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Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Transfer and Re-Admitted Student Eligibility 

Transfer and Re-Admitted student eligibility will be reviewed upon admission to the university. 

All official transcripts must be received and evaluated by the Office of the Admissions, Records, and Registration before eligibility can be determined. 

Unofficial transcripts cannot be accepted to determine eligibility. 

Eligibility will be based on the hours accepted by Arkansas State University. 

Transfer and Re-Admitted students must meet the following requirements: 

Transfer and Re-Admitted students must be admitted and enrolled in an eligible degree program. 

Transfer and Re-Admitted students must complete at least 67% of cumulative hours attempted and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA. 

Transfer and Re-Admitted students may not exceed 150% of the published length of their degree program. 

Transfer and Re-Admitted students that are not in compliance with any of these requirements will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. 

 

Financial Aid Warning 

  • Undergraduate students placed on Financial Aid Warning must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and have completed at least 67% of their cumulative hours attempted by the end of the semester.
  • Failure to meet these requirements by the end of the Financial Aid Warning period will result in Financial Aid Suspension.

 

Financial Aid Suspension 

  • Students placed on Financial Aid Suspension are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid until they meet cumulative SAP requirements or are approved through the appeals process. 
  • To regain Federal Financial Aid eligibility there are two options: 
    • If there were no extenuating circumstances, the student must complete coursework until they meet cumulative SAP requirements.
    • If there were extenuating circumstances that affected their academic performance, students must submit an appeal to attempt to have their eligibility restored. 

 

Notifications of Financial Aid Status 

  • Students that do not meet SAP requirements will be notified via A-State email within 7 days of the posting of final grades for the semester.
    • This information is also available on the Financial Aid Checklist found on the MyCampus portal. 
  • For transfer students, notifications will be sent once all transfer work has been reviewed and evaluated by the Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration.
  • Failure to receive notification does not dispute or reverse the termination of a student’s eligibility to receive Financial Aid.

 

Submitting an Appeal 

  • Students may appeal to have their eligibility restored if there are extenuating circumstances that affected their academic performance.
    • Extenuating circumstances may be defined as situations beyond the student’s control that do not allow them to successfully complete their semester. 
        • Examples include: prolonged illness, accidents that require hospitalization of the student or immediate family member, death of an immediate family member, or divorce of the student or the student’s parents.
  • Students must appeal to have their eligibility restored once they have brought their academic record back in line with the cumulative SAP policy.
    • Sitting out for a semester or extended period of time does not restore eligibility to a student who failed to make Satisfactory Academic Progress or had their appeal denied.
    • If hours were completed at another institution, the student must submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration for evaluation. 
    • A letter explaining the circumstances that affected the student’s academic performance, as well as an explanation as to what has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress.
    • An Academic Plan, stating what specific steps the student will take to get back in line with the SAP policy.
    • Undergraduate students who have attempted 90 hours or more must submit a Degree Completion Plan, which is available online. Degree Completion Plan.pdf
  • Incomplete or unsigned Degree Completion Plans will not be reviewed.
  • Deviation from the Degree Completion Plan may result in loss of financial aid eligibility.
  • Supporting documentation that can validate the student’s situation must be submitted with the appeal.
    • Documentation may include: medical records, police reports, court records, letter from your physician. 
  • Submission of an appeal does not guarantee that financial aid eligibility will be restored.

 

 

 

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