Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Priority Deadlines |
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|---|---|
Spring 2009 |
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August 1, 2008 |
December 5, 2008 |
Appeal Deadlines |
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|---|---|---|
Fall 2008 |
Spring 2009 |
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July 18, 2008 |
November 14, 2008 |
April 10, 2009 |
The Higher Education Amendment Act of 1965, as amended, mandates institutions of higher education to establish a minimum standard of “Satisfactory Academic Progress” for students receiving financial aid. UTSA makes its standard applicable to all federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs for the purpose of maintaining a consistent policy for all students receiving financial aid.
Review Period
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed for all students who were enrolled during the Summer 2007, Fall 2007, and Spring 2008 terms. Failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress during the review period may affect future Financial Aid eligibility for the Fall 2008, Spring 2009, and Summer 2009 term. Please note that if you did not attend UTSA during Summer 2007, Fall 2007, or Spring 2008 terms, but were previously enrolled, we will re-evaluate your SAP status.
To make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), students must meet all of the following standards:
1. Academic Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA minimum requirement, reviewed at the end of Spring semester each year. For all credit hours attempted: undergraduate freshman must have a 1.8 cumulative GPA, evaluated at the end of the Spring semester; undergraduate sophomore through senior levels must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA; graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. If the cumulative GPA drops below the minimum requirement, the student will no longer be eligible for financial aid.
2. Maximum Time Frames
The number of credit hours a student attempts may not exceed 150% of the number of credit hours required for graduation in his or her program of study, as published in the University catalog. If the published number of hours required for graduation is 120, a student may not attempt more than 180 credit hours (120 x 1.5 = 180) and continue to receive financial aid. All periods of enrollment must be considered, even those for which the student did not receive financial aid as well as hours transferred in from another school. If the number of attempted hours reaches 150% of the hours required for graduation, the student will no longer be eligible for financial aid.
Attempted hours include all registered hours per semester whether or not the student earns a grade or receives credit. The following are considered hours attempted, but not completed:
a) “F” grades for undergraduate students
b) “D” or “F” grades for graduate students
c) “W” or withdrawal from courses
d) “I” or incomplete
e) All transfer hours
Completed hours include all semester hours for which the student earns a grade:
a) “A” through “D” grades for undergraduate students
b) “A” through “C” grades for graduate students
c) All transfer hours completed
3. Enrollment Status
During the academic year (Fall/Spring) a student who receives financial aid must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all attempted course work. If the number of completed hours drops below 67% of attempted hours, the student will no longer be eligible for financial aid.
Examples:
a) If a student attempts (registers for) 30 credit hours in an academic year, he or she must complete a minimum of 20 credit hours (67% x 30 = 20.10) in order to make SAP for the year.
Note: All partial credit hours will be rounded down to the nearest hour
b) If at the end of the second year a student has attempted 60 credit hours, he or she must have completed a minimum of 40 credit hours (67% x 60 = 40.20) to be making SAP.
Review Policy
After grades are posted for the Spring semester, the Office of Student Financial Aid & Enrollment Services will review the SAP progress of every enrolled student, regardless of whether or not they received financial aid. Students will be reviewed to ensure that they are meeting the following criteria:
- Cumulative GPA of 1.8 or higher (freshman undergraduates)
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (sophomore-senior undergraduates) or
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduates). - Successful completion of at least 67% of all attempted course work for all periods of enrollment (cumulative), even those for which the student did not receive financial aid.
- Total attempted hours does not exceed 150% of the published length of the program of study.
Financial Aid Termination
In the event the student does not meet the requirements for SAP, he or she will be placed on financial aid termination for the following Fall 2008, Spring 2009 and Summer 2009 terms. This means that the student will not be eligible for any type of federal, state or institutional aid until he or she returns to satisfactory academic progress.
Conditions for Reinstatement
Students whose eligibility for financial aid has been terminated may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services if they believe that they had extenuating circumstances that led to their unsatisfactory progress. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Enrollment Services will notify the student in writing of the decision.
To appeal for the reinstatement of financial aid eligibility, complete and submit the Request for Appeal Form. A completed form must include:
- A letter from the student documenting the extenuating circumstances. For example, personal illness or medical problems, death in the family, etc. This letter should provide a detailed explanation of the situation.
- If the student has exceeded the maximum time frame and is appealing based on a change of major, he or she should state the reason for the change and indicate the number of hours remaining to be taken in the new major. The student must also have his or her academic advisor complete the advisor section of the form indicating the number of credit hours required for the major and the number of hours remaining.
- The student’s name, social security number/ID, and email address.
Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Termination because they do not meet the GPA or Enrollment Status requirements may do the following if they decide not to appeal, or if their appeal is not approved:
- Students may attend the next semester without financial aid or apply for alternative loans to cover their balance.
- If at the end of that semester the student meets the SAP requirements, they may submit an appeal to have their aid reinstated for the next and subsequent semesters for that award year only.
- Students will be reviewed again at the end of the spring semester to determine if they meet the SAP requirements and eligibility for aid will be reviewed during the regular review process.
For questions about your Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal please email financialaid@utsa.edu.