Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal requirement that students must meet to remain eligible for certain financial aid programs. SAP is different from Undergraduate Academic Standing or Graduate Academic Standing, which is determined by the Dean of Student’s Office or the Graduate School based on a student's grades and overall progress toward their degree. Please note that SAP appeals are not guaranteed to be approved, and decisions are final. If a student's appeal is not approved and they choose to enroll in classes, they will remain ineligible for financial aid that requires Satisfactory Academic Progress and will be responsible for any billing charges incurred. Financial aid cannot be reinstated retroactively for a prior semester.
Appeal Deadlines
- December 1 – to receive aid for fall semester
- April 1 – to receive aid for spring semester
- August 1 - to receive aid for summer semester
Appeal Process
STEP ONE - Receive Notification of Status Change: SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester, when final grades are processed. Students will be notified via their Michigan Tech email if there are any changes to their financial aid status and/or academic standing. Students can also check their Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress status on their Experience account using the Financial Aid Status link.
STEP TWO - Check Eligibility to Appeal: Students should assess whether their circumstances are extenuating (e.g., death of a relative, illness or injury of the student, etc.).
STEP THREE - Consult with Financial Aid (Optional): Students with questions or concerns about the appeal process or eligibility can contact the Scholastic Standards Committee for guidance.
STEP FOUR - Submit Appeal: Students can complete and submit their appeal through their Experience account. The appeal must describe the circumstance(s) that prevented the student from meeting the SAP requirements and the action(s) they plan to take to meet those SAP requirements again in the future. Appeals must be submitted before the deadline for the semester in which the student wants to receive financial aid.
STEP FIVE - Provide Documentation (If requested): If requested, students can submit any additional supporting documents to the Scholastic Standards Committee.
STEP SIX - Appeal is Reviewed: Appeals and any accompanying documentation will be reviewed by the Scholastic Standards Committee to assess whether Financial Aid eligibility can be reinstated.
STEP SEVEN - Receive Notification of Decision: Students will be notified of the outcome of their appeal via their mtu.edu email. The Scholastic Standards Committee strives to review appeals and notify students of their decision within ten working days.
STEP EIGHT - Next Steps:
If APPROVED - If an appeal is approved, the student's financial aid package may be adjusted, and they will receive an email outlining the terms of their academic plan. As part of this process, students will be scheduled for a meeting with a financial aid manager to discuss the details of their plan. Student attendance of this meeting is required. To remain eligible for financial aid during their plan, students must meet the criteria outlined in their plan. A student's progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester: undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 semester GPA, while graduate students must maintain a 3.0 semester GPA. By the end of an academic plan, students must be meeting all of the SAP requirements to continue receiving financial aid.
If DENIED - If an appeal is denied, the student will remain ineligible for all financial aid programs that require Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students can only appeal once per semester. If denied, the appeal submission portal should be reset after final grades are processed at the end of each semester.