General Provisions
The following provisions apply to students applying for or receiving financial aid at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Students are responsible for complying with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as well as College policies and procedures governing the administration of financial aid programs.
Applying for Financial Aid
Students seeking financial assistance should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. The FAFSA is available through studentaid.gov, the U.S. Department of Education's official website for federal student aid. Students should include Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College's Federal School Code (001835) when completing the FAFSA.
Indiana residents seeking consideration for Indiana state financial aid programs should submit the FAFSA by the priority filing deadline established by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Current filing deadlines and program information are available from the Office of Financial Aid and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Submission of a FAFSA does not guarantee eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility is determined annually based on applicable federal and state requirements, institutional policies, program-specific eligibility criteria, and the availability of funding.
Verification
Federal regulations require some students to complete a verification process before financial aid eligibility can be finalized. The Office of Financial Aid may also request additional documentation to resolve conflicting information or confirm a student's eligibility for financial aid.
Students selected for verification are responsible for submitting all requested documentation by established deadlines. Failure to provide requested documentation may delay, reduce, or prevent the awarding or disbursement of financial aid.
Students selected for verification will receive additional instructions from the Office of Financial Aid regarding the documentation required to complete the verification process.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal regulations require students receiving federal student financial aid to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of their educational program. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College evaluates SAP using qualitative and quantitative standards established in accordance with applicable federal regulations.
Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress may result in the loss of eligibility for federal student financial aid and may also affect eligibility for certain state and institutional financial aid programs.
The complete Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy, including evaluation standards, maximum timeframe requirements, warning and suspension provisions, appeal procedures, and reinstatement requirements, is available from the Office of Financial Aid and on the College's Financial Aid website.
Documentation
Students are responsible for providing all documentation requested by the Office of Financial Aid to determine and maintain eligibility for financial aid programs. Failure to provide requested documentation by established deadlines may result in delays, reductions, cancellation, or denial of financial aid.
Attendance and Enrollment
Federal student financial aid is awarded with the expectation that students will begin attendance and continue participating in all courses for which financial aid is awarded. Changes in enrollment, failure to begin attendance, or cessation of attendance may affect financial aid eligibility.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is not an institution that is required to take attendance for purposes of administering federal student financial aid. However, the College documents academically related activity, when required, to determine eligibility for federal student financial aid and to establish withdrawal dates in accordance with applicable federal regulations.
Information regarding attendance requirements and academic participation is available in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of this Undergraduate Catalog.
Withdrawals
Students who withdraw from one or more courses or withdraw from the College may experience changes to their current and future eligibility for federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs.
Students considering withdrawal are encouraged to consult with the Office of Financial Aid before completing the withdrawal process whenever possible to understand the potential impact on their financial aid eligibility.
Official withdrawal procedures are published in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of this Undergraduate Catalog. Tuition refund policies are published in the Fees and Financial Policies section.
Leave of Absence
Students may request an academic leave of absence in accordance with the College's academic policies. Students considering a leave of absence are encouraged to consult with the Office of Financial Aid before beginning their leave to understand the potential impact on their financial aid eligibility.
For purposes of administering federal Title IV student financial aid, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College's institutional leave of absence process does not meet the federal requirements for an approved leave of absence. As a result, students who cease attendance while on an approved institutional leave of absence are generally considered withdrawn for federal student financial aid purposes and are subject to the federal Return of Title IV Funds requirements.
Additional information regarding academic leaves of absence is available in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of this Undergraduate Catalog.
Return of Title IV Funds
Federal law requires the College to determine the amount of federal Title IV student financial aid earned by a student who withdraws before completing the payment period or period of enrollment, as applicable. This federally required calculation is known as the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4).
Depending on the results of the calculation, a student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement of earned aid or may be required to repay a portion of previously received federal student financial aid. Withdrawal may also result in a balance owed to the College.
Additional information regarding the College's Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Policy is available from the Office of Financial Aid and on the College's Financial Aid website.
Professional Judgment, Special Circumstances, and Unusual Circumstances
Federal law permits the Office of Financial Aid to review individual student circumstances that may warrant adjustments to financial aid eligibility or a determination of dependency status in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.
Students experiencing significant changes in financial circumstances, unusual family situations, or other circumstances that may affect their eligibility for financial aid are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss available options and required documentation. Requests are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis, and approval is not guaranteed.
Misrepresentation
Students are expected to provide complete and accurate information when applying for financial aid. The College is required to resolve conflicting information and may report suspected fraud, falsification of records, or other misrepresentation to the appropriate federal or state agencies as required by law.
Student Complaints
Students with concerns regarding financial aid are encouraged to first contact the Office of Financial Aid so questions or concerns may be reviewed and, when appropriate, resolved promptly.
Students who wish to pursue a formal complaint should follow the College's published Student Complaint procedures. Information regarding the student complaint process, including procedures for filing complaints with the College and external agencies when appropriate, is available on the College's Consumer Information website.