Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
In order to be eligible for financial aid funds, federal regulations require
students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in three areas:
(It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of the university’s SAP
standards and to monitor his/her own progress semester by semester through
the UVU Financial Aid web site and the student's UV Link Financial Aid Menu.)
Please be aware that the financial aid SAP policies are not the same as UVU’s
general academic standards. Therefore, a student’s general academic standing
may be different than his or her financial aid SAP status. Generally,
financial aid SAP standards are more strict than the general academic
standards.
Financial aid may be suspended due to failure to meet one or more SAP standards.
In this situation, a student would need to complete the UVU SAP appeal
process. This process includes:
- Completing the online SAP counseling (available through UV Link once the failure has been identified)
- Submitting the correct appeal form
- Completing an individual counseling session with a UVU Financial Aid Counselor which would address your specific situation
Completion of this process does not guarantee that financial aid eligibility will
be reinstated. A notice would be received through UVLink Financial Aid Menu
regarding the appeal decision, once the above process is completed.
Students are responsible for payment of tuition
regardless of his or her financial aid status. Also, it is the student’s
responsibility to be aware of all UVU deadlines.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
In order to comply with financial aid SAP, a student must maintain a cumulative
Grade Point Average of 2.0 (C average) each academic semester.
Student’s who do not meet this standard will not receive financial aid until
they regain eligibility.
Options for regaining eligibility:
- Pay for schooling on his or her own until a 2.0 cumulative GPA has been reached. NOTE: The institutional short term tuition payment plan is an option.
- Complete the SAP Appeal Process. NOTE: This does not guarantee financial aid will be reinstated. If the appeal is not approved, the student must attend at his or her own expense until the cumulative GPA is a minimum 2.0. If the appeal is approved, the student will be expected to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the semester for which the appeal is approved.
Completion Rate
In order to comply with financial aid SAP, students must complete 75% of the credits
for which they receive financial aid. The letter grades W, AU, NC, and UW are not
considered completed grades for the 75% completion standard. However, they are
considered attempted credit hours for the maximum
time frame requirement.
| Credit hours for which you receive financial aid |
Credit hours you must complete during the semester |
|---|---|
| Full Time (12 +) | 9.00 |
| Three-Quarter Time (9-11.5) | 6.75 |
| Half-Time (6-8.5) | 4.50 |
| Less than Half-Time (0.5-5.5) | .50 |
Student’s who do not meet the completion rate standard will not
receive financial aid until they regain eligibility.
Options for regaining eligibility:
- Pay for schooling on his or her own until making up the number of credit hours needed to meet the 75% standard. NOTE: The institutional short term tuition payment plan is an option.
- Complete the SAP Appeal Process. NOTE: This does not guarantee financial aid will be reinstated. If the appeal is not approved, the student must attend at his or her own expense until making up the number of credit hours needed to meet the 75% standard. If the appeal is approved, the student will be expected to complete 75% of the credit hours for which he or she receives financial aid.
Maximum Time Frame
In order to comply with financial aid SAP, students may receive aid for
a maximum of 150% of the published length of the educational program.
The average program length for a bachelor’s degree at UVU is 120 credit
hours. Once a student has attempted over 180 credit hours, he or she
has exceeded 150% of the maximum time frame allowed to be eligible for
financial aid. (1.5 x 120 = 180).
The average program length for an associate’s degree at UVU is 60 credit
hours. Once a student has attempted over 90 credit hours, he or she has
exceeded 150% of the maximum time frame allowed to be eligible for
financial aid. (1.5 x 60 = 90). The credits associated with letter
grades W, UW, AU, NC, I, and E are considered
attempted credit hours; but, students receiving these grades--with
no credit earned--are not making progress toward their degree. Credit
hours earned by repeating classes are also considered
attempted credit hours.
Attempted hours include the following
credit hours:
- Successfully completed credit hours (Grades A, B, C, D)
- Non-passing credit hours (Grades W, UW, AU, NC, I, E)
- Repeat credit hours
- Transfer credits hours
Example of failure to meet Maximum Time Frame standard:
John Doe is in an Associate of Science degree. His program is Info
Systems and Technology. His degree program requires 61 total credit
hours for completion. The federal government will award aid up to 150%
of the 61 credit hours which equals 91.5 credit hours. John has
attempted 100 credit hours at the end of spring semester; and therefore,
he has surpassed the Maximum Time Frame allowed to be eligible for
financial aid.
Student’s who do not meet the Maximum Time Frame standard will not receive
financial aid until they regain eligibility.
Options for regaining eligibility:
- Pay for schooling on his or her own until reaching graduation. NOTE: The institutional short term tuition payment plan is an option.
- If in an Associate’s degree, a student may be able to matriculate into a Bachelor’s degree. (See an Academic Advisor for matriculation eligibility.)
- Complete the Maximum Credit Hour Appeal Process.
NOTE: This does not guarantee
financial aid will be reinstated. If the appeal is not approved, the student
must attend at his or her own expense. If the appeal is approved, the student
will be expected to follow the plan set forth by the Academic Advisor and
the student. Deviating from this plan will result in the appeal becoming
void and the student will again be suspended from financial aid.
UVU provides financial assistance to all eligible students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. If you need language assistance or accommodation, please inform us when you first contact our office.