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307-8 - Satisfactory Academic Progress

Title:

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Owner:

Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid

Last Update/Revised:

05/01/2024

Policy: The University has established a reasonable policy to measure satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in order to become a United States University graduate and to be eligible for federal student aid (FSA), if applicable. USU measures SAP by using qualitative (cumulative grade point average) and quantitative (pace of completion) standards.

For more detailed information on Satisfactory Academic Progress refer to the Catalog

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to establish a reasonable institutional SAP policy according to Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy 34 CFR 668.34, for determining whether an otherwise eligible student is making satisfactory academic progress in their educational program to receive federal financial aid (if applicable) and meet academic standards. 

Procedure: Please see flowchart for visual of procedure described below.

SAP Review:

  1. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated at the end of each academic semester (16 consecutive weeks) to assess a student's compliance with the qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe standards.
  2. The Office of the Registrar will notify students who fail to meet SAP standards via student email, detailing the specific deficiencies and the consequences of non-compliance.
  3. Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be placed on SAP Warning for one semester (16 consecutive weeks), during which they are provided an opportunity to meet SAP standards.
  4. If students are unable to meet SAP standards after their 16 week warning period, they will be academically dismissed from the University.
  5. Students have the right to appeal SAP dismissal based on mitigating circumstances. Please refer to the Appeals section below.

SAP Appeal Procedure:

  1. Students who wish to appeal a SAP dismissal must complete the SAP Appeal Form available from their academic advisor by contacting them directly or at studentservices@usuniversity.edu.
  2. The completed appeal form, with supporting documentation, should be submitted within 30 calendar days from the date notification of dismissal was sent to the student. The appeal must include:
    1.  an explanation of why the student is submitting an appeal,
    2. explanation of the mitigating circumstances as to why the student failed to meet SAP standards during the warning/probationary period,
    3. documentation supporting the appeal,
    4. a detailed action plan addressing how these circumstances no longer pose an issue to the student's success and what the student will do to meet SAP standards moving forward.
  3. Once appeal form is received, the Office of the Registrar will review the appeal and will appoint a committee, including but not limited to the student's college faculty, program dean/director, advisors, and members from financial aid and student accounts office who will review the appeal and make a final decision. Students will be notified via email within 15 business days (excluding holidays).
    1. If the appeal is approved, the student will be informed of the timeframe (approved for 1 or 2 semesters) they are to be placed on probation, and any recommendations to ensure successful academic progression. This will be provided via email through an Academic Success Plan created by the committee or student's advisor.  Failure to adhere to the conditions outlined in the success plan may results in being dismissed from the University. Students will need to follow the readmission policy.
    2. If the appeal is denied, the student will not be allowed to be readmitted to continue their studies.

Reinstatement of Federal Student Aid

Reinstatement of aid is limited to the period under evaluation. Students meeting SAP by the conclusion of the Warning or Probation period will be removed from the warning/probation status and will regain eligibility for Federal Student Aid.

Students may petition to continue as a non-matriculating student to improve his/her CGPA and POC. The student may be re-evaluated for reinstatement of the Federal Student Aid at any standard SAP evaluation point.

Scope: This policy applies to all university employees and current students.

Documents and Forms: