Academic engagement within class policy:
Recipients of federal financial aid are required to demonstrate academic engagement within all enrolled classes according to the U.S. Department of Education. A student who does not demonstrate academic engagement within an enrolled class is considered by the Department of Education to not have attended the class.
Class engagement can be measured many ways and can include one or more of the following actions from a student during the semester:
- Conduct activity within online synchronous or asynchronous class modality with the instructor or students such as posting comments on discussion boards, asking questions, submitting assignments, attending electronic class/meeting rooms, completing polls or surveys or live chatting.
- Attend an in-person class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students.
- Attend or participate in lecture, recitation, field, internships, clinical or laboratory assignments where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor or students.
- Submit one or more class assignments.
- Submit one or more exam, quiz or other assessments.
- Conduct activity within an interactive tutorial, webinar, pre-recorded video or other interactive computer-assisted instruction.
- Participate in a presentation, study group or group project that is assigned by the instructor.
- Interact with an instructor about academic matters in which the student is enrolled and the subject of the course.
- Log into an online class and post a comment on a discussion board, ask a question, submit an assignment, attend an electronic meeting room, complete a poll or survey, initiate contact (including live chat) with an instructor to ask a course-related question. (Logging into an online class, without any other action, is not considered attendance or engagement within a class according to the Department of Education).
How will academic engagement within class be measured?
Instructors will determine at the midpoint class calendar date each semester if a student has not demonstrated any academic engagement within class as described above. A UF midterm grade notation will be updated within eServices for each student by the instructor if a student is not demonstrating academic engagement within class.
Is there an impact to the financial aid package if a student is assigned a UF midterm grade?
Any class that is assigned a UF grade by an instructor is not allowed to be counted toward a student's federal financial aid eligibility within the current semester. Any student who receives one or more UF grades will be reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine if adjustments are necessary within the financial aid package previously offered or disbursed to a student during the current semester of enrollment.
Example 1:
A student enrolled in 12 credit hours fall semester and was assigned all UF grades by instructors at the midpoint of fall semester:
- Math, 3 credit hours: UF
- Political science, 3 credit hours: UF
- English, 3 credit hours: UF
- Economics, 3 credit hours: UF
- Total 12 credit hours enrolled. However, the Department of Education considers this student to be enrolled in zero credit hours for federal financial aid eligibility. The Department of Education does not consider a student enrolled within a class that receives a UF grade.
In this example, a student who received federal financial aid earlier in the semester will have their federal financial aid awards adjusted from 12 to 0 credit hours of enrollment. All previously disbursed federal financial aid will be canceled according to the Department of Education. Federal financial aid that was used to pay towards tuition, fees, on-campus housing or an on-campus meal plan will be removed from the fall semester bill and a student will be responsible for paying any charges previously paid with federal financial aid funds.
A student may also owe money back to VCU if a financial aid refund was previously generated from federal financial aid they are no longer eligible to receive.
Example 2:
A student enrolled in 12 credit hours fall semester and was assigned two UF grades by instructors at the midpoint of fall semester:
- Math, 3 credit hours: UF
- Political science, 3 credit hours: UF
- English, 3 credit hours: B
- Economics, 3 credit hours: A
- Total 12 credit hours enrolled. However, the Department of Education considers this student to be enrolled in 6 credit hours for federal financial aid eligibility. The Department of Education does not consider a student enrolled within a class that receives a UF grade.
In this example, a student who received federal financial aid earlier in the semester will have their federal financial aid awards adjusted from 12 to 6 credit hours of enrollment. Any previously disbursed federal financial aid may be reduced or canceled according to the Department of Education. Federal financial aid that was used to pay towards tuition, fees, on-campus housing or an on-campus meal plan may be removed or reduced from the fall semester bill and a student may be responsible for paying any charges previously paid with federal financial aid funds.
A student may also owe money back to VCU if a financial aid refund was previously generated from federal financial aid they are no longer eligible to receive.
IMPORTANT:
Even though federal financial aid eligibility may be reduced or canceled as in the above examples, no classes for a student will be administratively dropped by VCU that were assigned a UF grade. A student is still financially responsible for payment of their registered courses. A student is responsible for deciding whether or not to remain in classes for which they registered.
Academic advisors and financial counselors within the Student Financial Management Center can help answer questions. Students are encouraged to reach out for assistance to assess how UF grades may also affect financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
Would you like to know more?
A policy is available and includes frequently asked questions.