Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Financial Aid
In order to be eligible to receive federal financial aid, students at UW-Stevens Point must demonstrate “Satisfactory
Academic Progress” (SAP) which is a function of the following three components:
Grade Point Average (GPA):
All undergraduate students receiving financial aid must maintain a minimum 2.0 UWSP cumulative GPA (all coursework
transferred in is considered into this cumulative GPA), while graduate students receiving financial aid must maintain a
UWSP minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Note: Standards of satisfactory academic progress for financial aid are different
from the University’s probation/suspension requirements listed in the UWSP Catalog (link to that area of the catalog).
Additionally, academic bankruptcy is not counted when calculating SAP.
Pace (67% Rule):
All full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students at UWSP who receive financial aid must stay on pace to
graduate on time. Pace is calculated by dividing the total credits a student completed per term by the number of credits
they have attempted per term. When this calculation falls below 67%, a student is no longer on pace to graduate on
time and is ineligible to receive financial aid. Transfer credits are considered within this pace calculation as credits
attempted and credits earned.
Maximum Time Frame (150% Rule):
An eligible undergraduate, graduate, or second degree-seeking student can receive federal financial aid while
attempting up to, but not exceeding, 150% of the university’s completion length. Credits transferred to UWSP and any
credits attempted at UWSP, with or without the benefit of financial aid, must be taken into consideration. As an
example, a student who is required to earn 120 credits to graduate with a baccalaureate degree, the maximum time
frame would be 180 credits (120 x 150% = 180). Students will be required to graduate within two terms following the
appeal for maximum time frame. Subsequent appeals for maximum time frame will be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis.
Evaluation Process
The GPA, Pace and Maximum Time Frame requirements are evaluated by the Financial Aid Office after every term
(Summer/Fall/Spring), once grades are posted. A student who does not meet the GPA, Pace, or Maximum Time Frame
requirement(s) will be ineligible to receive financial aid.
Student Options:
1. Choose to continue to enroll in classes without financial aid until they earn an academic standing that meets the
minimum criteria for financial aid purposes, i.e. bring the cumulative GPA up to at least a 2.0 and/or successfully
complete 67% of accumulative attempted credits. Once the student has corrected the SAP deficiency of
Pace/GPA, it is possible for aid to be reinstated.
2. Provide documentation to the Financial Aid Office to correct any errors made, and/or
3. Submit an appeal (link to the Appeal Form for Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility) that explains the
extenuating circumstances that prevented successful Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and specific steps on
how they will reach SAP by the next evaluation period. This appeal may also require the development and
submission of an academic plan (link to definition).
Appeal Process
A student who did not meet SAP for financial aid and is currently ineligible to receive financial aid may appeal for
reinstatement of eligibility by completing an Appeal for Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility form. This form must
include a clear explanation of why they failed to meet SAP and specifically, what steps the student plans to take to meet
SAP by the next evaluation. Additional documentation confirming the appealed situation may also be required.
Additionally, certain appeals must also include an academic plan identifying dates by which the student will meet all
aspects of the SAP policy. If the appeal is approved, the student is subsequently placed on Financial Aid Probation Status
for one term, after which, the student must be meeting SAP or be following their approved academic plan. If the
student is not meeting SAP and/or not following their approved academic plan at the next evaluation, the student will
not receive Financial Aid until they are once again in compliance.
Students with extenuating circumstances (link to table) that prevented them from making SAP have the right to appeal
their situation to the Financial Aid Office. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, student injury or
illness, death of a student’s relative or other reasons resulting in undue hardship to the student. Students must submit
the Appeal for Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility form, a copy of their Degree Progress Report (DPR), an
Advisor/Chair (or designee)-approved academic plan, and any other related documentation that supports the appeal.
Per Federal regulations, an appeal may only be approved if the student shows that they will be able to meet SAP by the
next evaluation, or the student’s academic plan ensures SAP by a specific point in time. Incomplete/inaccurate appeals
and/or Academic Plans will not be approved. The authorized Financial Aid officer(s) will serve as the final arbiter of
appeals and will inform the student of the decision regarding their appeal and the status of their financial aid eligibility.
All decisions are final and are not subject to further appeal.
If denied, the student may attend UWSP, without financial aid, and re-appeal when all components of SAP are met. If
the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation Status for one term, after which, the student
must be meeting SAP or be following their approved academic plan. If the student is not meeting SAP or following their
academic plan at the next evaluation, they will be ineligible to receive financial aid until they are in compliance.
Academic Plan
Certain appeals require an academic plan identifying dates by which the student will meet all aspects of the SAP policy.
Students with an undeclared major should meet with an Academic Advisor in the Student Academic Advising Center
(SAAC) and students who have declared a major should meet with the Chair (or their designee) of their academic area to
create their own individualized academic plan. Whoever the student meets with and who makes the decision on the
appeal, must sign off on this. An academic plan is automatically required if the student has a cumulative GPA of 1.8 or
lower. Failure to earn credits in a term greater than 67% of attempted coursework will also automatically require an
academic plan. An academic plan is also required if the student is appealing the Maximum Time Frame (greater than
150%).
For those students who have a GPA greater than 1.8 but less than a 2.0 and/or have a pace of greater than 50% but less
than 67% at the time of SAP evaluation, an academic plan is not required with their appeal form.
Glossary:
Term
Attempted credits
Audited courses
Consortium agreements (agreements with
another college/university to pay for
courses at that institution)
Credits completed
Dropping a class
Financial Aid Probation Status
Financial Aid Suspension Status
Financial Aid Warning Status
Incompletes
Remedial courses
Repeated credits
Withdrawal from the university (all
classes)
Double major
Winterim
Fall/Spring/Summer session (if attended)
The grades of A, B, C, D (+ or -) F, P, I, W, NR and credits by exam
are considered credits attempted. Attempted credits are
calculated based upon the grading period and after which time a
grade is posted.
Audited courses are not funded by financial aid and not considered
under any aspect of the SAP Policy unless a student changes their
course to Audit after the 100% adjustment to tuition and fee
period. This would affect Pace and Maximum Time Frame.
Credit(s) obtained at other institutions that are part of a
consortium agreement are counted in the Pace and Maximum
Time Frame components.
The successful completion of a credit attempted is credit for which
a grade of A, B, C, D (+ or -), or P is received and credits by exam.
Do not include grades of F, I or W. The grade of D for a Graduate
student is not considered successful completion of the credit(s)
attempted.
A dropped class receiving a W grade affects the Pace and
Maximum Time Frame components of SAP.
This occurs when a student successfully appeals SAP suspension.
At the end of the approved SAP appeal probation period, the
student undergoes re-evaluation of their academic progress to see
if they have met SAP standards so they may remain eligible for
financial aid.
This occurs in the term following a SAP warning or SAP probation
when a student fails to meet SAP requirements as previously
warned. Financial aid eligibility is on hold pending a successful SAP
appeal.
This occurs at the end of the first term that the student does not
meet SAP. A communication warns them that failure to correct
the lack of SAP (either GPA or 67% rule) or Maximum Time Frame
(150% rule) will result in the loss of financial aid eligibility at the
start of the following term.
An incomplete counts as credit(s) attempted and credit(s) not
earned until a passing grade is posted. Incompletes affect the
Pace and Maximum Time Frame Components.
Remedial credits are counted in Pace and Maximum Time Frame.
A grade of F is calculated into GPA.
Repeated credit(s) count as attempted credit(s) as many times as
the course is repeated. Repeating credits apply to GPA, Pace, and
Maximum Time Frame components. A student can only repeat
failed courses where the grade received does not lead to
progression within their program.
A withdrawal affects the Pace and Maximum Time Frame
components.
Students pursuing 1st and 2nd major simultaneously will only be
allowed 150% of the credits needed towards their first major. This
could result in needing to appeal Maximum Time Frame.
Coursework taken for Winterim will be evaluated for SAP with the
Spring term.