If a student withdraws before 60 percent of the enrollment period (semester) has passed, federal regulations require that Title IV funds be returned to the programs according to a prorated schedule. Title IV funds include Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, PLUS Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants, National SMART Grants, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). The withdrawal date used to determine the return of federal funds is the date the student notifies the Division of Student Life of her intent to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the College. However, if a student leaves without beginning the Mills official withdrawal process or providing notification of her intent to withdraw, the withdrawal date will be the 50 percent point in the semester unless Mills determines the last date of an academically related activity of the student.

The percentage of Title IV funds to be returned is calculated by the number of calendar days not completed within a semester, as defined by the withdrawal dates above, divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester (from the first day of classes for the semester to the last day of finals). For example, if there are 100 calendar days in a semester and the student withdraws on the 25th day, 75 days have not been completed. This may result in the return of 75 percent of Title IV funds received by the student. However, if a student withdraws after 60 percent of the enrollment period has passed, no Title IV funds need to be returned.

Both Mills and the student may be responsible for returning federal funds to their source. Mills will return the lesser of the institutional charges times the percentage of unearned Title IV aid or the total of Title IV aid disbursed minus the amount of Title IV aid earned by the student. The student is responsible for returning the difference between the amount of Title IV aid returned by Mills and the total amount of unearned Title IV aid. In each case, funds must be repaid to the following sources, in order, up to the amount received from each source:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal PLUS Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
7. National SMART Grant
8. Federal SEOG
9. Other Title IV programs

Although Mills will return loan amounts directly to the lender, amounts to be returned by the student are repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note, i.e., a student would begin making payments on her student loan after the grace period, if applicable, has expired. Students must repay only 50 percent of any federal grant amounts scheduled for return by the student.

The percentage of Mills College scholarship funds returned to the Mills College Scholarship Program will reflect, at a minimum, the same percentage used to determine the tuition adjustment for which a student may be eligible. However, up to 100 percent of a student's Mills College scholarship funds may be returned to the Mills College Scholarship Program if a student has a credit balance after the adjustment for tuition and/or room and board is made and the amount of unearned Title IV aid due from Mills is returned to the Title IV aid programs. In this event, any institutional or state funds received by the student will be returned to the aid programs in the order listed below, up to the amounts received for each source and for as long as there is an amount to refund:

1. Mills College Loan
2. Institutional scholarships and/or state grants

If there is a credit balance remaining on the student's account after institutional and state funds have been returned, a refund for the remaining credit balance will be issued to the student.

The federal formula for the return of Title IV funds is available upon request from the M Center in Carnegie Hall.

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Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

In keeping with government regulations and Mills policy, financial aid recipients must make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate in order to receive institutional, federal, and/or state aid. Progress is monitored each semester in accordance with the policy outlined below.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Course Load
The normal undergraduate course load at Mills College is 4.25 credits per semester. Accordingly, students will be expected to complete:

• 8.5 credits by the end of the first year,
• 17 credits by the end of the second year,
• 25.5 credits by the end of the third year, and
• 34 credits by the end of the fourth year.

A financial aid recipient can enroll for less than 4.25 credits for a given semester without jeopardizing aid eligibility as long as:

• the above annual benchmarks can be maintained and
• the student enrolls for a minimum of 3.5 credits.

Grades of "Incomplete" cannot be counted as work completed for the purpose of determining satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.

Note: An aid recipient enrolling in fewer than 3.5 credits will jeopardize eligibility for federal and state grants, Mills scholarship funds, and possibly loan funds; therefore, students giving any consideration to enrolling in fewer than 3.5 credits should submit a written explanation of their circumstances to the M Center and should meet with a financial aid staff member to ensure that they understand how their aid eligibility would be affected.

Students who are planning to take a reduced course load due to disability will need to submit an academic plan (forms available in the Division of Student Life) to the M Center before the end of the second week of classes for the semester, complete the number of credits indicated on the academic plan, and maintain a minimum 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Any changes to the academic plan should be submitted before the end of the second week of classes, as changes made to the academic plan after the second week of classes will not be considered in determining the number of credits which must be completed by the end of the semester.

Other issues, such as leaves of absence during a semester, will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee upon receipt of a petition from the student.

Academic Standing
As defined by the Academic Standing Committee (ASC), an undergraduate whose cumulative and/or semester GPA is lower than 2.0 will be placed on financial aid probation.

Enrollment Status
Need-based Mills College scholarship assistance is awarded only to full-time students pursuing a first baccalaureate degree.

Duration of Student Aid Eligibility
Entering first-year students who receive financial aid are expected to graduate after completing the equivalent of eight semesters of course work. Changes in anticipated degree date do not automatically extend a student's financial aid eligibility.

For transfer students, the number of semesters of aid eligibility is established by the initial graduation date defined by the M Center upon entrance to Mills. The M Center reviews each transfer student's previous college course work and establishes an anticipated degree date for the student. A transfer student is eligible for financial aid for only the number of semesters remaining to the original anticipated degree date for a first baccalaureate degree. Changes in anticipated degree date do not automatically extend a student's financial aid eligibility.

Note: All transfer students are strongly advised to meet with their faculty advisors and visit the M Center during their first semester of enrollment to confirm any change in their anticipated degree date.

Financial aid eligibility for all undergraduate students continues only to the original expected date of graduation for a first baccalaureate degree. For example, a request to extend a graduation date in order to complete a second major is not a basis for extending financial aid eligibility an additional semester(s).

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Financial Aid Probation and Disqualification

An aid recipient who fails to meet the financial aid credit or GPA benchmarks during a given semester will be placed on financial aid probation for the upcoming semester. The student may continue to receive financial aid during the first semester of financial aid probation but will lose her eligibility for financial aid if she has not restored herself to the financial aid credit and GPA benchmarks by the end of that semester. Exception: Students who fail to complete a given semester and/or fail to receive at least one passing grade in a given semester will be disqualified from financial aid eligibility for subsequent semesters without the benefit of a semester of financial aid probation.

A student denied financial aid due to lack of satisfactory academic progress will not be considered for reinstatement until minimum GPA and/or credit completion standards have been met. The student must also meet satisfactory progress standards during semesters in which she does not receive aid. Appeals regarding decisions made according to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy should be addressed to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee and submitted to the M Center. Circumstances which may warrant an exception to the satisfactory academic progress standards include serious illness, injury, or death of a family member.

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