Satisfactory Academic Progress

 Effective Date: Fall 2003

Federal regulations require Sul Ross State University to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory progress for the purpose of receiving financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The Office of Financial Assistance has oversight of student financial aid programs intended to help students achieve access to higher education and accomplish academic goals. Each aid recipient must maintain satisfactory academic progress in a course of study leading toward a degree or certificate. Financial assistance Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is measured after each long semester.

First-time Enrollments

Students enrolled at SRSU for the first time (including transfers) will not be denied financial assistance due to non-compliance. However, all financial assistance recipients must meet these requirements to continue on financial assistance.

Undergraduate Students

GPA

All undergraduate students:

• Must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 to remain in good standing.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Students on Financial Assistance Probation are eligible to receive financial assistance but are cautioned to strive to improve their academic standing.

Undergraduate students on Financial Assistance Probation:

• May continue on probation if their semester GPA is at least 2.0.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Suspension if they fail to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0, and their cumulative GPA falls below that required for their classification as shown below.

Completion

In addition to maintaining the overall GPA requirement, students must make reasonable progress toward their degree or certificate. All undergraduate students:

• Must successfully complete at least 67% of all hours attempted. Grades of F, W, PR, and I are not considered as satisfactory completion.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Probation if their overall percentage of completion rate falls below 67%.

Undergraduate students on Financial Assistance Probation:

• May continue on probation if their semester completion rate is at least 67%.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Suspension if their semester completion rate falls below 67%.

Time Limits

All undergraduate students are expected to complete their program of study within the following time frames:

Undergraduate students who have exceeded these time limits will no longer be eligible for financial assistance.

Graduate Students

GPA

All graduate students:

• Must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good standing.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. Students on Financial Assistance Probation are eligible to receive financial assistance but are cautioned to strive to improve their academic standing.

Graduate students on Financial Assistance Probation:

• May continue on probation if their semester GPA is at least 3.0.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Suspension if they fail to achieve a semester GPA of 3.0.

Completion

In addition to maintaining the overall GPA requirement, students must make reasonable progress toward their degree or certificate. All graduate students:

• Must successfully complete at least 67% of all hours attempted. Grades of F, W, PR, and I are not considered as satisfactory completion.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Probation if their overall percentage of completion rate falls below 67%.

Graduate students on Financial Assistance Probation:

• May continue on probation if their semester completion rate is at least 67%.
• Will be placed on Financial Assistance Suspension if their semester completion rate falls below 67%.

Time Limits

All graduate students are expected to complete their program of study within 54 hours attempted, after which they will no longer be eligible for financial assistance.

Appeal of Financial Assistance Suspension

Students with special circumstances may appeal their Financial Assistance Suspension in writing to the Financial Assistance Appeals Committee. Forms are available in the Financial Assistance Office. The Financial Assistance Office may also be contacted for information on appeals filing deadlines.

Appeals may be made based on:

• A death in the immediate family.
• Serious injury or illness of the student or a member of the immediate family.
• Improvement sufficient to meet required standards in hours and/or GPA while attending a subsequent semester at student's own expense.
• Special circumstances to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. (Students on Financial Assistance Suspension who have not attended college for at least one calendar year may appeal based on change of circumstances.)
• A student whose appeal is granted will be reinstated on Financial Assistance Probation.
• A student on Financial Assistance Suspension whose appeal is denied may attend SRSU at his/her own expense, if eligible.

Financial Assistance may be reinstated under the following conditions:

• The required cumulative GPA is attained; and
• An overall completion rate of 67% of hours attempted is achieved.