General
Financial aid awards are based on the information contained in each year's application material. Since your family's resources are subject to change, we reserve the privilege of reviewing and possibly revising awards. It is your responsibility to notify Student Financial Services immediately if there is a change in any aspect of your or your family's financial situation. Note that this includes the receipt of special scholarships or grants from local high schools, towns, or charitable organizations.

Duration and Renewal of Aid
Renewal for need-based aid is not automatic. Recipients must reapply for aid each year since most aid is awarded for one year only. The FAFSA is required each year. Merit based aid is an automatic renewal if conditions of award are met. Please see KSC Grants & Scholarships for further information.

Minimum Credits
Financial aid awards are made based on the enrollment status as reported by you on the FAFSA. Full-time awards are based on 12 or more credit hours per semester, three-quarter-time awards are based on 9-11 credits per semester, and half-time awards are based on 6-8 credits per semester.

If you plan to enroll less than full time, you will need to advise Student Financial Services of your specific enrollment plans. If you plan to enroll less than half time, you should plan to meet with a financial aid counselor to discuss financing possibilities, since most financial assistance is awarded to students who are enrolled for a least six credit hours per semester.
Please Note: If you drop to fewer than 6 credits and have a Federal Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, or any KSC institutional loan, your grace period and subsequent repayment will begin.

The amount of financial aid you receive is most significantly based upon the cost of tuition and fees and will be decreased proportionately if enrollment is less than full time. The Perkins and Stafford Student Loan programs require at least halftime attendance, which at Keene State College is six credit hours per semester.

It is advisable to schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor prior to withdrawing from courses which would result in a change of enrollment status (see above) because such changes may require an adjustment to the student's original aid offer.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
In accordance with requirements of the Federal Higher Education Amendments of 1976, Keene State College has established certain standards for measuring whether you, who might otherwise be eligible for aid under any TITLE IV* and / or institutional aid program, are maintaining good academic standing as well as making satisfactory progress.

Effective Fall 2001
Academic Standing: A matriculated student is required to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 to be in good academic standing.

A minimum grade point average of 1.00 is required of first-semester freshmen, transfer, and re-admit New Start students at the conclusion of their initial semester. Students earning a grade point average less than 1.00 at the conclusion of their first semester will be academically suspended.

Required credits to continue financial aid eligibility
Student Financial Services approves financial aid eligibility for students through the equivalent of five years (ten full-time semesters) to complete a four-year baccalaureate degree. In addition, effective January 1, 1984, further evidence of satisfactory progress is required (34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 668.16 (e)), and the following criteria apply:

1. During any academic year ** in which you are enrolled full time (12 credits per semester/term), you must complete 24 credits. If you have not completed 24 credits, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation but may continue to receive financial aid for the following academic year. At the end of this probationary period, if you have not completed enough credits to meet the cumulative number required, you will be suspended from receiving financial aid. You may then:
   a) accrue the necessary credits, without financial aid, to reestablish aid eligibility. The credits may be for courses completed either at Keene State College or acceptable for transfer credit in accordance with the policies defined in the College Catalog.
   b) in exceptional cases where documented extenuating circumstances have prevented normal progress, appeal in writing to the Director of Student Financial Services for exception to the policy for prior periods or an extension of the financial aid probation period to the next measurable increment.
2. All requirements and procedures previously outlined apply if you attend part-time, with the following exceptions:
   a) Half-time (6-8 credits per semester/term) students must complete 12 credits per academic year.
   b) Three-quarter-time (9-11 credits per semester/term) students must complete 18 credit hours per academic year.
3. Summer sessions I and II are considered to be one combined semester or term for the purposes of implementing financial aid policies.

Student Defaults and Student Title IV Refunds Owed
Payment of Title IV Federal Aid may not be made to you if you are in default on a Federal Perkins Loan or on a Federal Stafford Loan. In addition, if you owe a refund of federal grant aid received from any institution, no additional federal money will be disbursed until the money owed has been repaid.

Ombudsman
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 have provided for the creation of a federal Ombudsman appointed by the U.S. Department of Education to act on behalf of students in the resolution of Title IV financial aid program issues. Students with questions or issues with federal financial aid programs may contact the Ombudsman online or by calling 877-557-2575.