Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as the successful completion of coursework towards an eligible certificate or degree. Federal and state regulations require the SUNY Cortland Financial Aid Office to monitor academic progress of students receiving financial aid at the end of each semester (summer, fall and spring).
Please note that these standards do not replace or supersede department or program procedures affecting academic standing.
State Programs Include: Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), SUNY Tuition Credit (SUNY TC), World Trade Center Scholarship and other NYS scholarships.
To be eligible for the NYS Tuition Program (TAP), students must enroll in at least 12 new credit hours per semester and meet the satisfactory academic progress standards provided below. Additional details provided in the SUNY Cortland College Catalog.
NYS Aid recipients must demonstrate that they are pursuing a program of study by completing a percentage of minimum full-time course load per semester according to the following schedule:
Year of Eligibility |
Percent Completed |
---|---|
1st (0-12 points) | 50% (6 credit hours) |
2nd (13-24 points) | 75% (9 credit hours) |
3rd (25-36 points) | 100% (12 credit hours) |
4th (37-48 points) | 100% (12 credit hours) |
Before NYS financial aid eligibility can be certified, an undergraduate student must meet the following:
Semester | Minimum accrued credit hours | Minimum grade point average | A passing/failing grade for at least these credit hours |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd | 6 | 1.50 | 6 |
3rd | 15 | 1.80 | 6 |
4th | 27 | 1.80 | 9 |
5th | 39 | 2.00 | 9 |
6th | 51 | 2.00 | 12 |
7th | 66 | 2.00 | 12 |
8th | 81 | 2.00 | 12 |
The following chart chart should be used for students in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
Semester | Minimum accrued credit hours | Minimum grade point average | A passing/failing grade for at least these credit hours |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd | 3 | 1.10 | 6 |
3rd | 9 | 1.20 | 6 |
4th | 21 | 1.30 | 9 |
5th | 33 | 2.00 | 9 |
6th | 45 | 2.00 | 12 |
7th | 60 | 2.00 | 12 |
8th | 75 | 2.00 | 12 |
9th | 90* | 2.00 | 12 |
10th | 105* | 2.00 | 12 |
Federal Programs include: Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work Study, Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Direct Loan and the Federal Parent PLUS Loan.
Cumulative GPA: An undergraduate student must earn a minimum cumulative GPA as outlined in the chart.
Minimum Academic Progress Requirements |
Minimum Cumulative |
Cumulative Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
First-time freshman in program (23.5 or less total credit hours)* |
1.00 |
50% |
Less than two full years (24 to 47.5 total credit hours)* | 1.75 | 50% |
Two full years or more (48 or more total credit hours)* | 2.00 | 65% |
Maximum attempted credits: Federal regulations specify that a student must complete their degree within 150 percent of a published length of the program. Typically, the number of credits required for a degree program is 120 credits (120 x 150% = 180) – in this example, the maximum number of attempted credits allowed is 180.
Pace of academic progression: You must earn a minimum number of the credits you attempt. Each semester the total number of credits you have attempted will be compared to the total number of credits earned.
Federal Programs include: Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.
Additional details provided in the SUNY Cortland College Catalog.
Cumulative GPA: A graduate student must earn a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA.
Maximum attempted credits: Federal regulations specify that a student must complete their degree within 150 percent of a published length of the program. Typically, the number of credits required for a degree program is 30 credits (36 x 150% = 45) – in this example, the maximum number of attempted credits allowed is 45.
Pace of academic progression: You must earn a minimum number of the credits you attempt. Each semester the total number of credits you have attempted will be compared to the total number of credits earned.
Minimum Cumulative |
Cumulative Credit Hours |
|
---|---|---|
Graduate-Level Students |
2.80 |
65% |
SAP is evaluated for all students after the end of each semester. Students are notified by paper letter if they are not meeting SAP and myRedDragon status is updated.
The following SAP statuses are assigned to a student after a SAP evaluation. Students may log into the financial aid section of myRedDragon to view SAP Status.
If you are not meeting SAP standards, you will receive notification via paper letter that you have the option to appeal. You may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal to the financial aid office.
SAP appeals are reviewed by the Financial Aid Review Committee consisting of staff members from the financial aid office and other offices. Each submission is reviewed separately based on the student’s extenuating circumstances, academic record and supporting documentation.
Reasons for appeal:
Valid reasons for a SAP appeal include:
If financial aid appeal is approved, financial aid will be reinstated.
If you do not maintain SAP, you are placed on financial aid ‘warning’ and stay eligible for federal financial aid for one additional semester. If you have not met SAP requirements at the end of that semester, you will loose financial aid eligibility.
If you continue to not meet the required GPA or completion ration requirements for SAP after the warning semester, you may lose some or all of your financial aid funding. If funding is lost, you have the option to appeal your SAP status.
If your SAP appeal decision is denied you may attend SUNY Cortland at your own expense until you attain the cumulative GPA or completion ratio requirements. During this time you may choose to borrow a loan through a private bank or lender of your choosing. You must check with private lenders to determine if they offer loans to students not meeting SAP requirements. To regain financial aid eligibility, your record must reflect that you have met SAP requirements.
Your academic standing is not the same as Satisfactory Academic Progress. Your academic standing is determined by your department.
If your cumulative GPA is meeting standards, there may be another reason you are not meeting SAP.
If you are unsure why you are not meeting SAP, please contact our office for clarification.
Miller Bldg, Room 209
Phone: 607-753-4717
Fax: 607-753-5990
Email: Financial.Aid@cortland.edu
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday-Friday