Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Federal regulations require that the Financial Aid Office at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) ensure financial aid recipients are making measurable academic progress toward their degree or certificate program. SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester.  In general, UDC financial aid recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), complete 67% of all attempted coursework and may not exceed 150% of the timeframe required to obtain a degree or certificate. The specific requirements are defined below:

Qualitative Academic Standard Requirement

Requirement #1
Financial aid recipients must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 for undergraduate students and a 3.0 for graduate students. Coursework completion is as follows:

Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative 2.00 GPA. Your GPA will be reviewed at the end of each semester. If at the end of your first semester your GPA is less than 2.00, you will be notified and placed on Financial Aid Warning Status. If your GPA falls below a 2.00 at the end of your second semester or the end of the academic year, you will be placed on financial aid suspension.

Graduate Students
Graduate students must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA each semester. If at the end of your first semester, your GPA is less than 3.00 you will be notified and placed on Financial Aid Warning Status. If your GPA falls below a 3.00 at the end of your second semester or the end of the academic year, you will be placed on financial aid suspension.

Quantitative Academic Standard Requirement

Requirement #2
Financial aid recipients must complete at least 67% of ALL attempted coursework. Aid recipients must be making academic progression or pace by having a cumulative earned completion rate of 67% or better of all attempted coursework.

The number of credits a student must complete each semester depends on their enrollment status. Enrollment status is determined by the number of credits attempted each semester. Financial aid recipients that do not cumulatively complete at least 67% of their attempted coursework at the end of their first semester will be placed on financial aid warning status. If you do not successfully complete 67% of your coursework at the end of the second semester or academic year, you will be placed on financial aid suspension. Below is a chart on the minimum number of credits that must be completed during your first semester to remain in good standing. Cumulative pace requirements will be counted each semester to determine if a student is placed on warning or suspension.

* Graduate students are counted based on the 9 credit hour full-time enrollment measurement.
** Transfer credits (including those from foreign institutions) that apply toward the student’s degree may be included in the student’s completion rate calculation.

Maximum Timeframe to Complete Program Requirement

Requirement #3
Federal student aid regulations allow a student 150% of the timeframe required to complete their program of study. Students will be deemed ineligible for financial aid upon exceeding the 150% maximum timeframe or attempted credits as indicated below:

Please Note: New Federal student aid regulations limit the maximum Subsidized Loan for new students to 150% of their program of student. Also, the Federal Pell Grant may only be received up to a maximum of 12 full-time semesters. Students exceeding 12 full-time semesters to complete their undergraduate degree will not be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funding (this includes dual degrees and change of majors).

Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Transfer Credits – Transfer credits (including those from foreign institutions) that apply toward the student’s degree may be placed within the SAP policy quantitative and maximum time frame requirements.

Change of Major – A student that changes their major must submit a degree checklist signed by their Department Dean or Academic Advisor outlining the number of credits needed to obtain the changed degree. The maximum time frame will be calculated based upon the submission of the new requirement for graduation. Students changing their major must be mindful of the max Pell Grant Requirement.

Second-Degree – Students pursuing a second degree must submit a degree plan listing what additional credits are required to obtain the second degree and may only receive funding up to the additional hours required. A written statement on why you are pursuing a second degree may be required as part of your SAP Appeal.

Dual Degree Program – Students may request in writing an extension of the maximum time frame policy if they are pursuing a dual degree and their reasons for pursuing one. An academic plan must be provided stating what coursework is required and the total number of credits needed to complete the dual degree program. Students in a dual degree program must be mindful of the max Pell Grant Requirement.

Repeating a Course – Allowable repeats include a failed course and a course the student has previously withdrawn from. Please note that the repeat course will count toward quantitative and maximum time frame requirements. Students may not receive financial aid funding to repeat a course that has been successfully completed.

Developmental coursework – Students may receive financial aid for up to 30 credit hours of developmental/remedial coursework. Developmental courses will count toward quantitative and maximum time frame requirements of this SAP policy.

Graduate students enrolled for undergraduate coursework – Graduate students may notreceive financial aid to take undergraduate coursework as these credits and hours will not apply toward their graduate degree program.

Professional Licensure – Students pursuing professional licensure are not eligible for financial aid unless they are admitted in a degree program.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Status Categories

GOOD Status
The aid recipient has maintained a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA for undergraduates and 3.0 GPA for graduates, has completed at least 67% of all attempted coursework and has not exceeded the150% maximum time-frame required to obtain their degree or certificate.

WARNING Status
At the end of the first semester of study, the aid recipient has not maintained a cumulative 2.0 GPA for undergraduates and 3.0 GPA for graduates, or has not completed at least 67% of all attempted coursework or is near the150% maximum time-frame required to obtain their degree or certificate.
Students who meet the GPA and quantitative credit completion rate requirements at the end of the warning semester may return to an academic status of “Good” Satisfactory Academic Progress.
SUSPENSION Status
Financial aid recipients placed on suspension are not eligible for financial aid. Students in any of the following three categories are considered to have an academic status of financial aid suspension:

• Students who are on financial aid warning and do not maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA (3.0 for graduates) at the end of the second semester will be placed on suspension.
• Students who are on financial aid warning and who do not complete at least 67% of their coursework at the end of the second semester will be placed on suspension.
• Students who reach or exceed the Maximum 150% Time-frame of their program will be placed on suspension.

PROBATION Status
Students that submit an Appeal Application that have their appeal approved are placed on One-Term Probation. Students must meet all SAP requirements while on probation to return to good standing. Should they fail to do so after the end of the probation period and/or violate the terms of their probation, they will be placed back on suspension and no longer eligible for financial aid or eligible to re-appeal.

Financial Aid Notification and Suspension Appeal Process

Students who are placed on financial aid warning and suspension will be notified via email and theirmyUDCstudent portal. Any student on suspension may appeal their status by completing a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. The Appeal MUST include the following:

1. SAP Appeal Form, https://www.udc.edu/admissions/financial-aid/important-forms-and-information/– The student must understand the terms and requirements of the Appeal.
2. Personal Statement Explaining Circumstance – The TYPED statement must explain why you failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed that will allow you to make academic progress for the next period of study.
3. Supporting Documentation – The student must submit documentation to support the personal statement
4. Academic and Success Strategies Plan – The student must complete an Academic Plan and Success Strategies Plan. The plan must outline coursework and academic services the student will utilize to ensure academic success.

Appeal Review and Decision

The Financial Aid Appeal will be reviewed and the student will be notified in writing via their My.UDC student portal (my.udc.edu) of their appeal decision. APPEAL REVIEWS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE A DECISION IS RENDERED. Hence, students are encouraged to submit their appeal as early as possible should they wish to be reconsidered for aid prior to the start of their next semester of enrollment.

Appeals that are Approved

SUBMISSION OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE APPROVAL!

If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on a ONE-TERM FINANCIAL AID PROBATION and will be allowed one enrollment period/semester of funding to bring your status up to the required minimum standards.  Students may not withdraw, fail, or receive incompletes while on a one term probation.  Students who make progress after their probationary semester may return to “good satisfactory academic progress” status or request a continued probation status if the student met the terms of their one term probation, but did not reach the cumulative GPA or completion rate requirements.

Students that fail to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements after their probation period will be placed back on suspension and will no longer be eligible for financial aid. Students may not re-appeal should they fail to meet SAP requirements during their probation period.

Appeals that are Denied and Regaining Eligibility

Students whose appeals are denied will no longer be eligible for financial aid at UDC. Once a student becomes ineligible for financial aid, the student can regain eligibility* by completing the following:

• Achieve the required 67% quantitative cumulative course completion rate as described in this policy
• Achieve the minimum 2.0 GPA (3.0 for graduates) required to reestablish satisfactory academic progress

*Students who were denied an appeal for a maximum timeframe extension will not regain eligibility.

Students denied their appeal must meet these requirements at their own expense and complete a new Appeal Application should they wish to be reconsidered for financial aid. Eligibility cannot be re-established simply by being out of school for a set period of time or by paying for a certain number of courses with one’s own funds.

For additional information or questions about the UDC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy please visit the Office of Financial Aid, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Building 39, Suite A-133, Washington, DC 20008.