Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The Student Fiscal Affairs Office is required by Federal regulations, (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) to establish a Satisfactory Academic Policy (SAP) to monitor academic progress toward a degree to maintain Title IV financial aid eligibility. This policy applies to students receiving assistance through the William D. Ford Direct Lending Program (Unsubsidized/Graduate PLUS loans). This policy also applies to Scholarships (Need and/or Merit awards).
SAP consists of three components. Each one must be met by the aid recipient for each semester of enrollment. The three components are as follows:
- Qualitative Component (GPA)
- Graduate- A graduate student is expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of a “B” (3.00) for each semester of enrollment (payment period). Should the cumulative GPA fall below a “B” at the end of the semester, the student will automatically lose their financial aid eligibility.
- Medical- A medical student is expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of a “C” (2.00) for each semester of enrollment. This requirement applies to students enrolled in the M.D. degree program.
- Quantitative Component (number of credit hours students must successfully complete) – A quantitative measure to determine the percentage of courses and credit hours completed by the student. Students must complete at least 70% of the overall attempted credit hours and be progressing towards graduation, to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and eligibility for Title IV and Institutional financial aid.
- Time Frame Component (the maximum enrollment time you may complete the degree requirements and receive aid)
SAP Appeal Process
Students have the right to appeal against the denial of financial aid. All appeals will be reviewed by the Student Fiscal Affairs Committee. Students must file appeals within 10 business days of receiving the academic progress notice from the Student Fiscal Affairs Office. An appeal with documentation must be typed and sent to the Director of Student Fiscal Affairs, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30310 or emailed to studfisc@msm.edu.
To begin the appeal process, prepare an “Appeal for Financial Aid Suspension” statement explaining: (1) extenuating circumstance(s) that resulted in the credit hours, GPA and/or maximum timeframe deficiency, (2) changes to your situation that will allow you to demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) going forward and (3) academic plan.
The appeal must not be based upon the need for assistance due to lack of knowledge that your assistance was in jeopardy. An appeal should be based upon some unusual situation or condition which prevented you from meeting the required SAP requirements. Examples of possible situations include but is not limited to death of an immediate family member, a medical emergency such as surgery, and/or the extended hospitalization of the student or immediate family member.
You will be required to provide supporting documentation for each factor that negatively affected your academic status. Please note that providing documentation does not guarantee that your appeal will be approved.
The appeal process is a request for an exception to the SAP policy. Not all circumstances will be considered an exception to the policy. You will be notified by e-mail of the committee’s decision. All decisions are final.
A student who has lost eligibility to participate in federal and/or institutional student aid programs for reasons of academic progress, may regain eligibility by meeting the required GPA and/or completion rate deficiency requirements. The student must also demonstrate that he/she has met all the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements prior to re-instatement. Students’ ineligible for Title IV and/or institutional aid may enroll in the program at his/her own expense.
The mere passage of time will not restore Title IV aid to a student who has lost eligibility for failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP-FA).
Students granted permission to re-enroll, after being placed on academic suspension (by the program), are not automatically eligible to continue participation in federal, state, and/or institutional aid programs upon return. Students must meet all required SAP standards prior to financial aid reinstatement. Students who wish to apply for financial aid, after reinstatement, must adhere to requirements established for his/her program.
Students can only be on probation once during their academic tenure. They can only have one appeal approval.
*Note that this document is subject to change.