The federal government requires all colleges and universities to monitor the academic progress of all students, whether or not they receive federal aid. In accordance with the North Dakota State College of Science Academic Standards, students are expected to maintain a grade point average that is equal to or greater than the college's minimum requirements as stated in the College Catalog. At the conclusion of each semester, including the summer semester, the current and cumulative grade point average including all transfer credits will be evaluated for all students at North Dakota State College of Science. Special GPA, including transfer credits, must be at least 1.5 after one semester, 1.75 after two semesters, 1.86 after three semesters and 2.0 thereafter. Students on financial aid should be careful about dropping classes. If you drop a class, it counts as an attempted course that you did not complete. Dropping a class, as well as receiving an F in a class, will lower your overall completion rate. If your completion rate drops below the required 67% of attempted credits, you will be placed on financial aid warning. If you do not meet the 67% standard in a future semester, you will be disqualified from financial aid. If you withdraw from all your classes or fail all your classes, you will be disqualified from financial aid, without a warning period.
To drop a class or drop out of college, the first step is to stop at Student Success in Old Main. If it is not possible to stop in at Student Success, it is important to contact the office via phone, 701.671.3000. For more information on the drop/withdrawal process visit https://www.ndscs.edu/paying-college/drops-withdrawals-refunds-procedures-deadlines. Failure to follow the withdrawal/drop procedures can result in serious consequences to the student in the form of receiving all “F” grades on your permanent record for the work not completed. This also may result in unnecessary cost to you in other ways, such as not having certain costs credited on a timely basis.
For all students receiving U.S. Department of Education Title IV funds, the federal government has detailed policies on the return of these funds. Financial aid is awarded to students with the expectation that they will complete the semester. If you withdraw before the semester ends, any unearned aid will be returned to the Department of Education and/or the loan servicer. As a result, you may owe NDSCS for the unearned aid. Federal financial aid is awarded based on enrollment status. If by dropping one or more classes changes your enrollment status, a portion of your federal financial aid may need to be returned to the government. Dropping below half-time enrollment or withdrawing completely will trigger federal student loan repayment. Federal loans have a six-month grace period before regular payments begin.