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Institutional Research & Planning

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

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Marist University Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

For students to qualify for federal, state, and/or university financial aid, they must meet minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree. SAP requirements include both a qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (pace) component, as described below. Students must also complete degree requirements within a specified maximum time frame.

  • Marist University evaluates both qualitative and quantitative SAP standards once a year, after the spring semester, for programs of study longer than one academic year. Programs that are a year or less in length (Paralegal Certificate) will be reviewed after each payment period (semester).
  • After each evaluation period, the University notifies students who do not meet one or both SAP standards, informing them of their loss of financial aid eligibility, and providing instructions on how to appeal to be placed on financial aid probation.
  • SAP is reviewed after the payment period (semester) for students on probation (who had a one-time appeal approved).

QUALITATIVE STANDARD (GPA)

To qualify for financial aid, undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher.

QUANTITATIVE MEASURE (PACE)

In order to be on pace to earn their degree, undergraduate students must pass/earn the following percentage of attempted credits:

Cumulative Credits Attempted Percentage of Credits Attempted that must be Completed
Less than or equal to 60 Attempted Credits  50%
Greater than 60 Cumulative Attempted Credits 67%

 

When calculating GPA and attempted vs. earned credits, the following conditions apply:

  • All credits for which the student is registered at the end of add/drop are included, even if the student did not receive financial aid for those credits.
  • Transfer credits will be included in attempted and earned credits. Grades received for transfer credits will not be computed in the cumulative GPA.
  • If students change their major, all credits attempted, including those taken towards the prior major, will be counted when calculating the cumulative GPA. These credits will also be counted in the credits attempted versus credits earned calculation.
  • Progress will be reviewed once temporary grades of I (Incomplete) are replaced with an official grade.
  • Repeated classes will count as credits attempted. The higher grade will be used to calculate the GPA.
  • P (Pass) grades count as credits attempted and earned, but are not calculated in the GPA.
  • U (Unsatisfactory) or NC (No credit) grades count as attempted, but not earned and do not affect GPA.
  • W (Withdrawal) grades count as credits attempted, but are not calculated in the GPA.
  • WF (Withdrawal with a grade of F) count as credits attempted and will count as an F in the GPA. 

Pace Measurement:

A student is ineligible for federal aid when it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within the maximum timeframe established for the program, measured in credit hours. Students who exceed 150 percent of the number of credits required to complete their academic program (typically 180 credits for a program requiring 120 credits) are not eligible for additional federal aid.

MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS STANDARDS

Students who qualify for Marist academic scholarships (i.e. Presidential Scholarship, Reconsideration Merit Scholarship, etc.) are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.85 to retain scholarship eligibility. Students who fall below this requirement due to extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Services.

STATE AID ACADEMIC STANDING REQUIREMENTS

Students receiving NYS aid must also meet state standards for good academic standing to remain eligible for state awards. For more details, please visit: https://hesc.ny.gov/

This policy pertains to all graduate programs at Marist, including DPT and PA programs.

QUALITATIVE STANDARD (GPA)

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher.

QUANTITATIVE MEASURE (PACE)

Graduate students must complete 67% of the attempted credits once at least 9 credits have been attempted.

When calculating GPA and attempted vs. earned credits, the following conditions apply:

  • All credits for which the student is registered at the end of add/drop are included, even if the student did not receive financial aid for those credits.
  • Progress will be reviewed once temporary grades of I (Incomplete) are replaced with an official grade.
  • Repeated classes will count as credits attempted. The higher grade will be used to calculate the GPA.
  • P (Pass) grades count as credits attempted and earned, but are not calculated in the GPA.
  • U (Unsatisfactory) or NC (No credit) grades count as credits attempted, but not earned and do not affect GPA.
  • W (Withdrawal) grades count as credits attempted, but are not calculated in the GPA.
  • WF (Withdrawal with a grade of F) count as credits attempted and will count as an F in the GPA.

Pace Measurement:

A student is ineligible for federal aid when it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within the maximum timeframe established for the graduate program, measured in credit hours. Students who exceed 150 percent of the number of credits required to complete their academic programs are not eligible for additional federal aid. 

Students not meeting the University’s SAP standards are notified electronically and given instructions on how to submit an appeal for financial aid probation for one to two terms of federal and/or institutional aid.

Submitting a SAP Appeal

  • Student’s written appeal must include:
    • Why they failed to make SAP
    • What has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation
  • Possible reasons for an appeal include serious personal problems, family tragedy, illness, employment, and/or other unusual circumstances that could reasonably contribute to a lack of academic progress.
  • Appeals should include supporting documentation.
  • A cross-divisional committee will review the request and notify the student of the outcome.

Successful Appeals result in “Probation” or an “Academic Plan”

  • Probation- A student who fails to make SAP, has appealed and has eligibility for federal aid reinstated for one term is considered to be on “probation.” SAP progress is reviewed again after the probation term to determine if SAP standards are now met and if the student is eligible for future federal aid.
  • Academic Plan- If the student will require more than one term to meet SAP standards, the student may be placed on probation with an academic plan that ensures the student is meeting SAP by a specified time. The student must agree to the plan, and the school must ensure the student is meeting the plan requirements after each term. The student is considered eligible for federal aid while in compliance with the plan or meeting general SAP standards.

Denied Appeals

  • If the SAP appeal is denied, or the student chooses not to appeal, the student becomes ineligible for federal aid until both qualitative and quantitative SAP standards are met.
  • If denied an appeal, the student may appeal again in a following term. The subsequent appeal should be based on a different reason than the initial appeal.

Military Service Activation

Students called to active duty that results in withdrawal from all classes will be granted a waiver upon submission of documents verifying activation. Students that meet the Financial Aid Standards of Progress at the time of military activation will retain their financial aid eligibility. 

PLEASE NOTE:
Marist University will only grant a one-time appeal unless there is an extenuating circumstance that is approved by the review committee and/or the Executive Director of SFS.