Students who are matriculated into a degree program are eligible for Federal Financial Aid and for Institutional Tuition Reduction Awards as long as they are enrolled at least half-time for their degree program. Eligibility is based on enrollment and academic performance, as noted, below.

FINANCIAL AID POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Students enrolled in degree programs at Meadville Lombard Theological School may be eligible for student aid through institutional scholarship (Institutional Tuition Reduction Awards) and Federal Student Loans. Eligibility for institutional aid is determined both by need and merit and is outlined in the Institutional Tuition Reduction Policy. Federal Student Loans are determined by need.

In order to remain eligible for both institutional and Federal aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time each term (per the definition of their program) AND maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The following outlines the policies and the procedures by which the policies are enforced with regard to SAP.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

In addition to all Meadville Lombard Theological School academic requirements (as outlined in the Student Handbook), recipients of Federal Financial Aid (Loans and Federal Work-Study) funds must meet the following standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to establish and maintain eligibility for assistance from these programs:

* Successful completion of at least 75% of all coursework attempted during each academic term (this is the program completion pace).

* Attempted coursework is defined as any course in which a student is enrolled at the end of the 100% refund period (see refund policies on the website or in the Student Handbook).

* Successful completion of coursework is defined as receipt of a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+, C,C-, D+, D, D-, or P if a course is taken as pass/fail.

* Unsuccessful completion of coursework is defined as receipt of a grade of F, I, PI, or W.

* Repeated coursework is counted as many times as the course is repeated in the computation of total units attempted.

* Courses that are assigned an incomplete grade are included in the cumulative hours attempted but cannot be used as credits earned toward progress standards until a successful grade is assigned.

* Credit officially accepted in transfer and specifically applied toward a student's degree program will not be counted toward the pace.

Financial Aid Warnings and Appeals

Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the conclusion of each term by the Senior Director of Student Services. If SAP is not met, the Senior Director of Student Services will notify the student by email that they have been placed on Financial Aid Warning. Under the warning, Meadville Lombard is only allowed to disburse Federal funds for the next payment period. If the student meets SAP in the next term, they will no longer be on Financial Aid Warning. If, however, they do not meet SAP in a term directly following a warning, the student will no longer be eligible for Title IV funding. The Senior Director of Student services will notify the student by email to their Meadville mail account of their ineligibility for further Federal Aid within one week of the conclusion of the grading period. 

Students may appeal for reconsideration of Title IV eligibility by submitting a Letter of Appeal to the Senior Director of Student Services. The Letter of Appeal must state the circumstances resulting in the student not meeting SAP. These reasons must be clear and critical, i.e.:

*  The death of a relative

*  An injury or illness of the student

*  Extreme circumstances (flood, fire, etc.)

The Letter of Appeal must also address the change in circumstances that will allow the student to demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of the term. The Letter of Appeal must be received by email or snail mail within two weeks of the notice of ineligibility.

The appeal will be reviewed by the Senior Director of Student Services, the Provost, the student's Academic Advisor, and the Director of Student Records. If the appeal is granted, the student is put on Financial Aid probation and will be deemed eligible for Title IV funds for the term.  If the student does not meet SAP at the end of that term, they will be ineligible for Title IV funds. The student will be notified of the committee's decision within two weeks of receipt of the Letter of Appeal.

A student whose Title IV eligibility has been reinstated under the terms of an academic plan is considered to be making satisfactory progress.

Retaking Coursework

If a student retakes a class that was not completed successfully, the course will count toward the student's enrollment status in the new term, but it is Meadville Lombard's policy not to provide any institutional tuition assistance for classes retaken because of an unsuccessful completion.

Institutional Tuition Reduction Awards (scholarship) Policy

Read the entire policy, complete with definitions of full- and part-time for all of our degree programs here.