Federal regulations require that all student receiving federal financial assistance maintain satisfactory academic progress. The following policy presents the minimum standards adopted by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, effective November 1, 1985, and revised February 23, 1995, and May 1, 2004. The policy applies to all students receiving financial assistance through Title IV programs, Title VII programs or any other assistance program administered with federal or state funds.

All Students | Dental, Medical and Pharmacy

Undergraduate | Graduate | Transfers | Appeals

All Students

In some cases, a student’s cumulative GPA may fall below the required 2.0 or 3.0, and the student is suspended from financial aid. When the student gains eligibility again, either through a successful self-paid semester, or an approved appeal, the student may have subsequent successful semesters, that fail to raise the cumulative GPA to the required rate. However, if the semester GPA is over the minimum, even though it failed to bring the cumulative GPA to the required standard, the student will continue financial aid eligibility on a probationary status.

Dental, Medical, and Pharmacy Students

The promotions committee reviews, at least at the conclusion of each academic year, the performance of each student. The review and accompanying evaluation may include actual grades received, an indication of pass or fail, satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or another form of evaluation. A student who does not satisfactorily complete all course requirements may be permitted to remediate. In this case, a student assigned a schedule which deviates from the norm and who earns satisfactory assessment in all courses for which enrolled will be deemed to be making satisfactory progress. If the College of Medicine, Dentistry, or Pharmacy determine that a student is close enough to satisfactory academic progress to be put on academic probation rather than suspension, the Financial Aid Office will take this into consideration. Financial Aid will not suspend a student from aid if the College allows the individual to continue pursuing his/her degree.

The normal timeframe for completion of required coursework for the M.D. and D.D.S. degrees is four academic years. Due to academic or personal difficulties, a student may require additional time. In such situations, the promotions committee may establish a schedule for that student which departs from the norm and which may require repeating a year of study. To be considered making satisfactory progress, a student must complete the first two years of the curriculum by the end of the third year after initial enrollment. A student not making progress will be ineligible for financial aid until he/she has successfully completed sufficient course requirements to enter the third year of studies. All medical, dental and pharmacy students are expected to complete their degree programs within 6 years after admission to their respective colleges. No assistance is provided those students extending degree studies beyond that time.

Undergraduate Students

Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 or more credit hours per semester during the fall and spring, and 6 or more credit hours during the summer. Physician Associate students must be enrolled in 24 clock hours per week to be classified as full-time.

The aid recipient must complete the year with a 2.0 grade point average and maintain a cumulative (OUHSC) GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Incomplete coursework, audits or coursework taken at other institutions during the semester do not count toward the hour requirement.) All undergraduate students (except Pharmacy students) are expected to complete their degree programs within three years after admission to the Health Sciences Center. Any undergraduate student who is denied assistance based on unsatisfactory Academic progress may regain eligibility for aid by completing one semester of at least half-time enrollment during any semester with a minimum 2.0 for the semester at the student’s expense. After that requirement is met, the student will again qualify for financial aid on a probationary status. The first semester on probation must be completed with a 2.0 or above, or the student will be suspended from federal student aid. Reinstatement for future financial aid will be at the Financial Aid Director, or Assistant Director’s discretion.

Graduate Students

Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9 or more credit hours per regular semester, or at least 4 credit hours during the Summer session. A Graduate Assistant or Research Assistant holding a 0.5 FTE appointment will be required to enroll in at least 6 hours per semester and at least 3 hours during the Summer session to be classified as a full-time graduate student. A Full-Time Enrollment Status Petition (that has been signed by the Registration office) must be submitted to Financial Aid to verify this status.

Students must complete the year with a 3.0 GPA and maintain a cumulative (OUHSC) GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. OT and Pt must have a 2.5 average. (Incomplete coursework, audits, or coursework taken at another institution does not count toward the hour requirement.) A graduate student enrolled in only thesis or dissertation is subject to the same credit hour requirements for full-time status and must show satisfactory progress as identified by the “X” grade .All graduate students are expected to complete a Master’s degree within 3 years. A Doctoral Program student is expected to complete that degree within 4 years (beyond M.S. degree). Students enrolling in a Doctoral Program with intentions of bypassing the M.S. degree are expected to complete the PhD. within 6 years. Any additional time needed beyond the length of time previously mentioned, must be approved by the appropriate College.

A graduate student who is denied assistance based upon unsatisfactory academic progress may regain eligibility for aid by completing one semester of at least half-time enrollment during a regular or summer session with a 3.0 average for the semester at the student’s expense. OT and Pt must have a 2.5 average.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress at the time of initial enrollment at OUHSC.

Appeals

Students who are suspended from financial aid may appeal the decision in writing. The decision of the Financial Aid Director will be final.