The standards used for financial aid recipients must be at least as rigorous as those applied to the general University population. These standards assure that completion of a degree will occur, and within an established time frame.
The standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress measure a student’s academic progress both qualitatively and quantitatively. Therefore, in addition to minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) requirements, the federally-established standards include requirements that students progress in their academic program by successfully completing the majority of courses for which they enroll and place a limitation on the maximum period of time that students can receive federal financial aid while pursuing a degree at an educational institution. In addition, certain types of courses are limited or excluded from eligibility.
The federal standards apply to all federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid programs administered by the office of financial aid. These standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress are required to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Policies differ depending on program type.
The yearly satisfactory academic progress evaluation occurs across all categories of students who utilize the federal financial aid programs. This includes full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, and less-than-half-time students in all academic programs approved for participation in the federal aid programs.
It is important to note that separate from the policy outlined here for financial aid purposes, the Office of Academic Affairs conducts reviews of student academic performance in accordance with university standards. Please refer to the newest academic catalog for details about academic watch and academic probation.
The requirements for merit-based institutional scholarships are separate.
Grade point average (GPA): maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average.
This measure assesses the pace at which a student progresses toward attainment of her/his degree. The calculation to determine the pace is to identify the number of credit hours completed toward the program and divide it by the number of credit hours attempted. To ensure quantitative progress, students are required to complete a minimum required percentage of all attempted courses.
Example of Pace: A student has enrolled in 24 credits to date. Of the 24 attempted credits, the student completed 21 credits with passing grades and has withdrawn from one three-credit course. The pace of this student is calculated as 21/24*100%=87%.
Federal law requires a Maximum Timeframe (MTF) be established during which a student receiving federal financial aid must complete their educational program. The MTF for an undergraduate program may be no longer than 150 percent of the published length of the educational program measured in academic years, semesters or credit hours attempted. The MTF for a graduate program may be no longer than the number of credits established by the Registrar’s Office for the program of study. All courses taken while pursuing a bachelor’s degree count towards the MTF. If a student moves on to pursue a master’s degree, the MTF would reset for the graduate level program. If a student completes one degree and decided to earn a second degree, the MTF would reset.
Examples of MTF: Undergraduate Student If an undergraduate student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 120 credit hours for graduation, she/he would be allowed a maximum of 180 (120 x 150%) attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.Graduate Student If a graduate student is enrolled in an academic program requiring 36 credit hours to graduate, she/he would be allowed up to 36 attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.
Credits counted in the MTF are all attempted credits at Notre Dame (even when not a financial aid recipient) and all transfer credits accepted toward their academic program (at the time of SAP Review). At the point that all required coursework for an academic program has been completed, financial aid eligibility will be suspended even if the student does not apply to graduate.
The maximum timeframe for Notre Dame merit-based and need-based funding is 8 semesters for students who started as first-year students and 6 semesters for students who started as transfers.
Students who are placed on academic probation by the Office of Academic Affairs are considered to be failing SAP standards (even if the GPA, Pace, and MTF requirements are being met).
The Office of Financial Aid will review the status of all financial aid applicants annually, when grades are available. Winterim credits will be reviewed with spring semester credits. The review consists of the cumulative record of all prior semesters (including semesters when a student may not have received financial aid funding), including transfer credits accepted toward an academic program at the time of the SAP Review. All elements of satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated: cumulative grade point average, maximum timeframe, pace/progress rate, and academic probation.
Your satisfactory academic progress status will post to your NDMU Self-Service account (self.ndm.edu) during the second week of June any-given-year. If you are not making satisfactory progress, self.ndm.edu will link your account to the NDMU Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form for your consideration.
If a student is not meeting SAP requirements after a semester of financial aid warning, the student will be notified that eligibility for aid is suspended. The student may appeal the suspension. The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the student is granted financial aid probation or if the suspension remains unchanged.
Circumstances to appeal a suspension decision are limited. A student may appeal a suspension if the student did not make satisfactory academic progress due to the death of a relative, illness of the student, or other extenuating circumstances. All circumstances must be documented (and may or may not be approved by the committee).
Appeals must be submitted by the published deadline. Late appeals may be considered, but timely review is not guaranteed before the start of the semester.
If a student chooses to appeal the suspension, the student may complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, attach documentation that supports the basis of the appeal and submit the form and documentation to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal will be reviewed by a committee. The committee may uphold the suspension, approve the appeal, or require additional information prior to making a decision.
Financial Aid Probation is a status assigned to a student who has failed to make SAP, successfully appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated for a defined period of time. Students on financial aid probation must complete and submit a probation contract each semester they are assigned that status. The contract is individualized, includes an academic plan, if applicable, and is sent to the student for completion. The student’s academic advisor must complete the applicable section on the form.
An Academic Plan is a course of action that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards by a specific point in time. An academic plan may include guidance provided by the student’s academic advisor, suggested restrictions on work, social activity or other elements.
If an appeal is denied, a student may regain eligibility by completing a specified number of credit hours (as determined by the academic advisor) without the benefit of federal, state or institutional financial aid, by restoring good academic standing with the University, and by meeting SAP standards. If those conditions are met, a student must then submit a new appeal to request a review of eligibility for financial aid.
If a student has successfully appealed financial aid suspension and is placed on financial aid probation but fails to meet the requirements of the financial aid probation contract/academic plan, the student may not appeal again unless 1) the student is granted permission by the Office of Academic Affairs to continue in the program and 2) the student is able to attend without receiving federal, state or institutional financial aid and meet SAP and University academic standards. If those conditions are met, a student must then submit a new appeal to request a review of eligibility for financial aid.
Students may not submit two consecutive appeals.
An Academic Plan is a course of action that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards by a specific point in time. Academic plans are included in the student’s probation contract.
The “major” in which the student plans to obtain a degree.
A specific period of time (defined by the Registrar’s Office) at the beginning of each semester during which a student may adjust his/her class schedule.
Courses that do not meet or apply to degree requirements. (Ineligible for financial aid).
To drop a course is to cancel a course for which a student was enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period of a semester, yet maintain enrollment for at least one other course. (Dropping a course should not be confused with Withdrawing from a semester).
Unusual events (that influenced the student’s ability to succeed).
Financial Aid probation is a status assigned to a student who has failed to make Satisfactory Academic Progress, appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated for a defined period of time.
A form that the student and academic advisor work together to complete and submit to the Office of Financial Aid when a student has successfully appealed and been placed on financial aid probation.
A student enrolled in a program of study that leads to a Master’s or Doctoral degree or teacher certification.
A course for which a student previously enrolled, yet re-enrolls and takes the course again.
Finishing the courses for which one is enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period and with grades meeting graduation standards.
Termination of financial aid eligibility.
When a student changes schools, courses originally taken at prior school(s) that are accepted for credit-toward-program by the new school.
A student enrolled in a program of study that leads to a Bachelor’s degree.
A status assigned when a student fails to meet SAP requirements for the first time. A student may be assigned a warning status multiple times it there was a period of successfully completing SAP in between each status assignment.
To withdraw is to cancel all courses for which a student was enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period of a semester. (Withdrawing from a semester should not be confused with dropping a course).
It is important to note that separate from the policy outlined here for financial aid purposes, the School of Pharmacy conduct reviews of student academic performance in accordance with university standards and School of Pharmacy academic policies. Please refer to the newest academic catalog for details about academic probation.
Grade point average (GPA): maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average.
This measure assesses the pace at which a student progresses toward attainment of her/his degree. The calculation to determine the pace is to identify the number of credit hours completed toward the program and divide it by the number of credit hours attempted. To ensure quantitative progress, students are required to complete a minimum required percentage of all attempted courses. Attempted credits are those for which a student is enrolled in at the conclusion of the Add/Drop period for a semester.
Example of Pace: A pharmacy student has enrolled in 36 credits to date. Of the 36 attempted credits, the student completed 33 credits (with passing grades) and has withdrawn from one three-credit class. The pace of this student is calculated as 33/36*100%=92%.
The MTF for a professional program may be no longer than 150 percent of the published length of the educational program measured in academic years, semesters or credit hours attempted.
Example of MTF: A pharmacy student enrolled in an academic program requiring 144 credit hours to graduate would be allowed up to 216 (144 x 150%) attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.
Credits counted in the MTF are all attempted credits at Notre Dame (even when not a financial aid recipient) and all transfer credits accepted toward their academic program (at the time of SAP Review). At the point that all required coursework for an academic program has been completed, financial aid eligibility will be suspended even if the student does not apply to graduate.
Students who are placed on academic probation by the School of Pharmacy are considered to be failing SAP standards (even if the GPA, Pace and MTF requirements are being met).
The Office of Financial Aid will review the status of all pharmacy students annually, when grades are available. The review consists of the cumulative record of all prior semesters (including semesters when a student may not have received financial aid funding), including transfer credits accepted toward an academic program at the time of the SAP Review. All elements of satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated: cumulative grade point average, pace/progress (cumulative successful course completion) rate, maximum timeframe and academic probation.
If a student is deemed as not making satisfactory academic progress (including being placed on academic probation by the School of Pharmacy), the student is given the status of financial aid suspension and is at least temporarily ineligible to receive financial aid. The student will be notified when eligibility for aid is suspended. The student may appeal the suspension. The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the student is granted financial aid probation or if the suspension remains unchanged.
Circumstances to appeal a suspension decision are limited. A student may appeal a suspension if the student did not make satisfactory academic progress due to the death of a relative, illness of the student, or other extenuating circumstances. All circumstances must be documented (and may or may not be approved by the committee).
Appeals must be submitted by the deadline provided in the notice from the office of financial aid. Late appeals may be considered, but timely review is not guaranteed before the start of the semester.
If a student chooses to appeal the suspension, the student may complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, attach documentation that supports the basis of the appeal and submit the form and documentation to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal will be reviewed by a committee. The committee may uphold the suspension, approve the appeal, or require additional information prior to making a decision.
Financial Aid Probation is a status assigned to a student who has failed to make SAP, successfully appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated for a defined period of time. Students on financial aid probation must complete and submit a probation contract. The contract is individualized, includes an academic plan, and is sent to the student for completion. The student’s academic advisor must complete the applicable section on the form.
An Academic Plan is a course of action that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards by a specific point in time. An Academic Plan may include guidance provided by the student’s academic advisor, suggested restrictions on work, social activity or other elements.
If an appeal is denied, a student may regain eligibility by completing a specified number of credit hours (as determined by the School of Pharmacy) without the benefit of federal, state or institutional financial aid, by restoring good academic standing with the School of Pharmacy, and by meeting SAP standards. If those conditions are met, a student must then submit a new appeal to request a review of eligibility for financial aid.
If a student has successfully appealed financial aid suspension and is placed on financial aid probation but fails to meet the requirements of the financial aid probation contract/academic plan, the student may not appeal again unless 1) the student is granted permission by the School of Pharmacy to continue in the program and 2) the student is able to attend without receiving federal, state or institutional financial aid and successfully complete the requirements as defined by the School of Pharmacy and meet SAP standards.
Students may not submit two consecutive appeals.
An Academic Plan is a course of action that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards by a specific point in time. Academic plans are included in the student’s probation contract.
The “major” in which the student plans to obtain a degree.
A specific period of time (defined by the Registrar’s Office) at the beginning of each semester during which a student may adjust his/her class schedule.
Courses that do not meet or apply to degree requirements. (Ineligible for financial aid).
To drop a course is to cancel a course for which a student was enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period of a semester, yet maintain enrollment for at least one other course. (Dropping a course should not be confused with withdrawing from a course or withdrawing from the school.)
Unusual events that influenced the student’s ability to succeed.
Financial Aid probation is a status assigned to a student who has failed to make Satisfactory Academic Progress, appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated for a defined period of time.
A form that the student and academic advisor work together to complete and submit to the Office of Financial Aid when a student has successfully appealed and been placed on financial aid probation.
A course for which a student previously enrolled, yet re-enrolls and takes the course again.
Finishing the courses for which one is enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period and with grades meeting graduation standards.
Termination of financial aid eligibility.
When a student changes schools, courses originally taken at prior school(s) that are accepted for credit-toward-program by the new school.
To withdraw is to cancel all courses for which a student was enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period of a semester. (Withdrawing from a semester should not be confused with dropping a course).