Satisfactory Academic Progress: Graduate Students
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the process used to determine if a student is meeting all of their educational requirements, as well as making meaningful progress to graduate on time from a degree or certificate program. SAP is used when determining a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid (which includes federal loans and federal work study). At the end of each payment period or semester, a review of a student’s SAP is conducted. A student’s failure to meet SAP standards may result in the loss of federal financial aid eligibility.
Wheelock Minimum Requirements For Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
- Cumulative Grade Point Average: Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion Rate: A student must complete at least 75% of all cumulative attempted credit hours in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.
- Degree Completion Time Limits: Master’s and CAGS degrees must be completed within six years; PhD degrees must be completed within seven years after the first registration for that degree (except for periods of authorized leave). In addition, a full-time or certified full-time PhD student who is in good academic standing and who becomes the primary caregiver of an infant or adopted child will receive a one-year extension of their approved time to degree.
Students who will need additional time to complete degrees must petition for an extension, students without a valid petition will not be permitted to register for credits.
Financial Aid Implications
Students who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress will be placed on academic probation and will be given a federal financial aid warning for their subsequent semester or term of enrollment. A student will receive an email notification to their Boston University account regarding what standards must be met by the end of the next enrollment period in order to remain eligible for further federal financial aid.
SAP Appeal Process
A student has the right to appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility if mitigating circumstances (events totally beyond the student’s control) occurred during the preceding payment period/semester. Some examples of appealable circumstances include: serious illness or injury of the student; serious illness, injury or death of an immediate family member; or being victim of a violent crime or house fire.
The student must submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal form, letter of appeal, optional supporting documentation, and an advisor-approved academic plan by the deadline of the last day to drop a course (without a W) for that semester. Appeals received after the deadline can be automatically denied.
- A student may only submit an appeal for the period directly following their warning period.
- Appeals are only granted once per a student’s academic career.
- A student must be registered for courses during the semester for which they are submitting the appeal. Appeals will not be considered for students who have dropped courses or withdrawn.
- A student is responsible for all tuition and fee charges at the time the balance is due, even if they are planning to appeal or are waiting for a response from Wheelock Graduate Financial Aid
- The final decision about a student’s renewed eligibility will be made by a committee of Wheelock Graduate Financial Aid and Wheelock Student Services. The decision of this committee is final, and students will receive an electronic communication to their university email address regarding the outcome.
- A student whose appeal has been approved will receive Federal financial aid consideration for the current term. At the end of the term, the student’s academic progress will be reviewed again to determine financial aid eligibility for the following semester.
- A student whose appeal has been denied is not eligible for financial aid until he/she meet(s) satisfactory academic progress standards. The student may continue to enroll in courses, but is responsible for all University charges.
Appeal documents should be sent to wheaid@bu.edu.