Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Why Monitor Academic Progress?

Federal Regulations require that students that receive Title IV Aid must be monitored for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Title IV Aid includes the following programs:

• Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loans
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Federal Perkins Loan

Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester (including summer).

How is Progress Measured?

Satisfactory Academic Progress determination will be based on the following:

Qualitative Progress

• Maintain the published academic minimum grade point average (GPA) required to maintain eligibility for continued enrollment in your academic program.

Quantitative Progress

• Successfully completing at least 67% of hours attempted each semester.

Attempted Hours include:

• Repeat Hours
• Pass/Fail Hours
• Incomplete Hours
• Withdrawn Hours
• Transfer Hours
• All hours regardless of whether a student received Financial Aid

Student Eligibility

• Students must be admitted and enrolled in a Degree Program.
• Must complete at least 67% of hours attempted and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA each semester.
• Undergraduate students may not exceed 150% of the published length of their academic program.
• Graduate students are considered eligible for financial aid as long as they are meeting the academic requirements set forth by the Graduate School to complete their degree.

Additional Eligibility Information

Incomplete Coursework

Incomplete Coursework will be evaluated as a failing grade until the course has been satisfactorily completed.

• Incomplete coursework must be completed by the end of the next semester.
  • If incomplete coursework cannot be completed within the allotted timeframe, a written explanation must be provided that is accepted by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.
  • Submit your explanation with all documentation to the Financial Aid Office which is located in the Madison 910 Building, Suite 520.

Students Pursuing a Second Degree

• Must submit a Degree Completion Plan signed by the student as well as the Academic Advisor for their Degree Program. The Plan must indicate the courses required as well as the timeframe to complete the additional degree.
• If the student has attempted the maximum number of semesters or if their Degree Completion Plan will cause them to exceed that limit, they may be denied financial aid.

Failure to meet SAP requirements

• All students that fail to meet SAP requirements will notified via their UTHSC email.
  • Failure to receive notification does not dispute or reverse the termination of a student’s eligibility to receive Financial Aid.
• Students that do not meet GPA requirements will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for their next semester of enrollment.
  • If a student has attempted 60 or more hours and a cumulative GPA below 2.0, they will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
• Students that do not successfully complete 67% of their attempted coursework will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for their next semester of enrollment.
• If at any point it is clear that a student will not be able to complete their degree within the allotted timeframe, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Warning

• Students placed on Financial Aid Warning must successfully complete all hours for which they are registered with at least a 2.0 GPA.
• Students receiving a grade of F, W, I, or a GPA less than 2.0 while on financial aid warning will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students placed on Financial Aid Suspension are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. To regain eligibility there are two options:

• The student must successfully complete hours on their own, without federal financial aid, to improve their academic record to meet SAP requirements.
  • Once the student has brought their academic record back in line with the SAP policy, they will need to submit an appeal.
  • Submit your appeal with all documentation to the Financial Aid Office which is located in the Madison 910 Building, Suite 520.
• Students will need to submit an appeal to have their eligibility restored if their academic performance was effected by extenuating circumstances.

Submitting an Appeal

• Students may appeal to have their eligibility restored if there are extenuating circumstances related to their academic progress. They must include a letter explaining why they failed to make academic progress, as well as an explanation of what has changed in their circumstances that will allow them to make Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of the semester. In addition, an Academic Plan must be included, stating what specific steps the student will take to get back in line with UTHSC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid.
• Students who have attempted 60 hours or more, and less than a cumulative 2.0 GPA are not eligible for an appeal.
• Extenuating circumstances are typically identified as situations beyond the student's control that do not allow them to successfully complete the semester; such situations may include unplanned medical conditions, victim of a severe crime, or a participant in a vehicle accident.
• Although these situations do not ensure that your appeal will be approved, they are merely examples of situations that have been reviewed in the past and might be considered extenuating. The appeal form must be completed with the student’s name, signature, and UTHSC ID number.
  Download Appeal Form
  
• Any necessary documentation that can validate the student’s situation should be turned in with the appeal. Such documentation may include medical records, police records, court records, or letters from your doctor. The committee will review your appeal only once before the semester starts; therefore, all information related to your appeal should be submitted to the committee.
• Submit your appeal with all documentation to the Financial Aid Office which is located in the Madison 910 Building, Suite 520.
• Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed.
• The committee will notify the student of its decision by replying to the student’s university assigned email address. Neither the committee nor the financial aid staff will give appeal results over the phone.

All decisions of the committee are final.

Appeal Review Dates

• Appeals will be reviewed before each semester begins.

Checking the Status of an Appeal

• The committee will review appeals during regular scheduled meetings before each semester. The committee will notify you of its decision through your UTHSC e-mail address. Results of the committee meeting will not be given out over the phone.

Scholarship Appeals

Please note that the above appeal process is for Federal Financial Aid only. Questions regarding UTHSC’s SAP policy should be directed to your Financial Aid Counselor.

Contact Us

910 Madison Avenue, Suite 520
Memphis, TN 38163
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(901) 448-5568
Email: fao@uthsc.edu