The University of Findlay - Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

The University of Findlay

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Standards used to measure satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

University of Findlay students are required to meet three quality academic standards (qualitative, quantitative, and longevity) to remain in good academic standing, as well as to maintain eligibility for State of Ohio and Federal Title IV Financial Aid. All three quality academic standards are reviewed at the end of each semester.

Qualitative Standard (GPA)

The qualitative standard uses the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of each term, using the scale outlined below, to measure the student’s satisfactory academic progress:

Freshman year (fewer than 27 earned semester hours)	1.7
Sophomore year (at least 27; fewer than 58 earned semester hours)	1.8
Junior year (at least 58; fewer than 88 earned semester hours)	2.0
Senior year and Graduate students (at least 88 earned semester hours)	2.0

Quantitative Standard (Completion Percentage)

The quantitative standard uses a student’s cumulative completion percentage to measure the student’s satisfactory academic progress. A student must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of his/her cumulative attempted credit hours at the end of every enrollment period in order to maintain good academic standing.

Longevity Standard (Maximum timeframe for degree completion)

The longevity standard uses the maximum timeframe of 150% of the published length of an undergraduate program for degree completion to measure a student’s satisfactory academic progress. Please note transfer credits do count towards the 150% of the published length of an undergraduate program.

Failure to meet any of the three standards of satisfactory academic progress may result in a student being placed on financial aid warning or financial aid suspension.

Consequences of failing to meet Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Warning

A student will be placed on financial aid warning when either his/her qualitative or quantitative element falls below the standards of satisfactory academic progress. The student will be notified of his/her financial aid warning status via e-mail through his/her University of Findlay e-mail account, as well as through a formal, written communication, sent to the student’s home address. Financial aid warning is just that, a warning, notifying the student that his/her grades and/or completion percentage are below University standards, and he/she must improve his/her academic performance in order to continue at the University. It is strongly recommended that a student who registers for courses during a period of financial aid warning receive academic assistance from the Academic Support Center. In addition, any student who earns a grade point average below 2.0 during the first semester at The University of Findlay will be enrolled in a required study strategies course the following semester to help ensure student success.

Financial aid warning may also be assigned to a student who, although meeting the cumulative qualitative and/or quantitative elements of satisfactory academic progress, may have had an individual term where his/her grade point average is below a 1.0, and/or his/her completion percentage falls below 50%.

Students who are placed on financial aid warning are still eligible for institutional, State of Ohio, and Federal Title IV Financial Aid.

It is possible for a student to have more than one financial aid warning period during his/her academic career if he/she moves above the standards of satisfactory academic progress threshold during one semester and falls below the standards in a subsequent semester. If this happens, the student is subject to all of the financial aid warning requirements set forth by the University.

Financial Aid Suspension

A student who is placed on financial aid warning status for two consecutive semesters will be placed on financial aid suspension. A student who falls under financial aid suspension who wishes to remain enrolled in University coursework will not be eligible to receive State of Ohio and/or Federal Title IV Financial Aid as long as he/she is on financial aid suspension. The student will be notified of his/her financial aid suspension via e-mail through his/her University of Findlay e-mail account, as well as through a formal, written communication, sent to the student’s home address.

Appeals of Financial Aid Suspension

A student subject to financial aid suspension has the right to appeal to regain eligibility. In order to appeal a financial aid suspension, a student must submit a letter to the Associate Director of Financial Aid stating the basis for the appeal, along with any supporting documentation to substantiate any special or extenuating circumstances that lead to the academic deficiencies. If approved, the Financial Aid Office will communicate to the student the terms of his/her continued attendance at the University. This will include, but is not exclusive to, the following:

Initially meet with an academic advisor within the Oiler Success Center to develop an academic plan that, if followed, will help ensure that the student is able to meet SAP standards by a specific point in time, depending on the severity of the case.
- The academic plan should include developing a schedule conducive to student success, maximizing opportunities for the student to utilize support services, and impressing the importance of academics to the student.
Have mandatory follow-up sessions with his/her academic advisor to help ensure progress on the academic plan.
Mandatory participation in support services at the Academic Support Center, if applicable.

If the student fails to meet the terms of the appeal, he/she will be placed on financial aid suspension, and will not be eligible to receive State of Ohio and/or Federal Title IV Financial Aid for two academic semesters, and the summer may count as one semester. Once the student has successfully completed two academic semesters without the use of State of Ohio and/or Federal Title IV Financial Aid, he/she can again appeal his/her financial aid suspension.

Minimum Progress within a Program

Some programs at the University have set stricter minimum progress standards. These program minimum progress standards may include maintaining a specific grade point average within the program. Individual program standards may also include other non-academic standards (e.g., fitness, professional behavior). A student's failure to meet these stricter progress standards does not preclude the student from being eligible to register within another program at the University if he/she meets University minimum progress standards.