Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) – Undergraduate Students
In order to be eligible for financial aid, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degrees. This policy applies to all financial aid programs, including federal, state, and institutional awards.
SAP is assessed at the end of each semester, including summer, and includes two components:
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Qualitative Standard: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
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Quantitative Standard: Percentage of cumulative earned hours to cumulative attempted hours (student pace) and completion within the maximum timeframe
Qualitative Standard: Cumulative GPA
Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to be considered in good standing. This standard includes all degree credit courses and any remedial or conditional courses if applicable. These GPA requirements align with the minimum standards of scholarship outlined in the Gallaudet University Catalog.
Quantitative Standard: Student Pace and Maximum Timeframe
To meet the quantitative standard, students must:
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Successfully earn at least 70% of cumulative attempted degree credits at each SAP assessment.
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Complete their program within the maximum timeframe, which is 150% of the published length of the program measured in attempted credit hours.
For most undergraduate programs (minimum 120 credit hours), the maximum timeframe is 180 attempted credit hours. Institutional scholarship funding is limited and subject to these standards.
SAP Status and Consequences
Warning:
Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester, during which financial aid may continue.
Probation and Appeal:
If SAP standards are not met at the end of the warning semester, students will be ineligible for financial aid unless they submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Appeals must demonstrate circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., illness, death in the family). Course failures or unsuccessful attempts at conditional courses are not valid reasons. Approved appeals may place a student on financial aid probation for one semester.
Ineligibility:
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Students on probation who fail to meet SAP in a subsequent semester, or who have received probation twice during their academic career and again fail, will be ineligible for financial aid.
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Students who have completed all degree requirements but have not graduated, or who exceed the maximum 180 attempted credits without completing their degree, are ineligible for financial aid.
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Institutional aid may still be available if other criteria (GPA, enrollment, demonstrated need) are met.
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Students cannot receive institutional aid for quantitative SAP failures after degree completion or after six cumulative years (12 semesters) of institutional aid.
Academic Considerations
Course Withdrawals (WD, WP, WF):
Withdrawn courses after the Add/Drop period count toward enrollment, attempted hours, and maximum timeframe.
Incomplete Grades (INC) and No Grade (NG):
INC or NG grades count toward enrollment, attempted hours, and maximum timeframe. SAP is re-evaluated at the University’s published deadlines. Failure to complete INC or NG grades by the deadline may result in warning or ineligibility, and aid may be rescinded if grades later convert to WD or F.
Transfer Credits:
Transfer credits are included in earned and attempted hours for student pace and maximum timeframe calculations. Students may drop excessive transfer credits once, after advising, but cannot do so to extend aid eligibility.
Repeated Courses:
Audited Courses:
Audited courses do not earn credit and generally do not count toward SAP unless changed to audit after Add/Drop; in this case, they are treated like withdrawn courses.
Double Majors/Minors:
Students pursuing a double major or minor must complete all degree requirements within the maximum timeframe.
Change of Major/Degree Program:
Students who change majors or programs are expected to complete all degree requirements within the maximum timeframe.