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Financial Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

For continued financial aid eligibility and compliance with federally mandated requirements, the following Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is provided to financial aid recipients of the University of Maine at Augusta. All students receiving financial aid must complete a given number of credits in comparison to those attempted. The scale varies depending on full, three-quarter, half-time status AND Associate, Baccalaureate programs. A copy of the scale is provided below and is also available upon request. The policy is stated as:

The following shall be considered as credits completed:

• Letter grades "A" through "D".
• "Q" or "P", passed for credit on Pass/Fail basis.

The following shall not be considered as credits completed:

• Letter grades "E", "F", or "L".
• "AUD"or "H", for audited courses.
• "W", "WP", or "WF" for withdrawn course work.
• "I" for incomplete course work.
• "Non-credit" courses (i.e. developmental courses below 100 level)

Students who do not successfully complete course work at the minimum levels listed in the chart are not considered to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress. Also, students who have earned more credit hours than the maximum are not considered to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial Aid Probation or Suspension:

In the event that a student fails to meet any of the above criteria in a particular semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. A student in this category may receive financial aid for the upcoming semester; at the end of that semester the student must have completed the designated number of credits. A student who has not completed the designated number of credits by the end of the probationary semester will be suspended from the receipt of further financial aid.

Grade Point Average:

GPA is calculated via the institutions academic standards, by the Office of Admissions and Records. Students with insufficient grade point average are notified of their status (either academic warning or dismissal) by the appropriate Dean of their College. Upon notification of the academic action, the Financial Aid Office will take the appropriate action.

Semesters:

All semesters of at least half-time (6 credits) enrollment are calculated for the purpose of Satisfactory Academic Progress regardless of your receipt of aid for those semesters. SAP will be reviewed at the end of each semester for all students previously on Financial Aid Probation.

Appeal of Probation/Suspension:

Students have the right to appeal their Financial Aid Probation/Suspension status. Federal regulations provide limited flexibility based upon appropriate documentation of circumstances. In the case where a student can demonstrate mitigating circumstances which contributed toward his/her inability to achieve satisfactory academic performance (e.g. illness, or death in the family), a Satisfactory Progress Committee may reinstate the student's financial aid eligibility. In those cases where these circumstances can be documented, the Committee may, by majority vote, approve the petition and the student may have their eligibility reinstated for one term. Eligibility for subsequent terms would be determined following an evaluation of performance for the reinstated enrollment term.

Appeal Procedure:

A detailed appeal letter must be delivered to the Financial Aid Office for review by Committee. In making determination to reinstate or not reinstate the student's eligibility for further financial aid, the Committee will assess the factors that contributed to the student not complying with the minimum academic requirements. The Financial Aid Office will inform the student of this decision, in writing. If the appeal is granted a agreement for continued financial aid will be included, outlining the conditions of the continuation. If the student is unsatisfied with this decision, then the student has the responsibility to inform the Director of Financial Aid that he or she wishes to further appeal within 10 days of notification of the Committee's decision.

Conditions of Reinstatement:

Students must complete the terms of the agreement for continued financial aid to be considered for financial aid in future semesters. The student will observe all normal application procedures and deadlines for financial aid consideration.

Measurement of Satisfactory Academic Progress For Continued Financial Aid

Full-time Students: Baccalaureate Program-Six (6) Years

Full-time Students: Associate Program-Three (3) Years

Three-Quarter time Students: Baccalaureate Program-Nine (9) Years

Three-Quarter Time Students: Associate Program-Four and One-Half (4.5) Years

Half-Time Students: Baccalaureate Program-Twelve (12) Years

Half-Time Students: Associate Program-Six (6) Years