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Changes to federal Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations to take effect

Changes slated for the 2011 – 2012 academic year

The Indiana University Northwest Office of Retention Initiatives has recently informed the campus that changes to federal regulations regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will take effect for the 2011 - 2012 academic year.  The Office encourages all students to take note and be mindful that financial aid recipients may be affected by the mandated federal changes. Students affected by this change will be notified via email and will also receive a letter after May 16, 2011.

The federal changes indicate that any student who, at the end of the award year, does not meet the minimum requirements established for SAP will be suspended from financial aid for the 2011- 2012 award year regardless of whether or not the student satisfies the terms of their current contract.  Please note, the probationary period is no longer in effect.

The minimum requirements are:

• Undergraduate student–75 percent completion rate (which will now be calculated using transfer hours completed) and a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA).
• Graduate student – 75 percent completion rate (which will now be calculated using transfer hours completed) and a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Students simply meeting the terms of their current contract will not allow them to receive aid for future terms.  All students have the right to appeal their suspension. The appeal must indicate what extenuating circumstances caused the academic difficulties and what has changed that will enable them to succeed in the future.

If the student’s appeal is approved they will be placed on a new contract and progress will be monitored at the end of each term.

Please note, the IU Northwest Financial Aid Office will no longer handle the SAP Appeal Process.

Students with questions should contact the Office of Retention Initiatives at oori@iun.edu.