Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards ensure that you are successfully completing your coursework and can continue to receive financial aid. All students receiving financial aid are required to meet SAP standards.

Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Department to establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor your progress toward completing your degree program. If you fail to meet the SAP standards, you will be placed on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension.

***Sec 484 (a)(2) – In order to receive Title IV (TIV) aid the student must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in the program of study.
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SAP Standards

Academic progress is reviewed by the Financial Aid Deparment at the end of each semester. Your semester progress and cumulative progress is evaluated. You must meet SAP standards for the semester, as well as in your academic career (cumulative).

PACE: Percent of Attempted Credits Earned

You must complete two-thirds (67%) of all attempted credits for each semester, and for your overall academic career.

Attempted credit hours: all enrolled hours (including withdrawn courses); repeated courses; transferred credits

Completed credit hours: grades of A, B, C, D; transferred credits Credit hours NOT complete: grades of F; incomplete (I); withdraw (W); non-credit (NC)

GPA: Minimum Grade Point Average

You must maintain a 2.0 GPA or greater for each semester, and for your overall academic career.

Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

The US Department of Education has established a requirement that students receiving Federal Student Aid complete their degree within 150% of the time frame. Time frame is evaluated by the number of hours attempted. Students who are unable to graduate within the 150% time frame are no longer eligible for financial aid without an approved appeal.

For example, if your associate degree requires 60 semester hours to complete, you must be able graduate with no more than 90 credit hours attempted.

Likewise, if you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree that requires 120 semester hours to complete, you must be able graduate with no more than 180 credit hours attempted.

In addition to the Appeal documents, you will also need an Academic Plan that outlines the courses required for graduation. You will need to strictly adhere to this plan to remain eligible for financial aid.

SAP Status

After the first semseter of not meeting SAP standards, you will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status. You are still eligible for federal financial aid in Warning Status.

If you fail to meet SAP standards after Warning Status, or if you reach the Maximum Time Frame, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension Status. You are not eligible for federal financial aid with Suspension Status.

Financial Aid Warning

The Financial Aid Department reviews all students’ academic progress at the end of each semester. If your PACE or GPA falls below SAP standards, you will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for your next semester. While on warning, you may continue to receive financial aid at United Tribes without filing a SAP appeal.
**Please note there is no warning period for Maximum Time Frame.

Warning Status is your chance to improve your GPA and/or PACE rate to meet SAP standards for the next semester and your academic career. At the end of the Warning semester, your progress is evaluated and you will either be moved back into Good Standing or you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

You will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension, resulting in the loss of your federal financial aid, if either of the following situations occur:

You fail to meet PACE and/or GPA standards for two or more consecutive terms.
You reach the Maximum Time Frame for your educational program.

You may appeal the suspension. If circumstances beyond your control prevented you from successfully meeting SAP standards, you may fill out a SAP Appeal Form and submit the form and all supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Department. The decisions of the Financial Aid Department are final.

If your appeal is approved, your aid may be reinstated for one semester. You are required to meet with your Academic Advisor to create an academic plan for the semester. You must follow your academic plan, and meet SAP standards during this semester.

If your appeal is denied, you will remain in Financial Aid Suspension status. You are not eligible for federal or state aid while on Suspension status. You may continue your education at United Tribes while on Financial Aid Suspension, but you must meet with Student Accounts to discuss payment options before the payment due date.

SAP Appeal

If you have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension status, you may appeal the status with an SAP Appeal. The Financial Aid Department will review your appeal, and notifiy you of the approval or rejection of the appeal via your United Tribes email. Appeals are for students who feel they were not able to meet SAP standards in the last semester due to circumstances outside of their control. The Financial Aid Department’s decision is final.

You must complete the form, and submit all supporting documents to the Financial Aid Department. If your appeal is approved, you will be required to meet with your academic advisor and create an academic plan for the coming semester.

SAP Appeal Form