Appeal ProceduresIf a student fails to meet the requirementsof financial aid probation and subsequentlyloses financial aid eligibility, he/she may filean appeal. All appeals MUST be made inwriting and addressed to the Office ofFinancial Assistance. The appeal shouldinclude documentation verifying the cir-cumstance(s) that impeded the student‘ssatisfactory academic progress. Examplesof acceptable documentation include med-ical records, a letter from a faculty adviser,or a letter from an employer on companyletterhead. etc. Appeals will be reviewedand decisions rendered by the SatisfactoryAcademic Progress Appeals Committeeand the student will be notified of the deci-sion in writing.

Office of Financial AssistanceUniversity of Illinois at Springfield

University Hall, Room 1042One University Plaza, MS UHB 1042

Springfield, IL 62703-5407(217) 206-6724 or

toll free (888) 977-4847

University of Illinoisat Springfield

SatisfactoryAcademicProgressFOR UNDERGRADUATEAND GRADUATESTUDENTS

(Rev. 3/05)3.05-00174-41736

In accordance with the Higher Education Act of1965, as amended by Congress, the University of Illi-nois at Springfield has established a minimum Stan-dards of Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

ALL federal, state, and institutional financial aid pro-grams administered by the University of Illinois atSpringfield’s Office of Financial Assistance are cov-ered by this policy. Examples of these programsinclude Federal Pell Grant, Federal SupplementalEducational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), PerkinsLoan, Federal Work Study, Federal Family EducationLoan Program (i.e. Subsidized and UnsubsidizedStafford Loans), Monetary Award Program (MAP)grant, Parent Loan for Students (PLUS), Illinois Veter-ans Grant (IVG), Illinois National Guard Grant(ING), as well as other veterans benefits, and all insti-tutional funding sources.

Students will be considered to be makingsatisfactory progress if they meet ALL ofthe following requirements. Failure tocomply with any ONE may result in a loss offinancial aid eligibility.

RATE OF COMPLETION REQUIREMENT

A student must earn a minimum number of cred-it hours each year to graduate within a specifiedtime frame. A maximum number of semesters isallowed for students to complete work toward adegree. Withdrawing from the university orrepeatedly dropping courses may affect the stu-dent’s ability to maintain this minimal academicprogress and could jeopardize financial aid eligi-bility.The following chart illustrates the minimumacceptable percentage of hours completed tomaintain satisfactory progress for financial aidpurposes for both undergraduate and graduatestudent (Note: Completion Rate refers to the per-centage of hours completed in relation to hoursattempted.)

attempted. The maximum number of hours forwhich an undergraduate student may receivefinancial aid is 144 credit hours.

Graduate Students are expected to com-plete degree requirement within 150% of thespecified program of study. (Example: A master’sdegree in management information systems iscomprised of 44 credit hours. Student mayreceive financial assistance for no more than 66attempted credit hours if they are pursuing thisdegree.) Hours transferred from any institutionwill count toward the maximum time frame. Inaddition, hours that are earned from repeatedcourses will be counted in the calculation ofhours attempted.

Financial Aid Probation

Students who fail to meet Satisfactory AcademicProgress (SAP) requirements will be placed on finan-cial aid probation during their next semester ofattendance. Students may still receive financial assis-tance while on financial aid probation; however, theymust meet all Satisfactory Academic Progressrequirements to receive financial assistance duringsubsequent semesters. Failure to meet even one SAPrequirement will result in the student being placedon financial aid cancellation.

Financial Aid Cancellation

A student’s financial aid may be cancelled for any ofthe following reasons:• Failure to make progress toward a 2.00 (3.00) for

graduate students) cumulative GPA during thesemester(s) of probation.

• Failure to meet the completion rate required dur-ing the semester(s) of probation.

• Complete withdrawal from the university duringa semester for which aid was received.

• Failure to complete all credit hours attemptedduring the semester with a passing grade.

• Exceeding the maximum time frame required forhis/her degree.

UNDERGRADUATESHours Attempted(including transfer and repeated hours):

0-30 31-60 61-90 91+

Percentage of Hours Completed(Completion Rate):

50% 60% 70% 80%

GRADUATESHours Attempted(including transfer and repeated hours):

0-12 13-24 24+

Percentage of Hours Completed(Completion Rate):

50% 60% 75%

GRADE POINT AVERAGEREQUIREMENT

Undergraduate Students must remain ingood academic standing by earning a minimumcumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (C)or better on a 4.00 scale as determined by theuniversity.

Graduate Students must remain in good aca-demic standing by earning a minimum cumulativegrade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 (B) or betteron a 4.00 scale as determined by the university.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAMEREQUIREMENT

Undergraduate Students are expected tocomplete degree requirements within twelve (12)semesters of full-time enrollment for undergradu-ate study.Every semester of enrollment is count-ed, regardless of whether the student completedthe semester. Hours transferred from other insti-tutions will count toward the maximum of 12semesters (12 transfer hours = 1 semester). Inaddition, hours that are earned from repeatedcourses will be counted in the calculation of hours