Policy 220.32 - Financial Aid - Satisfactory Academic Progress - Undergraduate

ORIGINATOR: Associate Vice President, Financial Aid

SUBJECT: Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard - Undergraduate Students – Effective July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

1. Introduction

   1. These  guidelines have been developed in accordance with federal financial aid  statutes and regulations governing student eligibility. Students who receive  financial aid must demonstrate financial need and make satisfactory academic  progress (SAP) as determined by University of Maryland University College  pursuant to federal law.

   2. Financial  aid recipients are required to be in good standing and to maintain satisfactory  academic progress toward their degree requirements for each semester in which  they are enrolled. In addition to meeting the academic standards outlined in  UMUC Policy 158.00 Academic Level of Progress, financial aid recipients are  required to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards outlined in this  policy. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients enrolled in  degree programs, as described below, is evaluated annually at the conclusion of  the spring semester. For students enrolled in eligible programs of one academic  year or less, SAP is evaluated at the conclusion of the fall and spring  semesters. Failure to maintain  satisfactory academic progress, as described below, will result in cancellation  of financial aid awards, and the student may have to repay any funds already  received.

2. Minimum Standards for Undergraduate Students

   1. UMUC's  institutional requirements for minimum SAP requirements for undergraduate  financial aid recipients are defined as follows:

      1. Minimum  cumulative grade point average (GPA).
         The  student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0

      2. Minimum  completion rate.
         The  student must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of  credits attempted (67%).

      3. Maximum  timeframe to complete the program/degree.

   The student must complete his or her  educational program within a time frame no longer than 150 percent of the  published length of the educational program, as measured by credits attempted  and including transfer credits (for example, the student must complete his or  her program after attempting a maximum of 180 credits for a 120-credit  program.)

   Students who have graduated from one program  at UMUC and then enroll in a second eligible program should contact the Financial  Aid Office to determine their SAP status under their new program of study.

   2. Federal regulations require that UMUC track  the academic progress of financial aid recipients from the first date of  enrollment at UMUC, whether or not financial aid was received.

   3. Students  who do not earn their degree within the maximum timeframe to completion,  outlined above, will be placed in Financial Aid Denied status. No financial aid  will be disbursed for the student during subsequent semesters/periods of  enrollment unless the student has made an appeal of the Financial Aid Denied  status and the appeal (described in section VI) is granted.

3. Treatment of W, I, AU, F, S, P, G Grades; No Grade Reported; Repeated Course  Work and Transfer Credits

   1. Course  withdrawals (W) after the drop/add period are not included in the GPA  calculation, but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework.

   2. Incomplete  (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered a  non-completion of attempted coursework until the grade is replaced with a  permanent grade and academic progress can be re-evaluated.

   3. Audit  (AU) grades or are not considered attempted coursework and are not included in  completion rate determinations.

   4. Satisfactory grades (S) and Passing grades (P)  are treated as attempted credits, which are earned but not included in  calculation of the GPA.

   5. Failure (F) and Failure due to Nonattendance  (FN) grades will be treated as attempted credits that were not earned, and will be included both in the calculation of  the GPA and minimum completion rate.

   6. If  a Grade Pending (G) or no grade is assigned, for any reason, the credits will  not be included in the GPA calculation and will be considered a non-completion  of attempted coursework until a grade is assigned and academic progress can be  re-evaluated.

   7. Each repeated course attempt will be included  in the completion rate and maximum time-frame determinations.

   8. Transfer  credits will be counted as attempted and completed credits for the calculation  of completion rate and maximum time-frame but will not affect the student's GPA  calculation.

4. Financial Aid Denied Status

   1. Undergraduate  students who fail to maintain the minimum completion rate of 67 percent and/or  fail to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 will be placed in Financial  Aid Denied status for the following semester of enrollment. No financial aid  will be disbursed during subsequent semesters until the student is removed from  Financial Aid Denied status (see Reinstatement of Aid after Financial Aid  Denied Status).

   2. Undergraduate  students who do not earn their degree within the maximum timeframe to  completion will also be placed in Financial Aid Denied status. No aid will be  disbursed during subsequent semesters of enrollment unless the student has made  an appeal and the appeal is granted for that semester (section VII of this  policy describes appeal procedures). There are no exceptions to this  requirement.

   3. Students  placed in Financial Aid Denied Status will be notified via email.

5. Reinstatement of Aid After Financial Aid Denied Status:

   1. Reinstatement of financial aid after a student  is placed in Financial Aid Denied status is achieved in one of the following  ways:

      1. The student submits a written      letter of appeal and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the      appeal. The student is placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next      semester of enrollment. Financial      aid probation means that the student who failed to make satisfactory      academic progress and who has appealed has had eligibility for aid      reinstated. At the end of that      probationary semester their SAP status will be reevaluated. The student must meet all SAP      requirements at the end of that semester or they will return to Financial      Aid Denied status and must reestablish eligibility as described in item 2.

      2. The student attends UMUC, pays      for tuition and fees without the help of student financial aid, and does      well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic      progress standards. The student regains aid eligibility.

      3. Students  who are beyond the maximum timeframe cannot regain financial aid eligibility  except on a semester-by-semester basis through the appeal process.

   2. Appeal  Process

      1. The  student must submit a written appeal of Financial Aid Denied status before the  deadline to the Financial Aid Office.  The appeal must include documentation of the circumstance that led to  their not meeting SAP standards as well as a description as to how they will be  able to meet SAP at the end of the next enrollment period. Circumstances which may be considered include  death of a family member, unexpected injury or illness of the student or other  circumstances as supported with documentation.

      2. The  Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and notify the student  in writing of their decision after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its  determination. Appeals will not be  granted unless the student's proposed enrollment in the upcoming semester would  be adequate to reestablish their progress under these standards.

      3. All  decisions of the Financial Aid Committee are final.

      4. Deadlines:  Fall: November 1, Spring April 1, Summer July 1

6. Effective Date

This  policy is effective 7/1/2011 and will be first calculated for students on  probation under the prior policy at the conclusion of the fall 2011 semester.

Note:  Students who fail to enroll after an appeal has been granted may be suspended  again and may be required to submit a new appeal before they will be eligible  to receive financial aid.