Policies
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Student Lending Code of Conduct
La Roche University is committed to providing students and their families with the best information and processing alternatives available regarding student borrowing. In support of this and in an effort to rule out any perceived or actual conflict of interest between La Roche University officers, employees or agents and education loan lenders, La Roche University has adopted the following:
- La Roche University does not participate in any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
- La Roche University does not permit any officer, employee or agent of the school who is employed in the financial aid office or is otherwise involved in the administration of education loans to accept any gifts of greater than a nominal value from any lender, guarantor or servicer.
- La Roche University does not permit any officer, employee or agent of the school who is employed in the financial aid office or is otherwise involved in the administration of education loans to accept any fee, payment or other financial benefit (including a stock purchase option) from a lender or affiliate of a lender as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
- La Roche University does not permit any officer, employee or agent of the school who is employed in the financial aid office or is otherwise involved in the administration of education loans to accept anything of value from a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders and/or guarantors in exchange for service on an advisory board, commission or other group established by such a lender, guarantor group of lenders and/or guarantors. La Roche University does allow for the reasonable reimbursement of expenses associated with participation in such boards, commissions or groups by lenders, guarantors, or groups of lenders and/or guarantors.
- La Roche University does not assign a lender to any first-time borrower through financial aid packaging or any other means.
- La Roche University recognizes that a borrower has the right to choose any lender from which to borrow to finance his/her education. La Roche University will not refuse to certify or otherwise deny or delay certification of a loan based on the borrower’s selection of a lender and/or guarantor.
- La Roche University will not request or accept any offer of funds to be used for private education loans to students from any lender in exchange for providing the lender with a specified number or volume of Title IV loans, or a preferred lender arrangement for Title IV loans.
- La Roche University will not request or accept any assistance with call center or financial aid office staffing.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
In order to qualify for Federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan and Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan), a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as established by the college in accordance with federal guidelines. All academic work, regardless of whether the student received financial aid, will be included in this calculation.
Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Definition
Satisfactory academic progress for Undergraduate financial aid recipients is defined as follows:
- Successful completion of 67% of all credits attempted;
- A minimum 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A.) must be obtained;
- Maximum Time Frame is established as 150% of the time needed to complete an undergraduate degree or certificate program at La Roche University.
- Courses may be repeated only once to be counted toward making satisfactory academic progress. Students will not receive financial aid for courses attempted more than twice.
- “W,” “I,” “NC,” and “F” grades will count as credits attempted with zero credits earned.
- Passed grades “P” and “P+” will count as credits attempted and earned toward grade level progression but will not count in the G.P.A.
- Remedial courses will count as credits attempted or earned, but they will not be included in the GPA calculation.
- Transfer credits will count as courses earned toward grade level progression but will not count in the G.P.A.
- La Roche Experience (LRX) classes will count as credits attempted and earned and will count toward grade level progress.
Satisfactory academic progress is checked at the end of each semester.
- Students who do not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress according to the above definition are placed on Financial Aid Warning status and will receive financial aid for one additional semester.
- If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the warning status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
- If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
- Students who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal the suspension of financial aid in writing and clearly outline the special or unusual circumstances which contributed toward their lack of progress using the appeal form that will be enclosed with their suspension letter. Supporting documentation must be submitted along with the appeal form.
- If the student’s appeal is approved, the student will be place on Financial Aid Probation status and will receive financial aid for one final semester.
- If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the probation status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
- If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Definition
Satisfactory academic progress for Graduate financial aid recipients is defined as follows:
- Successful completion of 75% of all credits attempted;
- A minimum 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A.) must be obtained.
- Maximum Time Frame is established as 150% of the time needed to complete a graduate degree or certificate program at La Roche University.
- Courses may be repeated only once to be counted toward making satisfactory academic progress. Students will not receive financial aid for courses attempted more than twice.
- “W,” “I,” and “F” grades will be calculated as credits attempted with zero credits earned.
Satisfactory academic progress is checked at the end of each semester.
- Students who do not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress according to the above definition are placed on Financial Aid Warning status and will receive financial aid for one additional semester.
- If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the warning status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
- If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
- Students who feel they have extenuating circumstances may appeal the suspension of financial aid in writing and clearly outline the special or unusual circumstances which contributed toward their lack of progress using the appeal form that will be enclosed with their suspension letter. Supporting documentation must be submitted along with the appeal form.
- If the student’s appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation status and will receive financial aid for one final semester.
- If the student meets the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the probation status will be removed and the student may continue to receive financial aid.
- If the student does not meet the definition of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation status semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status and all federal financial aid and La Roche scholarship and grant aid will be suspended until the student once again meets the criteria.
Return of Federal Student Aid (Title IV) Funds Policy
Return of Federal Student Aid (Title IV) Funds Policy
A Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation is required when a student does not attend all of the days the student was scheduled to complete within a payment period or period of enrollment. This policy applies to all students who officially withdraw, unofficially withdraw, or are administratively dismissed while receiving Title IV aid. The R2T4 calculation is done to determine the amount of Title IV aid earned by the student.
The students affected by this policy are determined according to the following definitions listed below:
An official withdrawal occurs when a student provides written or electronic notice to the Registrar or completes the university’s withdrawal process. In such cases, the withdrawal date is the date the student begins the withdrawal process or notifies the institution of intent to withdraw.
An unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student ceases enrollment without notification and fails to earn a passing grade in all courses for the term. Because La Roche University does not take attendance after the census date, the withdrawal date for these students is the respective term midpoint, unless faculty can document a later academically related activity, such as an exam, paper submission, or project participation, as required by 34 CFR 668.22(c)(3)*.
When a student who receives a disbursement of Title IV funds then ceases attendance prior to the 60 percent point in the payment period, La Roche University will determine whether the student must repay a portion of the disbursement. A statutory prorated schedule will be used to determine the percentage of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. Federal Work Study funds are excluded from the calculation.
If a student withdraws after completing more than 60 percent of the semester/term, all Title IV aid is considered earned and the student does not owe a repayment. However, withdrawing may affect a student’s satisfactory academic progress and eligibility for future financial aid.
Modular (Subterms) Courses and Return to Title IV
A student who withdraws from a subterm course (1st 8 weeks or 2nd 8 weeks) within the semester is considered to be withdrawn, even if registered for future classes starting in the same semester, unless one of the following criteria is met:
- The student, at the time of withdrawal from a subterm class, is attending another class.
- The student has successfully completed course work in 49 percent of the countable days within the semester. Calculations cannot be rounded up to achieve 49 percent.
- The student has successfully completed courses that constitute half-time (6 credit hours) enrollment in the semester.
- The student provides documentation to the college indicating the intent to attend a future class within that semester.
If none of these criteria are met, the student is considered withdrawn and an R2T4 calculation must be completed. If the student provides documentation but doesn’t actually attend that future class, an R2T4 calculation is still required.
Return to Title IV Calculation
1. La Roche University calculates the percentage of Title IV aid earned based on a student’s attendance through the determined withdrawal date. The institution identifies the total number of calendar days completed in the payment period and the total number of days the student was scheduled to complete in that period. The percentage completed is determined by dividing the days attended by the days scheduled. To calculate the amount of aid earned, this percentage is multiplied by the total Title IV aid for which the student is eligible. When determining the length of the payment period or period of enrollment, scheduled breaks of five consecutive days or more are excluded from both the total term length and the student’s attendance period, provided the student’s last date of attendance occurs after the break.
2. The institution will then determine the total institutional charges (tuition, fees, and books and supplies charged at the bookstore) and multiply the total institutional charges by the percentage determined in step 1 above in order to calculate the earned charges.
Note that eligibility for a post-withdrawal disbursement (PWD) will be confirmed within 30 calendar days of the date that the student withdrew. The student or parent will have 14 calendar days from the date that La Roche University sent the PWD notification to accept a PWD. If a response is not received from the student or parent within the allowed time frame or the student declines the funds, La Roche University will return any earned funds that the school is holding to the Title IV programs.
In accordance with federal regulations, when Title IV financial aid is involved, the calculated amount of R2T4 funds is returned in the following order:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program;
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program;
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program;
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Program;
- Federal Pell Grants;
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG);
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program; and,
- Federal TEACH Grants.
Students are encouraged to officially withdraw to ensure accurate processing of their financial aid. Students remain responsible for any outstanding tuition, fees, or balances that result from the return of Title IV funds. The institution, in turn, is responsible for monitoring grade records to identify unofficial withdrawals, documenting withdrawal dates and R2T4 calculations, and ensuring timely communication and compliance with federal timelines. La Roche University maintains all records of withdrawal determinations and R2T4 calculations for audit and program review purposes.
Note, effective January 1, 2026, the regulations—outlined in the January 3, 2025, Federal Register—amend § 668.22(a)(2)(ii)(A)(6) to provide an exemption from the Return of Title IV Funds calculation when the following conditions are satisfied:
- The student is treated as never having begun attendance for Title IV purposes.
- The institution returns all Title IV, HEA assistance disbursed to the student for that payment period or period of enrollment.
- The institution refunds all institutional charges to the student for that period.
- The institution writes off or cancels any balance owed by the student due to the return of funds.
*An institution that is not required to take attendance may use as the student’s withdrawal date a student’s last date of attendance at an academically-related activity provided that the institution documents that the activity is academically related and documents the student’s attendance at the activity.