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Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility: College of Medicine

I. Introduction

Federal and State regulations require that all students receiving financial aid, including all federal and state aid, must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

II. Policy

All students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to continue in their chosen major, but also to maintain financial aid eligibility. Your academic standing will evaluated at the end of each spring term.

III. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress has two components: Qualitative and Quantitative.

Qualitative Component

The College of Medicine does not measure academic progress by means of a cumulative grade point average. The student is required to complete with at least a “P” grade all of the required courses in the curriculum in order to graduate. Therefore, grade performance as a measure of satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility must be reviewed in the context of each course for which the student registers. The following standards for financial aid eligibility have been established.

  1. A student must complete with passing grades at least 100% of the full-time curriculum for which he or she was enrolled in any academic year.
  2. A student who is granted a one semester financial aid probation must achieve this 100% pass rate standard for all courses for this probationary period , or be suspended from financial aid eligibility in the following semester..
  3. As soon as incomplete grades are changed to earned grades, the student’s probationary or suspended status may be lifted if allcourse standards are completed and passing grades achieved.
  4. MS 3 students are also required to Pass the Step 1 Exam

Quantitative Component

The quantitative component addresses the length of time a student is given to complete the degree requirements. A student will be permitted a time limit of enrollment beyond the standard required length of study as a full-time student to complete the program.

Degree Standard Maximum
Doctor of Medicine 4 years 6 years
Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy 7 years 10 years

Any student whose aid eligibility is suspended for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements has the right to submit a written appeal.

IV. First Appeal of Financial Aid suspension

Please note, being permitted to continue your studies by the Educational Policy Committee does not automatically reinstate your Financial Aid eligibility.

Students who fail to meet the SAP requirements listed above may apply for a one time waiver to re-establish eligibility for Federal aid for one semester only. At the end of the probationary term, your SAP status and eligibility for federal aid will be re-evaluated.

In order to qualify for this one time only waiver, the student must submit the following forms:

Submit a signed Financial Aid waiver for SAP probation form.

The student must write a letter that describes the reasons for the failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

A financial aid hold will be placed on the student’s account until the forms are received. Failure to submit the forms will result in the suspension of the student’s financial aid.

V. Subsequent Appeal(s) of Financial Aid suspension

A student whose aid has been suspended due to a failure to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, after having previously received a waiver, may appeal the denial on the basis of circumstances beyond his or her control. The appeal must be made in writing and must adhere to the following requirements:

An appeals form must be completed.

The student must write a letter that describes the reasons for the failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

The student must provide documentation supporting the reasons for the appeal (e.g., a doctor’s statement regarding medical reasons).

The appeal must arrive at the Office of Financial Aid no later than the end of the first week of class. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and will send a written decision to the student within two weeks of receiving the appeal.

VI. Reinstatement of Financial Aid

If your SAP appeal is approved you will be placed on financial aid probation until the end of the Spring term at which point your SAP status will be reviewed.

Other forms of aid, such as State aid or scholarships, may not permit reinstatement.