Type of Degree Pursued
Maximum Credit Hours Attempted
Associate
96
Bachelor's
186
Master's
50
In order to meet these timeframes, (undergraduate) students must successfully complete a minimum of 21 credits per year.
Special Situations Incompletes: The grade of “I,” indicating incomplete work, may be given only to students who are unavoidably prevented from completing the work of the course. Until changed to an appropriate letter grade, the “I” counts as zero grade points and has the same impact on the grade point average as an “F.” If the incomplete is changed to a letter grade, SAP for students will be recalculated. Drops & Withdrawals: If students drop a course prior to the add/ drop deadline for the term, the dropped units are not included as attempted when computing pace. If students withdraw after the add/drop deadline, they will receive a grade of “W” for the class and the credits for the course will be included as attempted but not completed credits when computing completion rate. A grade of “W” for a course will count as attempted credits toward the maximum attempted credits calculation. Transfer Credits: All accepted transfer credits count as attempted and completed hours when calculating pace and are considered toward the GPA calculation. In cases when a transcript is received after SAP has been calculated for the term, transfer credits will be included in the next SAP evaluation. Repeated Coursework: All repeated courses count as attempted credits for pace calculations, but only the highest grade is used for the GPA calculation. Students receiving federal financial aid may repeat a previously passed course only one time using federal funds. Students receiving federal financial aid who repeat a course because of failing grades may do so as many times needed until a passing grade is achieved, unless stipulations are placed upon students by an appeals committee. Changes in Major or Pursuit of Second Degree: Students who change their majors or enroll in a second degree may be eligible for financial aid, but all previous undergraduate credits attempted/completed are included in the pace calculation, including coursework completed for prior degrees and majors. (Undergraduate credits do not count toward the completion rate for a graduate degree.)
Financial Aid Warning Status Students are placed on financial aid warning for failing to meet the qualitative and/or quantitative measures of SAP, as outlined by the guidelines above. Students admitted on a probationary (limited) status are also placed on financial aid warning for their first semester of enrollment. If students are placed on financial aid warning, they may continue to receive Title IV aid during their semester or warning. No appeal is required. If students who are on financial aid warning fail to make SAP at the end of the semester, they will be suspended and will lose Title IV aid the following semester unless they appeal and are approved to be placed on financial aid probation.
Appeal Process of Financial Aid Suspension Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress will be notified via certified mail and may appeal the suspension of their financial aid eligibility. Reasons for appeal may include mitigating circumstances, such as illness, injury, death in the family and significant interpersonal issues. Appeals must include information regarding why students failed to make satisfactory academic
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progress, and what has changed in the students’ situations that would allow them to demonstrate satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. Students must submit an appeal by the deadline for that term. Appeals will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. All students filing an appeal will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision within 20 days of the appeals deadline.
Financial Aid Probation Status If an appeal is granted, students will be placed on financial aid probation and will be required to sign an individualized academic plan called the “Terms of Agreement.” Students who are on financial aid probation will remain eligible for Title IV funds and will have their progress evaluated at the end of each term. If students meet either the conditions of the academic plan as set forth, or the USF SAP standards, they are considered to be eligible for financial aid for the following term. If neither condition is met, students’ financial aid will be suspended, and they may appeal. The number of appeals students may submit is not limited, unless prohibited by the students’ Terms of Agreement.
Reinstatement of Eligibility Students whose appeals are denied or who choose not to appeal can re-establish eligibility by enrolling at their own expense. Once the USF SAP standards have been achieved, students should provide an academic transcript to the Financial Aid Office and a written request for reinstatement of aid eligibility. Students who do not appeal a previous suspension by the original deadline may choose to submit a late appeal to be reviewed during the next Financial Aid Appeals Committee meeting. The Appeals Committee meets three times per year (January, June and August). Any financial aid that is reinstated is not retroactive and does not extend eligibility beyond previously established time limits.