Students must be enrolled in at least half-time status. If a student drops below half-time (less than 6 hours as an undergraduate and 5 hours as a graduate) enrollment, they may be ineligible for aid, including loans. Additionally, depending on the time during the semester if a course(s) is dropped, a student’s aid may be adjusted. 

Whether or not to drop a course is an academic issue; however, it is a student’s responsibility to understand the financial implications of this decision.

To continue receiving financial aid, students must demonstrate that they are making satisfactory academic progress. Each school of the Health Sciences Center has established and administers policies on the satisfactory academic progress of its students. These policies include a delineation of the minimum grades, which must be achieved to meet the criteria for satisfactory academic progress, a full description of the application of these policies in regard to the various categories of students, a specific definition of the effects of course incompletes, withdrawals, and repetitions on satisfactory academic progress, and an explanation of the appeals process for those students who have been determined as not making satisfactory progress. For a full description of each school's policies consult the appropriate section of the LSUHSC-Catalog/Bulletin.

The Health Sciences Center requires that all work towards a bachelors, graduate, or professional degree be completed in not more than eight calendar years and that all work toward a certificate or an associate degree be completed in not more than five calendar years. Any requests for extension of this policy are subject to approval by the appropriate committee within each school and the dean of that school.

Student need plays a factor in what Title IV aid a student may eligible. The basic formula is:

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) = Calculated Need

Calculated Need - Gift and Need Based Aid = Remaining Need

Students and parents have access to their own information on StudentAid.gov. A student will need to create and use their FSA User ID and password to log in. Please instruct students to this site so that they may directly view their personal student loan information. Never ask students for their FSA user ID or password and remind them that they must not share their FSA User ID or password with any entity. Like your user ID and password, the student’s FSA User ID or password is private and personal. Financial Aid Professionals can access the information that students view on FSA's Partner Connect website.

LSUHSC will not award federal student aid to applicants selected for verification until the verification process is complete.  Therefore, selected applicants will not receive federal aid if they do not submit all required forms and documentation.

Federal regulations prohibit origination of federal loans after the end of the enrollment period, so loan applicants must complete all verification requirements at least one month before the end of the enrollment period to ensure sufficient time for the aid office staff to complete the verification process, loan award and loan origination.  The applicant must meet other loan-related requirements before origination of a federal loan.

In some instances students eligible for Federal Pell Grant funding may complete the verification process after the end of the enrollment period and still receive a retroactive grant award.  However, LSUHSC highly recommends completion of the process before the end of the enrollment period.

• Remain aware of issues affecting students and continually advocate for their interests at the institutional, state and federal levels. 
• Support federal, state and institutional efforts to encourage students to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school. 

• Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
• Deal with others honestly and fairly, abiding by our commitments and always acting in a manner that merits the trust and confidence others have placed in us.
• Protect the privacy of individual student financial records. 
• Promote the free expression of ideas and opinions and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession. 

• Commit to removing financial barriers for those who want to pursue postsecondary learning and support each student admitted to our institution. 
• Without charge, assist students in applying for financial aid funds. 
• Provide services and apply principles that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or economic status. 
• Understand the need for financial education and commit to educate students and families on how to responsibly manage expenses and debt.

• Adhere to all applicable laws and regulations governing federal, state and institutional financial aid programs. 
• Actively participate in ongoing professional development and continuing education programs to ensure ample understanding of statutes, regulations and best practices governing the financial aid programs. 
• Encourage colleagues to participate in the financial aid professional associations available to them at the state, regional or national level and offer assistance to other aid professionals as needed.

• Provide our students and parents with the information they need to make good decisions about attending and paying for college. 
• Educate students and families through quality information that is consumer tested when possible. This includes (but is not limited to) transparency and full disclosure on award notices. 
• Ensure equity by applying all need-analysis formulas consistently across the institution’s full population of student financial aid applicants. 
• Inform institutions, students and parents of any changes in financial aid programs that could affect their student aid eligibility.

• Ensure that student and parent private information provided to the financial aid office by financial aid applicants is protected in accordance with all state and federal statutes and regulations, including FERPA and the Higher Education Act, Section 483(a)(3)(E) (20 U.S.C. 1090). 
• Protect the information on the FAFSA from inappropriate use by ensuring that this information is only used for the application, award and administration of aid awarded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, state aid or aid awarded by eligible institutions.

My enrollment status changed to below the half-time requirement since I accepted financial aid. What will happen to my aid?

• Students who accepted any financial aid and intend on continuing with less than half-time enrollment, may have their aid reduced and/or removed from their account dependent on their enrollment status. Students are responsible for any tuition and fees remaining on their account. 
• If a student decides to attend the semester and has less than half-time enrollment status, the student is financially responsible for any tuition and fees remaining on their account.
  • In addition, if a student had already borrowed loans in previous semesters, the loan grace period for repayment will begin (six months for Federal Direct Loans). If a student has already used their loan grace period, then they may begin repayment. For more information about repayment, students should contact their appropriate loan service and visit studentaid.gov.

Can I add courses to reach half-time enrollment? 

• Yes, if students have completed a FAFSA and meets SAP requirements, they may add additional courses within the drop/add period to reach a minimum of half-time enrollment. As a reminder, they are responsible for any tuition and fees incurred as a result of adding additional courses.