Academic Requirements

All students who receive financial aid must demonstrate the ability to do satisfactory college work. Students are normally expected to complete their degree requirements within four years, but students unable to graduate within four years may receive aid for an additional year. To meet the course load requirements, students, i.e. student aid recipients, are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they meet the following number of courses:

By the end of the first academic year of study, must have completed at least 6 courses;

By the end of the second academic year of study, must have completed at least 13 courses;

By the end of the third academic year of study, must have completed 20 courses; and

By the end of the fourth academic year of study, must have completed 27 courses.

The number of courses completed will be reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students who fail to meet the minimum standards will be suspended from receiving financial aid until the deficient courses are satisfactorily completed.

Summer courses may be counted toward meeting the requirements for the previous academic year. Correspondence courses may also count toward meeting the requirements for the previous academic year provided they are completed (final grade and credit recorded) during that academic year for which they are to apply, or in the interim period prior to enrolling for another academic year. Summer courses and correspondence work will not count toward meeting the grade point requirements.

A course in which a grade of "incomplete" is assigned will not be used to meet course load requirements. If the incomplete is changed to a passing grade, it will be recorded in the semester during which the course was taken and will then apply to the requirements as a part of that semester. No course may be counted more than once toward satisfying the course load requirements.

Courses taken as an option under which no grade is assigned (credit only) will count toward the requirements for eligibility. Courses taken and passed on a credit basis will not affect the grade point average but will count toward graduation requirements.

In addition to the above, financial aid recipients must also maintain minimum cumulative grade point averages to remain eligible for aid. These requirements are as follows:

Freshmen	0-6 courses	1.75
Sophomores	7-16 courses	1.90
Juniors	17-25 courses	2.00
Seniors	26 + courses	2.00

Grade point averages will be reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students failing to meet the minimum grade point standards of the College for the first time will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester. By the end of the probationary semester, students must have the required minimum grade point average or they will be suspended from receiving additional financial assistance until such time as they have achieved the required grade point average.

The requirements listed above are applicable to all Title IV programs (Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Hendrix Pace loans, HELP loans, Arkansas Student Assistance Grants, and VA benefits) and to most Hendrix funded scholarships, grants, and work programs. Higher academic performance standards are required to retain most merit scholarships.

During their first year of enrollment, transfer students accepted for admission to the College will be eligible to receive financial aid. Once enrolled, however, transfer credits accepted by the Office of Academic Affairs, plus work completed at Hendrix College, will be evaluated to determine future satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

Students who feel that mitigating circumstances prevented them from making satisfactory academic progress may appeal the decision to suspend their financial aid eligibility. In cases of legitimate mitigating circumstances, a written appeal for variance should be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid.

Most financial aid requires a minimum course load of three courses per semester. Some state programs require four per term. Students should verify that they are enrolled in the necessary course load to maintain all aid. Students wishing to reduce course loads after enrollment should contact the Financial Aid Office to ensure that their aid will not be affected. The financial aid officer may cancel or reduce awards at any time if students fail to maintain satisfactory academic standards or minimum course load requirements.

Academic Probation Policy for Students Receiving Veterans Administration Benefits

Students receiving assistance from the Veterans Administration are subject to certain minimum standards of progress:

A first-year student whose grade point average is less than 1.50 cumulative will be placed on academic probation. A first-year student on academic probation whose grade point average is less than 1.50 cumulative at the end of the term will be suspended from drawing V.A. educational benefits.
A sophomore student whose grade point average is less than 1.75 cumulative will be placed on academic probation. A sophomore student on probation whose grade point average is less than 1.75 cumulative will be suspended from drawing V.A. benefits.
A junior student whose grade point average is less than 2.00 cumulative will be placed on academic probation. A junior student on probation whose grade point average is less than 2.00 cumulative will be suspended from drawing V.A. benefits.
A senior student whose grade point average is less than 2.00 cumulative will be placed on academic probation. A senior student on probation whose grade point average is less than 2.00 cumulative will be suspended from drawing V.A. educational benefits.
A veteran dropping a course or changing to audit prior to the mid-term can be permitted to do so without penalty. If a course is dropped after mid-term a grade of "F" is given. An incomplete grade must be cleared during the term following the term in which it was incurred. Failure to remove the incomplete in the required time will result in a grade of "F".

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