To be eligible for student financial aid, a student must be making "satisfactory academic progress." The Office of Student Financial Aid standards for satisfactory academic progress are not exactly the same as academic standards of the University, or any academic department or school. The established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating a student’s progress take into consideration cumulative KUMC grade point average and the number of semester hours or terms attempted and completed. The required grade point average varies by academic program (undergraduate, graduate and medical) as outlined below.
Specific Standards by Program of Study
The Student Financial Aid standards of satisfactory academic progress differ according to academic program.
To receive federal financial aid, a medical student must have a KUMC cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for financial aid.
School of Medicine students will be allowed to receive financial aid for a maximum of 12 terms. A term is enrollment for summer, fall, or spring. Any semesters required to complete the degree beyond the twelfth must be self-financed. Additionally, students must complete at least 75% of all course work attempted while attending KUMC.
If a student does not meet the required GPA or standard for hours/terms attempted and completed, he/she will be placed on a one year probationary status for financial aid. A student may continue to receive financial aid while on probation. If the student completes the following year and does not attain the required GPA or meet the standard for hours attempted and completed, financial aid will be terminated until such time as the standards are met.
To receive federal financial aid, a graduate student must have a KUMC cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for financial aid.
Graduate students will be allowed to receive financial aid for a maximum number of terms (summer, fall, or spring) as listed below, which is estimated at 150% of the time it takes to complete the student’s program. A full-time term is defined as one where the student takes at least 9 credit hours. A less than full-time term is defined as one in which the student is enrolled less than 9 credit hours. Any semesters required to complete the degree beyond the amount listed in the chart must be self-financed unless the student produces information from his or her academic department to indicate that the student has not yet been enrolled 150% of the typical time it takes to complete the student’s program. Additionally, students must complete at least 75% of KUMC course work attempted while attending KUMC.
Graduate: 12 full time semesters
MD/PhD: 21 full time semesters
IGPBS: 21 full time semesters
If a student does not meet the required GPA or standard for hours attempted and completed, he/she will be placed on a one year probationary status for financial aid. A student may continue to receive financial aid while on probation. If the student completes the following year and does not attain the required GPA or meet the standard for hours attempted and completed, financial aid will be terminated until such time as the standards are met.
To receive federal financial aid, an undergraduate student must have a KUMC cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 to be eligible for financial aid.
Undergraduate students will be allowed to receive financial aid for maximum of 180 hours of course work that will apply towards the student’s program. This amount is determined by adding the accepted course work a student took prior to attending KUMC plus all course work taken at KUMC. Students in certificate programs that evaluate students on a pass/fail basis will be required to receive a passing grade from the department. All students are required to complete at least 75% of all course work attempted at KUMC.
If a student does not meet the required GPA or standard for hours attempted and completed, he/she will be placed on a one year probationary status for financial aid. A student may continue to receive financial aid while on probation. If the student completes the following year and does not attain the required GPA or meet the standard for hours attempted and completed, financial aid will be terminated until such time as the standards are met.
Incompletes, Withdrawals, Failures and Repetitions
Classes graded as failure (“D”,“F”, “LS”, “U”), “incomplete”, “no credit”, “drop” or “withdraw” will be evaluated as courses attempted, although not successfully completed. Attempted hours include all hours enrolled in or after the first day of classes. Repeated courses will count toward academic progress as indicated in the University catalogue applicable to the student.
Probationary Period
If a student does not meet the required GPA or standard for annual hours attempted and completed, he/she will be placed on a one year probationary status for financial aid. A student may continue to receive financial aid while on probation. If the student completes the following year and does not attain the required GPA or meet the standard for hours attempted and completed, financial aid will be terminated until such time as the standards are met.
Appeal Procedure
Any student denied financial aid due to the policy may appeal to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee. The appeal should initially be made in written form explaining the reason(s) for failing to meet the academic standards outlined in the policy. Students may want to include letters of support (from their academic department, etc.). This appeal should be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid, who will then present it to the committee. Appeals may take 2 – 4 weeks to process.
For More Information
For more information, contact the Department of Student Financial Aid , (913) 588-5170 or email financialaid@kumc.edu
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