Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Undergraduate students will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes as long as the following requirements are met:

• A student must complete a minimum of 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted (Also known as your academic pace). Successful completion is defined as receiving a grade of "D" or better.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher by the end of the second year (4 semesters) and each evaluation period thereafter. 
• A student has attempted no more than 150% of the hours required for their current academic program.  This is also known as Maximum Time Frame (MTF). It is important to meet with your academic advisor to ensure you are only enrolling in only courses needed to complete your program.

Changing your program of study may affect this rule.

For example, a student who begins a bachelor's degree program requiring 120 hours would have 180 hours to complete that program. If student changes to an associate degree program, which requires only 60 credit hours would have 90 credit hours to complete that program. If the student has already taken above 90 credit hours toward their bachelor’s degree program and switches to the associate program, they will be selected for Maximum Time Frame (MTF).

Graduate students will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes as long as all of the following requirements are met:

• A student must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted (This is also known as your academic pace). Successful completion for the purpose is defined as receiving a grade of "C" or better. 
• A student must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
• A student has attempted no more than 150% of the hours required for their current graduate program. This is also known as Maximum Time Frame (MTF). It is important to meet with your academic advisor to ensure you are only enrolling in only courses needed to complete your program.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal government requirement that obligates the financial aid office to evaluate the progress of all students receiving Federal and State aid. Satisfactory academic progress standards apply to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students who receive federal and/or state need-based financial aid funding.

Understanding SAP

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 progress, students must complete a minimum of 67% percent of all attempted courses.

Example of Pace: A student has enrolled in 36 credits to date. Of the 36 attempted, the student completed 30 credits with passing grades and has withdrawn from two three-credit courses. The pace of this student is calculated as 30/36*100% = 83%. This student is meeting the 67% pace rule.

Note: Students will still be placed on Unsatisfactory Academic Progress if they meet the 67% rule but do not meet one of the other requirements such as the GPA requirement.

Credit hours attempted refers to any course with a letter grade of A, B, C, D, E, F, I, IP, R, U, N, W, WP, or WF. Completed Credit Hours means the number of attempted credit hours in which a student earned a pass/failing grade. All classes the student has previously taken including transfer hours from another university will be included in the Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation.

For undergraduate students, grades of E, F, I, IP, R, U, N, W, WP, or WF will not qualify as successful completion of hours attempted.

For graduate students, grades of D, E, F, I, IP, R, U, N, W, WP, or WF, will not qualify as successful completion of hours attempted.

Non-credit remedial courses, courses taken for audit, and courses in which grades of K or P are received are not figured in calculating a student's grade point average.

Federal law requires a Maximum Time Frame (MTF) to 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 first master’s degree, the MTF will reset after their first completed term for the graduate level program. Note: Beginning a second Master’s program does NOT reset MTF calculation.

Examples of MTF:

• Undergraduate Student - If an undergraduate student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 120 credit hours for graduation, they would be allowed a maximum of 180 (120 x 150%) attempted credits to obtain their degree.
• Graduate Student - If a graduate student is enrolled in an academic program requiring 30 credit hours to graduate, she/he would be allowed up to 45 attempted credits to obtain his/her degree.

Credits counted in the MTF are all attempted credits at Morehead State University (even when not a financial aid recipient) and all transfer credits accepted toward their academic program (at the time of SAP Review). When 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.

A student who failed to maintain satisfactory progress as defined will not be permitted to receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid. Failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress is often called Unsatisfactory Academic Progress (USAP).

Students who fail to meet satisfactory progress standards as defined may appeal the ruling to the Office of Financial Aid if they believe extenuating circumstances led to their failure to maintain satisfactory progress. Those desiring to appeal must do so in writing on the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form and must attach a copy of their complete unofficial transcript and supporting documentation.  Students will be notified, in writing, of the action taken on their appeal.

NOTE: Any appeal received without all the required information will be returned to the student.

An SAP Appeal Form must be submitted to the MSU Office of Financial Aid (121 East Second St. Morehead, KY 40351, fax: 606-783-2293, email: finaid@moreheadstate.edu) by the student to include a typed letter, documentation and unofficial transcript.

Once the appeal is received by our office, it is reviewed by a committee and typically a decision is available within 7 to 10 business days.

Any student who fails to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy will lose their financial aid eligibility. Students may have to appeal in the future if they continue not to meet the SAP policy requirements.

Every student is notified in writing after an approval or denial decision is made. Letters are mailed to the permanent address on file with the Registrar’s office. Please contact the Registrar’s office to make any changes to your address on file.

The student’s financial aid will be reinstated.

Note: Completing a Financial Aid Appeal will not correct academic standing. Likewise, readmission to the University or good academic standing in the student's chosen program will not automatically remedy the suspension of aid.

If an appeal is denied, the student will not be eligible to receive Federal, State, and institutional financial aid for the current term in which they were denied. The student must meet with their Financial Aid Counselor to discuss available options.

Note: Completing a Financial Aid Appeal will not correct academic standing. Likewise, readmission to the University or good academic standing in the student's chosen program will not automatically remedy the suspension of aid.