits . Once an Incomplete grade has been changed to a passing grade , progress can be recalculated upon written request . Repeated coursework is also counted as attempted credits , with all grades related to this repeated coursework included in financial aid GPA calculation .
• Change of Major and Double Majors : Once all the requirements for a program are completed , a student may no longer receive financial aid unless they enter a new degree program . Students may apply for financial aid for the completion of a double major . All applicable courses in the completed program will count as part of the 150 % attempted credits in both majors .
Eligibility
To be eligible for any of the federally funded financial aid programs , an undergraduate student must be ( 1 ) a U . S . citizen or an eligible non-citizen , as defined by the U . S . Department of Education , ( 2 ) a student 59