2015-2016 Academic Catalog

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Federal Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is defined as the process of adequately proceeding toward the completion of a degree. The Financial Aid office is required by federal regulations to ensure that students who are receiving federal and state financial aid for their education are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree in a reasonable period of time. The complete policy is available at www.ciu.edu/become-student/financial-aid . For questions concerning the policy, please contact the Financial Aid office at 803.807.5036. CIU Institutional Aid Columbia International Univeristy awards institutional financial aid to full-time, degree-seeking students. All awards are subject to revision. The Financial Aid office works to determine the best overall financial aid package for each student. For more detailed information, please refer to the financial aid page at www.ciu.edu/become-student/financial-aid . CIU Grants & Scholarships CIU students must be enrolled full time in a degree-seeking program to be eligible for CIU scholarships and grants. They must maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet all CIU community standards. CIU scholarships and grants are only awarded during the Fall and Spring semesters. It is best to understand a grant as an entitlement that the student receives, possibly in conjunction with other grants. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of specific criteria. Students may receive only one of the following scholarships (below). Each scholarship and grant has a minimum GPA requirement. In order for a CIU student to retain eligibility for institutional aid, the student must meet the following criteria:

Scholarships & Grants R.C. McQuilkin Scholarship

Undergraduate GPA

Graduate-Level GPA

3.0

(Undergraduate only)

Board Scholarship

3.0

(Undergraduate only)

Presidential Scholarship

2.5

3.0

Dean Scholarship

2.5

3.0

Servant Leader Scholarship Achievement Scholarship

2.5

3.0

2.5

(Undergraduate only)

Donor Scholarship

2.5

3.0

Varies. Must maintain minimum GPA requirement for program of study.

All Other CIU Grants

2.0

CIU also awards endowed scholarships which have been established by and are funded through individuals, families, and institutions that are deeply committed to God’s work around the world and to the role CIU plays in training laborers for that work. Student recipients of these scholarships are required to provide an appropriate “thank you” letter to the donor(s). A complete list of such scholarships can be found at the end of this section. Students not meeting the criteria noted above will have their CIU scholarships and grants removed as applicable. When returning students are being reviewed for their financial aid packages for the upcoming academic year, those who fail to meet the GPA and character requirements will not be awarded CIU institutional aid. GPA requirements are not reviewed in the middle of the academic year; however, students on character probation can have their aid removed at any point in the academic year. The policy regarding institutional aid can be obtained in the Financial Aid office or online at www.ciu.edu/become-student/financial-aid .

182│ COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

2015-2016 │FINANCIAL AID

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