Financial Aid

Financial aid at Shaw University consists of scholarships, grants, loans, and jobs awarded singly or in the form of a “package” to meet a student’s financial need. The factor of need is considered for all forms of financial assistance. The financial aid program is designed to provide financial assistance to qualified and deserving students who, without it, would not be able to attend or remain in school.

A student must be enrolled as at least a half-time matriculated student and must be in good academic standing to be eligible for most financial assistance. However, certain programs require a student to maintain a full-time status.

Financial aid is awarded for one-year only, upon reapplication and continued eligibility. The priority deadline for applying for Shaw University administrated financial aid is March 1 for the ensuing academic year.

An entering student must be accepted for admission before receiving an award letter regarding financial aid. An award notification for applicants who have met the March 1 priority deadline is normally mailed to the applicant by June 1.

Questions pertaining to financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office, George C. Debnam Hall at (800) 475-6190.

Sources of Financial Aid

Financial assistance is provided through any one or a combination of the following:

William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program. The Federal Direct Loan is a low-interest loan made to eligible students by the federal government. This loan is made for the purpose of helping a student meet his/her educational expenses. Students who demonstrate need may borrow up to $3,500 a year as first-year students, $4,500 a year as second-year students, and $5,500 a year after the completion of the first two years of undergraduate study. Repayment begins six-months after graduation, withdrawal or after the student cease to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. The aggregate amount may not exceed $23,000.

William D. Ford Federal Direct PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS.) PLUS loans are for parents of dependent students enrolled in college. These loans provide additional funds for educational expenses. Borrowers begin repayment of principal and interest at a variable interest rate within 60 days of the receipt of the loan funds, unless they are eligible for a deferment. Parents of dependent students may borrow up to the student’s cost of attendance minus any financial aid received. PLUS loans are subject to credit approval.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. These are Direct Loans that are not based on need and are available to students who do not qualify for the loan subsidy. The borrower is responsible for paying the interest during in-school and deferment periods. However, the borrower may defer the interest while enrolled. The loan limits are the same as the Federal Direct Stafford Loan for dependent students. This loan also provides additional funds for educational expenses.

Independent students may borrow unsubsidized loans up to $4,000 per year as first- and second-year undergraduates and $5,000 per year as third- and fourth-year undergraduates (not to exceed the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid), to help meet educational expenses. Repayment begins six-months after graduation, withdrawal or after the student ceases to be enrolled on at least half-time basis. The aggregate amount may not exceed $34,500.

Dependent students whose parents are denied a PLUS loan may borrow at the same loan limits established for independent students. The aggregate unsubsidized loan limit for dependent students is $31,000.

Students also have an additional $2,000 in annual unsubsidized loan eligibility. These funds are available to Independent and Dependent students. A PLUS denial is not required for the additional $2,000 unsubsidized loan; however, the funds count toward the aggregate loan limits for both Dependent and Independent students.

Federal Pell Grants. These grants are available to eligible Undergraduate students who are attending college on a full-or part-time basis. They are based on a federal formula that measures the ability of students’ families to meet their educational expenses. An application for a Pell Grant must be submitted for the academic year for which the student is applying. Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) by applying on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. A processed Student Aid Report (SAR) should be received by email within three to five business days. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA application online. Students may call 1-800 4-FEDAID to request a paper application by mail. A limited number of applications may be available from institutions of postsecondary education, high schools, and public libraries. A Student Aid Report (SAR) should be received within three to six weeks for those who completed a paper FAFSA. The University receives an electronic copy as long as Shaw University’s school code (002962) is listed.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG). FSEOG awards are made to the students with greatest need, with priority given to students who receive a Pell Grant. The grant ranges from $250 to $4,000 per academic year, depending upon the student’s need and the availability of funds.

North Carolina Need-based Scholarship (NBS): This scholarship is funded by the North Carolina State Legislature for eligible students who attend private institutions. Students must be a legal resident of the state of North Carolina for tuition purposes. Students must be admitted and enrolled in an undergraduate program in a matriculated status. A student must file a FAFSA form and have an Expected Family Contribution under the federal methodology that does not exceed $15,000. A student must be enrolled for no less than (9) credit hours and must not be in default, nor owe a refund, under any federal or state loan or grant program. A student must also meet all other eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant, except the EFC requirement, and has complied with the registration requirements of the Military Service Act or is exempt from the registration requirements. A student cannot receive a need-based scholarship for more than (9) full-time academic semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time or if the student is enrolled in a program of study that is a five-year degree program that requires eleven (11) full-time academic semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time. The award amounts for this scholarship varies based a student’s EFC and enrollment status.

Federal Work-Study (FWS). The Work-study program provides part-time employment to eligible students who are enrolled. Students earn at least the minimum wage. Work-study gives students a chance to earn money to help meet their educational expenses. Students are employed on campus by a variety of departments and offices, or at an off-campus community service location with the typical student working approximately 8 to 12 hours per week. Federal Work-Study is a need based program. Funds are awarded on a first come, first serve basis to eligible students according to fund availability.

Scholarships and University Grant-in-Aid. Scholarships are awarded to students for participation in various organizations, such as band and choir. Students are also awarded various grant-in-aid awards for participation in various sports. Recommendations for such scholarships and grant-in-aid awards are made by the program directors, or coaches respectively. The scholarships vary in amount and are renewable each year provided the student continues to maintain satisfactory academic progress and receives the requisite recommendation from his/her director/coach. Other scholarships are awarded according to criteria set by each donor.

Transfer Students and Financial Aid

In order to be considered for aid, transfer students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include Shaw University’s school code (002962).

Students transferring after only one semester from another institution may still be eligible for any aid as long as the full amount of federal aid was not used at the previous institution, including Pell Grants and Federal Loans.

Shaw University will not make a final decision on the aid package until there is a check by way of the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to determine if previous Pell Grant and Federal Loans have been exhausted.

Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress

At the end of each semester, the records of all matriculated students are reviewed to determine satisfactory academic progress. A student’s academic standing at Shaw University is classified in one of four official standings: Good Standing, Academic Warning, Academic Suspension, or Academic Dismissal. A student will remain in good academic standing if he/she demonstrates satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the standards listed below. Standards by which a student will be evaluated include progress in increments of hours completed (quantitative) and cumulative grade point average earned (qualitative).

Quantitative Standards:

• Students must successfully earn two-thirds (i.e., 67% rounded to the nearest whole number) of the credit hours attempted. Attempted hours include all hours attempted at the University, as well as transfer hours. Transfer credit hours from another institution that are accepted toward the student’s academic degree program will count as both attempted and completed hours. [Example: If a student has attempted (enrolled in) in a total of 32 credit hours, he/she must earn a minimum of 21 credit hours (32 credit hours x 0.67 = 21 credit hours) in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress.]
• The maximum time frame allowed for a student to complete degree requirements and remain eligible to receive financial aid is 150% of the total credit hours required to receive a degree in a particular course of study. [Example: If a particular degree program requires a minimum of 123 credit hours, then the student may be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 185 attempted credit hours (123 credit hours x 150% = 185 credit Hours).]

Qualitative Standard:

• A student’s cumulative grade point average must meet the criteria specified in the table below.

Please note: all correspondences regarding academic status are sent electronically to the student’s official Shaw University email and BearsNet. For security all other email addresses will not be used regarding private and sensitive information.

Academic Warning

A student is placed on academic warning when the student’s semester grade point average and credit hours are below the minimum requirements according to the table above. If a student fails to remove the sanction by the end of the following semester, the student will be placed on academic suspension. A student may remain on probation for academic suspension for two (2) consecutive semesters. Students who have an academic warning or are readmitted after an academic suspension or dismissal must adhere to the following:

1. Enroll in no more than 13 semester hours.
2. Repeat all failed courses that are core requirements for their degree or required for their major.
3. If students have not already done so, visit the Academic Advising Center for an Academic Recovery Plan, referral for additional assistance from the academic department for the failed course and/or attend mandatory sessions in Tutorial Services.
4. Mandatory Weekly-Check -Ins with the Academic Advising Center
5. Complete two hours of mandatory tutorial services at the Student Success Center.
6. Maintain regular contact with their academic faculty advisor and the Academic Advising Center according to their individual Academic Recovery Plan.
7. All academic probationary students’ academic progress and participation will be documented and shared with the SAP Academic Standards Committee throughout and at the end of the semester.

If a student achieves a GPA of 0.999 or less at the end of a fall or spring semester and has attempted 24 or more semester hours, then the student will be placed on academic warning.

Academic Suspension and Academic Dismissal

Academic suspension occurs automatically at the end of the second semester when a student fails to remove the academic warning sanction. A student who has an academic suspension sanction may improve his/her academic standing by attending Summer School at Shaw University. Attendance at Summer School, however, does not result in automatic readmission to the University. Students may be readmitted upon the recommendation of the Academic Standards Committee. Students who are readmitted by the Academic Standards Committee will be assigned to work with the Academic Advising Center on a recovery plan. The Academic Advising Center staff will review a student’s progress at the end of the semester following readmission to the University to determine if the student has made progress under the plan and if so the Academic Standards Committee, with recommendation from the Academic Advisng Center, will give the student an additional semester of probation, and the student will not be placed on academic dismissal even if he/she fails to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standard. If the student has failed to improve his/her cumulative GPA at the end of the semester of readmission, and has not been placed on an additional semester of probation by the Academic Standards Committee then that student is subject to academic dismissal. At the end of the second semester after readmission, the student must meet the aforementioned minimum qualitative and quantitative standards.

A student who has been academically dismissed will be required to leave the university for one semester. They may appeal the dismissal in writing to the Academic Standards Committee in care of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The appeal process for Academic Suspension and Academic Dismissal is as follows:

Any student who is on Academic Suspension may appeal the suspension in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The request must include documentation to support the extenuating circumstances. Examples of acceptable documentation include, but are not limited to: death certificates, statements from physicians(s), clergy, or other verifiable information.

1. The letter of appeal must be received by the Academic Advising Center according to the date specified in the letter.
2. Below is the required information that must be submitted with your academic appeal letter.                                                                                             Appeal submissions without this information will not be reviewed.

   Student Academic Success Recovery Plan

   Item 1:  Please identify the obstacles you encountered last semester:

   Upon review of your past academic history, what circumstances negatively

   impacted your grades? Describe and discuss in detail obstacles you faced.

   Examples of common obstacles are below:

   Academic Obstacles:

   Ineffective study skills, lack of effective time management skills, unprepared for exams

   and why, what worked in high school doesn’t work anymore, hard to concentrate, difficult classes/not prepared for course level, conflict with professor, unable to understand course

   content or find important information, poor reading skills, poor study skills, did not disclose individualized learning plan which would have allowed for classroom modifications

      Personal/Other Obstacles:

   Financial difficulties, health problems, hard to get out of bed in the morning, use

   or abuse of alcohol or other substance(s), possible learning disability, difficulty

   sleeping at night, pressure, stress, anxiety, tension, excessive time spent online,

   family issues, extracurricular activities, working long hours

    

   Item 2: Generate potential solutions for overcoming the obstacles you

   described and discussed:

   Think about possible solutions for overcoming the obstacles you described.

   Make sure you list and discuss potential solutions for overcoming the obstacles you

    faced in your academic success recovery plan.

    

   Item 3: Commit to workable and achievable solutions:

   What are the most achievable solutions you are willing to try?

   How will these solutions help you?

   What changes will you need to make to achieve your goals?

   What will these solutions require of you in terms of time and effort?

    

   Please note: The information provided will be included in final academic recovery

   plan completed with the Academic Advising Center.

    

   1. The Academic Advising Center will submit the student’s appeal to the Academic Standards Committee. The Academic Standards Committee will review the academic suspension and/or the academic appeal. If the appeal is approved, the readmitted student will be allowed to resume attending classes on probation. If the appeal is denied, the Academic Suspension /Academic Dismissal will stand and the student will be required to comply with the conditions based on the decision of the Academic Standards Committee.

    

   2. If the student fails to complete the Academic Advising Center Re-admit process, the appeal

   will be forfeited and the student will not be able to attend for the semester and must re-appeal

   for consideration of readmission for a different semester.

    

   3.If student does not appeal for ensuing semester, the student will have an appeal deadline until

   the week before formal classes begin of semester appealing to attend. The only exceptions to this deadline are military deployment, death of an immediate family member, and/or

   an  immediate medical emergency. All supportive documentation must be provided at the time

   of appeal submission.

A student who has been readmitted twice on an appeal is no longer eligible to be readmitted to the University.

Summer School

If a student receives an academic warning or academic suspension sanction at the end of a semester and plans to attend summer school to correct his/her deficiency, the student must file an appeal to request reconsideration of the decision based on summer only. The warning or suspension will not automatically change because the student attends summer school.

Readmission

Any student who has previously attended Shaw University, but was not in attendance during the prior semester or who withdrew from the University before completing the prior semester. A student who has been academically dismissed from the University must refer to the section on Satisfactory Academic Progress. A student who formally withdrew may apply for readmission prior to the beginning of the next scheduled semester or summer session.

Any student who has previously attended Shaw University, but was not in attendance during the prior semester or who withdrew from the University before completing the prior semester, is required to submit an appeal letter to the Academic Standards Committee. All correspondences with students occur electronically via email. Once the student has received his/her re-admit status, the student must complete an application for readmission with the Office of Admission. A student who is appealing to return back to the University, and he/she has an Academic Warning or University Withdrawal will not have an appeal to count against them.  

If the appeal is denied, by the Academic Standards Committee, the student is referred to attend a Community College enrolling and successfully passing full-time transferable credits. The official transcript from the community college must be submitted for review of academic progress. Please not only credit hours will transfer and not grade point averages. Once the student re-submits the appeal letter with the official transcript from another University/ Community College; the Academic Standards Committee members will review all documents for the semester he/she is applying.

A student who has been readmitted twice on an appeal is no longer eligible to be readmitted to the University.

Please contact the Office of Academic Advising Center for additional assistance at (919) 582-4990.

Withdrawals, Incompletes, and Repeats

Withdrawals, incompletes, “Z” grade, and repeated courses will not be exempt from the calculation of attempted hours. Students will be required to complete the minimum number of credits as outlined in the above chart.