Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal and State Satisfactory Academic Policies (SAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies require all students receiving Title IV financial aid benefits and state financial aid benefits to meet and maintain specific academic standards. All forms of financial aid are affected by this policy except for some private scholarships.
Your academic record, all transfer credits and all credits attempted while you are not receiving financial aid are subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Your academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester in which you attend school, and it will be reviewed before any disbursement of financial aid funds for a new semester. Effective September 1998, financiamayl aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at Metro State is evaluated using four categories.
GOOD STANDING
You are considered to be in good standing during the first 130
credit hours of course work you attempt:
- By maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0.
- By maintaining a cumulative completion rate of 81% or higher.
WARNING
You will be placed on warning status if you have completed between
75% and 80% of the total number of credits attempted at Metro State
or if you have attempted between 130 and 180 cumulative credits
hours including transfer credits. Warning status does not affect
your financial aid disbursement.
PROBATION
You will be placed on probation if you fall into the suspension
criteria and it is the first time you have been under financial
aid suspension at Metro State. Probation does not affect your financial
aid disbursement.
SUSPENSION
You will be placed on suspension status and will not be eligible
to receive financial aid at Metro State for one or more of the following
reasons:
- Your cumulative GPA is below 2.0. To obtain good standing, you must raise your cumulative GPA to 2.0 without the benefit of financial aid. You may also appeal. Appeal letters must document extreme extenuating circumstances to warrant approval of your appeal.
- You do not attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA after one semester on probation. To obtain good standing, you must raise your cumulative GPA to 2.0 without the benefit of financial aid. You may also appeal. Usually, for an appeal to be approved, your last semester GPA must have been at least 2.0, and you must have shown dramatic improvement and potential for a 2.0 cumulative GPA within one more semester.
- You fail to complete at least three quarters (75 percent) of the total number of credit hours you have attempted at Metro State. To obtain good standing, you must attain a cumulative completion record equal to three quarters (75 percent) without the benefit of financial aid. You may also appeal and document the reason you were unable to complete at least three quarters of the total credit hours you attempted.
- You reach the equivalent of 180 credits attempted toward an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree. Your entire academic record, all transfer credits and all credits attempted while you were not receiving financial aid will be counted toward the 180 credit maximum. You may appeal. Usually, for an appeal to be approved, the student must have a cumulative completion rate of at least 80% with the institution and a GPA of at least 2.0.
- You have attempted 30 or more remedial credit hours. If you have completed 30 or more remedial hours, you may have an appeal approved with documentation submitted from your academic advisor.
- A maximum of 30 credits of remedial coursework may count toward the maximum credits you may attempt while maintaining financial aid eligibility. According to Metro State institutional policy, remedial course grades do not count in your semester or cumulative GPA. However, remedial courses are considered in attempted credit hours and as completed credit hours.
If you are placed on financial aid suspension, you have the right to submit a written appeal to our office. Appeals must be based on extenuating circumstances that prevent you from meeting the requirements of this policy. Extenuating circumstances can be defined as medical problems, a death in the immediate family, and/or extreme personal problems. Documentation of these circumstances must be submitted with the appeal. The appeal must also explain why the circumstances no longer exist and what you will do to ensure meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy in the future. You can obtain an appeal form from the Office of Financial Aid, or you may do an on-line appeal.
The appeal will be reviewed by a financial aid counselor. You will be notified in writing of the result of the appeal. If the appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation in writing to the Professional Judgment Committee.
If you are placed on academic probation or suspension and have not registered for classes through the office of Student Academic Success (CN 103, 303-556-4722) by the Friday before the first week of classes, your appeal will be denied.
Things you Should Know about the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
- If you are on financial aid suspension, all financial aid is suspended, including student loans. A student on suspension will not be considered for any financial aid awards at Metro State.
- If you have received a Probation letter, you do not need to appeal. Probation Letters are sent only to make students aware of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
- You must complete credit hours with a grade of "D" or better. A grade notation of "AP", "CC", "CL", "EX", "F", "D#", "F#", "I", "NC", "NR", "PL", "PP", "SA", "SN", "U", "U#", and "UE" does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for credit hour completion. The credit hours you attempt but do not complete will be counted when determining the total number of credits you have attempted toward the 180 credit limit. Remedial courses must have a grade of "C#" or higher to count as completed.
- Your entire academic record is taken into consideration when an appeal is reviewed. Please note that this does include any semesters where you paid for school without financial aid assistance.
- Credits removed from your record due to an approved Tuition and Fees Appeal will be included when calculating your overall completion rate.
- If you attend and pay for summer term in order to bring yourself into good standing, you must also pay for fall semester. You will be reimbursed if you are eligible for financial aid and no longer on suspension, but your financial aid for fall semester will not be ready in time to cover your fall semester bill.
- You must have an appeal submitted by December 1 to retain eligibility for fall semester aid. You must have an appeal submitted by May 1 in order to retain eligibility for spring semester aid. You must have an appeal submitted by August 1 in order to retain eligibility for summer semester aid.
- If you are awarded in error while on suspension, you will be responsible for repayment of funds received.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Brochure
