Web Editor’s Note: This story was written for the MCOMM 3309 – News Editing & Reporting Class

Although most students do not plan on performing poorly in their college courses, some choices and situations can cause students to end their semester on a bad scholastic note. However, these choices not only threaten students’ academic records, but their capability of receiving financial aid as well.

According to WTAMU’s Satisfactory Academic Appeal Information office, Financial Aid requires students to meet certain criteria to be able to apply for financial aid. One requirement is that students must complete 75 percent of the hours they attempt annually.

“The basic GPA should be 2.0 for undergraduates, and it’s 3.0 for graduate [students],” a specialist from the Financial Aid office said.

If students don’t meet these requirements, they will be placed on financial suspension and will not receive any form of financial aid from the University. Tabitha Perry is a former WT student who was placed on financial suspension.

“I was dumb and didn’t go to class,” Perry said. “I got a 0.0 [GPA] in the fall, so I was told I had to bring my grades up.”

Perry was also placed on academic suspension at WT, and was not allowed to re-enroll at the University for an entire academic year. Although she has taken courses at Amarillo College to improve her GPA, Perry has not attempted to re-enroll at WT.

“You know, it’s hard to go back to college once you leave,” Perry said. “Plus, I don’t have enough money to pay for it. I wouldn’t get full coverage.”

While her college career is still not yet determined, Perry offers current students some advice.

“Go to class,” she said. “I know that sounds lame and obvious, but that’s what got me.”

Although this predicament may seem bleak to some, there is still time to improve for students to improve their academic standing if they don’t meet the criteria for financial aid. Since the department checks the status of enrolled students annually rather than every semester, the upcoming spring term gives students who did poorly in the fall a chance to improve their GPA and the amount of completed hours.

“If a student is not doing very well in the fall, but does a better job averagely, and meets these requirements, then the student is ok,” a Financial Aid office specialist said.