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Eligibility for financial need is determined upon a complete review of the student’s application. Financial need for assistance is the mathematical difference between the Average Cost of Attendance and the student’s Expected Family Contribution. Once financial need is determined, a financial aid package is created combining grants, scholarships, work opportunities, loans, and any other external assistance. An award letter is issued explaining the cost of attendance, resources, and the financial aid that UGF is able to offer.
Student Responsibilities to Maintain Eligibility for Financial Aid Upon acceptance and receipt of financial assistance of any kind, it becomes the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office in writing of changes in Financial Aid and/or enrollment status. Changes include
- Change in the number of enrolled credits
- Change in name, address, or telephone number
- Change in financial status, including any additional scholarships, grants, or other benefits received
- Withdrawal from the University. A student who withdraws from UGF during the semester may be responsible for repayment of all or a portion of any financial aid received for the semester. Return of Federal Fund procedures are federally regulated. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information.
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Satisfactory Academic Progress. The University of Great Falls requires that all students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward a degree to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as
- The maintenance of a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) at UGF of 2.0 or better.
- Satisfactory completion of at least 66% of credits attempted and;
All students are expected to complete their degree objective within the standard described below:
- For an associate degree a maximum of 90 hours earned credit including transfer work.
- For a bachelor degree a maximum of 180 hours earned credit including transfer work.
- For a master degree a maximum of 90 graduate hours earned credit including transfer work.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end the Spring semester. Students who fail to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester enrolled. Students on probation may receive financial aid; however, they must meet the conditions of probation. Students who fail to meet the conditions of their Financial Aid Probation will be suspended from further financial aid eligibility at the University of Great Falls.
Suspensions may be appealed to the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services within 21 days of the end of the semester in which the student was suspended. Generally, appeals will be granted for extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s ability to control such as illness or death of an immediate family member or personal injury or illness. As a minimum, the appeal must include the following:
- A statement, plus documentation as appropriate, explaining the circumstances that have led to failure to meet the established SAP standards.
- A statement as to how the student will again conform with SAP standards.
Information about the appeal process can be found in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the Student Handbook.
Students may regain eligibility for financial aid by re-establishing their GPA and completion ratios using their own resources. A student who repeatedly violates the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress may be suspended from further aid eligibility at UGF without a probationary period.
Disbursement Of Funds: Funds are disbursed at the beginning of each semester after registration has been finalized. Grants, scholarships, and student loans will be credited towards tuition and fees first. Any remaining balance after tuition and fees are paid will be refunded to the student for other costs of attendance. Excess University institutional funds will not be calculated into a student refund. Wages earned in the student work program will be paid on a monthly basis.
Fair Notice: UGF reserves the right to revise any financial aid award. Modification of awards may be required due to lack of federal or state funding, corrections or changes in the data reported to the university by parents and/or students, receipt of additional awards from non-college sources, unintended error, student changes in credit load, change in residence, or other reasons consistent with federal or state law or university policies and procedures. Policies regarding financial aid are subject to change without advance notice if required by federal or state law, university policy, or the Financial Aid Office.
Scholarships: The University offers institutional scholarships to in-coming students based on academic achievement, financial need, an interest in or demonstrated aptitude for the fine arts and athletic participation. In addition, Continuing Student Gift Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic criteria and/or any combination of academics, financial need, campus/community activities, leadership positions and work experience. Scholarships reward, encourage, and assist students in pursing academic excellence and leadership roles.
Registration: The process for registering for classes is explained in the Course Schedule. The Course Schedule lists all courses to be offered at the University for a given year. It is published in the preceding semester. It is distributed to all students and published on the University website.
Refund Policies: Fees are not refunded. A student who reduces his or her credit load for a semester in a way that would reduce the total tuition charged for the semester may be eligible to receive a refund of a percentage of the difference in tuition.
The Course Schedule for the current academic year contains the refund schedule adjusted for weekend and summer classes. Financial Aid regulations may affect refunds.
The basic financial aid premise of the University of Great Falls is that the main responsibility for meeting college expenses lies with the student and the student’s family. Assistance from University of Great Falls is intended to help students finance their educations when family and personal resources are not adequate to meet the total educational costs. Financial Aid consists of scholarships and grants (free assistance), loans (which must be repaid), and part-time employment. The university makes every effort within its means to help students with limited financial resources secure the needed funds.
The University of Great Falls is fully committed to policies of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity, and vigorously pursues affirmative action in all programs, activities, and employment with regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age and status of disability.
The Title IV institution code for the University of Great Falls is 002527.
| University of Great Falls, 1301 20th Street South, Great Falls, Montana 59405 • Contact | 1-800-856-9544 |