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Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires institutions of higher education to establish and apply standards of academic progress all students must meet to qualify and remain eligible for assistance from the Title IV student financial aid programs. Therefore to be eligible to receive financial aid, students must maintain specified grade point averages and proceed through the program at a pace leading to completion within a specified time frame. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured at the end of each term. All students placed on Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Suspension will be notified of their Satisfactory Academic Progress status via their secure UNF email at the conclusion of each term.

Institutional, categorical and merit / talent scholarship aid may be exempt from the SAP policy and is instead based on each individual award's criteria. Florida Bright Futures is exempt from this policy and is instead based on criteria established by Florida. For athletic aid, student-athletes must maintain Progress-Toward-Degree requirements in accordance with the NCAA's Division I Manual (Bylaw 14.4).

Official UNF SAP Policy

SAP Policy Information

Required Pass Rate (Pace):

Students are required to earn a minimum of 67% of the cumulative credit hours they attempt. Pace is measured by dividing the overall cumulative number of credit hours earned by the overall cumulative number of credit hours attempted. Pass Rate/Pace follows standard rounding rules (e.g. 66.66% will be rounded to 67%).

Required Grade Point Average:

All undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students must achieve a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.00 at each official SAP evaluation period. Certain programs of study may be held to a stricter standard (e.g. most education majors must earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 and American Sign Language majors must earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 at each official SAP evaluation period). 

Graduate students must achieve a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at each official SAP evaluation period. 

UNF grade point averages are calculated unrounded. A GPA of 1.999 is calculated as 1.99, not 2.00. To access the GPA calculator tool (which can be used to assess "what-if" scenarios with your UNF GPA), log into myWings > Student on the side menu > Student Resources > Banner Self-Service > Student Services > GPA Calculator

Requirement of Maximum Time Frame:

Students are required to complete their degree within 150% of the published length of their program. In accordance with federal regulation, students will be suspended for exceeding the maximum time frame when it has been determined they cannot mathematically complete their degree program within the allowable time frame.

For most undergraduate students (including post-baccalaureates and students pursuing a dual degree, double major and/or minor) - 180 attempted credit hours.

Graduate students (including students pursuing a second master's degree) - Total attempted credit hours must not exceed 150% of the published credit hours required to complete the program.

Students who violate the maximum time frame requirement may be placed on SAP suspension without being given a SAP Warning.

SAP Status

A student who achieves all Satisfactory Academic Progress standards is considered in Good Standing and may continue to receive Federal Student Aid. 

A student in Good Standing who fails to meet any of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on Financial Aid Warning and may continue to receive Federal Student Aid for one term.

A student on Financial Aid Warning who fails to meet any of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and is ineligible for Federal Student Aid. 

A student on Financial Aid Suspension may submit an appeal. If a student on Financial Aid Suspension does not submit an appeal, or such a student submits an appeal and the appeal is denied, the student will remain on Financial Aid Suspension and is ineligible for Federal Student Aid. 

If an appeal for a student on Financial Aid Suspension Status is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one term and may continue to receive Federal Student Aid for one term. If Satisfactory Academic Progress standards are not met at the conclusion of the Financial Aid Probation term, as outlined above or according to his or her academic plan, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will be ineligible for Federal Student Aid. 

A student who exceeds the maximum time frame requirement, and who is placed on an approved Graduation Contract, must uphold the requirements of the Graduation Contract and Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to once again be placed on Financial Aid Probation the following term.  

A student on Financial Aid Probation may be required to fulfill specific terms and conditions (e.g. taking a reduced load or enrolling in specific courses) according to their academic plan.

A student on Financial Aid Suspension (for reasons other than violating the maximum time frame) may re-establish their Satisfactory Academic Progress status to Good Standing without appeal by following the Re-establishing Eligibility without an Appeal by taking coursework at UNF and achieving all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Eligibility may not be re-established without an appeal when Maximum Time Frame (150% rule) standards are violated.

Appeals

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals:

If a student is ineligible for Federal Financial Aid based on the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, the student may appeal this decision by completing the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. The student will be advised via secure UNF email of the appeal decision. If an appeal is denied at this level, the student may submit an Enrollment Services Appeal.

  1. Save, sign, and submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal signed by the student.
  2. Attach a signed and dated personal statement explaining extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control that affected academic performance. 
  3. Provide official, supporting documentation for circumstances cited in appeal statement(s). Each term in question must be documented.
  4. Identify the steps taken to ensure Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be met in the future. Be sure to specifically address how extenuating circumstances have changed/improved.
  5. Complete Section VI: Academic Plan of Action.
  6. For students who have exceeded or will exceed the maximum time frame requirement, a Graduation Contract signed by both the student and the academic/program advisor must be submitted with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal.
  7. Please submit the completed appeal and supporting documentation following instructions on the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.

Please Note: in lieu of an electronic signature, the academic/program advisor will provide the student with an email from their UNF email account and/or a document on UNF letterhead stating that the advisor has reviewed the SAP appeal and/or graduation contract with the student by virtual means.

Some Examples of Extenuating Circumstances Include, but are not Limited to:

  1. A student's serious illness or accident must be documented by a medical or mental health professional.
  2. Death in the student's family must be documented by providing a copy of the death certificate or obituary.
  3. Other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the student directly impacted their academic performance.

Appeal Deadline:

All appeals must be submitted by the Friday before the last day of classes for the term in which the student is attempting to establish eligibility. It is the responsibility of the student to decide when an appeal is appropriate and to initiate an appeal before the specified deadline which can be found on Important Financial Aid Dates. Students who plan to appeal are encouraged to do so as soon as possible after receiving notification. This helps ensure a determination of eligibility prior to becoming fee liable for the following term.

Re-establishing Eligibility Without Appeal:

If the student chooses not to appeal Financial Aid Suspension or a Financial Aid Suspension Appeal is unsuccessful for Grade Point Average or Pass Rate/Pace, the student may re-establish eligibility by taking coursework at UNF and achieving all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Eligibility may not be re-established without an appeal when Maximum Time Frame (150% rule) standards are violated.

Subsequent Degree Programs:

Satisfactory Academic Progress status is typically calculated for all students after the posting of grades each term and prior to the start of the following term. As a result, some students beginning a new degree program in a subsequent term, such as a second bachelor's degree or a master's degree, may be placed on Satisfactory Academic Progress Warning or Suspension for exceeding 150% of the attempted credit hours needed to receive a degree, based on total credit hours they have attempted.

Concurrent Enrollment and Study Abroad:

Credit hours and grades earned from other institutions as a part of Consortium, Study Abroad and/or Exchange agreements must be evaluated to verify Satisfactory Academic Progress standards have been met. Students who take courses at another institution through Concurrent Enrollment and/or Study Abroad are required to submit transcripts from the host institution(s). These transcripts must provide final grades for the coursework approved by UNF. Credit hours and grades attempted and earned in approved courses will be calculated in Satisfactory Academic Progress reviews. Students should submit an official transcript and a Consortium or Study Abroad Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to request a reevaluation of their Satisfactory Academic Progress status after transcript evaluation.

Additional Information

Term Forgiveness:

The original grades and credit hours taken during a term in which "term forgiveness" has been exercised must be included in all future Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations. This may result in a student's SAP GPA being lower than what is shown on their transcript.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Repeated Courses:

Repeated coursework affects a student's Satisfactory Academic Progress grade point average, maximum time frame and completion rate requirements. Each time a course is repeated counts as an attempt and only the first time a passing grade is earned counts as completion. 

Repeated Course Information

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Dual-Degrees:

Students in dual bachelor and master's degree programs will adhere to Satisfactory Academic Progress standards according to their undergraduate or graduate grade-level distinction. For example, a fourth-year student in a dual-degree program will adhere to undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Academic Suspension:

Students who are placed on Academic Suspension by their college will be placed on Suspension for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students in Academic Suspension may not be given a SAP "Warning" term.

English as a Second Language and Remedial Courses

English as a Second Language (ESL) and Remedial courses are not included in a student's grade point average, maximum time frame and completion rate Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

How are Completion Rate, Grade Point Average and Maximum Time Frame SAP Requirements Affected by Incompletes, Withdrawals, Repeated Coursework and Transfer Credits?

Type Completion Rate Affected? Grade Point Average Affected? Maximum Time Frame Affected?
Incompletes Yes No Yes
Withdrawals Yes No Yes
Repeated Coursework Yes Yes Yes
Transfer Credits Yes Yes Yes

 

Do NG Grades Affect Completion Rate, Grade Point Average, and Maximum Time Frame SAP Requirements?

Since original grades received during a term are used to calculate Satisfactory Academic Progress, NG grades have no impact on SAP calculations. Similar to grade or term forgiveness, NG grades may result in a student's SAP GPA and Pass Rate being different than what is shown on the transcript.