Rights and Responsibilities
Your Rights As A Financial Aid Recipient
- Any information regarding your application for aid is protected by the Student Privacy Act and is kept confidential. Records are maintained in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
- If you have questions about how your aid eligibility was determined, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA).
- If you have questions regarding if your family experiences financial difficulty, which you feel would affect and perhaps increase your eligibility for aid (disability, death, unemployment, divorce, etc.) you may present documentation of these circumstances. At that time, your application for aid may be reconsidered, if funds permit.
- Know how Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is measured and how you can reestablish eligibility for federal financial aid if you fail to meet one of the standards.
Your Responsibilities As A Financial Aid Recipient
You and your parents/spouse have the primary responsibility for meeting your educational expenses at ETSU. The OSFA expects that you and your family will make every effort to provide a reasonable contribution towards your education.
You are responsible for:
- Filing the appropriate applications and forms for each type of aid you wish to receive by the established deadlines.
- Providing all requested information to the OSFA accurately and promptly.
- Regularly checking your university email account and GoldLink for important updates and notifications from the OSFA.
- Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the established university policies and standards.
- Reporting all financial assistance, such as stipends, service awards, scholarships, or any other payment from outside agency to the OSFA, before and after receiving financial aid funds, so adjustments can be made to reduce the possibility of over awards.
- Reporting any changes in your name, address, or attendance status to the appropriate office within the university.
- Understanding all financial aid awards are conditional pending meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and that the OSFA reserves the right to review and cancel awards for failure to meet the SAP criteria.
Once awarded financial aid a student must meet the required SAP Standards:
- Grade Point Average (GPA): Students must meet the cumulative GPA requirements set forth at https://www.etsu.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/keepaid/gpa_requirements.php
- Completion Rate (PACE): Financial aid students must also complete at least 67% of the credit hours they attempt each semester and overall.
- Maximum Time Frame: Students lose their financial aid eligibility once they are not able to complete their degree within 150% of the number of credit hours it takes to graduate.