General Eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress
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1. Students must demonstrate* financial need by completing an approved need analysis application. Life West requires that all applicants file a FAFSA form. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

*Definition of financial need: Financial need is the difference between a student's and/or student's family resources and allowable college expenses (student budget). An established needs analysis formula (Federal Methodology) is used to determine your financial need. This formula is based on tax year data and has budget restrictions. DON'T PANIC. The financial aid office has some discretion in these areas. For example, after careful consideration, a decision could be made that expected year earnings (earnings made during the school year) more accurately reflects a student's contribution potential (rather than tax year). In addition, there are provisions along with the budget restrictions to assist students who are married with dependents and have low incomes. If you have day care expenses inform your financial aid advisor. The need figure is the amount of money we try to make available to applicants for financial aid.

Two factors are taken into consideration in the analysis of a student's financial need:

• the amount of money that a student is able to contribute towards his/her college expenses (earnings from work or savings).
• the amount of money the parents (if dependent) and/or spouse are able to contribute to the student's educational expenses.

PARENT OR SPOUSE CONTRIBUTIONS

Example:

Student Budget: $20,000
Family Contribution: $4,000
Financial Need: $16,000

2. Be a citizen or an eligible non-citizen. (You may be required to provide documentation of your status).

3. Financial Aid funds are to be used for educationally related expenses only. Purchases of businesses, cars, stereos, vacations, etc. are not proper use of federal or state funds.

4. Students receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their degree to remain eligible for student financial aid.  Students remain eligible for participation in financial aid programs at Life West as long as they meet a number of requirements.

• Students must complete at least 20 quarter units per quarter or 60 quarter units per academic year (3 quarters) for full-time eligibility.

• An F grade is not considered earned credits.  The credits will be counted as earned when the class is retaken with a grade of D or better.
• A D grade (first time) is considered earned credits.  When the class is retaken the credits will not count.

• Students must maintain a minimum quarterly grade point average of 2.0(4.0 scale). A student whose GPA falls below a 2.0 is on academic probation. If the student completes each of the next 2 quarters with a minimum 2.0 GPA, they will be removed from this status.

If a student on academic probation falls below a 2.0 grade    point average within the next two quarters, he/she will remain on academic probation.

A student on academic probation remains eligible for financial aid; however, if a student falls below a 2.0 GPA for the third time or fails a class three times while on probation he/she will have their financial aid terminated and may be academically dismissed.

 

• First Dismissal/Contract:  If readmitted by the Academic Standards Committee the student will be eligible for federal aid and have his or her federal aid for that term reinstated.

• Second Dismissal/Contract:  If readmitted by the Academic Standards Committee the student must submit a letter of appeal to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee. If the appeal is granted the federal aid will be reinstated for that term.

• Third or subsequent Dismissal/Contract:  If readmitted by the Academic Standards Committee the student must go one quarter without federal aid before submitting a letter of appeal to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

• All students are required for financial aid eligibility to maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the time they are considered a Junior I on up through graduation.

Effective fall 2007