Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

 

 

Academic Progress Standards

The various federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance programs require that an institution develop standards to measure students' reasonable progress toward a degree objective. Satisfactory Academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each academic term (fall, spring, and summer). The following qualitative and quantitative standards must be met to remain eligible for financial assistance at Texas A&M University - Kingsville.

 

Qualitative Measures of Academic Progress

The qualitative measure of academic progress is a grading scale of 0.00 to 4.00, based on students' enrollment classification.  

Incoming freshmen, graduate students, or transfer students will be eligible for financial assistance upon admission to the university.

Undergraduate and returning students who have previously attended the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 to be eligible for financial assistance.  

 (Texas Grant recipients are required to have a 2.5 GPA at the conclusion of their second year.)

Graduate students who have previously attended the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 to be eligible for financial assistance.

Doctoral students who have previously attended the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 to be eligible for financial assistance.

 

Quantitative Measures of Academic Progress

In addition to maintaining a minimum grade point average, students must demonstrate acceptable progress toward a degree or certificate objective in order to remain eligible for financial assistance.  Students cannot receive financial aid beyond a specified total of attempted credit hours, and they must pass a certain percentage of the credit hours for which they enroll.  These requirements are summarized as total credit hours and ratio of earned hours to attempted hours on the chart below.

Hours earned do not include grades of  F (failed),  I (incomplete), U (unsatisfactory), Q (withdrawal) or QI (withdrawal identifier for Senate Bill 1231).  Courses that have been repeated will be counted for each enrollment as hours attempted, and will be counted as hours passed if a grade other than F, I, U, Q or QI is received.  

Remedial course credits will be used to determine a student’s enrollment status for financial aid eligibility.

Classification

Grade Point Average

Ratio of Earned Hours to Attempted Hours

Total Hours Including Transferred Credit

Undergraduate (students working on their first baccalaureate degree)

2.0

67%

195 Credit Hours A,B

Graduate

3.0

67%

54 Credit Hours C

Doctoral

3.0

67%

100 Credit Hours

 
A Includes remedial courses
    B Second Baccalaureate – additional review required
    C Second Graduate – additional review required
 
 

 

Financial Aid Appeals

Students who are denied financial assistance may appeal the decision.

 

Appeal Procedure

If mitigating/extenuating circumstances exist, a student may initiate an appeal through the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.  Examples of possible mitigating circumstances are medical problems or serious illness, illness or death of a family member, change of majors, change of grade, returning from academic suspension, or other similar situation.

 

The Appeal Form can be obtained at the Office of Student Financial Aid Services or online at http://www.tamuk.edu/finaid/onlineforms.asp .  Copies of all supporting documentation should be attached to this form.  To ensure proper identification of the student’s documents, please include the K Number on all pages.

 

Failure to provide the required documentation will result in the denial of the student’s appeal. All information will become a part of the student’s confidential financial aid record and cannot be returned.

The student will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office in two to four weeks regarding the status of the appeal.  Appeals submitted after the first day of class each semester may require additional time for review and a response.

 

Approval of Appeal: If the appeal is approved, the student will be awarded on a probationary basis for one semester.  Failure to demonstrate academic progress during the probationary term will result in the cancellation of all future financial aid.  No future appeals will be accepted.

 

Denial of Appeal: If the appeal is denied, the student may appeal for future aid only after the student has completed a minimum of six hours at their own expense and the student has met the minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for that semester.

 

Monitoring of Academic Progress

Academic progress is reviewed at the end of each academic term.  Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the denial or cancellation of all future aid.

 

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Students who have been denied financial assistance on the basis of academic progress may appeal for reinstatement of eligibility when they attain satisfactory academic progress.  If assistance is granted, the award will not be retroactive, but will be given for the remainder of the academic year.  For example, at the conclusion of the fall semester, students may receive an award for the spring semester.

 

If you would like to download a copy of the SAP Policy, please click here.