'Not Eligible' to receive federal financial aid?

If you received an email or see a 'Not Eligible' flag through WyoWeb, under the Student Financials Tab, Financial Aid Requirements, you may appeal for reinstatement. Please call 307-766-3790 to schedule an appointment with Laurie Jaskolski no later than the end of the Drop/Add period for each semester of appeal.

Items to consider:

• Financial aid SAP is not the same as academic progress through the Registrar.
• Being declared 'Not Eligible' for federal financial aid does not mean a student has been academically dismissed from the University of Wyoming.
• Many scholarship recipients are required to maintain a higher credit hour level or grade point average than outlined in this policy. Guidelines on the minimum acceptable credits/grade point average for scholarship recipients are outlined by donors or in acceptance notices signed by the recipient.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Process Overview and Responsibilities

The University Of Wyoming Office of Student Financial Aid is responsible for ensuring that all students receiving federal financial aid meet minimum standards.  The University of Wyoming standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measures all students’ academic performance.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end of each payment period (fall, spring, summer) and the following three areas are measured:

1. Qualitative – Institutional cumulative grade point average earned
2. Quantitative (Pace) – completion rate for coursework enrolled
3. Timeframe – maximum timeframe to complete a degree

Minimum Standard Requirements                                 

Qualitative Standard                                     

A student must successfully meet the following minimum Institutional cumulative GPA for their program:

• Undergraduate programs - 2.0
• Professional programs - 2.0
• Graduate programs - 3.0

Quantitative Standard (Pace)                                                        

A student must successfully complete 67% of the cumulative hours attempted.

The following courses do count as attempted and completed in the SAP calculation:

• Successfully completed courses with grades of A, B, C, D, or S
• Transfer hours accepted toward completion of the student’s program
• Academic Renewal hours earned through previous enrollment
• Advanced Placement Credit
• Incomplete grades that are now completed
• Experiential Learning Credits
• Summer Session credits successfully completed
• Credits earned through Study Abroad and Consortium agreements

The following courses do count as attempted and not completed in the SAP calculation:

• Failed
• Withdrawn
• Incomplete
• Repeat
• Unsatisfactory

The following courses do not count as attempted or completed in the SAP calculation:

• Correspondence
• Audit
• Credit by exam
• Remedial
• Enrichment

Timeframe Standard                                   

A student must be making progress toward a degree.  The University of Wyoming sets the following maximum timeframe for student degrees:

• Undergraduate- 180 hours (150% of 120 hours)
• Master’s Program- 45 hours (150% of 30 hours)
• Doctorate Program- 108 hours (150% of 72 hours)
• Law- 135 hours (150% of 90 hours)
• Pharmacy- 213 hours (150% of 142 hours)

Transfer hours accepted toward completion of the student’s program are used in the calculation of the Timeframe Standard.

When pursuing multiple degrees or changing majors the maximum time frame may be adjusted based on a student generated appeal that includes a degree audit.

SAP Statuses                                                                             

Financial Aid Warning                                   

Students who have not met the minimum standard requirements for the previous semester will be placed on a Warning status.  Students on Warning status are eligible for financial aid for one additional payment period.  Students who do not meet Minimum Standard Requirements at the end of their Warning semester will be Not Eligible for the next semester.

Financial Aid Not Eligible                                   

Students who have not met the minimum standard requirements (after being placed on Warning)  are then Not Eligible.  Students who are Not Eligible cannot receive federal financial aid unless a SAP appeal with an Academic Plan is approved by the SAP Committee.  Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval. Students awaiting a decision on their SAP appeal are responsible for paying their tuition and fees by the payment deadline.

Financial Aid Probation                                   

Students who have successfully appealed a Financial Aid Not Eligible are placed on Probation and are eligible to receive federal aid for one more payment period. After Probation, the student must be making SAP or successfully following their Academic Plan. Students are reviewed each semester for compliance with their Academic Plan and SAP Standards. 

Reinstatement

If a student loses federal financial aid eligibility due to not meeting SAP standards, they can regain eligibility in one of the following ways:

1. Completing courses using their own resources that will satisfy the deficient SAP area.
2. Successfully appealing by submitting a SAP Appeal Form with supporting documentation.

SAP Appeal Process                                         

Students who are Not Eligible can appeal their status by submitting the SAP Appeal Form (one semester or multi semesters) and a formal written request with supporting documentation to the Office of Student Financial Aid no later than the conclusion of the “Drop/Add” period for the current semester.  The appropriate appeal form is available to the student once they have met with a SAP counselor.  The SAP Appeal Form must include the following:

• an explanation of any extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress,
• an explanation of what has changed that will allow the student to succeed academically,
• an Academic Plan signed by their academic advisor that will enable student success, and
• a degree audit for those students who have reached their maximum timeframe.

All appeals are reviewed by a SAP committee. The review time for appeals may take a minimum of 2 weeks. Students will be notified of the results by email and mail. If the appeal is denied, students may request an additional review by the Director of Student Financial Aid. The Director’s decision is final.