Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require the University to establish, publish and apply Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards consistently to all students (34CFR 668.34.) The purpose of these standards is to ensure financial aid recipients are adequately progressing toward their degree. These standards are distinct and should not to be confused with other academic standards set by the University.
- Your SAP status will determine whether or not you are eligible to receive Title IV federal and state financial aid in any term. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
- Your SAP status does not affect your ability to enroll or attend courses, but it can affect your ability to receive aid to help cover course expenses.
Helpful Terms
Attempted credits: Attempted credits include those successfully completed, as well as transfer, test and repeated credits, failed or incomplete grades, drops and withdrawals.
Meets: You are currently meeting SAP standards. No action is needed on your part.
Warning: You are NOT meeting one or more of the measurements of SAP. However, per regulation, you are allowed ONE additional term of financial aid to meet ALL SAP standards. If you do not meet all of the standards after that term, you will lose aid eligibility. A warning status will result in an email notice to your campus email address. No action is needed on your part (other than to resolve any academic issues you may be facing).
Not Meets: You are no longer eligible for financial aid because you have not met one or more of the SAP standards for two consecutive semesters. At this time, you do not qualify for financial aid. You will remain ineligible for aid until 1) you successfully appeal for reinstatement of aid or 2) you regain eligibility by meeting all standards based on your academic performance.
Appealing Satisfactory Academic Progress
If you wish to appeal your ineligible status, an SAP Appeal Form must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
Appeal: A request for reinstatement of aid eligibility after a student has been deemed ineligible based on not meeting the SAP standards. Students must submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
Probation: You are ineligible for aid, BUT you have successfully appealed for reinstatement of aid for that one term. You will receive aid for one probationary semester. After that term, you MUST be meeting ALL standards or will once again become ineligible.
Academic Plan: You are ineligible for aid, BUT you have successfully appealed for reinstatement, and included with your appeal a "Pathways to Success" contract you made with your academic advisor. Academic Plans last 1-3 semesters and, if followed, should return you to "Meets" for financial aid purposes. You must follow the terms of your "Pathways to Success" contract to regain financial aid eligibility.