SAP Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

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General

• What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
• What is included when determining progress?
• When is progress evaluated?
• What are SAP standards for Undergrads?
• What are SAP standards for Grads?

SAP Restriction and Probation

• What is SAP Financial Aid restriction?
• What is SAP Financial Aid probation?
• How long does SAP restriction and/or probation last?
• Is SAP probation and restriction the same as academic warning, probation and suspension?
• I’m on probation but I need to withdraw from a course, what do I do?
• Can I receive financial aid on SAP restriction?
• I’m now meeting SAP standards, so can I get aid?

SAP Appeal Process

• When do I know I need to appeal for SAP?
• What is the SAP appeal process?
• How should I write my one-page letter?
• When are SAP appeals due?
• What is the most important information should I know about the SAP appeal?
• My appeal was approved. Why do I still have an alert on my account?
• My appeal was approved. What do I need to do in order to keep financial aid eligibility for the next semester?

General

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

• • • UMBC is required to monitor its student’s academic progress to ensure that they maintain a minimum standard GPA and make steady progress toward degree completion. Students who do not meet SAP standards may lose their financial aid eligibility. Back to top

What is included when determining progress?

• • • SAP includes all credit hours classes attempted where the following grades were earned: A, B, C, D, F, I, P, S, U, W, WX and all grades earned each time a course was repeated. Grades received for remedial, ESL, academic amnesty, and institutional credit courses are included in the number of attempted credits, but are not included in your GPA. Credit hours attempted in each semester that you enroll will be counted, even the semesters when you do not receive financial aid. Test scores and transfer credits from other institutions accepted by UMBC are also included in your total number of credits attempted and completed. Back to Top

When is progress evaluated?

• • • SAP is evaluated each June for the upcoming academic year. Students with a FAFSA on file will have their progress evaluated by mid-June and are notified by email if not meeting SAP standards. Students who do not have a FAFSA on file in mid-June will have their progress evaluated once their FAFSA is received by the university. Note: Students submitting a FAFSA who have not been enrolled for one or more semesters and were not meeting SAP standards when they last attended will remain on financial aid restriction. Back to Top
      

What are SAP standards for Undergrads?

• • • As an undergraduate student, to remain eligible for financial aid you may not attempt more than 150% of the credits required to receive an undergraduate degree (i.e.: 120 credits required X 1.5 = a maximum of 180 credits may be attempted). This calculation includes all accepted transfer/test score credits and those that would be attempted for a second major or area of concentration (minor). Your progress will be evaluated using the following standard:

Undergraduate students remain in good academic standing by earning a minimum GPA of 2.0 (2.0=C) or better on a 4.0 scale. Some financial aid programs may have standards that are more stringent. In those cases the program standards will supersede UMBC’s requirements. Back to Top

What are SAP standards for Grads?

• • • Graduate students remain in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and by completing at least 67% of all enrolled courses. In the event that your program of study requires a higher GPA it will supersede the minimum listed in this procedure. Graduate students must also complete their program within the timeframe established in their Degree Requirements as outlined in the Graduate School catalog and may not attempt more than 150% of the credits required to complete their program. Back to Top

SAP Restriction and Probation

What is SAP Financial Aid Restriction?

• • • If you fail to meet SAP standards, you will be placed on financial aid restriction. Students on financial aid restriction are not eligible to receive Federal, state, or institutional financial aid. However, you may be eligible to receive private (alternative) loans, which can be found here.

If there were circ*mstances that caused you to be unable to meet SAP standards, you may submit a SAP Appeal and an Academic Plan of Action. Please refer to the SAP Appeal Process for additional information about submitting a SAP Appeal.

You may want to consider applying for a private educational loan to assist with payment of your school-related charges if:

• • • you do not have an circ*mstance that warrants a SAP appeal or
    • you missed the appeal deadline date for your semester of enrollment or
    • you submitted a SAP appeal and it was not approved.

Additional information about private (alternative) loans can be found here.

You can reestablish eligibility for financial aid by attending UMBC, paying for tuition and fees without the help of financial aid, and doing well enough in your courses to meet all SAP standards at the next evaluation period. SAP is evaluated mid-June of each year. Back to Top

What is SAP Financial Aid Probation?

• • • If you are on SAP restriction and have an approved SAP appeal, you will be placed on SAP probation. SAP probation is a period of time where the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will review your academic progress individually at the end of each semester until you begin to meet SAP standards. During financial aid probation, students are eligible for Federal, state, and institutional financial aid. When you begin to meet SAP standards, you will be removed from both SAP restriction and probation. Back to Top

How long does SAP restriction and/or probation last?

• • • Restriction: Lasts until an approved SAP appeal and/or you begin to meet SAP standards. Even if an appeal is approved, you may be put on a one-semester SAP probation in order to best monitor your academic progress.
    • Probation: If given a probationary SAP appeal approval, probation lasts until you begin to meet SAP standards. Back to Top

Is SAP probation and restriction the same as academic warning, probation, and suspension.

• • • SAP probation and restriction is related to your academic performance, but it is not the same as an academic warning, probation, and suspension:
      • Academic warning, probation, and suspension may restrict your eligibility to register for classes at UMBC, whereas SAP probation and restriction may restrict your eligibility for Federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Back to Top

I’m on probation but I need to withdraw from a course, what do I do?

• • • Please contact us the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and speak to your Financial Aid Counselor if you have any specific questions about deviating from the Academic Plan on your SAP appeal. Withdrawing from a course while on SAP probation may negatively impact your future eligibility for Federal, state, and institutional financial aid. We will evaluate your options and best course of action. Back to Top

Can I receive financial aid on SAP restriction?

• • • If on SAP Financial Aid Restriction, you are not eligible to receive Federal, state, or institutional financial aid. However, you may be eligible to receive private (alternative) loans, which can be found here. This does not apply to SAP Financial Aid Probation. Back to Top

I am now meeting SAP standards, so can I get aid?

• • • Satisfactory Academic Progress is calculated at the end of spring semesters once per year. If you begin to meet SAP standards after a summer, fall, or winter semester, please submit a SAP Appeal by the posted deadlines. Back to Top

SAP Appeal Process

When do I know I need to appeal for SAP?

• • • Please read our SAP Standards for satisfactory progress. Please contact us if you are worried that your academic performance may cause issues with financial aid. We will evaluate your situation and give you options and your best next steps. Typically many ‘D’s, ‘F’s, and even ‘W’s in one or more semesters can lead to SAP issues. Back to Top

What is the SAP Appeal Process?

• • • Please visit our SAP Appeal Process page for a full explanation of the process. Back to Top

How should I write my appeal?

• • • The appeal will prompt you to share what circ*mstances led you to not meet the standards. You should speak to each semester with unsuccessful courses, not just the most recent semester.
    • The appeal will also prompt you to share what has changed that will ensure academic success in the future. Be specific about the changes and how they will impact your academic success.
    • Please contact us if you have any questions before submitting an appeal. Back to Top

When are SAP appeals due?

• • • Appeal deadlines are available to view in various ways: they are posted on the SAP Appeal Process page, sent to your UMBC email if we identify that you may be at risk of failing to meet SAP standards, and they are listed on the SAP Appeal itself. These are posted when the appeal becomes available each academic year. Back to Top

What is the most important information should I know about the SAP appeal?

• • • If you are submitting a SAP Appeal, please take note of the appeal deadlines and begin the SAP Appeal process as soon as possible. Completing the appeal packet requires multiple documents, including a meeting with your department’s academic advisor and an appointment with your financial aid counselor in order to submit the appeal.
    • Be sure to complete BOTH the appeal and and the academic plan. These are two separate components and two separate electronic forms.
    • Your appeal should be concise but complete, sharing both circ*mstances and changes.
    • Please contact us if you have any questions before submitting an appeal. Back to Top

My appeal was approved. Why do I still have an alert on my account?

• • • An alert will remain on your account until your SAP probationary period ends. See “What is SAP probation?.” Back to Top

My appeal was approved. What do I need to do in order to keep financial aid eligibility for the next semester?

• • • Depending on why you originally did not meet SAP standards, it is likely that any grade of a ‘D’, ‘U’, or ‘F’ will negatively impact your financial aid for the next semester. Additionally, withdrawing from a class (receiving a ‘W’) may also negatively impact your financial aid for the next semester. Please contact us if you have any questions about how a ‘D’, ‘F’, U, or ‘W’ will impact your SAP status and appeal in the future. Back to Top