Federal | Financial Aid

Federal Student Aid Overview
In order to meet federal aid general eligibility requirements, a student must:
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Have earned a high school diploma or GED
Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program
Maintain satisfactory academic progress
Not be in default or owe a repayment on any federal student loan or grant
FAFSA Verification
FAFSA Verification is the process your school uses to confirm the financial information reported on your FAFSA. Most are randomly chosen, and there is no need for concern if you are selected. If you are selected for FAFSA Verification, you will be notified by email. For more information on Verification, please contact our office. All Verification documents should be submitted within 45 days from the day you were notified.
Listed below are documents you may be asked to submit for FAFSA Verification:
A completed Verification Form, a document used to confirm income and the number of members in your household
A signed copy of your 1040 tax return or tax return transcript, which you can obtain free of charge at irs.gov.
A signed copy of your parents' 1040 tax return or tax return transcript if you are a dependent student.
A signed copy of your spouse’s 1040 tax return or tax return transcript if you are married filing separately.
W-2 forms for all earned income if you did not file an income tax return
Proof of identity: a state ID or U.S. passport
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that schools monitor the academic progress of all federal financial aid recipients. The New School is required to certify that all students receiving federal aid are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward earning their degree. This determination of progress is made annually at the end of the spring semester. Students who fail to meet the minimum SAP standards are placed on financial aid suspension and are notified by email. If suspended, students can submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form for reconsideration. Appeals must be submitted by the published due date.
Note: Decisions about academic probation and institutional scholarship eligibility are separate from the process of certifying that SAP standards are being met.
- SAP Minimum Standards
  
  All students eligible for federal student aid must meet the Qualitative and Quantitative SAP standards.
  Qualitative (GPA)
  2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for undergraduates
  3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for graduate students
  Quantitative Pace of Completion
  All students using federal financial aid must meet the pace of completion rate of 66.67 percent. Students must have completed a minimum of 66.67 percent of all courses attempted at the time of review in order to meet SAP standards. For example, a student who has attempted a total of 24 credits but has only earned 12 credits is not meeting the pace of completion rate. This is illustrated by the following math calculation: hours earned ÷ hours attempted = 12 ÷ 24 = 50 percent ratio.
  Quantitative Maximum Time Frame
  Students are permitted to receive federal financial aid only for the cost of a number of credits up to 150 percent of the amount that it takes to complete their degree program (for example, up to 180 credits for a 120-credit degree). Students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid for terms beyond this point, even if they received no aid for all of the terms of attendance.
  Note: Hours attempted include transfer credits, credits earned in study abroad, and withdrawals and incomplete grades.
- SAP Examples
  
  Example of a Student Not Meeting Grade Point Average
  Mia is an undergraduate student who started her degree program in fall 2022. She is expected to have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted at the end of the spring 2023 semester.
  Term of Enrollment Credits Attempted Credits Earned Cum. Credits Attempted Cum. Credits Earned Cum. GPA PACE Ratio SAP Status
  Fall 2022 12 12 12 12 2.00 100% Meeting SAP
  Spring 2023 15 12 27 24 1.90 88.89% Not Meeting SAP
  At the end of the spring 2023, Mia was not meeting satisfactory academic progress because she did not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement.
  Example of a Student Not Meeting the Completion Rate, Also Referred to as PACE
  All students must maintain a minimum of 66.67 percent of the total credit hours attempted. In this example, John is an undergraduate student who has a 2.0 GPA but has failed to meet the PACE requirement of 66.67 percent. He has attempted a total of 48 credit hours and has earned only 24 hours.
  To calculate PACE, you must divide the earned hours by the total hours attempted: 24 ÷ 48 = 50.
  Please keep in mind that total hours attempted include transfer credits, withdrawals, incomplete grades, and transfer credits earned during study abroad.
  Term of Enrollment Credits Attempted Credits Earned Cum. Credits Attempted Cum. Credits Earned Cum. GPA PACE Ratio SAP Status
  Spring 2022 48 24 48 24 2.00 50% Not Meeting SAP
  Maximum Time Frame Example
  Students are permitted to receive federal student aid only for the number of credits up to 150 percent of the number of credits it normally takes to complete their program.
  In this example, Stephanie is pursuing a bachelor’s degree that requires 120 credit hours to complete. Stephanie has attempted a total of 170 credits and needs 16 more credits to complete her degree requirements.
  170 credits + 16 credits = 186 credits. Calculation: 120 x 150% = 180 credits hours attempted
  Stephanie is no longer eligible for federal financial aid because she cannot complete her degree requirements within 180 credits attempted.
  Note: Credits attempted include credits earned, failed, transferred, and withdrawn and grades of incomplete.
- Preparing a SAP Appeal Request
  
  A Satisfactory Academic Progress Request form consists of the following:
  A signed and complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Request for Review form
  A signed statement of explanation detailing:
  Extenuating circumstances that affected the student's academic achievement
  The time when the circumstances occurred, including the term or terms
  The duration of the circumstances and how they were resolved
  Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include a death certificate, an obituary, court documents, documentation from medical professionals on business letterhead, official military orders, an eviction notice, and police reports. Incomplete SAP appeals will not be considered.
  Once an SAP Appeal has been submitted, the applicant will be notified of the appeal decision through their New School email.
- Steps to Complete a SAP Academic Plan
  
  Step 1. Review and Acknowledgment of Academic Plan
  A student who falls below SAP guidelines will receive an Academic Plan. The student should review and acknowledge this plan through their MyNewSchool Portal.
  Step 2. Receipt of Academic Plan
  After the student reviews and acknowledges the Academic Plan, they will receive a receipt of completion.
  Step 3. Sharing of confirmation receipt information with the academic advisor
  After receiving their confirmation of completion, the student should forward it to their academic advisor, so that they have this information as well.
  The student's academic performance will be monitored on a semester basis to ensure they are meeting the conditions agreed upon in their academic plan.
  Failure to meet these requirements will result in a suspension of federal financial aid eligibility for all future semesters until the student is able to meet the SAP standards without the use of federal financial aid.
  During the suspension period, students must pay school expenses directly or through the use of private student loans, without the help of federal funds. Institutional merit- or need-based grants are not affected by SAP.
- Common Questions About SAP
  
  I am returning to The New School following an academic suspension. What steps are required to have my federal financial aid reinstated?
  Financial aid decisions are completely separate from academic admission decisions. Re-enrollment in The New School following an academic suspension or dismissal does not automatically guarantee that your financial aid will also be reinstated, and your previous coursework will still be considered in the determination of your aid eligibility.
  I am returning to The New School following an SAP suspension. I owe payments to The New School. What options do I have for paying the balance?
  Discuss your options by contacting the Office of Student Accounts at [email protected]. Federal financial aid cannot be used to pay a previous balance.
  I did not meet SAP standards. What are my options for paying for school?
  If your appeal for financial aid reinstatement is not approved, you must make alternative arrangements to finance your education. You may choose to apply for a private loan during this period. Keep in mind that not all lenders will approve a private loan if you do not meet SAP. Check with your lender.
  Where can I submit my SAP appeal and supporting documents?
  All documents to be included in the appeal should be submitted with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
  What happens if my SAP Request for Review is incomplete or I do not have the documents to support my appeal?
  Incomplete SAP appeals will not be considered.
  Who determines the outcome of an SAP appeal? Are all decisions final?
  SAP Requests for Review are considered by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee's decision will be emailed to you. The committee's decisions are final.
  Can I register for classes while my SAP appeal is being considered?
  Yes; you can register for classes while under financial aid suspension, but you are responsible for all costs incurred, regardless of the outcome of the SAP appeal.
  Will SAP affect my institutional financial aid eligibility?
  No; SAP has no impact on your institutional financial aid.

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Term of Enrollment	Credits Attempted	Credits Earned	Cum. Credits Attempted	Cum. Credits Earned	Cum. GPA	PACE Ratio	SAP Status
Fall 2022	12	12	12	12	2.00	100%	Meeting SAP
Spring 2023	15	12	27	24	1.90	88.89%	Not Meeting SAP