Costs and Financial Aid

URG Business Office, Rhodes Student Center (Ground Floor), PO Box 500
F-26, Rio Grande, OH 45674
740-245-7226 office; email: businessoffice@rio.edu
URG Office of Financial Aid, Rhodes Student Center (Ground Floor), PO Box 500, Rio Grande, OH 45674 740-245-7218 or 800-282-7201 office; 740-245-7102 fax;
email: finaid@rio.edu
RGCC Office of Administrative and Financial Affairs, Rhodes Student Center (Ground Floor), PO Box 326, Rio Grande, OH 45674
740-245-7236 office; email: rgccinformation@rio.edu

Tuition and Fees

The University of Rio Grande Board of Trustees and/or the Rio Grande Community College Board of Trustees reserve(s) the right to make, without prior notice, any fee adjustments which may become necessary.

Tuition and fees are linked at the University of Rio Grande website at: https://www.rio.edu/affordability-aid/tuition-fees

Terms of Payment

Payment is due one week prior to the first day of the term. Payment must be received on or before the due date to avoid late fees. Postmarks will not be reviewed.

If a student is a participant of third party billing (e.g. BVR, CAA, TAA, VA, WIA, Jobs & Family Services or Workforce Development), it is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation to the Business Office. Appropriate documentation may be faxed to the Business Office 740-245-7171 on or before the stated due date.

Payment Options

1. Check - a check for the balance due may be mailed to the address below. Do not send cash.
   University of Rio Grande
   PO Box 500 F-26
   Rio Grande, OH 45674
2. Telecheck - By telephone - call the Business Office at 740-245-7226 for telecheck, credit/debit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express)
3. Credit/Debit Card Online - credit/debit card payment can be made by logging into your student account at https://issuu.com/uriogrande/docs/credit-card-form, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.
4. In Person at the Rhodes Student Center in the Business Office, Ground Floor, with cash, check, or credit card.
5. Monthly Payment Plan - University of Rio Grande offers a payment plan that allows students to stretch payments throughout the semester. An enrollment fee is charged for this option. For more information, contact the Business Office at 1-800-282-7201, extension 7226. You may access the payment plan application at https://www.rio.edu/documents/installment-agreement.
6. Financial Aid may be applied to your account if you have qualified for assistance. If financial aid is less than the balance due, you must pay the difference. If financial aid is greater than the balance due, you will receive a refund. If you are expecting financial aid and your account does not have an award listed, please contact the Financial Aid Office of at 740-245-7218 or finaid@rio.edu.

Returned Check Fees

Upon the receipt of a returned check, the University of Rio Grande will send the student and/or check owner an email detailing the reason for return and amount due. Returned check payments must be made with cash, cashier’s check, credit card, or money order. A personal check will not be accepted.

A service fee will be charged for returned checks. Tuition checks that are returned at payment deadline will also be charged a late payment fee.

A returned check halt may be placed on the student’s records. The halt cannot be released until payment is made. This halt will affect registration, grades, transcripts, and diplomas from being processed.

Late Payment Fee

There will be a 1.5% late payment fee after the payment deadline. The fee will be recalculated, on the remaining balance, each billing cycle until the balance is paid in full.

Refunds

Tuition and Course Fees - A student will receive no refund as a result of any course dropped after the first five business days (seven calendar days) of an academic semester, or the first two calendar days of summer term.

Room and Other Fees - A student withdrawing after the second week of a fall or spring semester or the fourth day of a summer term will not receive a refund of charges for room, board, institutional fee, comprehensive fee, parking fee, insurance or late registration fee, and other fees.

Advanced Room Deposit - Advanced room deposits are non-refundable.

Important Drop/Withdraw Information

It is the student’s responsibility to drop or withdraw from courses they are not intending to attend. Classes at the beginning of a term WILL BE automatically dropped for non-attendance. After the add/drop period the student will be responsible for all tuition and fees, and add/drop fees. Not reviewing the bill does not eliminate the student’s responsibility to pay. (Also see Schedule Changes and Withdrawal Policy in the Academic Programs, Registrar, and Services section of this catalog.)

Non-Attendance PolicyB

Faculty will report non-attendance on the tenth calendar day of the academic term. A student who has never attended “all of their registered courses” will result in being Administratively Withdrawn from the institution.

For purposes of federal, Title IV, student financial assistance, the U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to be able to demonstrate that federal aid recipients established eligibility for federal aid by participating in academic related activities for all enrolled course work.

Academically related activities include, but are not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
• Submitting an academic assignment
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction
• Attending a study group that is assigned by the school
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters, and
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course

Academically related activities do NOT include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

• Living in institutional housing
• Participating in the school’s meal plan
• Logging into an online class without active participation, or
• Participating in academic counseling or advisement

Participation in academic counseling and advising are no longer considered to be academic attendance or attendance at an academically related activity.

In a distance education context, documenting that a student has logged into an online class is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate academic attendance by a student. A school must demonstrate that a student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity, such as by contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course-related question.

Examples of acceptable evidence of academic attendance an attendance at an academically related activity in a distance education program include:

• Student submission of an academic assignment,
• Student submission of an exam,
• Documented student participation in an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction,
• A posting by the student showing the student’s participation in an online study group that is assigned by the institution,
• A posting by the student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participation in an online discussion about academic matters, and
• An e-mail from the student or other documentation show that the student initiated contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

If a student fails to attend any course, they will be administratively withdrawn from the course(s). In order to regain entry into a course(s) where a student has been administratively withdrawn for non-attendance, the student must complete a Registration Appeal form. The student will be assigned a NW for the course and non-attendance withdraw will result in tuition and fees refund. Faculty will report any student who has stopped attending by entering a FINAL grade of NF.

A student’s account can be viewed anytime by logging into: https://www.rio.edu/studentspace/

Withdraw

For a student withdrawing (see policy regarding “Withdrawal” in the Catalog) the following refund schedule will be used:

First calendar week of any semester: 100%
First - Second day of summer term: 100%

Second calendar week of any semester: 50%
Third and fourth day of summer term: 50%

After second calendar week of any semester: 0%
After fourth day of summer term: 0%

A student withdrawn for disciplinary reasons will receive no refund of any charges.

Course Fees (RGCC Only)

Special fees for consumable materials, lab supplies, use of expensive equipment, transportation, or rental of facilities may be charged in addition to tuition for some courses. The cost of student liability insurance, required in certain health technologies, will be included in the course fee. Students should check the information provided in the course listings in the Catalog for courses with additional fees. Fee amounts can be found at https://www.rio.edu/documents/community-college-tuition-and-fees. 

Institutional Fee

The institutional fee defrays the cost of registration, student activities services, and student support services of a non-instructional nature.

Comprehensive Fee

The comprehensive fee is used to maintain technology infrastructure and to expand technology-enhanced learning, library and other campus facilities, student services, and athletic facilities.

Late Registration Fee

Any student who registers on or after the first day of classes will be charged a late registration fee.

Change of Registration (ADD/DROP) Fee

The change of registration fee will be charged to the student’s account if a class is added or dropped beginning on the first day of any semester.

Student ID

If requested by the Business Office to pick up any type of reimbursement check, students are required to present a picture ID (e.g. student ID or driver’s license). If the student does not have a picture ID, service will be denied.  Student IDs are available at Campus Police.

Residency Requirements

General Residency

The following persons shall be classified as residents of the State of Ohio for subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes:

1. A dependent student, at least one of whose parents or legal guardians has been a resident of the State of Ohio for all other legal purposes for twelve consecutive months or more immediately preceding the enrollment of such student in the University.
2. A person who has been a resident of Ohio for the purpose of this rule for at least twelve consecutive months immediately preceding their enrollment and who is not receiving, and has not directly or indirectly received in the preceding twelve consecutive months, financial support from persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio.

Exceptions

Exceptions to the general rule of residency for subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes:

1. A person who is living and is gainfully employed on a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis in Ohio and who is pursuing a full-time program of instruction in Rio Grande Community College shall be considered a resident of Ohio for these purposes.
2. A person who enters and currently remains upon active duty in the United States military service while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and their dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person’s domicile.
3. A person on active duty status in the United States military service who is stationed and resides in Ohio and their dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes.
4. A person who is transferred by an employer beyond the territorial limits of the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and their dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person’s domicile and as long as such person has fulfilled their tax liability to the State of Ohio for at least the tax year preceding enrollment.
5. A person, who has been employed as a migrant worker in the State of Ohio and their dependents shall be considered residents for these purposes provided such person has worked in Ohio for at least four months during each of the three years preceding the proposed enrollment.
6. Any student who is a qualifying resident of any county of a state in which Rio Grande Community College and the Ohio Department of Higher Education has entered into a legally binding reciprocity agreement.

Residency Change

1. Students should have a fair and adequate opportunity to present proof of their Ohio residency for purposes of this rule. The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College may require the submission of affidavits and other documentary evidence, which it may deem necessary to a full and complete determination under this rule.
2. Evidentiary determinations under this rule shall be made by the institution, which may require, among other things, the submission of documentation regarding the source of a student’s actual financial support. A Residency Change Application form is available in the Admissions Office.
3. Any reclassification of a person who was once classified as a non-resident for these purposes shall have prospective application only from the date of such reclassification. In order to qualify for in-district fees, a student must be a resident of Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, or Vinton County and meet the same general residency criteria as stated above to determine residency in the State of Ohio.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is intended to help students who might not otherwise be able to afford college. Although the primary responsibility for meeting college costs rests with the student and their family, it is recognized that many families have limited resources and are unable to meet the cost of a college education. Rio Grande offers many different types of financial aid programs including grants, scholarships, work-study, and student loans. Financial Aid can help students pay their cost of attendance, which consists of tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and other related costs. While financial assistance from your employer, federal, state, institutional, and other sources may help to pay a large portion of your tuition and fees, the responsibility for the remaining portion of the unpaid fees remains with the student.

To schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office, please call 740.245.7218 or e-mail finaid@rio.edu. The Financial Aid Office is located in Rhodes Student Center, Ground Floor. Visit the Financial Aid page on the Rio website to access up-to-date information regarding financial aid: https://www.rio.edu/financial-aid/

Financial Aid Available for Qualified Students

How much financial aid students are eligible to receive at Rio Grande depends on two different factors: merit and need.

Merit-based aid is determined based on special achievement or a specific talent. The most common type of merit-based aid are scholarships, which typically come from either outside sources or Rio Grande. All of Rio Grande’s merit scholarships are listed under the scholarships tab on our financial aid homepage.

The majority of financial aid offered to Rio Grande students is need-based aid, which is generally determined by your Student Aid Index (SAI), year in school, enrollment status, and cost of attendance (COA).

The formula to determine financial need is as follows:

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) = Eligibility for need-based aid

Cost of Attendance (COA) ) is used to determine eligibility for financial aid and reflects the different estimated costs to attend Rio Grande. This budget is comprised of; direct costs (tuition and fees, on-campus room and board), and indirect costs (transportation, personal miscellaneous expenses, books and supplies, and off-campus living). Rio Grande’s Cost of Attendance is posted under eligibility on our financial aid webpage.  The actual cost of attending Rio Grande may differ from the estimated COA used to determine eligibility for financial aid.

Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number calculated by the federal government to determine whether or not you are eligible for a Pell Grant and the government’s lowest-cost loans.  After the calculations are done and the information is provided on your FAFSA, you will find out how much you and your family will be able to afford to pay for college. SAI ensures that all Pell Grant and low-cost loans are given and distributed to those in need the most.

Eligibility for need-based aid is the result of COA minus SAI, and establishes the different Federal and State aid eligibility annually. It is important to note that while the goal is to meet the fully demonstrated needs of students, limited resources do not always allow this to happen. In cases where a student receives assistance in an amount less than the demonstrated financial need, families may need to pay more than the calculated SAI in order to cover the costs associated with enrollment at Rio Grande.

Types of need-based financial aid include:

1. Federal - Federal financial aid, also known as Federal Title IV Aid, includes Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, Federal Work Study, and Federal TEACH Grant. All of these are available at University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. Students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to be eligible for federal aid. Eligibility for federal aid program is determined by the federal government and is based on each student’s FAFSA.
2. State - The State of Ohio offers an Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), which can be applied for all residents of Ohio. The grant is based on need. Students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and be considered university status to be eligible for state aid.
3. Private - Many private and local organizations have grants and scholarships available to students who meet certain criteria. All students are encouraged to perform their own scholarship search. The local library is an excellent source of information on scholarships. The Internet is also a good starting place to search for additional funding to help with educational costs.
4. The following websites are recommended to search for scholarships:

www.rio.edu
www.scholarships.com
www.fastweb.com
www.scholaraid.com
www.collegescholarships.com

Please note that financial aid is based on the number of credit hours taken each semester. Enrolling in less than 12 credit hours per semester will result in a reduction in financial aid. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions regarding changing the number of credits enrolled per semester.

Application Directions

Students interested in applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), beginning October 1st annually. The FAFSA can be submitted by completing a paper FAFSA, FAFSA Renewal Application, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students must indicate University of Rio Grande’s federal school code (003116) on the FAFSA to ensure proper disclosure of the students’ FAFSA information to the Financial Aid Office.

Rio Grande has a priority filing deadline of March 15th. It is crucial to apply as early as possible due to limited amounts of funding for certain federal financial aid. The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work Study are programs which are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible students.

Awards are made on an annual basis, and priority will be given to early applicants. Returning students should complete the FAFSA no later than March 15th of each year. Eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid is determined from the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine the family’s ability to meet the student’s cost of education, which is used to determine financial need.

Notification of financial aid eligibility will be made to new students by an E-mailed or mailed Award Letter, and to returning students via E-mail.

Any student that is interested in obtaining a Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Perkins Loan must also complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is a multi-year promissory note that remains active up to 10 years. This means that once a student completes the MPN, another MPN is not required for borrowing for 10 years. This process is designed to eliminate paperwork and simplify the process of applying for a Federal Student Loan. Students are asked to complete this process online by visiting the federal loan website at (www.studentaid.gov).

Various alternative loan programs are available from private lenders to help students with educational expenses throughout the academic year. Most of these loans are credit based and may require a co-signer depending on credit history. A variety of alternative loan options are available in the Financial Aid Office and on the website (https://www.rio.edu/affordability-aid/ financial-aid/loans). Please contact the Financial Aid Office (phone: 740-245-7218, e-mail: finaid@rio.edu) to apply for an alternative loan or if additional information is required.

Finalized financial aid will be disbursed to the student’s account after the drop/add period each term. Students must have completed and submitted all necessary paperwork required by the Financial Aid Office before financial aid will be credited to the student’s account. Balances owed after financial aid is applied to the student’s account are the responsibility of the student.

Conditions for Disbursement of Financial Aid

A Statement of Title IV Authorization is included with each financial aid award letter notification. When students accept financial aid, they also acknowledge that they have read and agree to comply with the Statement of Title IV Authorization. A limited sample of conditions is as follows:

1. Students are required to communicate immediately with a financial aid advisor if they change the number of hours enrolled each semester. Financial aid is based upon full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, or less-than-half-time enrollment. Financial aid eligibility changes when enrollment level changes. Students who drop courses are responsible for notifying the financial aid advisor immediately. Financial aid will be reduced accordingly and any financial aid funds received in error prior to the notification will be due back to the University. This also applies to “balance-of-aid” payments made to students prior to dropping classes or totally withdrawing from the University.
   • Faculty report to the Registrar’s Office any student who does not begin attendance in a classroom course or signed-in to an online course during the first two weeks of each term. The following occurs:
     • A grade of NW is issued and the student is administratively dropped or withdrawn;
     • Financial aid is adjusted to reflect only those courses for which the student is reported by faculty as attending;
     • Charges are removed for all dropped courses;
     • Faculty may permit a student to enter a course after the non-attendance report is submitted and earn a grade. However, financial aid may not be adjusted after the report is submitted for late appearances in class.
2. The student is responsible for repayment of any and all financial aid received if adjustments resulting from unreported or misreported information discovered through verification, third-party notices, account reviews, and/or Quality Assurance findings lead to reductions in financial aid
3. The student is responsible for reporting additional educational assistance received through sources other than the Financial Aid Office. Financial aid may be adjusted according to federal regulations as a result of additional educational assistance received and not reflected initially. The student bears responsibility for reporting any additional aid in the form of scholarships from outside sources, Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits, Graduate Tuition Scholarships, Veterans Benefits, Senior Citizen Tuition Waivers, Employer Assisted Tuition Payments, Third Party Payment Agreements involving any outside group or company, and all other forms of assistance. The student must report these external sources of financial assistance immediately to a financial aid advisor.
4. Before receiving a student loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) are required prior to disbursement of Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Parents PLUS loans. These processes must be completed online at www.studentaid.gov. Students receiving loans must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours undergraduate or 4 hours graduate) for disbursement.
5. Transfer credit evaluations for new transfer students may result in additional loan eligibility. Students may request an account review once all transfer credits have been evaluated and are reflected on the student’s official academic transcript.
6. An award letter is a tentative or conditional financial aid package that assumes a level of federal and state appropriations which are frequently undetermined at the time of preparation. If legislative bodies fail to provide the anticipated funding level, it may be necessary to reduce or cancel certain types of financial aid, particularly grants. Students will be notified immediately if such changes become necessary.
7. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to review, modify or cancel financial aid at any time on the basis of new information affecting student eligibility, including but not limited to changes in financial resources, residence, academic status, or changes in the availability of funds.
8. Federal student aid is disbursed on the assumption that the student will complete the term for which the aid is paid. Students who officially withdraw from the University will have a Return of Title IV funds calculation performed based on the date withdraw began. If the date of complete withdrawal precedes the date on which over 60% of the academic semester has been completed, the university and the student must return a prorated portion of all Title IV student financial aid to the federal programs. Students will be considered an unofficial withdraw from the university if all NF grades are received at the end of term or for all courses after the 1st module of the term. Unofficial withdraws are calculated at a 50% earned rate.
9. The student who officially withdraws from the University before completing over 60% of the semester or who stops attending and is considered an unofficial withdraw should anticipate repaying a significant portion of Title IV financial assistance. This may be payment to the U.S. Department of Education or to the university as charges are returned to the student’s account after required funds are returned to the federal government.

Special Circumstances

A student may be eligible to apply for a Special Circumstance if a student or family member experiences one or more of the following situations:

• Loss of income due to unemployment
• Disability
• Natural disaster
• Loss or reduction of untaxed income
• Separation or divorce
• Death of a parent or spouse
• Sibling private school tuition paid
• One-time lump sum payment

A change of circumstance may change a student’s financial aid eligibility. The granting of Special Circumstance is based solely on the professional judgement of the Financial Aid office. The Financial Aid office reserves the right to approve or reject any application for Special Circumstance. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information.

Standards of Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The law requires institutions to develop policies regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Each institution must design criteria, which outlines the definition of student progress towards a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Rio Grande students who wish to be considered for financial aid must maintain satisfactory progress in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.

Satisfactory Academic Policy

Any student receiving financial assistance who does not meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements during a review at the end of each semester will receive an E-mail notification of Suspension. Institutional, Federal, and/ or State financial aid will not be applied while a student is on Financial Aid Suspension. The student is responsible for ensuring that the grade point average and hours-earned data submitted by the Office of the Registrar is both accurate and complete.

Standards of Academic Progress

An undergraduate student is considered to have made satisfactory academic progress for maintaining financial aid eligibility in a course of study if the following schedule is maintained:

Grade notations counted in attempted for completion rate:

• Successful completion means a student has received a minimum grade of an A, B, C, D, P, or S.
• Grades of F, DF, NF, NW, U, NG, I (Incomplete), or W (Withdraw) are not considered completed courses.
• Courses not included in the calculation of completion rate for SAP are courses which the student takes as an audit (Spring 2020 exceptions listed below).
• Transfer credits appearing on a student’s transcript are counted as attempted hours to determine completion rate.

*Hours attempted includes all hours pursued, earned, dropped and failed. All of these hours are counted as attempted even if the student did not receive aid.

*Spring 2020 Only: Courses dropped after March 5, 2020, as a result of COVID-19 will not count as attempted or completed. These grades are designated on the transcript as “IC”.

*Spring 2020 Only: Courses with a grade of “I” (Incomplete) as a result of COVID-19 related circumstances will not count as attempted or completed.

Maximum Time Frame

A student may receive financial assistance for a certificate or degree program at a maximum of 150% of the required semester hours. Remedial courses will count toward the 150% of the semester hours to complete the program of study (major).

Treatment of Special Coursework

• Transfer Credits: Transfer credits appearing on the URG transcript are counted for completion rate and maximum timeframe.
• Remedial Coursework: Undergraduate students can take up to 30 hours of remedial coursework, and these hours are considered in the calculation based on the SAP grade notations previously listed
• Consortium Agreements: Coursework taken at other institutions via consortium agreements are assigned “Academic Affairs” courses, will be assigned grades, and will be counted for completion rate and max timeframe
• “I” GRADES: An “I” (incomplete) will be considered an “F” until a letter grade is assigned in its place. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of the grade change. (Spring 2020 exceptions listed above)
• SEEKING ADDITIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS- Title IV federal financial aid is generally awarded to undergraduate students for the completion of one degree. Students who are seeking an additional degree may do so at the student’s own expense. However, if the student has just-cause that validates his/her decision to seek an additional degree, the student may appeal to the Financial Aid Office to request federal aid for an additional degree/certificate. Students may only appeal once to receive aid for an additional degree/certificate program.
• REPEATED COURSES-Repeated courses which were previously failed are counted in hours pursued and, if successfully completed, hours earned.

SAP Statuses:

• Eligible: Meeting all requirements for SAP
• Suspension: Assigned to students who fail to meet the required GPA and/or completion rate at the time of their annual SAP review. Students on suspension are not eligible to receive Title IV aid.
• Probation: Assigned to students who regain financial aid eligibility due to an appeal and who can reasonably be expected to meet SAP standards by the end of the subsequent payment period. Probation is also assigned to students who regain eligibility due to an appeal. These students will be provided a GPA and completion rate goal that will let them know what is required of them to be making progress at the next review.
• Warning: Students who do not meet the Completion Rate or Minimum GPA required will be on one semester warning period. If the Completion Rate and/or GPA is still below the SAP requirements after the warning period, then the student’s financial aid will be suspended.
• Nearing Max Timeframe: Status assigned to students who are within 30 credits of reaching their maximum timeframe.
• Maximum Timeframe Suspension: Assigned to students who meet or exceed their maximum attempted hours. Students on suspension for maximum timeframe are not eligible to receive SAP affected aid.

Warning and Probationary Status

• Probationary and warning students will be advised to enroll in a Focus on Success LA10303 course, which is designed for “at-risk” students to help develop a strategy towards becoming a successful college student.

Regaining Eligibility

• Students who are suspended due to GPA or completion rate remain ineligible for SAP affected aid until both their GPA and completion rate are at or above the minimum levels. Ineligible students continue to be monitored annually, and will be returned to “Eligible” if they are able to meet all standards at the time of a review.
• Students who self-correct during a term that SAP is not reviewed can be returned to “Eligible” only if they selfreport.
• Students can also have their aid reinstated upon an approval of a SAP appeal.

Change of Program

Students who change their program of study (majors) or enter a new program will be eligible for Financial Aid as long as they have not reached their maximum time frame.

Right of Appeal

If a student has experienced an extenuating circumstance that prevented them from satisfying the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP), they may appeal that decision to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. The appeal requires details that explain how the extenuating circumstances prevented the student from meeting the SAP requirements. The student must specifically state for which terms and academic years they experienced this extenuating circumstance, not just the past academic year.

*Such circumstances may include serious illness, documented medical condition, death of an immediate family member, call to active military duty, and other extraordinary situations such as natural disasters.

The student must ensure that date-specific supporting documentation is attached to the appeal request. Letters from parents and family members are not acceptable; if this is the only information available, the student should meet with a Financial Aid Advisor to determine what is acceptable.

This documentation will be maintained in the student’s file. Examples of acceptable documentation include but are not limited to:

• A letter from a physician or counselor on letterhead paper (not a prescription form).
• Copy of a death certificate, obituary, or Mass card.
• Accident reports, police reports, court records, etc.

NOTE: Do not submit original documentation as part of this appeal; make sure to provide legible copies.

If the student’s appeal is in response to having attempted excess hours over 150% of the program’s standard hours, the student will need to submit the SAP Appeal for maximum time frame. Students will need to complete a new appeal each year as long as he or she is continuing in the same degree/major.

NOTE: Classes needed for the current degree plan are the only ones eligible for financial assistance.

If the student is unable to provide the above information, he or she should meet with a Financial Aid Advisor. The advisor will determine whether a requirement may be waived, or determine if additional documentation is required. The Director of Financial Aid and a Financial Aid Advisor will review the appeal. The appeal will be done as expeditiously as possible, but within approximately 15 business days. The results will be e-mailed via the student’s Rio Grande account. The appeal decision is final, and no secondary appeal process is available.

Appeal deadlines will be posted on the Rio Grande Financial Aid webpage. The Standards of Academic Progress and Maximum Time Frame appeal forms with instructions are posted online under financial aid forms, or students may request the forms through the financial aid office during normal business hours.

Types of SAP Appeals

• SAP Appeal for Additional Maximum Time Frame Hours Only - to be used by students who have reached their maximum timeframe ONLY due to changing majors, having multiple majors, having a large number of transfer hours or having a previous bachelor’s degree.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal - to be used by students who are not meeting the minimum GPA and/or completion rate set forth by Rio Grande, and as a result have lost their financial aid eligibility.

Appeal Requirements

• SAP appeal for Maximum Time Frame
  • ​A letter of appeal must address (a) why the student has been unable to complete your program within the maximum number of credit hours allowed AND (b) the student’s current program of study and career goal(s).
  • Complete the table provided with the appeal form that shows the courses the student has left to take and when the student plans to take the required courses for the degree.
  • Students who plan to appeal must be ACCEPTED into a program of study or taking classes that ARE REQUIRED FOR THE DECLARED DEGREE.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
  • ​A letter of appeal must address and provide documentation of the extenuating circumstance leading to the failure to meet the required standards.
    • Only appeals that document the following reasons will be considered
      1. Personal illness or injury
      2. Death of an immediate family member
      3. Other extreme situation that is out of the students control
  • Appeals will NOT be approved more than twice.
  • Special consideration will be given to students who have been away from Rio Grande longer than three academic years.
  • Appeals stating the cause of suspension as related to lack of transportation or one term of self-pay are no longer considered a valid reason to appeal.
  • Appeal deadlines will be set before the beginning of each semester by the Financial Aid Office, and are posted on the Financial Aid Office Website Calendar.
  • An appeal form is required to be completed and submitted along with the letter of appeal to the Director of Financial Aid.
  • A SAP committee comprised of staff from other departments related to student services will review all SAP appeals, and make recommendations on the approval or denial of a student’s SAP appeal.

Approved Appeals

• Students who successfully appeal their suspension due to GPA or completion rate will be monitored and required to meet the standards outlined in the SAP approval letter by the next review. These students will be provided with specific term requirements for completion rate and GPA to give them an understanding of minimum performance requirements to remain within standards by the next SAP review. Students are required to complete EVERY course successfully with a letter grade of “C” or better.
• Students who successfully appeal their suspension due to GPA or completion rate and can reasonably be expected to meet SAP standards by the end of the subsequent payment period are placed on probation for one term.
• Students who successfully appeal their suspension due to maximum timeframe will be given additional hours to complete their program, and will be assigned “Eligible” status. Only those courses required for program completion will be covered by financial aid.

Re-establishing Satisfactory Academic Progress

After financial aid has been suspended, students may re-establish satisfactory academic progress by the following methods:

• Attend classes at their own expense to improve hours and/or semester grade point average to meet the required academic standards.
• Students may also file an SAP appeal form and required documentation to the Financial Aid Office by a specific deadline listed on the Financial Aid website.

Return of Unearned Title IV Funds Policy

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 imposed regulations for the University and its students. Effective September 26, 2000, students receiving Federal Title IV aid who completely withdraw from classes prior to the 61% point of the term may be required to repay funds to the program(s) from which such funds were received. This includes withdrawing from all courses after completing an accelerated session (such as a first 8-week session).

Title IV aid programs include: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Stafford Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS Loans. Please refer to our website at https://www.rio.edu/financial-aid/ for more information.