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What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student's successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) to monitor the progress of each student toward certificate/degree completion. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal and state aid, and university aid administered by OFA.
What is required to maintain SAP?
There are three components to the SAP requirement. Each component is detailed below. Failure to comply with any one requirement may result in a loss of aid eligibility:
MAINTAIN A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA):
Generally, the minimum GPA for undergraduates is 2.0. For graduate students, minimum grade point requirements are defined by their academic unit.
MAINTAIN MINIMUM COMPLETION RATE
FOR ATTEMPTED CREDIT HOURS:
While students are expected to enroll full-time to be eligible for financial aid, each student must complete at least 75% of all credit hours attempted each semester. For example: an undergraduate student who enrolls for 12 credit hours and completes only 9 credit hours, has completed 75% of attempted hours.
COMPLETE A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN NO MORE THAN 150% OF THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM:
Students are expected to complete degree requirements within a reasonable timeframe based on the average length of their program. Students must complete graduation requirements in no more than 150% of the average length of their program. For example, the average LS&A undergraduate degree program length (the amount of time it should take to complete the degree) is four years or eight full-time semesters. 150% of this average program length is 12 full-time semesters; this is the maximum number of semesters an LS&A student may receive financial aid from federal sources, assuming the requirements above are also met.
Undergraduates who have completed all coursework required for a major or degree will only be eligible to receive loan funds, even if they have not completed a Release Form and a Diploma Application to apply for graduation. This includes any student pursuing a double major or dual degree who has completed the necessary coursework for one major or degree and is still completing coursework for the second major or degree.
The 150% standard also applies to graduate students based on average program length as defined by their academic unit and to transfer and second undergraduate degree students based on the number of credit hours required to complete degree requirements.
Note: Students cannot receive Michigan Grant beyond 10, full-time semesters.
Will I be notified if and when I fail to achieve SAP?
Yes. At the end of each Winter term, OFA will review the progress of each student. Students who have not met all three of the requirements listed above (for all terms enrolled, not just those terms that you received aid) will be notified in writing that they are on SAP probation.
What is SAP probation?
SAP probation means you have one academic year to meet the SAP requirements in order to remain eligible for financial aid. If you are notified after the Winter term, your SAP probation period is the following Fall/Winter terms. You may continue to receive financial aid while on SAP probation; you may also continue to receive aid for the Spring and/or Summer terms if you are doing so to improve your academic standing and degree progress, and provided you meet the priority filing date to apply.
- Any student who is placed on academic probation by his or her School or College is also considered to be on SAP probation. The student is expected to comply with the probation requirements of both the college or department and OFA.
- Students on probation will be monitored every semester for improvement and/or adherence to the terms of their probation. While on probation, a student is expected to complete all courses for which she or he is registered with a semester GPA of at least 2.0 (for undergraduates) or the minimum GPA requirements determined by his/her academic unit (for graduate students). A minimum of 12 credit hours must be completed satisfactorily before a student is removed from probation. Probation will not be extended beyond one additional semester.
What happens if I fail to meet the requirements of SAP probation?
Students who fail to adhere to the terms of SAP probation are not eligible for financial aid. A written notification is sent to all students who fail to comply with the terms of their probation.
How do I regain financial aid eligibility if I fail to meet the terms of SAP?
To regain eligibility, a student must do ALL the following:
- complete a minimum of 12 credit hours WITHOUT financial aid from the University of Michigan or another institution of higher education, if approved by the student's academic advisor;
- achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates (for graduate students, the GPA requirements of their academic unit); and
- complete 100% of attempted credit hours.
What do I do if special circumstances exist?
Contact a financial aid advisor if you have been notified that you have been placed on SAP probation, or your financial aid eligibility has been suspended, and special circumstances exist. With proper documentation of circumstances (i.e., doctor's notice, letter from academic advisor, etc.), you may appeal the SAP probation and/or aid eligibility suspension by completing a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. This form is available from OFA. Also contact your academic advisor to help you develop a plan for achieving good academic standing.
How do poor and incomplete grades, withdrawal from classes, and repeated classes affect my SAP status?
GRADES:
Only courses for which the student received grades of A, B, C, D or P are acceptable. Grades E, F, I, ED, W, NR, or X are not acceptable. Students who fail to complete at least 75% of attempted credit hours because of incomplete grades, will be placed on SAP probation or have their financial aid eligibility suspended if they are already on SAP probation for the semester.
TERMS WITH ALL FAILING GRADES:
Students will be asked to verify attendance during a term in which all grades received are unacceptable (as defined above). Failure to verify attendance will result in cancellation of all aid for the term (see refund and repaymnet policies).
WITHDRAWAL
Any student who withdraws from all classes will have his or her financial aid eligibility suspended until the student meets with a financial aid advisor. Any student who fails to complete 75% of attempted credit hours because of withdrawal from classes will be placed on SAP probation.
REPEATED CLASSES
A student may not receive financial aid to repeat a class for which a grade of W, I, NR, or X was received that was not completed within a prescribed timeline. Classes for which the student received grades of F or D- may be repeated twice. However, repeating classes that will not result in additional credit hours or Michigan Honor Points (per University policy) will not improve the student's completion rate. | 
