Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Overview

Three components of your academic record determine whether you are maintaining satisfactory academic progress: (1) course completion, (2)grade point average (GPA) and (3)maximum eligibility. The requirements in each area vary according to your status as an undergraduate, graduate or professional student, your school/college of enrollment, and your enrollment status (full-time, half-time, or less than-half-time). This federal policy affects your eligibility for all forms of assistance, including but not limited to, the following aid programs:

• Federal: Including but not limited to the following - Federal Work-Study, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan (parent loan), Federal Supplemental educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Graduate PLUS Loans, Federal Family Education Loan Program, Federal Direct Loan Program (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), Nursing Student Loans and Health Professions Loans and Grants
• State: All State eligible programs (e.g. D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) ), Leveragin Educational Assistance Partnership Grant (LEAP), CHAFEE Grant, Alternate Loan Programs, Student Educational Loan Fund, and all eligible state programs
• Institutional: Departmental scholarships/grants, Howard University Student Employment Program (HUSEP), Graduate Remission or Assistantships.
• Private Loans: MBA Loans, LAW Loans, and all other loans requiring the University's certificati

SAP Criteria

Completion Ratio

Your enrollment status is reviewed at the end of each academic year to verify that you have earned the required minimum number of credits during fall and spring semesters. You are required to complete at least 70% of all attempted hours of coursework each academic year. Grades or indicators of ‘F’ (Fail), ‘I’ (Incomplete), ‘U’ (Unsatisfactory), ‘UW’ (Unofficial Withdrawal), ‘NR’ (Never Reported) all count against your completion ratio. Repeated coursework may not be used in the calculation of your completion ratio.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

As an undergraduate student, your cumulative grade point average (GPA) will be reviewed at the end of each academic year of attendance. You will be placed on Financial Aid Probation if your cumulative GPA is less than a 2.00 following the completion of your first academic year (fall and spring), unless you have been suspended from the University for two consecutive semesters of a GPA below 2.00. In the event you are suspended from the University, you are automatically SAP suspended (see Additional SAP Requirements below).

After your second academic year (fourth semester of attendance), you must have achieved a 2.00 cumulative GPA or your financial aid eligibility will be suspended. Undergraduate students are also required to maintain a 2.00 GPA each academic year of attendance, thereafter. Graduate and professional students are required to maintain the GPA as required by their chosen program of study. For graduate/professional students, you must also maintain satisfactory progress in order to be promoted to the next level (e.g. required course grades to be successfully promoted to the next level or academic activity. For example, students in the College of Medicine must pass the USLME Steps.

Graduate and professional students are required to maintain the GPA and academic standards (including any national examination test score required to maintain good academic standing with your school/college) as required by their chosen program of study. Regardless of the program of study, you are automatically SAP suspended once you do not meet the required minimum GPA requirements (or academic standards) of the program.

Maximum Eligibility

You will maintain financial aid eligibility for a specified period of time. Undergraduate and graduate students must complete their chosen academic program within 150 percent of the number of credit hours required for graduation or successful completion. (For example, an undergraduate student may attempt a maximum of 191 credit hours for a program requiring 127 hours for graduation.)

Undergraduate students will be notified when they are within 24 credit hours, and graduate students within 18 credit hours of reaching the expiration of their financial aid eligibility. You must continue your studies at your own expense when you have reached your maximum eligibility.

Because of the special nature and delivery format of the professional education programs, professional program students will maintain financial aid eligibility for a period not to exceed the following:

Appeal Process

You may appeal a financial aid suspension status by submitting a completed appeal packet to the Office of Financial Aid within 14 calendar days from the date of your notification. It is the responsibility of the student to follow up with their advisor as often as possible, checking their BisonWeb account for updates by checking their financial aid eligibility from one year to the next as well as their personal preferred email address for emails on deadlines and updates.

Types of suspension that CAN BE appealed by the appropriate deadline are:

• Suspension from the University - Student is academically suspended from the University.*
• Suspension for Credits - Student did not earn at least 70% of the credit hours attempted in the previous two (2) academic years.
• Suspension for Grades** - Student did not earn minimum GPA required for ‘good standing‘ for previous two (2) years.
• PhD Degree Suspension - Student has met or exceeded maximum degree timeframe (1.5 times the total minimum credit hours required for degree) OR has more than 12 hours of incomplete credits.
• Master‘s Degree Suspension - Student has met or exceeded maximum degree timeframe (1.5 times the total minimum credit hours required for degree) OR has more than 12 hours of incomplete credits.
• Medicine/Law Suspension - Student is suspended according to academic rules of program (MD, DN, LW)
• Professional School Suspension - Student is suspended according to academic rules of program (PH, MD, DN, LW)

Types of suspension that CANNOT be appealed:

• 4 Year Undergraduate Suspension - Student has met or exceeded maximum degree timeframe (1.5 times the total minimum credit hours required for degree).
• 5 Year Undergraduate Suspension - Student has met or exceeded maximum degree timeframe (1.5 times the total minimum credit hours required for degree) OR has more than 12 hours of incomplete credits.

For SAP appeal forms, you may visit the Office of Financial Aid in Suite 205 of the Administration Building or by browsing through the Financial Aid Forms, Worksheets & Links webpage.

If you have failed to achieve SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) because of mitigating circumstances, your appeal packet must consist of the following:

1. SAP appeal form with type of suspension indicated per your BisonWeb account
2. Detailed written narrative of what led to your suspension status, and explanation of what you intend to do to improve your plan of action, and
3. Copies of all supporting documentation attached. With your HU ID number on each page beginning with the '@' symbol.

Mitigating circumstances would include, but are not limited to extreme illness or injury, family crisis, or death of an immediate relative. The circumstances must be documented and will not be considered for approval without the supplemental documentation attached. Examples of documentation would include medical documentation, birth or death certificates, etc. Please do not submit letters of stipulation from your school/college along with your appeal documents. If at the end of an academic school year, you have found yourself to be suspended, you may appeal to have your current SAP status reviewed by:

1. Attending a summer session at Howard University, by increasing your GPA or earned credits that caused you to meet the minimum number of credits required for the academic year and submitting your appeal to the Office of Financial Aid once your grades have been posted by the Office of the Registrar.

You must complete the appeal process at the end of the summer term. Summer credits will count toward determining your maximum eligibility for next school year.

Please send your appeal with any required documentation to:

Howard University
Office of Financial Aid
2400 6th Street, NW Suite # 205 
Washington, DC 20059
Attention: Appeals Committee
(202) 806-2818 (fax)

The committee will review your request and make a decision within 10 business days from the respective deadline. You will receive written notification of the committee's decision by email to the address you provided on your appeal packet. You will also notice the appropriate changes made to your award package on your BisonWeb account.

Note: All incomplete appeals will be denied. All appeal decisions are final and the submission of a SAP appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of aid eligibility. Students who are currently SAP suspended are strongly advised to create alternate financial plans in the event your appeal is denied.

Additional SAP Requirements

• If you are listed as being SUSPENDED FROM THE UNIVERSITY, the appeal process is two-fold. Step 1: You must appeal to your school/college as well as Step 2: the Office of Financial Aid. It is your responsibility to stay abreast of deadlines. Stipulation letters do not ensure financial aid reinstatement and one is not contingent upon the other. For further inquiries please contact the Office of Financial Aid at http://www.howard.edu/financialaid/contacts/staff-finaid.htm
• Although you may not be receiving financial aid, you will be evaluated for financial aid eligibility on the same basis as students who receive federal and state aid. Should you apply for aid, your eligibility will be based on your prior academic performance at Howard University.
• If you are enrolled in a dual degree program, you may appeal for an extension of the maximum time frame provision of this policy.
• If you are an undergraduate student pursuing a second degree, you may attempt an additional 48 credit hours to complete your second degree program, including prerequisite courses. Graduate/professional students may attempt an additional 24 credit hours.
• If you are a transfer student, your maximum eligibility will be reduced by the number of transfer credits accepted by Howard University.
• Credits you have earned at foreign institutions will be included in your SAP evaluation provided they are applicable to the degree/program sought.
• Courses in which you receive a grade of ‘I’(incomplete) accompanied by a letter grade will be considered when evaluating your completion ratio, and will influence your term and cumulative GPA. All attempted and earned credits are considered in maximum eligibility determination.
• Courses in which you receive a grade of ‘W’ (withdrawal) do not earn credits or affect your GPA, but they will be considered when evaluating your maximum eligibility. You may retake courses from which you withdraw and those credits will count toward determining your enrollment status and completion ratio, provided you have not earned credit for the same course.
• If you are enrolled in undergraduate remedial courses, credits attempted/earned will count toward determining your enrollment status, minimum credits earned and maximum eligibility.
• If you take undergraduate courses while you are a graduate student, courses that are satisfactorily completed do not earn graduate credit or influence your graduate GPA, nor will they count toward determining your enrollment status or minimum credits earned at the graduate level.
• All undergraduate and prerequisite courses are evaluated in SAP Maximum Eligibility.
• If you are taking courses to earn professional licensure, you must be admitted to a degree program in order to receive financial aid. Students completing licensure courses and are not seeking a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree are not eligible for financial aid.
• The credits earned from repeated courses will count toward the determining your enrollment status and maximum eligibility. However, for purposes of financial aid satisfactory academic progress, only credits adding to the cumulative credits earned will be acceptable toward the required minimum number of credits earned per year.
• If you attend a summer session and wish those credits/grades to be considered with your fall and spring total, you must complete the appeal process at the end of the summer term. Summer credits will count toward determining your maximum eligibility.