2012-2013 Pitzer Catalog 
    
    Mar 18, 2024  
2012-2013 Pitzer Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admission to Pitzer



Instructions to Applicants

Pitzer College strives to attract a diverse student body with demonstrated strong academic ability, maturity and independence. Each applicant is evaluated on an individual basis. Your application should show the ways in which you feel you will profit from and contribute to Pitzer. Because different people can show their strengths in different ways, the Admission Committee does not expect essays to be answered in the same way, nor do we expect students who will benefit from Pitzer to have the same background.

Pitzer College adheres to the letter and spirit of the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Pitzer College admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, creed, handicap, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College, and does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and other College-administered programs, and employment policies.

Campus Visits and Interviews

We strongly recommend that you visit the campus. We offer tours Monday-Friday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Information sessions are offered at 9:30 a.m. and at 2:30 p.m. During the fall semester, we offer tours on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

We want to know you as best as we can. The essays you will submit and the letters of recommendation will help us to get a good sense of who you are. However, we believe that there is no substitute for a personal interview to get to know you and it could be very helpful to us in deciding whether or not you and Pitzer are a good match. We offer you four ways to complete an interview: 1) on-campus interview, 2) Skype interview, 3) phone interview and 4) MYCOLLEGE interview. All four options carry the same weight. Please note that December 1 is the last day for interviews for Early Decision candidates, and December 14 for Regular Decision candidates.

First-Year Admission

High School Preparation

Your best preparation for success at Pitzer is the completion of a rigorous college preparatory program. Continuing academic challenge is important and that challenge should continue throughout your senior year. Your studies should include a minimum of four years of English (especially courses that emphasize writing); three years of social and behavioral sciences; and three years each of a laboratory science and mathematics and three years of the same foreign language. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of honors and advanced-level placement courses offered at your school. All offers of admission are contingent upon continued academic excellence through completion of the senior year.

Application Process

Pitzer College’s admission criteria for first-year students provides applicants with greater flexibility in presenting application materials that accurately reflect their diverse academic abilities and potentials. Pitzer exempts students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class, or those who have an unweighted cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in academic subjects (i.e., courses in the humanities, mathematics, sciences and social sciences), from having to submit standardized tests (i.e., ACT or SAT). Applicants not falling into either one of those categories are required to submit at least one of the following options:

  • ACT scores, or
  • SAT scores, or
  • Two or more Advanced Placement test scores of at least 4 (one must be in English or English Language and one in mathematics or a natural science), or
  • Two International Baccalaureate exams: one must be in English 1A and one must be in the Mathematics Methods (Standard Level, or a higher-level course in mathematics), or
  • Two exams: One recent junior or senior year graded, analytical writing sample from a humanities or social science course AND a graded mathematics examination, preferably a final or end-of-semester exam in the most advanced mathematics course possible. The samples must include the teacher’s comments, grades and the assignment.

Application Forms

Pitzer College accepts the Common Application as its ONLY application for admission for first-year students. All sections are required. Two required teacher references should come from teachers in the humanities, mathematics, sciences, or social sciences. We also require a SUPPLEMENT to the Common Application. You can access this form from our Website (www.pitzer.edu) or from the Common Application Website (www.commonapp.org). Hardcopies of the Common Application can also be obtained from your high school counselor or by contacting the Office of Admission. You must also submit your high school transcript and transcripts of colleges attended, if any.

Application Deadlines

There are two options for applying to Pitzer: Early Decision and Regular Decision.

Early Decision

Students who have decided, after a thorough and thoughtful evaluation, that Pitzer College is their first choice are invited to apply as Early Decision (ED) candidates. Early Decision is a binding agreement whereby applicants agree that if they are admitted to Pitzer they will withdraw all other applications and not initiate new ones. In addition, applicants agree not to apply to Early Decision at any other institution while applying for ED to Pitzer College.

The deadline for applying for Early Decision is November 15-ALL required application materials are due in the Admission by this date. Early Decision applicants are required to have an interview by December 1. Candidates are notified of admission decisions by December 21. Applicants who are applying for financial aid are required to submit the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE by December 1, so a financial aid award can be made simultaneously with the offer of admission. The FAFSA form, which is also required, must be filed after January 1 and no later than February 1. NOTE: Early Decision is not available for transfer applicants.

Regular Decision

Applicants for Regular Decision must submit ALL required application materials by January 1. Interviews for regular decision students are not required but strongly recommended. Interviews must be completed by December 14. Notification letters will be sent by April 1.

Application Fee

A $60 application fee or a request for fee waiver from a secondary school counselor is required with each application. This fee is not refundable. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Pitzer College.

Deferring Entrance

Once admitted, students may be considered for deferral for a year to pursue non-academic goals. To hold a place, students must submit the commitment deposit by May 1. A letter requesting deferred entrance explaining your plans for the deferral period is also required.

Transfer Admission

We welcome transfer applicants from two- and four-year colleges. To be considered for transfer admission you must have completed a minimum of 16 semester units or 32 quarter units prior to the application deadline. You may transfer from a community college before completing your Associate of Arts degree.

When transferring from another accredited college or university, we expect that the courses you have completed will show a broad range of academic subjects. In addition, we expect that you will have completed the English Composition sequence, or its equivalent, before transferring to Pitzer. As a transfer student you will be required to complete at least two full-time years of coursework (64 semester units/16 courses) at Pitzer in order to qualify for a degree. Interviews for transfer students are not required but strongly recommended. Interviews must be completed by April 15 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission.

Application Forms

Transfer students are required to use Pitzer’s TRANSFER APPLICATION (not the Common Application), which can be accessed from our Website (www.pitzer.edu) or by contacting the Office of Admission. All sections are required. You must also submit transcripts of ALL colleges/universities attended. If you have completed less than 32 semester units or 48-quarter units, you are required to submit your high school transcript, or GED scores.

Application Deadline

To be considered for Fall Semester, transfer applicants must submit all required application materials by April 15. Notification letters will be sent by May 15 and commitment deposits are due by June 15. For Spring Semester you must submit all required application materials by October 15. Notification letters will be sent by November 15 and commitment deposits are due by December 10. 

Application Fee

A $60 application fee or a request for fee waiver is required with each application. This fee is not refundable. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Pitzer College.

New Resources Admission

Pitzer established the New Resources program in 1974 to bring the small, liberal arts college experience to students of non-traditional college age. The program was founded with the conviction that a truly diverse campus is one eager to encounter the added dimension brought by students of a range of ages as well as backgrounds and interests.

The application process for the New Resources program varies slightly from the regular admission procedure. Students must complete two essays; send transcripts of all college work completed; submit two references from people who can attest to their skills, motivation and readiness for college-level work; and must complete an on- campus interview by May 1 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission.

For more information and an application form, contact the Office of Admission.

Application Deadline

To be considered for Fall Semester you must submit all required materials by May 1. Notification letters will be sent by June 1 and commitment deposits are due by July 1. For Spring Semester you must submit all required materials by October 15. Notification letters will be sent by November 15 and commitment deposits are due by December 10.

Application Fee

A $60 application fee or a request for fee waiver is required with each application.This fee is not refundable. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Pitzer College.

International Students

Pitzer College is committed to the goals of international education and welcomes applications from international students. In addition to the other required credentials, students whose native language is not English need to demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting their results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students must receive a score of at least 95 on the Internet-Based TOEFL to be eligible for our regular program, though a score of iBT 100 will be considered more competitive. We also accept the IELTS Exam with a minimum score of 7.

We also offer the Pitzer Bridge Program for students who are well qualified for admission to Pitzer but have not yet reached the necessary level of English proficiency. A TOEFL score of at least iBT 70 is required for admission to the Bridge Program. Bridge students are admitted as regular, full-time students.

All admitted international students whose native language is not English will have their language skills evaluated upon arrival on campus. Based on that evaluation, a student may be placed in appropriate credit or non-credit courses for International Students.

Pitzer College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students and will issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) to all accepted students. Federal law requires that all international students present proof to the College and to the consular officer to whom they apply for a visa that they have sufficient funds to pay the full cost of their education in the United States. International students (except for permanent residents) are not eligible for financial aid.

International Plus Admission

For students who have earned the full certification associated with the following examinations, Pitzer will grant up to one year of academic credit (eight courses). Students must have original documentation of the examination results sent to the Pitzer Registrar from the institution administering the examination. Students may be asked to pay for any fees associated with translation or interpretation of these documents required by Pitzer College. Credit is not granted for exams that duplicate each other, such as AP and IB English Literature.

  • General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examinations (GCE “A” levels): three certificates with passes of A, B, or C.
  • French Baccalaureate: minimum subject scores of 10 out of 20 in any series;
  • German Abitur: minimum passes of ausreichend in each subject;
  • Italian Maturita: minimum score of 36; 
  • Icelandic Studentsprof: minimum score of 4.5; 
  • Swedish Studentexamen: minimum score of 2.3; 
  • Swiss Federal Maturity Certificate: minimum score of 58.

Admission and Financial Aid Calendar

October 15: Transfer applications for spring semester must be completed.
October 15: Transfer interview deadline for spring semester.
October 15: New Resource applications for spring semester must be completed.
October 15: New Resource interview deadline for spring semester.
November 15: Notification of admission decisions for transfer applicants for spring semester will be mailed.
November 15: Notification of admission decisions for New Resource applicants for spring semester will be mailed
November 15: All application materials for Early-Decision candidates are due in the Admission Office.
December 1: Early Decision interview deadline.
December 1: Deadline for Early Decision applicants to submit PROFILE to the College Scholarship Service.
December 10: Commitment deposit deadline for transfers for spring semester.
December 10: Commitment deposit deadline for New Resources for spring semester.
December 14: Regular Decision interview deadline.
December 21: Notification of decisions for Early Decision applicants will be mailed.
January 1: ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR FIRST-YEAR CANDIDATES FOR REGULAR DECISION ARE DUE IN THE ADMISSION OFFICE.
January 15: Commitment deposit deadline for Early Decision students.
February 1: First-Year candidates who wish to apply for financial aid MUST file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the PROFILE of the College Scholarship Service.
March 2: Transfer candidates who wish to apply for financial aid MUST file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the PROFILE of the College Scholarship Service.
April 1: Notification of admission decisions for first-year applicants and letters of Financial aid eligibility will be mailed.
April 15: ALL application materials for fall transfer candidates are due in the Admission Office
April 15: Transfer interview deadline for fall semester.
May 1: ALL application materials for fall New Resources candidates are due in the Admission Office.
May 1: New Resources interview deadline for fall semester.
May 1: Commitment deposit deadline for Regular Decision students.
May 15: Notification of admission decisions for fall transfer applicants and letters of financial aid eligibility will be mailed.
June 1: Notification of admission decisions for fall New Resources applicants and letters of financial aid eligibility will be mailed.
June 15: Commitment deposit deadline for transfers for fall semester.
July 1: Commitment deposit deadline for New Resource students for fall semester.

College Fees

Comprehensive Fees for Students $57,266.00

This fee covers tuition fees, room and board for the year, as well as various activities and events available to Pitzer students at no charge. It does not include the cost for books, supplies, travel, a single room, or room and board during vacation periods. This comprehensive fee contains the following charges.

Tuition $ 43,136.00
Room (double) $ 8,028.00
Board (16 meals/week) $ 5,836.00
Student Activities $ 266.00 

Payment Schedules

College bills are payable in advance according to the schedules specified below. All checks should be made payable to Pitzer College.

For New Students:    
TYPE OF FEE AMOUNT DUE
DATE    
  • New Student Deposit for Fall (held until Graduation)
  • Fall Semester Comprehensive Fees
  • New Student Deposit for Spring (held until Graduation)
  • Spring Semester Comprehensive Fees
$300
$28,633
$300
$28,633
May 1
Aug. 17
Dec. 15
Jan. 18
For Returning Students:    
TYPE OF FEE AMOUNT DUE DATE
DATE    
  • Fall Semester Comprehensive Fees
  • Spring Semester Comprehensive Fees
$28,633
$28,633
Aug. 17
Jan. 18


Miscellaneous Fees include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Housing:    
Single Room Fee (in addition to double room charge) $541 per semester

 

2. Registration:    
Part-Time Tuition Fee (fewer than 3 courses) $5,392 per course
Summer Independent Study $5,392 per course
Auditing Fee (except for alumni and students regularly enrolled in The Claremont Colleges) $165 per course
Course Overload (over 5 per semester) $220 per course
Late Registration $10 per day
Failure to Pre-Register $50  

 

3. Medical Insurance    
Year less than 26 years of age $1,779 per year
Year 26 years of age and more $3,003 per year
(Medical Insurance is mandatory. Pitzer College medical insurance is provided and charged, unless a waiver form is submitted by the deadline. Charges are nonrefundable.)

 

4. Parking Fees    
All students (On/Off-Campus) $65 per semester

 

5. Transcript:    
3-5 day (regular) Transcript Processing: No Fee  
One-day Transcript Processing    
a) Rush $10 per transcript
b) Federal Express/Express Mail* $5  
  *additional fee per request transcript service    

 

6. Miscellaneous:    
Study Abroad Application Fee $25  
Petitions for late addition of course(s) $25 per petition
Petitions for late drop of course(s) $25 per petition
Petitions for late withdraw of course(s) $25 per petition
Petitions for late Pass/Non-credit course(s) $25 per petition
Petitions for late independent study course(s) $25 per petition
Course Fees: See course descriptions     
(Nonrefundable after last day to add courses: Fall-Sept. 17th/Spring-Feb. 4th

 

7. Student Accounts:    
Late Payment of Bill $50 per month

Personal Expenses

Personal expenses will vary from student to student. The typical range is from $1,350 to $2,300 per year and covers the following:

Books and supplies $550-1,200
Incidental personal expenses $800-1,100

Note: Travel expenses & medical insurance are not included.

College Bills

All College bills are due each semester in advance and must be paid by August 17, 2012 for the Fall semester and January 18, 2013 for the Spring semester. Bills not paid by these dates are delinquent. We accept check, cashier’s check or money order for full payment of the student account. We do NOT accept cash. Students wishing to pay by installments may do so by arranging a college approved payment plan.

Note: The College approved payment plan must be set up prior to July 1 (for Fall semester) and December 15 (for Spring semester). It is the financial responsibility of students to pay the tuition, fees and, as appropriate, room and board, once the College has begun rendering services in the form of classroom instruction.

Delinquent Accounts

No student whose account is not current will be permitted to enroll or receive transcripts. Seniors must settle all college bills by April 30 in order to receive their official transcript reflecting their degree.

If an account with a college approved payment plan is terminated because of delinquency, that balance of the account becomes due and payable immediately to the College.

No former student with a delinquent account will be issued an academic transcript. A cashier’s check or money order is required to pay a delinquent account for a student no longer enrolled at Pitzer College for the transcript to be released. A student’s account is due in full within thirty (30) days after leaving the College. If the account is not paid or arrangements made to pay, the account will be referred to a collection agency. If the College assigns an overdue account for collection, the College retains the right to withhold the transcript until payment is made on the full amount due, whether payment is made to a collection agency or to the College. Any previous semester and all new semester charges will be due and payable in full at the beginning of the semester by cashier’s check or money order only.

Returned Checks

If a check submitted for an account is returned unpaid, a $50 returned check charge is assessed. The account becomes delinquent if payment by cashier’s check, cash or money order is not received within ten (10) days of notification of check return. If payment is not received by the tenth (10th) day, an additional $50 late fee will be assessed. If more than one check in a semester is returned, payment of the account balance must then be made by cashier’s check or money order.

Refund Policies

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence after the first day of the semester may receive credit against the semester’s institutional charges (tuition, student activity fee, room and board) as described below. Whether any cash refund will result from the credits received will depend on the payments that have been made, the amount of financial aid that has been received by the student and whether any return of Title IV aid funds must be made. Title IV aid will be returned in the order prescribed by Federal regulation. Title IV aid consists of the following programs and is returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, other Title IV programs, other aid (state/institutional funds).

The amount of Title IV aid which must be returned is based on the percentage of “unearned” aid. This percentage is based on the amount of time completed in the semester and is calculated by dividing the total number of calendar days in the semester into the number of calendar days completed. The percentage of Title IV assistance to which the student is entitled (has “earned”) is equal to this percentage of the semester, up to 60 percent.

First time students who receive Title IV financial aid and withdraw or take a leave of absence before the 60 percent point in the semester will have their refund calculated according to the Federal pro rata refund policy. For all other students, refunds will be calculated as listed below:

Formal Withdrawal or Leave of Absence Request (filed with the Registrar)

  • 100% refund of institutional charges (less a $100 fee). Withdrawal before or on the first day of class.
    • For Fall: Sept. 4, 2012 and Spring: Feb. 4, 2013
  • 90% refund of institutional charges. Withdrawal before or on the last day to add a class.
    • For Fall: Sept. 17, 2012 and Spring: Feb. 4, 2013.
  • 50% refund of institutional charges. Withdrawal before or on the last day to drop with no recorded grade.
    • For Fall: Oct. 25, 2012 and Spring: Mar. 14, 2013.
  • Change in total course load
    • Refund difference between original and adjusted tuition. No refunds after these dates:
    • For Fall: Sept. 17, 2012 and Spring: Feb. 4, 2013.
  • Commitment Deposit (where applicable):
    • Deposits are applied to the student account upon graduation from Pitzer College. Students are refunded the difference between the deposit and any remaining charges on the student account.

Financial Aid

Pitzer College’s financial aid program supports the goals of the admission program: to bring to the campus a student body of quality and diversity. During the 2011-12 academic year, approximately 50 percent of the Pitzer student body received some form of financial assistance.

Financial aid at Pitzer College is based on financial need and provides financial assistance to those students whose family financial resources cannot meet Pitzer’s costs. To be eligible for financial aid from Pitzer College, a student must be admitted to or regularly enrolled on a full-time basis in a program leading to a Pitzer degree and must be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. The student may not owe a refund on a grant or loan received for attendance at any institution. The student must submit the appropriate financial aid applications; must apply on his/her own for any state or private awards for which s/he may be eligible; and must provide all required information by the required deadlines. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for financial aid from Pitzer College.

Costs

The basic budget for an on-campus student for the 2012-13 academic year listed below does not include the cost of travel to the campus.

  Tuition $ 43,136
  Fees $ 266
  Room (double) $ 8,028
  Board (16 meal plan) $ 5,836
  Books and personal supplies (estimate) $ 2,000

In addition, there is a $541 fee per semester for a single room (total single room cost for 2012-13 is $9,110).

Financial aid for students who wish to participate in a study abroad program is granted only for programs approved by the Study Abroad Committee. Normally, students are eligible to receive financial aid for only one Study Abroad program (typically one semester in duration). Students may apply a portion of their financial aid eligibility to the Summer Health Program in Costa Rica or the Summer Study in Japan Program. Financial aid is not available for other summer study abroad programs.

Financial aid awards do not cover any lab or course fees, course overload fees, single room fees, the graduation fee, or any other miscellaneous fees not included in the budget listed above. Further, financial aid to New Resources students will not exceed the cost of tuition and fees, or any needed part thereof.

How to Apply

All new students who are admitted to Pitzer and demonstrate financial need are offered financial aid to meet their need, provided that they have completed the required applications by the appropriate deadline. It is important to note that the financial aid deadline is different from the admission application deadline.

First Year Applicants

All applicants for financial aid must complete two forms: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. Pitzer must be listed on both forms as a recipient of the information. Pitzer’s Federal School Code number for the FAFSA is 001172. Applicants may apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. In addition, all applicants must complete a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application through the College Scholarship Service (CSS). Students must complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE on-line at www.collegeboard.com. Pitzer’s CSS code number is 4619. Both the FAFSA and the PROFILE must be filed by February 1.

In situations where the applicant’s parents are divorced or separated, the parent with whom the applicant lives should complete the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE form. In addition, the parent with whom the applicant does not reside should complete the Non-Custodial PROFILE.

Students applying as Early Decision candidates should submit the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application by December 1.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer candidates applying for financial aid must file both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE by April15. For code numbers and other instructions see the First Year Applicant section.

New Resources Applicants

Students applying to the New Resources Program need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15. Applicants to the New Resources Program are not required to complete a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.

Returning Students

Students applying for renewal of aid, or current students applying for the first time, should submit the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to the appropriate processing center no later than April 15.

All applicants for financial aid need to submit a copy of their parent’s 2012 federal income tax return, complete with all schedules, attachments, and W-2s, by May 1. Any financial aid offer made before receipt of the tax return is considered tentative. Further, students should know that once they have entered Pitzer College as dependent students, the College will not recognize a change to independent status in awarding college aid. In general, no applicant under the age of 24 is considered to be independent of parental support for purposes of College aid. For purposed of determining federal financial aid eligibility, Pitzer uses the dependency criteria listed on the FAFSA.

How Need is Determined

At Pitzer, financial aid is viewed as supplementary to the resources of the student and his/her family. Using the information provided on the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the Financial Aid Office will determine the amount that the family can be expected to provide, taking into consideration taxes paid, family size, number of family members in college and other factors. Each student is expected to use a part of his/her accumulated savings and to contribute approximately $1,550-1,900 for books and personal expenses. The amount the family is able to contribute is subtracted from the total educational budget and the difference is the student’s financial need.

No aid is renewed automatically. Each student is responsible for reapplying each year by submitting the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE by April 15. The Financial Aid Office reviews financial need annually, makes adjustments where necessary to reflect changes in the financial need of students and the costs of attending Pitzer and makes financial aid awards based on available resources. Pitzer will require a student to assume increased loan amounts and/or employmentthat is, increased self-help-as s/he progresses toward the degree. To be eligible for renewal of financial aid, a student must be eligible to re-enroll as determined by the College’s Academic Standards Committee and must be making satisfactory academic progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The following constitutes Pitzer College’s policy on satisfactory academic progress.

Maximum time frame to earn the degree: At Pitzer, the maximum time frame for federal financial aid recipients to receive a degree cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program measured in courses attempted. The maximum time frame for students is 48 attempted courses (32 X 150% = 48). Students will forfeit their eligibility to participate in federal financial aid programs after 6 years of full-time enrollment (4 years X 150% = 6years).

A student entering Pitzer as a first-time, full-time freshman is eligible for eight fulltime semesters of financial aid in which to complete the degree. As expressed in years, this means that students are normally expected to complete their degree by the end of 4 years of full-time study. Students who require additional semesters to complete their degree are eligible for federal aid but not for state or institutional aid administered by Pitzer College.

Financial aid eligibility for transfer students is limited to the number of full-time semesters remaining for successful completion of the Pitzer degree after transfer credit is awarded. This determination is made during the transfer student’s first semester of enrollment at Pitzer and the student will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office.

Financial aid eligibility for New Resources students is limited to the number of courses remaining for successful completion of the Pitzer degree. Any semester in which the student is charged full-time tuition will be considered to use four courses of the student’s financial aid eligibility. The determination of the number of courses of eligibility is made during the New Resources student’s first semester of enrollment at Pitzer and the student will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Pitzer’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy must specify the quantitative (timebased) and qualitative (grade-based) requirements for a student to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. The quantitative requirement is the pace at which a student must progress through the educational program to ensure that the student will complete the program within the required time frame, and provides for measurement of the student’s progress at each evaluation, which will normally be at the end of each semester. The qualitative requirement is that, at the end of the second academic year, the student must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0.

Quantitative Standard (Number of courses attempted and completed)

For a full-time student at Pitzer to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress, the student must complete a minimum of six courses at the end of two semesters, a total of 14 courses after four semesters; a total of 22 courses after six semesters, and a total of 32 courses in order to receive the bachelor’s degree at the end of eight semesters.

A student is expected to complete four courses per semester to graduate in four years, and for satisfactory academic progress the minimum completion rates by semester are shown in the table below:

The percentage of normal completion is calculated by dividing the minimum course completion by the normal course completion. (For example, 6 courses completed/8 courses to advance grade level = 75% completion rate.) 

  Normal Completion to
advance grade level
Minimum
completion
% of normal
completion
At end of two semesters 8 courses 6 courses 75%
At end of four semesters 16 courses 14 courses 87.5%
At end of six semesters 24 courses 22 courses 91.6%

Attempted courses are those courses for which the student was still officially enrolled after the last date to drop courses. Withdrawals showing as a W on the student’s academic transcript are counted as attempted courses. All courses count in calculating a student’s academic progress, including any for which the student did not receive financial aid.

Withdrawals: Grades of W are counted as courses attempted and count toward the maximum time frame.

Audited Courses: Students do not earn any academic credit for audited courses. They do not count in the calculation of “attempted courses.”

Repeated Courses: Academic policy at Pitzer states that if a student does not receive a passing grade for a course (no academic credit accepted), the course may be repeated for credit. Repeating a course does not remove the original course from the academic transcript. Both the grade for the original course and the repeated course will be posted and will calculate into the student’s grade point average. Both the original course and the repeated course will be considered as attempted in the calculation of “attempted courses” for purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress.

Pass/Fail Courses: Courses taken on a pass/fail basis count toward the total of attempted and completed courses.

Transfer Credit: Transfer credits from another institution accepted by Pitzer College are counted when measuring the maximum time frame to complete the degree. Pitzer does not accept for credit any transfer grades lower than C (2.0).

Double Majors and/or a Minor: Students who pursue a double major or a minor are expected to complete all degree requirements within the 32-course limit.

Qualitative Standards: (Grade Based-the quality of your performance)

During the first four semesters of enrollment for a student entering as a first-year, full-time student, the qualitative standards for making progress will not be monitored by the Financial Aid Office but by the Academic Standards Committee in accordance with Pitzer’s policy. During the first four semesters, a student who is allowed to re-enroll and is placed on an Academic Standards Committee contract is eligible for financial aid and will be expected to meet the minimum standards outlined by the Academic Standards Committee for continued enrollment. In accordance with federal regulations (sections 668.16(e), 668.32(f) and 668.34), a student must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the end of the second year of enrollment to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for continued participation in federal aid programs. A student who does not achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA will be ineligible to participate in federal, state, or institutional financial aid programs until this deficiency is corrected. Students who are receiving financial aid while on an academic contract must resolve all incomplete grades before the Financial Aid Office can make a final determination that they have met the satisfactory academic progress guidelines.

Consequences of Failure to Make Satisfactory Academic Progress

The student’s record will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine that the student is meeting both the qualitative and quantitative standards described above. However, the student has the first four semesters in which to attain a 2.0 GPA. If a student has reached the maximum number of attempted courses without earning a degree, the student is ineligible for further participation in federal, state, or institutional financial aid programs.

Federal regulations require that these standards apply to all students receiving financial aid, even to first-time aid applicants who have previously enrolled at Pitzer, or to those who have not been formally placed on probation. A student who fails to meet the qualitative and/or quantitative standards will be assigned one of the following SAP Status designations

Financial Aid Warning:

The first time a student fails to achieve either the quantitative or qualitative standard, the student will receive a “Financial Aid Warning” letter, which will remind him/her of the minimum academic requirements for receiving financial aid and will strongly encourage him/her to take advantage of academic services that are available to the student. A student will be eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid during this semester. The student will be notified that his/her records will be reviewed again at the end of the “warning” semester and that further action may be taken if there is not significant improvement during that semester. Students can only receive financial aid for one semester under this warning status. Students who fail to achieve satisfactory academic progress by the end of the Financial Aid Warning period are ineligible to receive further federal, state or institutional financial aid.

Right to Appeal:

A student has the right to appeal a satisfactory academic progress determination of ineligibility. An appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification that aid eligibility has been lost or 30 days after a semester begins (whichever comes first). The appeal must be made in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. The appeal may not be based on the student’s need for financial assistance or the student’s lack of knowledge that his/her aid was in jeopardy. An appeal is normally based on some extenuating situation or condition which prevented the student from passing more of the attempted courses or which necessitated withdrawal from classes or which led to failure to achieve a 2.0 GPA. Examples of possible extenuating circumstances include documented serious illness, severe injury, or death of a family member. A student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation (see below) if an academic plan is developed for the student that will ensure that the student is able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standards by a specified point in time. A student who does not have grounds for an appeal, or whose appeal is denied, may still be able to regain eligibility for future semesters by enrolling at Pitzer at his/her own expense-without federal, state, or institutional financial assistance-and achieving satisfactory academic progress both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Appeal Form:

The appeal form is available at www.pitzer.edu/admission/financial_aid/documents/Satisfactory_Academic_Progress_Request_for_Review.pdf

Appeal Approval: An appeal will be approved if it is determined that the student will be able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standard by the end of the subsequent semester; or an academic plan is developed for the student that will ensure that the student is able to meet Pitzer’s satisfactory academic progress standards by a specified point in time.

A student whose appeal is approved will receive aid on a conditional basis for one semester. The conditions will be outlined in the letter sent to the student approving the appeal. The Financial Aid Office will review the student’s record at the end of the semester to determine his/her status for the following semester. A student who fails to meet the conditions outlined in the individual letter during the conditional semester will not be able to submit a subsequent appeal.

Financial Aid Probation:

A student who receives a Financial Aid Warning and who still does not meet satisfactory progress standards may be placed on Financial Aid Probation after a successful appeal to reinstate eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Students will normally be allowed only one probationary semester during their academic program.

A student on financial aid probation will receive a separate letter that will outline the academic requirements the student must meet in order to receive aid the following semester. If the student on financial aid probation meets the terms of the probation, he/she will be eligible for federal financial aid in the next and subsequent semesters. The Financial Aid Office will review the record of a student who is on financial aid probation at the end of the semester. A student who does not meet the terms of the financial aid probation will lose eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.

Loss of Eligibility

A student who has lost eligibility to participate in federal, state, and institutional student aid programs for reasons of academic progress can regain that eligibility only by enrolling at Pitzer at his/her own expense and demonstrating that s/he is capable of completing a semester without any failures, incompletes or withdrawals and showing the ability to complete the degree requirements. The mere passage of time will not restore eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make satisfactory academic progress.

Students who have been dismissed from Pitzer for academic reasons but who are subsequently readmitted are not automatically eligible to participate in federal, state, or institutional aid program and will be placed on financial aid warning. Admissions decisions are separate from funding decisions.

Notifications

Students who apply for admission and for financial aid will be notified of both decisions at the same time (first-year students by April 1; transfers by May 15). Returning students will receive notification of new awards and renewals in June. If a student receives financial aid from any other source after the FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE have been filed, or after the Financial Aid Office has made an offer of aid, s/he must notify the Financial Aid Office. An adjustment will then be made in the financial aid award so that the award will not exceed financial need.

Sources and Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid funds at Pitzer are derived from three sources: institutional, state and federal funds comprise our financial aid program. A student’s eligibility for Federal funds is determined based on information provided on the FAFSA and the Federal Methodology. The dollar amount of Federal funds awarded to a student is dependent on specific program funding.

All grant and loan funds are credited to the student’s account and are divided equally between the first and second semester. Employment funds are paid directly to the student by check and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that college costs are being met.

Pitzer Grants. Each year, the Board of Trustees of the College allocates a certain portion of the total budget to be used for Pitzer Grants. These grants are based solely on financial need and are administered by the Financial Aid Office. The applications required are the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the CSS/Financial PROFILE.

Cal Grant A. All California residents applying for financial aid are encouraged to apply for a Cal Grant A, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In addition, all applicants for the Cal Grant are required to file a GPA Verification Form. The Cal Grant application deadline is March 2. These grants may range from $600 to $9,708, depending upon a student’s need and state funding.

Cal Grant B. These awards, administered by the California Student Aid Commission, are aimed at high-potential students from low-income/disadvantaged backgrounds. The FAFSA is used to apply for this grant. These grants range from $1,551 during a student’s first year in college up to $11,259 depending upon a student’s need and state funding.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Awards from these federal funds may range from $100 to $4,000 and are made to students with exceptional financial need. These awards are administered by the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Pell Grant. These awards, administered by the U.S. Department of Education through participating institutions, provide a financial aid foundation for students with high need. For the 2012-132 academic year, awards may range from $400 to $5,550. The amount of the award is based on a determination of the student’s financial aid eligibility, the cost of attending Pitzer and a payment schedule issued to all approved educational institutions by the U.S. Department of Education.

Loans

Two types of need-based Federal loans are available to Pitzer students: Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Stafford Student Loans. In addition, the Financial Aid Office administers Pitzer College Loans.

Loans are regarded as a means of enabling a student to invest some of his or her future earnings in his or her education. Pitzer College requires students, as they progress toward their degree, to assume larger loans each year. The average indebtedness of those students who received financial aid for four years at Pitzer and graduated in May 2011 was approximately $15,810. An educational loan is a financial obligation that the student must repay. Failure to make scheduled loan payments may affect a student’s future ability to qualify for credit.

All students who borrow while at Pitzer are required to attend an exit interview before leaving the College. This is a requirement before graduation and for those students who take a leave of absence or withdraw. Exit interview sessions are scheduled each spring, or an individual appointment may be made by a student leaving the College at the end of the fall semester.

Federal Perkins Loans. These federal long-term loans are awarded by the Financial Aid Office to students with exceptional need. Loans may range up to $5,500 per year, with a cumulative four-year maximum of $27,500. No interest is charged while the student is in school. The interest rate during the repayment period is 5 percent. Repayment of principal and interest begins nine months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time and, depending on the amount borrowed, may be extended for up to 10 years.

Federal Stafford Student Loans. The Federal Direct Student Loan program provides both subsidized and unsubsidized loans to students. Those students who demonstrate financial need qualify for a subsidized loan and do not pay interest during the time they are enrolled at least half-time; the interest is paid for them by the federal government. Students who do not qualify for a subsidized loan must pay the interest on the loan during the time they are enrolled. Repayment of the principal for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. During the 2012-13 academic year, the interest rate for subsidized Federal Direct Loans is scheduled to be 6.8% and the rate for unsubsidized loans will be 6.8%. Annual loan limits are $3,500 plus $2,000 in unsubsidized loan for first-year students, $4,500 plus $2,000 in unsubsidized loan for second year students and $5,500 plus $2,000 in unsubsidized loan for students in their third or fourth year.

Pitzer College Loans. These are long-term loans awarded by the Financial Aid Office to students who have graduated from a California high school. Depending upon fund availability, loans may range up to $10,000 per year. No interest is charged on these loans and repayment of the principal begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at Pitzer College.

Employment. Pitzer College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program. Awards are made to students based on financial need and available funding. Under this program, students work for the College or for an approved off-campus employer. Off-campus jobs are available in public and private nonprofit organizations and community service work is strongly encouraged.

Emergency Student Loan Fund. Short-term, no-interest emergency student loans are available to students faced with unexpected emergencies. Students may borrow up to $100 for 30 days if they are able to verify their ability to repay the loan. Students needing a small, short-term emergency student loan should contact the Financial Aid Office. A student need not be receiving financial aid to qualify for an emergency student loan. The funds that make these loans possible represent Pitzer College’s portion of a gift to the Independent Colleges of Southern California made by First Interstate Bank of California.

Long-Term Loans for Parents

Federal PLUS Loans. The Federal PLUS Program permits parents to borrow as much as the full cost of attendance, minus any financial aid, each year. Federal PLUS Loan borrowers do not have to demonstrate financial need but a satisfactory credit check is required for loan approval. Repayment of principal and interest normally begins within 60 days. (Some lenders may offer deferments of principal and interest while the student is enrolled although interest does accrue.) The interest rate is 7.9 percent. For more information about this program or an application, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Aid Deadline Calendar

October CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE forms for financial aid is available online at www.collegeboard.com
December 1 Deadline for Early Decision applicants to submit CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to the College Scholarship Service. Late December. Information about re-applying for financial aid mailed to homes of currently enrolled Pitzer students.
January 1 FAFSA available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
February 1. Deadline for prospective first-year students to submit FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
April 15 Deadline for currently enrolled students to submit FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE .
April 15 Deadline for prospective transfers to submit FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
April 15 Deadline for prospective New Resources students to submit FAFSA.
March 2 Deadline to apply for Cal Grant programs.
April 1 Prospective first-year students will be notified of admission and financial aid.
May 1 Deadline for receipt of 2012 1040 tax return copies.
May 15 Prospective transfers will be notified of admission and financial aid.
June Returning Pitzer students notified of financial aid awards.

Scholarship Contributions

Endowed Scholarship Funds

Pitzer College gratefully acknowledges donors of the following endowed scholarships, which provide scholarship support in perpetuity:

The Hirschel Abelson Scholarship
The Academic Achievement Scholarship
The Ahmanson Foundation Scholarship
The John W. Atherton Scholarship
The Dorothy Durfee Avery Scholarship
The R. Stanton Avery Foundation Scholarship
The Milton Avery Arts Scholarship
The Roxanne Belding ‘79 Scholarship
The David Bloom ‘85 Memorial Scholarship
The Eli and Edythe Broad Scholarship
The W. Brunger Family Scholarship
The Edna Van Wart Castera Scholarship
The Amanda Crosby ‘97 Memorial Scholarship
The Clayton C. and Frances Ellsworth Scholarship
The Yuri Fairchild Memorial Scholarship
The Jonathan P. Graham ‘82 and Elizabeth B. Ulmer Scholarship
The Jill Ford Harmon ‘66 Scholarship
The William Randolph Hearst Scholarship
The Herold Family Scholarship
The History Endowed Scholarship
The Sylvia Sticha Holden Scholarship
The Charles and Phyllis Horton Scholarship
The Johnson Family Scholarship
The Fletcher Jones Foundation Scholarship
The Helen Juda Fund Scholarship
The Katherine Keck Scholarship
The W.M. Keck Foundation Scholarship
The W.M. Keck Foundation Joint Science Scholarship
The Terry F. and Margaret Rood Lenzner Scholarship
The Maureen Lynch ‘77 Scholarship
The Universal Foundation Scholarship
The Janet Irene MacFarland Scholarship
The Marilyn Chapin Massey Scholarship
The George H. Mayr Trust Scholarship
The Nancy Penick McGarry Scholarship
The Mead Foundation Scholarship
The Sheryl F. Miller Scholarship
The Diane Mosbacher ‘71 Scholarship
The Robert Lee Munroe Scholarship
Ruth Munroe Scholarship
The Nathan Family Scholarship
The Maud Barker Neff Scholarship
The Osher Re-entry Scholarship
The Mary Pickford Foundation Scholarship
The Flora Sanborn Pitzer Scholarship
Kenneth S. and Jean M. Pitzer Scholarship
The Esther Stewart Richards Scholarship
The Ellen Ringler-Henderson Scholarship
The Margot Levin Schiff Scholarship
The Annis Van Nuys Schweppe Scholarship
The C.V. Starr Foundation Scholarships
The John Stauffer Memorial Scholarship
The Harry and Grace Steele Foundation Scholarship
The Laura Skandera Trombley Scholarship
The Trustee Community Merit Scholarship
Student Aid/M/M Leslie Warren Scholarship
Susan Dolgen Scholarship
Sally Love Downey Scholarship
Robin Kramer Scholarship
President’s Council Scholarship
Parent Association Scholarship

Annually Supported Scholarship Funds

Generous annual support allows Pitzer to make a number of scholarships available to students on a year-to-year basis.

The Ahmanson Foundation Scholarship
Bridget Baker ‘82 Scholarship
Jill Benton Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘68 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘70 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘75 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘80 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘85 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘90 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘95 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘00 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘05 Annual Scholarship
Class of ‘10 (Senior Class Gift) Annual Scholarship
James and Katherine deBaun Scholarship
Justin DeJong Memorial Scholarship
Edison International Scholarship
Lew Ellenhorn Scholarship
Judge Mablean Ephriam ‘71 Scholarship
External Studies Scholarship
Jim ‘75 and Cindy Hass Memorial Scholarship
Carl Hertel Annual Scholarship
Agnes Moreland Jackson Scholarship
La Croix New Resources Scholarship
Jim Lehman Annual Scholarship
Valerie B. Levey Scholarship
Lucian Marquis Annual Scholarship
The George H. Mayr Trust Scholarship
Peter Nardi Annual Scholarship
Fabian Núñez ‘97 Scholarship
Ann Peppers Foundation Scholarship
Lissa Petersen Annual Scholarship
Rebecca Quatinetz Memorial Scholarship
The Mabel Wilson Richards Scholarship
Jill Schimpff International Scholarship
Albert Schwartz Annual Scholarship
Susan Seymour Annual Scholarship
Diane Shammas ‘75 Scholarship
Ann Stromberg Annual Scholarship
John Sullivan Annual Scholarship
Jacqueline Levering-Sullivan Annual Scholarship
Elliot Toombs ‘87 Memorial Scholarship
Judith Jennings Treas Honorary Scholarship
Rick Tsujimoto Annual Scholarship
Rudi Volti Annual Scholarship
Michael Woodcock Annual Scholarship
Helia Sheldon Annual Scholarship
Ron Macaulay Annual Scholarship