Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

You have met all academic progress criteria required to be eligible for financial aid.

Your cumulative GPA has fallen below 2.0 or your overall successful course completion rate has fallen below 67 percent or both. Because your previous term GPA and course completion rate were at or above the minimum levels, you have one remaining term in which to receive aid without any additional action on your part. However, your GPA and completion rate must be back to the minimum standards at the end of the next term in which you receive financial aid for you to maintain continued eligibility.

You have had either a GPA below 2.0 or a course completion rate below 67 percent or both for two or more subsequent terms in which you have received financial aid or failed all courses in your last term. You are not eligible for further financial aid at this time. If you feel there were extenuating circumstances that contributed to your situation, you may file an SAP appeal requesting a reconsideration of your eligibility. 

You have attempted more than 150 percent of the credits required to complete your currently enrolled program. You are not eligible for further financial aid at this time. If you are pursuing a subsequent program at Aims, or if you feel there are extenuating circumstances that contributed to your situation, you may file an SAP appeal requesting a reconsideration of your eligibility. 

Your appeal of your academic progress status has been approved. You have been given one extra term in which to receive aid and meet the minimum eligibility criteria of a 2.0 or greater overall GPA and 67 percent or better overall course completion rate.

Your appeal of your academic progress status has been approved. You are subject to the conditions outlined in your academic plan. As long as you maintain the conditions set forth in your plan, you are eligible to receive financial aid.

Financial Aid staff members are currently conducting a review of your academic progress status. A final determination on your status will be posted shortly. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy differs from the Academic Standards Policy. 

All students will be evaluated on the basis of the following standards at the time our office receives your FAFSA results. Students receiving Financial Aid as well as students not receiving Financial Aid will be evaluated at the end of each semester. All terms are reviewed including periods in which the student did not receive financial aid. 

  1. Qualitative measure (GPA) - Minimum cumulative grade point average (which includes both remedial and undergraduate courses) of 2.0 or above; AND 
  2. Quantitative measure (Pace) - Cumulative completion rate* of 67% or higher; 
         * (The completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of undergraduate passed hours by the number of undergraduate hours attempted.  This includes all undergraduate credits attempted at Aims (undergraduate, repeated, withdrawn, and incomplete courses). AND
  3. Maximum Timeframe - Attempted credits are not at or in excess of 150% of the student’s current academic program’s length.  Attempted credits include all undergraduate, repeated, withdrawn, and incomplete courses at Aims, and credits transferred in from other schools); AND
  4. Student has not failed all coursework attempted within the student’s most recent term.

 
For financial aid purposes, being enrolled in a course for credit beyond the official add/drop deadline counts in attempted hours. All attempted courses are counted, including those taken as part of a different degree or certificate program. Attempted credits for both completion rate and maximum timeframe include program changes and/or completed programs.

For financial aid purposes, successful completion of a course means an earned grade of A, B, C, D or S. Grades of F, I, U, and W are considered unsuccessful completions and will negatively impact your satisfactory academic progress review completed at the end of each semester. 
Please refer to the standards listed in #1 through #3 above. 

Students who don’t meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards receive an email at the end of each semester indicating their eligibility status. In addition, students may check their status at any time by logging in to Workday.

If you do not meet the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards due to your grade point average or number of successfully completed credits, you will be placed on financial aid warning. The exception to this is if you fail all coursework attempted, you will be placed on financial aid ineligibility. While on warning you will remain eligible for the payment of your financial aid. While on warning, if you again do not meet either of these requirements you will be placed on financial aid ineligibility and will not be eligible for further financial aid until you meet the minimum requirements for reinstatement. You will need to pay the tuition and fees for the courses you take while on financial aid ineligibility.

If you have attempted 150% of the credits required for your academic program, you will be considered to have used your maximum credits and are no longer eligible for financial aid.

You have the right to appeal a financial aid ineligibility status if you have extenuating circumstances. This may include, but is not limited to, a medical emergency, death in the family, a change in your work schedule, etc. Max time appeals can be submitted if you are pursuing a subsequent financial aid eligible academic program or feel there have been circumstances that prevented you from completing your program in the maximum time allowed. SAP appeal requests are found within your Workday account under Requests. Documentation of your extenuating circumstances will be required. Appeal requests must be submitted through your Workday account.  

SAP appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The SAP Appeal committee which consists of Aims faculty and staff may approve funding for one additional semester or longer. Students who are approved for one additional semester are placed on probation. While on probation students are expected to complete all courses in which they enroll. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress is checked again at the end of the probation semester and the applicable eligibility status is assigned. Students who are approved for funding for more than one semester are placed on Probation - Academic Plan with specific instructions to show improvement at the end of each semester toward meeting normal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students who do not show progress at the end of the semester and do not meet any other criteria included in their academic plan will be placed on financial aid ineligibility. Students who show progress at the end of the semester will continue on Probation - Academic Plan until they meet normal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.

Students who have had a grade change may request a re-calculation of the SAP measures by contacting the Financial Aid Office.

Students who are placed on financial aid ineligibility and pay for courses on their own may request a reinstatement of their eligibility once they meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.