Federal Student Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant Program is an entitlement award designed to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students who qualify on the basis of financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These are grant funds which do not need to be repaid. The amount of the Federal Pell Grant is determined on the basis of the student aid index the cost of education, the number of courses taken, and the number of semesters in attendance per academic year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This is a federally funded grant program. Recipients are selected by Assumption University, and funds are reserved for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need (Federal Pell Grant eligible).

Federal Work Study Program

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is a low-interest, long-term educational loan available to students to assist them in meeting their educational expenses. Funds are provided by the federal government. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who demonstrate financial need will be eligible for a William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan. The William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is for students who do not demonstrate financial need. Limits for this program are set by the federal government depending upon the student’s year in college.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility

In order to retain financial aid eligibility, all undergraduate students enrolled on either a full-time or part-time basis must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP is defined by the regulations of the U.S. Department of Education as, “proceeding in a positive manner toward fulfilling degree requirements.” Please note that these standards differ from the academic standing standards as stated in the “Academic Policies” section of this catalog. Students are evaluated annually at the end of the spring semester. Financial Aid SAP review includes the following qualitative and quantitative standards of measurement: cumulative GPA, cumulative credit hour completion, and maximum time frame limitation.

Qualitative

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). A student must be in good academic standing to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid. This means a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Quantitative (Pace)

Minimum Completion Rate for Attempted Credit Hours. Each academic year, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with the Office of Student Financial Services, will evaluate all students’ academic progress by comparing the number of successfully completed courses with the number of courses attempted during the academic year. A student must demonstrate progress by accumulating academic credits at a rate that indicates graduation in a timely manner. A student who is not progressing towards graduation at the defined completion rate will not receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid regardless of GPA. A student must successfully complete at least 67% of all cumulative attempted credit hours in order to be eligible for all sources of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funding at Assumption University. The cumulative, attempted credit hours include all transfer credit accepted by Assumption University and noted on the academic transcript.

Quantitative (Maximum Timeframe) - Degree Completion

Maximum time frame is the maximum number of years after first enrollment that a student may complete Assumption University courses in the pursuit of a degree. The maximum time frame for completing a program cannot be longer than 150% of the published length of the program or the required number of credits of the student’s degree program. For a full-time student pursuing a 4-year undergraduate degree, the student is allowed up to 6 years or 180 attempted credits of federal and state financial aid eligibility to earn the 120 credits required for degree completion. All semesters the student is enrolled will count towards the maximum time frame, even if the student did not receive aid for each of those semesters. If it becomes apparent that the student will be unable to meet SAP standards within the maximum time frame, the student will become ineligible for financial aid. The qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe review will be completed on an annual basis by the Office of Student Financial Services to determine if the student has exceeded the maximum years in which courses are attempted.

Treatment of Courses

• Audited classes will not be counted as attempted or earned credit.
• Incomplete courses with an “I” designation will be counted as credit attempted but not earned.
• Pass/No Credit courses which are passed (grade above C-) will not be factored in the GPA component of SAP, but will be counted as attempted and completed credits. Students who receive a grade of below C- in the Pass/No Credit option will not have the grade counted towards their GPA and the credits will be considered as attempted and unearned credit.
• Repeat Coursework - Students may receive financial aid funding for the repeat of a failing grade or withdrawal of any class or classes. Repeat of the same course may only be funded one additional time. Every attempt of a repeated course counts as attempted towards completion rate, but it only counts once as completed.
• Transfer credits accepted by Assumption University will be counted as attempted and earned credit and count towards the quantitative (pace and maximum timeframe) but not the qualitative SAP review (GPA).
• Grades earned - Students who earn the following grades in a course will be counted as credit attempted and earned: A, A-, B+, B, B- C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-. • Courses with grades of F (failure), I (incomplete) and W (withdrawal) will be counted as credits attempted but not earned.

Leaves of Absence

The period of time for which a student received an approved, institutional leave of absence will be excluded from the maximum time frame required to complete their program.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail to meet the required Financial Aid SAP standards will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and become ineligible for continued financial aid funding (federal, state, and institutional) beginning with the term immediately following the term in which the SAP requirements were not met. The Office of Student Financial Services will notify the student in writing of their aid status and the appeal process.

Academic Dismissal or Withdrawal

Students who are academically dismissed or who withdraw from Assumption University will no longer qualify for any source of financial aid funding: federal, state, or institutional.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility: Appeal Process

Students not meeting Assumption University’s financial aid SAP requirements may appeal the loss of financial aid funding to the Office of Financial Aid by completing the Financial Aid SAP Appeal form. Some examples of reasons for such a request may include, but are not limited to, serious illness or injury to the student or immediate family member, death of an immediate family member,or significant trauma in the student’s life that impaired the student’s emotional or physical health.

Appeal Procedures

A Financial Aid SAP Appeal Form must be submitted by the student to the Office of Student Financial Services for review. The appeal should explain in detail the reason(s) for not meeting the standards for academic progress, the step(s) the student plans to take to correct his/her academic progress, and list in detail any extenuating circumstance(s) of which the appeal committee should be aware.

Financial Aid Probation

If a student’s Financial Aid SAP appeal is approved, the student’s status changes from Financial Aid Suspension to Financial Aid Probation, and the student is eligible to receive financial aid for the designated timeframe indicated in the appeal letter.

Academic Education Plan

A student’s appeal may be approved with the condition they follow an Academic Education Plan, standards of which will be set forth by the Director of Financial Aid. At the end of the timeframe in which the student is allowed to receive financial aid while on Financial Aid Probation status, the student will be reviewed to ensure they are meeting the terms of their plan. If the student chooses not to appeal or the appeal is denied, the student may continue to enroll in classes (without the assistance of financial aid) if they are still academically eligible to do so. Payment plans and some private loans are available to assist the student during the timeframe in which the student remains ineligible for aid. A student may regain eligibility by meeting Financial Aid SAP standards in future semesters.

Verification Policy

The federal government randomly selects financial aid applicants for a process called “verification.” Students and parents should review the results of their processed FAFSA (ISIR) to see if they have been selected for verification. If selected, the Assumption University Office of Student Financial Services will notify applicants of the required documents they will be need to complete and submit. Failure to respond to any verification request may result in the loss of financial aid.

Veterans Benefits

In accordance with Sec. 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Assumption permits any covered individual to attend beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the University with a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33. A certificate of eligibility may also include a Statement of Benefits obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Assumption University does not penalize Chapter 31 or 33 students if/when the VA is late making payments, and does not have any policies in place that would prevent enrolling in and attending courses. It does not assess late fees, or require alternative or additional sources of funding, or deny access to school resources due to late VA payments.

In order to prevent outstanding student accounts, Chapter 31 or 33 students must:

• Submit a COE or Statement of Benefits by the first day of classes
• Submit a written request to be certified
• Provide any additional information needed for certification

Merit Scholarships

The Assumption University Merit Scholarship Program was established to reflect the University’s commitment to upholding a campus culture that champions academic excellence and student leadership. Scholarships are awarded to entering first year students whose high school records demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership, and potential for success at Assumption University. Merit scholarships are renewed annually (up to four years/eight semesters) as long as students maintain the required GPA while enrolled at Assumption University. Merit Scholars may also qualify for need-based financial aid to supplement their merit awards.

Augustine Scholarship

The Augustine Scholarship was established in 1996. These merit scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors who have been nominated by faculty, staff, and administrators on the basis of their high academic achievement, who have demonstrated leadership in academic and co-curricular endeavors, and who are of good character.

Endowed Scholarships

Through the generosity of its alumni and special benefactors, Assumption University is able to assist many students in awarding them scholarship and grant funding to offset their educational costs. The majority of endowed scholarships are awarded to students based on their demonstrated financial need (FAFSA) and will replace previously awarded Assumption University Grant funding. The following is a list of the endowed scholarships that are available on a limited basis through the Office of Financial Aid.

• William and Jean Alberga Scholarship
• Pierre B. Aucoin, M.D. ‘25 Scholarship
• Authier-Vallée Scholarship Fund
• John J. Barnosky, Esq. ’64 Endowed Scholarship
• Bro. Robert Francis Beaulac, A.A. Memorial Scholarship
• Henry Beauvais Scholarship Fund
• Robert W. Blanchette Scholarship Fund
• John L. Bresciani ‘72 Memorial Scholarship
• Winifred Brough Scholarship
• Dr. Eugene W. Byrnes Scholarship
• Angeline C. Carocari Scholarship Fund
• Christopher R. Caron Scholarship
• Dorothy and Normand ‘34 Cartier Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Reverend Gilbert Chabot, A.A. Scholarship in memory of Ellen M. Amaral
• Paul N. Chaput Fund
• David L. Christianson Scholarship Fund
• John and Elena Clancy Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Class of 1975 Endowed Scholarship
• Paul ‘38 and Georgette Coderre Scholarship Fund
• Jeanne Y. Curtis Endowed Scholarship
• George E. And Sarah Denommé Memorial Scholarship
• Fr. Louis F. Dion, A.A. ‘35 Scholarship
• Harry Doehla Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Dr. Angela G. Dorenkamp Scholarship
• Mary M. Doyle G’77 Scholarship
• Dufault Family Scholarship
• Saint Marie Eugénie Scholarship
• Fallon Health Scholarship
• Reverend Joseph S. Fortin Scholarship Fund
• Fuller Family Fund
• Robert ’65 and Maureen G’67 Gray Scholarship Fund
• Thomas and Bernadette Goulet Grenier Scholarship
• Roland Gregoire ‘34 Scholarship Fund
• Fr. Paul Goudreau G’65 Scholarship
• Joseph H. Hagan Scholarship Fund
• Raymond P. and Myrtle S. Harold Memorial Fund
• William Randolph Hearst Foundation Scholarship
• The John J. Hynes, Sr. Family Scholarship
• The Jean L. Hynes Family Scholarship
• Docithe E. Jette and Diana Savaria Jette Memorial Scholarship Fund
• J. Michael Keefe ’93 Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Gregory A. Keil ’94 Endowed Scholarship
• Brian Kelly ’83 Family Endowed Scholarship
• Susan ’80 and Jeffrey ’76 Lagarce Endowed Scholarship
• Fr. Raymond Lambert ’50 Endowed Scholarship
• The Cynthia Courtney and Adelard F. Landry ’42 Scholarship
• The Dr. Joseph Alfred ’56 and Jacquelyn Mary Leblanc Scholarship
• Bro. Armand Lemaire, A.A. ’48 Scholarship
• James G. Lucchese Scholarship
• Lynch Scholarship Award
• Raymond J. Marion Scholarship Award
• Christine Cannon Marcks ’77 Endowed Scholarship
• Prof. James McCarthy Memorial Scholarship
• Nancy E. McGovern Endowed Scholarship
• Milleret-Barnes Scholarship
• Colonel Francis R. Moulin Scholarship
• Albert G. Nault, Sr. Scholarships
• Agnes (Murphy) and Edward Neafsey, Jr. and Marion (Kelliher) and Lawrence Picard Scholarship
• Stephen ‘69 and Cynthia O’Brien Scholarship
• Matteo A. Pagano ’59 Scholarship
• Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Endowed Scholarship
• J. Romeo Pelletier ’52 Endowed Scholarship Fund
• George ‘47 and Jacqueline Picard Scholarship
• Dr. Maurice B. Plasse Memorial Scholarship
• Tom and Monty Plough Scholarship Fund
• Clara Racine Reardon Scholarship
• Hilaire J. Racine Scholarship
• Joseph Racine Scholarship for Medical Students
• G. Rainville and N. Rainville Family Scholarships
• Joseph Riley ’11 Scholarship Fund
• Colleen Ritzer ’11 Memorial Scholarship
• Leo and Madeline Remillard Scholarship Prize
• Maria E. Robert Scholarship
• Mabel C. Ryan Scholarship
• Alice L. Sabean Scholarship
• Santander Bank Scholarship
• Louise A. and John Enrico Scola Scholarship
• Bertha M. and Elzeard J. Senecal Prize
• Erika and Geoff Smith ’66 Scholarship Fund
• Stanley and Mary Ann Snider Scholarship
• The Spillane Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Sullivan Family Scholarship
• Mrs. Nellie E. Surprenant Scholarship Fund
• Rev. Arthur A. Sylvestre Scholarship
• Richard Testa ’59 Scholarship
• The Chester Thompson Scholarship in the Natural Sciences
• The Shirley Thompson Scholarship in the Visual Arts
• John and Helen Tinsley Scholarship Fund
• Michael and Dorothy Tsotsis Scholarship Fund
• Msgr. Roger Viau ’38 Scholarship
• The Nita and Charles Volkavitch Scholarship