Scholarships and Financial Aid

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The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is located in 141 Wickes Hall. The telephone number is (989) 964-4103. The E-mail address is
financial-aid@svsu.edu.

A variety of financial aid programs are available to help finance your education.

While most financial assistance is distributed on the basis of established financial need, many scholarships and awards are available for qualified students regardless of their financial status.

Each application is considered on an individual basis.

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will create a financial aid package that can include scholarships, grants, loans and student employment to make your education possible.

Saginaw Valley State University offers a variety of scholarships (a sample is listed below). For an additional list of scholarships, please go to SVSU’s financial aid website at www.svsu.edu/financialaid.

SVSU Athletic Scholarship
SVSU Award for Excellence Scholarship
SVSU Community College Scholarship
SVSU Equity Grants
SVSU Fine Arts Awards
SVSU Foundation Scholars Program
SVSU Horizon Scholarship (Canadian Students)
SVSU Indian Tuition Waiver
SVSU Marching Band Scholarship
SVSU Presidential Scholarship
SVSU University Scholarship

A substantial number of additional scholarships based on merit or need are awarded through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. For further information on these scholarships and other financial aid assistance, refer to SVSU’s financial aid website, or contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Saginaw Valley State University also offers the SVSU Opportunity Grant for students who demonstrate financial need.

Saginaw Valley State University participates in the following U.S. Department of Education federal programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Federal College Work/Study
• Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized
• Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students)

Saginaw Valley State University participates in the following state of Michigan programs:

• Michigan Alternative Loans (MI-Loan)
• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• Michigan Educational Opportunity Grant
• Michigan Merit Award
• Michigan Work/Study Program

• Apply and be accepted for admission to SVSU as a degree seeking student. On-line admission is available at www.svsu.edu.
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Although some scholarships do not require submission of the FAFSA, SVSU strongly recommends its submission in order to maximize award eligibility.
• The application form is available at high school guidance offices, community college financial aid offices and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. You also can apply on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Because funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, it is to your advantage to apply as soon after Jan. 1 as possible.
• SVSU’s Federal School Code is 002314.

Complete your file at the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid:

• Once the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is notified by the U.S. Department of Education of your completed application, processing of your financial aid award eligibility will begin.
• Respond to any inquiry or request from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid promptly so your financial aid processing can proceed.
• Notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid if you receive or expect to receive a scholarship or award from a source other than Saginaw Valley State University.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be filed each academic year. Returning students may complete either the renewal application or the FAFSA. You also can apply on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Financial aid for each academic year could reflect changes due to funding levels.

Awarding Financial Aid

Federal, state, SVSU grants and some SVSU scholarships are awarded to students after the financial aid file is complete; other awards are made based upon selection processes. Financial aid awards are based on the planned enrollment status reported on the FAFSA for the fall and winter.

If students plan to obtain financial aid for the spring/summer semester, they must notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Students are notified of their financial aid awards through an Award Letter.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must be maintained while receiving federal, state and institutional financial aid at Saginaw Valley State University. There are three measurements for Satisfactory Academic Progress: SVSU cumulative grade point average, percentage of attempted courses completed, and maximum credit hours needed in which to complete a degree. Students must meet all three measurements. Students are reviewed at the end of the winter semester. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will result in cancellation of eligibility to receive funds from federal, state, or university programs.

Undergraduate student requirements:

• Maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average.
• Complete and pass 75 percent of credits attempted from Spring through Winter semesters.
• Program completion must be by 186 credit hours.

Graduate student requirements:

• Maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or meet the academic standards required by departments whichever is higher.
• Complete and pass 75 percent of credits attempted from Spring through Winter semesters.
• Program completion must be by 54 credit hours.

Students who do not meet the above requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress, are placed on financial aid probation for one academic year. The student can receive federal, state and institutional financial aid during probation. The program completion requirements are mandatory and have no probation period. Program completion for undergraduate students is 186 completed credit hours; program completion for graduate students is 54 completed credit hours.

A student will not be eligible for financial aid if any of the following has occurred:

• If the student does not meet the SAP requirements following one year of probation.
• If a student has met the maximum number of credit hours to complete a program.

Courses repeated will count toward the determination of full-time or part-time enrollment status. Repeat courses will not, however, add to a student’s cumulative credit hours earned unless the student did not pass the course(s) in earlier efforts. If a student earned credit hours prior to the repeat, the hours cannot be counted a second time. The new GPA may have an effect on a student’s eligibility.

Students enrolled in non-credit courses or non-degree courses in which the full tuition rate is charged, may use the credit hours for determination of full-time or part-time enrollment status. Non-credit courses numbered below 100 level of the basic skills requirements (ENGL 080, ENGL 082, MATH 081, MATH 082) can be used to meet the credit hour requirement of this policy. Non-degree courses cannot be used to meet the credit hour requirement.

Incomplete courses do not count toward satisfying the credit hours completed requirement. Incomplete courses do not influence the GPA in the semester in which they are taken. They are, however, counted once they are completed.

Students may appeal the decision to cancel financial aid based on the following circumstances:

• The student became very ill or severely injured.
• A death of a relative.

Students must submit a financial aid reinstatement form and supportive documentation. A reinstatement form is available from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Applications for reinstatement must be received in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid by the deadline of the Late Registration and Add/Drop period for the semester in which the appeal or reinstatement is requested. Applications received after the deadline date will be processed for the following semester. Decisions are made within 10 business days after receipt. Students will be notified in writing.

A student who loses federal, state and institutional financial aid may regain eligibility when satisfactory academic progress standards are met. This means that the SVSU GPA must be at the appropriate level and the required number of credit hours must be completed at the student’s expense. To satisfy the credit hour requirement, a student can attend another institution and transfer credits back to SVSU. Contact an SVSU academic advisor if you plan to attend another institution and transfer credits back to SVSU. After the required number of credit hours has been completed, the student can apply for a reinstatement of financial aid. The student must complete a Financial Aid Reinstatement Form available from the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid. Retroactive payments will not be made for semesters in which a student was not eligible for financial aid.

Students who have questions concerning the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy are advised to see a Financial Aid Advisor.