Today's Message
Posted: Thursday, April 24, 2014Financial Aid Conversations on Thursdays Series (FACTS): Grading
This week’s FACTS article features information to assist with grading and address the impact to students’ continued financial aid eligibility as mandated by the following federal regulations: (a) Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and (b) Return of Title IV (R2T4) Funds.
The Financial Aid Office (FAO) reviews students’ grades approximately one week after the grading window closes each semester (fall, spring, and summer; J-Term excluded) to determine future aid eligibility. Additionally, the FAO verifies that students retained eligibility for the federal financial aid already received for the semester. This review includes students who failed to earn at least one passing grade in the semester.
Below are facts to consider when submitting grades:
- Students who never attended class should be assigned a grade of EV rather than E. A last date of attendance (LDA) is not necessary for the EV grade designation.
- Last Date of Attendance (LDA): Non-passing grades that require an LDA include E, F, U, N, and I. The LDA is defined as the student’s last date of attendance at an academically related activity.
- Impact of non-passing status grades of I, N, W, and X: For the purpose of determining financial aid eligibility, these statuses negatively affect a student’s SAP PACE rate, as they are viewed as attempted but not completed. As such, these grades require the entry of an LDA.
- Late grade submissions: Faculty members who are unable to submit grades for the entire class roster should notify the FAO so that students’ aid eligibility can be reevaluated after the grades are updated in Banner.
For more information and ways you can assist students with grading, please refer to the Grading Guide.
Additional resources:
If you have questions regarding this article, please contact us at finaid@buffalostate.edu or ext. 4902. All questions and answers will be posted in the “You Asked for It” section of the FAO website. Click on the “Faculty and Staff” link (bottom left).
