VU Home PageFinancial Aid HomepageDeadlinesCost of AttendanceAcademic ProgressGrantsLoansScholarshipsAlternative LoansInternational StudentsSpecial CircumstancesFAQ's

Academic Progress




Satisfactory Academic Progress

Vincennes University is required under Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments to define and administer standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving financial aid.
Recipients must maintain sufficient progress to assure successful completion of their educational objectives as measured by qualitative and quantitative standards.
 
Top

Qualitative and Quantitative Standards

After attempting 12 credits, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 1.8 and complete at least 60% of their cumulative attempted credit hours with passing grades.

After earning 30 quality hours, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 1.9 and complete at least 60% of their cumulative attempted credit hours with passing grades.

After earning 45 quality hours, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and complete at least 60% of their cumulative attempted credit hours with passing grades.

Students who do not meet these conditions will be placed on financial aid probation.
 
Top

Financial Aid Probation.

While students are on probation, they must finish 100% of all courses attempted with a semester GPA of at least 2.0. If they do not achieve this standard at the completion of their next semester of enrollment, they will be placed on financial aid suspension.

For this purpose an “earned F” counts as a finished course as does a grade of DE in a developmental reading course. Students “earn an F” when they stay in the course and try to pass but fail in this effort. In this case a student does not earn credits, and any Fs in non-developmental courses count in the GPA. Students who receive any grades of W, WN, WF, or I do not finish 100% of courses attempted. Courses attempted are those courses in which a student is enrolled after the first week of classes (add/drop week).

Students will receive a letter clearly stating these requirements, and they must sign and submit an acknowledgement that they understand their status and what they must do to avoid suspension of their
financial aid. While they are on probation, they will receive the financial aid for which they are eligible.
Thus, there is no appeal of probationary status.

Students will be removed from probation after they achieve at least (added: at least) the 60% completion rate and at least the minimum GPA relevant to the number of hours they have earned.
 
Top

Financial Aid Suspension.

Students who, while on financial aid probation, do not meet the semester GPA and completion standards stated above will have their financial aid suspended. Since this means they will not receive the
financial aid for which they would otherwise be eligible, they may appeal their suspension. If their appeal is granted, they will receive the financial aid for which they are eligible, but they will remain on financial aid probation.

If a grade of I during a semester of probation is the only reason students have been placed on financial aid suspension, after they submit proof that they have completed the course with a grade other
than W, WN, or WF, their financial aid will be reinstated as long as the changed grade enables them to meet the minimum semester GPA of 2.0.

To appeal financial aid suspension, students must be able to cite and document significant extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting the minimum semester requirements.
Significant extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to extended illness, a death in the family, or some other serious personal or familial situation. Examples of acceptable documentation
include death certificates, diagnostic statements from physicians, and written statements from a third party familiar with the situation. Appeals will not be granted unless significant extenuating circumstances can be documented.
 
Top

Maximum Time Frame.

U.S. Department of Education rules allow colleges and universities to provide federal financial aid for a maximum of up to 150% of the credits needed to complete an academic program. For example, students working toward a degree that requires 64 credits, may receive federal financial aid for attempting up to 96 credits (64+32), and students working toward a certificate of completion that requires 30 credits may receive federal financial aid for attempting up to 45 credits (30+15). Once students have surpassed these limits at the completion of a semester or summer term, they will be on financial aid suspension and will no longer be allowed to receive federal financial aid.

Notice that we must count credits attempted and not just credits successfully earned. We must count the credits for courses in which students receive a grade of F, W, WF, WN, DE, RD, or I. We must
also count the credits for all courses attempted at Vincennes University whether the courses meet degree requirements or not.

There are some exceptions that might make it possible for Vincennes University to provide federal financial aid for additional credits.
• The university may exclude up to 30 credits of developmental courses attempted.
• The university may exclude some credits that are transferred from another college or university. Specifically, transfer credits that do not meet any requirements for the degree or certificate toward which a student is working at Vincennes University may be excluded.
• The university may include credits attempted or earned more than five years ago if enrollment has not been continuous.
• For students who have already earned one degree or certificate from Vincennes University and are working on a second degree or certificate, credits that are unique to the first degree or certificate earned may be excluded. Purely elective courses are not unique to the first degree or certificate earned and will be counted toward the 150% maximum.

Since significant extenuating circumstances may contribute to a student’s failure to complete a degree or certificate program within the 150% maximum time frame, we will accept appeals of suspension of federal financial aid. To appeal financial aid suspension, students must be able to cite and document significant extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting the maximum time frame requirements. Significant extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to extended illness, a death in the family, or some other serious personal or familial situation. Examples of acceptable documentation include death certificates, birth certificates, diagnostic statements from physicians, and written statements from a non-family third party familiar with the situation. Appeals will not be granted unless significant extenuating circumstances can be documented.
 
Top

Returning students:

The financial aid award shown in your award notification assumes that you have met the standards of academic progress at the end of your last semester of attendance at Vincennes University.
 
Top
News
Video
Majors A-Z
Campus Map
Phone Directory
Sitemap

Free Bluegrass Jam is Feb. 12 at Vincennes University

January 25, 2012

VINCENNES, Ind. - The 12th Annual Old Post Bluegrass Jam will be Feb. 12 at
Vincennes University’s Beckes Student Union.  Admission is free and the
public is invited to enjoy acoustic musicians as they jam together from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).  The Student Union is located at 1101 N. Second
Street and free parking is available on Third Street adjacent to the
building.

“We invite area musicians to bring their acoustic instruments and be
prepared to find folks to jam with.  The Bluegrass Jam is a lot of fun for
both participants and the audience,” said Bill Stedman, longtime organizer
of the popular event.

In addition to jams throughout the building, there will also be groups
performing on stage in the Food Court, including Mariah Creek at 1 p.m.,
Diamond Hill Station at 2 p.m., Rocky Rhoads at 3 p.m., and Hawf Family
String Band at 4 p.m.

Food and beverages will be available at Grinder’s Coffee Shop beginning at
7:30 a.m. and the Food Court beginning at 10:30 a.m., featuring a pork
barbecue meal with fries, slaw, and small drink for $5.99.

For more information call 812-882-0429 or go to www.vincennescvb.org.

Top

VU President to appear on Inside INdiana Business

January 25, 2012

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University is opening a new Logistics Training
and Education Center in Plainfield on Jan. 27.  VU President Dick Helton
will join Gerry Dick on the next Inside INdiana Business television program
to discuss the central Indiana Logistics Center’s impact.

Tune in on Saturday at 11 a.m. (EST) on WTHI-TV or 5:30 p.m. on WVUT-TV.
Check the show's website for other air times:
www.insideindianabusiness.com.

Top

VU Accounting students to prepare tax returns

January 25, 2012

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University students majoring in accounting will
be preparing tax returns for persons in the community and VU students.  The
students, under the direction of Lisa Nash, assistant professor, are
certified by testing through the IRS.

This free service is part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service.  Preparation ends March 1.  The
service will also be offered on two Saturdays, Jan. 28 and Feb. 4.

Students prepare 1040EZ, 1040A, 1040 with schedules A, B, C-EZ, D, child
and dependent care credit, and education credits.  The returns are filed
electronically with direct deposit available if desired.

Nash says that this is a good experience for students and enables them to
feel more comfortable dealing with clients, engaging in conversation,
performing as a professional, as well as a tax preparation experience.

Appointments are required.  To schedule, or for more information, call
2-1-1 or Generations at 812-888-4279.

Top

Helton speaks to state school board members

January 24, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Vincennes University President Dick Helton was a
presenter at the Leadership Seminar of the Indiana School Boards
Association (ISBA) in Indianapolis on Jan. 20.

ISBA currently has membership from 290 of the 291 Indiana public school
corporations and is the voice of 1,689 school board members in the state.

Helton spoke on the topic, “Building Collaborative Partnerships with Higher
Education.”  Helton described VU’s leadership role in collaborating with
high schools and vocational schools throughout the state in the areas of
dual credit/concurrent enrollment and early college programs.

VU’s dual credit concurrent enrollment program for high schools, Project
EXCEL, served 5,790 students in 2010-11 and generated 33,366 credit hours.
Project EXCEL is currently offered in 137 high schools and career centers
in 71 Indiana counties.

VU currently offers Early College programs in conjunction with high schools
at Ben Davis, Washington Community, Center Grove, Lawrenceburg, and
Evansville/Vanderburgh, with several other school sites under development.

Prior to becoming VU President in 2004, Helton served for 19 years as a
superintendent of schools in Indiana.

Top

VU’s Plainfield Logistics Training and Education Center to be dedicated Jan. 27

January 24, 2012

PLAINFIELD, Ind. - The public is invited to the dedication of the new
Vincennes University Logistics Training and Education Center on Jan. 27,
11:30 a.m., at 853 S. Columbia Road, Suite 151, in Plainfield.  The Center
is located near the Interstate 70 and Ronald Reagan Parkway.

Speakers will include Robin Brandgard, president of the Plainfield Town
Council, VU President Dick Helton, and VU Board of Trustees Chair J.R.
Gaylor.  Other VU speakers will include Phillip Rath, vice president for
Financial Services and Government Relations; David A. Tucker, vice
president for Workforce Development/Community Services; and James Dolan,
director of the Logistics Training and Education Center.

In April 2011 the Plainfield Town Council approved providing $500,000 in
start-up costs over five years for the Logistics Training and Education
Center in Plainfield to be administered by VU.  The announced goal was to
help attract and retain employers, create a highly trained workforce, and
enhance Plainfield’s role as a leading logistics community.

Plainfield is in close proximity to the expanding Indianapolis
International Airport, major roadways, and more than 25 million square feet
of distribution and light manufacturing space.

VU worked with industry professionals and Conexus Indiana to identify skill
gaps of workers in the logistics industry and designed a skills-based
training program to close these skill gaps industry-wide.  This
collaboration is an asset to the programs offered at the new Center in
Plainfield, especially in the area of stackable training certificates which
lead to a college degree.

The Center will bring to one location VU’s full range of logistics training
and educational opportunities.  It will provide basic training for
entry-level positions, including order picking training, fork-lift
certification, and truck driver training.  Also, training will be available
to those already in the logistics industry to hone specific skills, such as
short-term courses in material handling, lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma.

In addition, VU will offer hands-on training in connection with its
associate degree program in Supply Chain Logistics Management at the Center
beginning in the fall semester 2012.  The associate degree will be awarded
through VU's Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, and it may be
completed through both traditional semester-based catalog courses and
stackable training certificates.

The Center will provide a blended learning environment, combining
state-of-the-art classroom technology with hands-on logistics lab space
that simulates today’s high-tech warehouses, distribution centers, and
equipment utilized on the job at area employers.

More information about Vincennes University Logistics programs can be found
at www.vinu.edu/logistics.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional
sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport.  VU also offers
instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU
also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security,
nursing, and secondary education programs in mathematics, science, and
special education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 26 other states, and 37
foreign countries.  Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses
with residence halls.  VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in
the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the
United States.  William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded
VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory.  More information is
available at www.vinu.edu.

Top

More News...

800.742.9198
1002 N. First Street
Vincennes, IN 47591

The Higher Learning Commission