Students receiving financial aid through the university or FAFSA are in for a change this summer.
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy went into effect July 1, 2011, and states, "continuing or returning students applying for aid from these programs for the first time must have demonstrated earlier progress in order to receive aid."
The change in policy doesn't sound like much, but it has some students heated.
"Seriously, this is just bull crap," freshman criminal justice major Bailee Logan said. "I've already reached the maximum on my loans, so if they cut back my grants because I'm having a small set back, I will have to drop out if I can't afford it."
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy was put into effect to ensure students are keeping up their grade point averages in accordance with the university's graduation requirements.
A normal course load in a semester is 12 to 18 credits and grade-point averages are determined on the basis of semester credits.
Freshman English education major Jimmy Veal said he doesn't think financial aid should be based on grades.
"This is basically like saying poor people are stupid, and when they go to college they should become progressively smarter," Veal said. "It's a bigoted and prejudiced thing to do in my opinion."
A representative from the Office of Financial Aid said this policy only comes into play if students fall below 67 percent of the cumulative hours needed for graduation.
"My grades should not take away my loans; I need them to come here," freshman Kate Myers said. "Without them I can't come to school anymore. My grades aren't bad, but if I don't do better next year, then what?"
An example provided by the Office of Financial Aid states that if a student attempts 24 credit hours, but only receives 14 for the academic year, then the student is ineligible for financial aid for the following year.
A full run down of the policy is posted online with a list of financial aid packages affected by this new policy. Pell Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, Ball State Grants and Federal Work-Study programs are among the some of the financial aid packages the university offers.
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