Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

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Each term, the Financial Aid Office is required by federal and state regulations to determine if students receiving financial aid are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). To maintain eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid, you must meet UMM's academic progress standards for financial aid recipients. Four components of your record determine whether or not you are meeting SAP standards

These SAP standards are in some cases different and more stringent than UMM's Academic Progress requirements.

You are required to meet both the UMM SAP and Academic Progress standards.

You must maintain ALL of the following standards to be eligible to receive federal, state, and University aid.

Admission Requirement
You must be admitted to a degree seeking program.

Dismissed and/or non-degree-seeking students enrolled through Continuing Education are not eligible for financial aid.

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
You are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 after you have attended UMM for four semesters (or the equivalent in semesters and quarters) or, once you have earned 60 total credits (including all U of M transfer credits), whichever comes first.

Completion Ratio
You must complete a minimum of 75% of all credits you attempt with a grade of D or better. Attempted credits are defined as the number of credits for which you register each term.

Grades of F (failed), I (incomplete), W (withdrawal), K(continuing), and N(not passing) will count as credits attempted but not successfully completed. Repeated courses are counted as credits attempted.

If incompleted (I) or continuing (K) credits are a factor in your failure to complete 75% of the attempted credits, completion of these credits may be used to re-establish eligibility for financial aid.

The Financial Aid Office reviews the total numbers of credits a student has attempted after each term, including summer session.

The following example illustrates how to calculate the percentage of credits completed:

	Fall	Spring	Total
Attempted Credits	14	16	30
Failures, incompletes, no passes, and withdrawals	2	4	6
Completed Credits	12	12	24
24 completed / 30 attempted = 80% completion ratio.

Maximum Attempted Credits (Time Frame)
Federal regulations limit the amount of time a student can receive financial aid. This review is referred to as "time frame." If you have attempted 125% (150 credits) or more of your degree requirements without completing your degree, you will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. After attempting 150% (180 credits) of your degree credit requirements without completing your degree, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will be ineligible for aid.

The Financial Aid Office reviews the total number of credits a student has attempted after each term, including summer session. The credits considered for time frame include:

• U of M passed and failed grades (includes other U of M campuses and summer sessions)
• incompletes
• blank grades
• withdrawals
• transfer credits
• credits by exam and other credits

Students who change majors are still required to meet the above time frame requirement.

The SAP policy includes but is not limited to the following aid programs administered by UMM.

1. Federal Title IV aid programs: Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Perkins Loan, Work Study Program, Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) and federal grants.
2. State aid programs: Minnesota State Grant, Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF), Non-AFDC Child Care Grant, etc.
3. Institutional aid programs: University and departmental scholarships, employment, loans, and all other institutionally funded programs.

Financial Aid Probation and Suspension
If you fail to meet one or more of the satisfactory academic progress requirements for the first time, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for your next term of attendance at UMM. While on Financial Aid Probation, you may still receive financial aid. If, at the end of your probation term, you have met ALL satisfactory academic progress requirements, you will be removed from Financial Aid Probation.

If you are placed on Financial Aid Probation, your progress will be reviewed at the end of your probation term. If you are still failing to meet one or more of the satisfactory academic progress requirements, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

You will automatically be placed on Financial Aid Suspension if you are dismissed through academic suspension. If you are placed on Financial Aid Suspension, you are ineligible to receive federal, state and University aid. However, denial of financial aid eligibility does not automatically result in withdrawal from classes for which you have registered. Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility is NOT automatic.

It is your responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office to initiate the appeal or reinstatement process.

Appeal and Reinstatement Procedures
Students ineligible for financial aid as a result of not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) may appeal within 4 weeks of the term start date. To appeal, complete the SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS APPEAL (PDF Format) and return it to 309 Behmler Hall, 600 E. 4th St., Morris, MN 56267 by the Appeal deadline. Students must submit the appeal in writing and describe the extenuating circumstances beyond their control that affected their ability to meet the minimum SAP requirements.

1. The appeal should include appropriate documentation to support the extenuating circumstance listed in the appeal. Examples of required documentation include a letter from a doctor or health care official, letter from a helping professional, obituary or death certificate and/or advisor statement.
2. Appeals are processed and routed to the SAP committee.
3. SAP committee reviews to confirm it is complete (includes supporting documentation). If an appeal is incomplete, the appeal is put on hold, and additional information is requested from the student. Complete appeals are distributed to committee members for review.
4. Committee members individually review appeals using the following guidelines as extenuating circumstances likely to be approved.
   • Death of a close family member or significant other
   • Illness, accident, injury of student or close family member
   • Divorce of student or parent
   • Reinstatement after an academic suspension
   • Not enrolled for extended period of time and has matured
   • Personal problems or issues with family, marital, roommate, etc.
   • Short term deviation from previous performance
   Committee members are not limited to these circumstances. Committee members are encouraged to consult with other faculty and staff members of the UMM campus.
5. The SAP committee will make the determination if the appeal should be approved or denied.
6. Once a decision is made on the appeal, the committee member will notify the student and the Financial Aid Office with a written statement of the committee's decision.
7. Appeals are maintained in the student's financial aid file.

Submitting an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of aid. If your appeal is granted, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Your grades and completion ratio will be reviewed at the end of your probation period to determine if you are meeting ALL satisfactory academic progress requirements for financial aid recipients. Your award(s) will be based on funds available at that time.