At the University of Maine at Augusta, there are separate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies for Undergraduates and Graduate students. For more detailed information on each policy, click on the relevant section below.
Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
Maintaining satisfactory academic progress is one of many federally mandated criteria viewed in determining students’ eligibility for continued receipt of financial aid. To remain eligible, students must meet both a quantitative and qualitative standard. The standards measure students’ performance in the following areas: maximum time frame to complete a course of study, credit hour completion rate, and cumulative grade point average (GPA). These satisfactory academic progress standards apply to all financial aid programs including Federal Direct loans. If at any point it is clear that a student will be unable to meet the standard for graduation, the student becomes ineligible for federal aid. Schools are required to include all coursework attempted (including accepted transfer credits) even if aid was not received. SAP is measured at the end of each term and a student is placed in a SAP status depending on their standing in the categories below.
The 3 components of Satisfactory Academic Progress are:
Cumulative GPA (Qualitative)
All students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA at the end of each term. The chart below outlines the cumulative GPA you must achieve at the end of each term based on your completed credit hours.
| Credits Attempted | GPA requirement |
|---|---|
| 0-12 | 1.5 |
| 12.01-24 | 1.7 |
| 24.01-53 | 1.9 |
| 53.01+ | 2.0 |
Please refer to the University’s grading system and how grade point averages are impacted by incompletes, withdrawals, repeat courses and transfer credits.
Maximum Timeframe (Quantitative)
Maximum timeframe is 150% of the published length of your program of study. For example, it takes 120 credits to complete a bachelor’s degree x 1.5 = 180 credits to complete your program and still be eligible for financial aid.
Credit Hour Completion Rate (Quantitative)
The credit hour completion rate reflects the pace at which students must progress through their education program to ensure that they are able to complete their program within the maximum time frame. At the end of each academic term, students’ academic progress will be measured by comparing the cumulative number of attempted credit hours against the cumulative number of credit hours earned. For all students, attempted hours are defined as all courses in which they are enrolled after the add/drop period has ended for the term and for which academic credit will be earned. This means that courses from which students withdraw after the add/drop period has ended will be considered attempted hours. All attempted hours will be counted whether or not financial aid was received.
Attempted hours also include the following courses:
- Withdrawals, incompletes, no grades and failing grades
- Failing grades in pass/fail courses
- Courses taken as credit/no credit
- Repeated coursework
- Transfer credits, including credits from domestic and international study abroad programs
All students, whether full-time or part-time are expected to complete the % of cumulative attempted credit hours during all terms of enrollment, including summer as outlined below.
| Credits Attempted | Percentage Passed |
|---|---|
| 0-12 | 24% |
| 12.010-24 | 50% |
| 24.010 -54 | 55% |
| 54.010-75 | 62% |
| 75.010 + | 67% |
EVALUATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS
At the end of each academic term students will be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress. Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress will be notified of their status by email to their University email address. There are 4 statuses a student may be placed in depending on where they fall within the SAP assessment for the term.
MEETS: If you are in this status you are currently meeting all the requirements for satisfactory academic progress.
WARNING: If you were in a MEETS status and fail to meet any of the requirements at the end of the term you will be placed in a WARNING status for one term. If you meet SAP at the end of the next term you will return to MEETS, or if you are unsuccessful you will move to FAILED status.
FAILED: If you fail to meet any of the components of SAP after your term of WARNING, you are considered to be failing SAP and will be ineligible to receive federal aid. You may submit a satisfactory academic progress appeal.
PROBATION: If you appeal and are approved, you will be placed in a PROBATION status and must meet the terms and conditions of your appeal.
THE APPEAL PROCESS
Students who are on Financial Aid Suspension due to failure to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards have two options:
- Appeal your Financial Aid Suspension- complete and submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal (available on our website) with corresponding documentation for review. OR
- Complete sufficient coursework on your own, without the benefit of aid to re-establish your eligibility.
Not attending classes or taking time off from coursework will not re-establish your eligibility as your SAP status will not change. Failing to meet SAP standards DOES NOT impact your academic standing or ability to take classes, it only impacts your eligibility to receive funding.
Once the completed appeal is received, the information will be reviewed by the UMA Office of Financial Aid. Based upon the documentation submitted, the Financial Aid Office will approve or deny the appeal. Students will be notified of the decision by email no later than two weeks after the completed appeal is received.
Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
In compliance with Federal Student Aid Regulations, the University of Maine at Augusta’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid eligibility incorporates the University’s scholastic standards with the federal requirements for a specific time frame for degree completion. Graduate students must meet these minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements in order to be eligible for student aid funds.
Each of the following standards must be met:
Quantitative Measurement
Matriculated students are required to successfully complete a minimum specified percentage of the credits that are attempted. The policy uses the following graduated scale:
| Attempted Credit Hours | Percentage Earned |
|---|---|
| 1-11 | 50% |
| 12 and above | 75% |
Qualitative Measurement
Students matriculating in Graduate Programs are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.67.
Maximum Time Frame
Federal regulations require that the University set a maximum time frame for successful completion of degree programs. The University has set the maximum number of attempted credits as 90. If a student attempts more credits than the maximum number identified for their degree, they are not eligible to receive financial aid.
- Attempted Hours
For the purpose of this policy, attempted hours are calculated in this manner: Students enrolled as full-time and assessed the full-time fee will be considered as attempting 6 credits each semester. - Passed Hours
For the purpose of this policy, passed hours include: Passed credits hours posted during the term that can be used for the purpose of completing degree requirements. - Transfer Students
If a student earned credits at a previous institution(s) that will be accepted toward their degree, those accepted hours will be included as attempted hours for the purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation.
Financial Aid Probation and Suspension
Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured at the end of each semester. Upon review, if it is determined that the student is not making Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will be notified in writing that their eligibility for financial aid has been suspended.
Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension
A student placed on Financial Aid Suspension who has experienced undue hardship, (ie. death of a relative of the student; personal injury or prolonged illness of the student; or special circumstances as determined by the institution.), may submit a written appeal, normally within 30 days of notification, to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal must explain the circumstance that prevented the standards from being met. Providing third party documentation, if available, supporting the circumstance is suggested. In the case of undue hardship, the student may be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one period, and will be able to receive financial aid during that time. If at the end of the probationary period the minimum standards are not met, or the student has failed to meet the requirements of the academic plan developed as part of the probation period, the student’s financial aid eligibility will be suspended. All appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The student will receive written notification of the committee’s decision within 30 days of receipt of the appeal.
Condition of Financial Aid Reinstatement
Students must complete the required number of credits and achieve the corresponding cumulative GPA as outlined during the probationary period in order to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated.
Effective: August 9, 2024