Undergraduate College Catalog

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Financial Aid

Through an extensive program of scholarships, grants, work programs, and loans funded by federal, state, and institutional sources, the University of Jamestown is determined to ensure that no qualified student will be denied an education due to lack of adequate financial resources. The majority of our full-time students participate in one or more of the financial aid programs available through the University. The admission and financial aid staff will work to prepare an individual package to fit the needs of each student. The Office of Financial Aid awards aid based on demonstrated need while most merit and talent-based awards are determined by other departments such as admission, athletics, and fine arts.

Application Procedure

Federal financial aid may be available for students who qualify. More information can be found online at www.studentaid.gov or on the UJ Financial Aid Office website. Students may also contact the UJ Financial Aid Office with questions.

All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to be considered for need based aid. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.studentaid.ed.gov. The Office of Financial Aid may require the FAFSA to be completed in other instances as well.

North Dakota Residents

Residents of North Dakota who have graduated from a North Dakota high school may be eligible for a variety of scholarships or grants made available through the North Dakota University System. Additional information for each of the following programs that are administered by the North Dakota University System can be found at www.ndus.edu/paying-for-college/.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is language set forth in the federal guidelines [34 CFR §668.34] that specifies the minimum academic progress required of a student to avoid termination of funding provided by federal and state governments. The guidelines also relate to programs funded by the institution (except for tuition waivers) or as determined by the University of Jamestown (UJ). The academic standards for students receiving Title IV funds (federal aid) are the same as those for students not receiving Title IV funds.

To demonstrate SAP for financial aid purposes, all students must comply with the following components:

  1. QUALITATIVE First-time students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 1.8 until the end of their first three terms of enrollment, and then a 2.0 after the fourth term of enrollment and thereafter. Students transferring into UJ or returning to UJ after a period of nonattendance will be required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Credit hours from another school accepted at UJ will count as both attempted and completed hours.
  2. PACE OR QUANTITATIVE Students must successfully complete (grade of ‘D’ or higher) at least 67% of all attempted credits. Grades of incomplete are counted as such in the calculation.
  3. MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME OR 150% RULE Students must complete their program within 150% of the total credits required for completion.

Monitoring Procedure

The University of Jamestown monitors student progress after every payment period (term). Summer is considered a payment period for this purpose and, consequently, progress will be monitored for those students enrolled in summer school courses after the summer session as well.

Possible statuses of each SAP calculation are good standing, warning, and suspension. A student who fails SAP after one semester is placed on financial aid warning. A student who fails SAP the next consecutive semester after being placed on warning will be placed on financial aid suspension. A student placed on financial aid suspension may appeal the suspension by submitting an official Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form (which can be found on the University of Jamestown website under Current Students/Financial) by the stated deadline. A committee composed of the Associate Provost/Dean of the Undergraduate College, Vice-President of Enrollment Management, Associate Dean for Student Success, the Student Success Coordinator, and the Director of Financial Aid will review the appeal. If an appeal is granted by a majority vote of the committee, an academic plan will be generated for the student. The student and financial aid representative will sign the academic plan.

Students will be notified of SAP statuses of warning and suspension by email to their UJ email and by postal letter to their legal, home, permanent address, and by email of a status of academic plan. If appropriate, requirements necessary to regain eligibility for financial aid will be included.

Additional Information

  • Limited funding may be available through private sources explicitly stating that SAP is not required.
  • The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to adjust SAP verbiage at any time.
  • Grades of incomplete will be counted as not earned in the calculation immediately following the term in which the grade falls. If the grade changes to a letter grade, that grade will be considered in future calculations for SAP.
  • A course in which a student received a passing grade may be repeated only one time for federal student aid payment of both times the course was taken. Federal student aid may not be used for a second repeat of the same course with a passing grade (D or higher). All course repeats count toward the total number of credits the student has attempted, which may affect pace and/or 150% calculations for SAP.

Return of Federal Title IV Aid and Institutional Refund/Repayment Policy

The University of Jamestown has adopted a policy for institutional refund/repayment that complies with the federal Return of Title IV Funds regulations.

A student is considered enrolled for attendance purposes until he/she has officially withdrawn from the University of Jamestown (see Official Withdrawal) or until the end of the semester, whichever is first. The minimum amounts to be returned to Title IV programs are calculated according to federal guidelines.

Detailed information is provided to each student every year and is available on request in the Financial Aid Office as well as on the University website.