Office Hours:
Monday-Tuesday
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday
10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Undergraduate Students

The Education Amendments of 1976 require that institutions award federal financial assistance only to those students who, according to institutional standards, are in good standing and making satisfactory progress. The guidelines are established to encourage students to complete courses successfully. At Plymouth State University, students must be in good academic standing and be making satisfactory academic progress in order to be eligible for financial assistance.

Good academic standing (qualitative progress) is defined in the Academic Catalog (Academic Warning, Probation and Severance). All degree candidates must maintain academic standing consistent with PSU’s graduation requirements, which is based on a graduated scale (see Academic Catalog) with a 2.0 GPA required for graduation. Continuing students’ quantitative progress (credits earned) will be reviewed once a year prior to the award/disbursement of financial aid for the next academic year. Readmitted students’ quantitative progress will be reviewed at point of re-entry. Satisfactory Progress, for full-time undergraduate baccalaureate or associate degree seeking students, is outlined on the following chart.

Number of Years Enrolled	1	2	3	4	5
Mimimum # of credits student is expected to earn each year	15	18	24	24	24
*Accumulated total:*	15	33	57	81	*105*

To graduate in four years Bachelor degree students need to earn an average of 15.25 credits per semester for 8 semesters. PSU expects that full-time students are capable of earning more credits in succeeding semesters. For example, we expect the following minimums:

1st Semester - 6 Credits
2nd - 4th Semesters - 9 Credits
5th - 11th Semesters - 12 credits

Summer and Winterim credits earned are included in the annual minimums. Less than full-time enrollment periods will be considered on a pro-rata basis. For an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor degree), the maximum time frame for aid eligibility may not exceed 150 percent of the published length of the educational program (associate - three years; bachelor - six years). Courses transferred from other institutions during the period of matriculation at PSU will be included in the number of credits earned. Transfer students fit into the chart based on the number of credits transferred from a prior institution(s) or based on number of semesters/years if beneficial to student’s progress.

Incomplete, withdrawn or repeated courses will be appropriately counted as indicated on the student’s academic transcript in determining number of credits earned. Completion of non-credit courses, MA 1070 and BU 1300 will count as 3 credits or 1 credit respectively, in determining satisfactory progress.

Students who are not successfully completing courses at the minimum levels as outlined on the chart are not making satisfactory academic progress. Such students will not receive further financial aid until satisfactory progress status is achieved.

A Financial Aid Officer will inform students by letter regarding non-eligibility for financial aid. If students choose not to appeal, reinstatement for financial aid consideration will occur when students attain the necessary credits on the chart, by earning credits above the semester minimums and/or attending a summer or Winterim session(s).

If there have been mitigating circumstances which have prevented satisfactory progress, a student may submit the following:

1. Letter of appeal to the Financial Aid Committee explaining special circumstances which resulted in not meeting PSU SAP Policy requirements with clear plans to meet SAP, and
2. Degree Completion Plan. This process assists students in outlining their courses needed to complete their program. Contact must be made with the Undergraduate Advising Center.

At the time of review, the student’s appeal will either be approved to continue financial aid eligibility (normally based on mitigating circumstances) or denied.

If the student's appeal is denied, communications will be provided on how eligibility may be restored. Until satisfactory progress status is met, a student will not have access to any federal, state and PSU aid, including grants, scholarships, loans and/or federal work study employment.