The U.S. Department of Education requires students to maintain certain academic standards to obtain or retain eligibility for federally sponsored student aid programs.
As an institution of higher learning, the MGH Institute is required to define and monitor standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving federal financial aid. This policy explains the process for such monitoring.
All students are evaluated for satisfactory academic progress (SAP) at the end of each semester (i.e., loan payment period).
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Satisfactory academic progress is measured quantitatively, by review of the cumulative Grade Point Average; qualitatively, by review of the rate of progress (pace) the percentage of credits earned vs. attempted; and overall against a maximum timeframe of 150% of the program length, measured in attempted credits.
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The academic credit for semesters is earned with a B grade or better. Satisfactory progress is defined as a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA and a rate of progress of at least 67%.
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To successfully complete a program the student must achieve 100% of the program credits within 150% of the program length, as defined by attempted credits.
SAP Status Review
At the SAP checkpoint, a student who is not meeting the SAP requirements for the first time will be placed on a Financial Aid Warning. Students on “Financial Aid Warning” who do not meet SAP requirements for the subsequent semester will lose financial aid eligibility.
To regain aid eligibility after this point, the student must appeal in accordance with the policy described below. Students whose appeals are granted will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester. If students do not meet SAP after the Financial Aid Probation period, all federal financial aid eligibility will be lost.
Appeal Process
A student who loses aid eligibility due to failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may appeal this status. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid SAP Appeals Committee in the Financial Aid office.
If the appeal is granted, a student previously receiving financial aid will regain financial aid eligibility on a Financial Aid Probation status for one semester. The student must regain SAP status by the close of the financial aid probationary semester.
The student’s appeal must address the following:
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The basis for the appeal – a description of the special circumstances;
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The reason why the student failed to meet the SAP standard(s);
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What has changed in the student’s situation so that s/he will now be able to meet SAP standards.
Appeals will be granted on a case-by-case basis. If the appeal is granted, a student previously receiving financial aid will regain financial aid eligibility on a Financial Aid Probation status for one semester. The student must regain SAP status by the close of the financial aid probationary semester.