Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal student aid regulations require all educational institutions administering funds to ensure that financial aid recipients are making satisfactory academic progress toward their declared program of study. The regulations apply to all students receiving federal, state and institutional financial aid funds. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to a financial aid office staff member. Satisfactory Academic Progress has been defined as follows:

1. Satisfactory Academic Progress will be checked upon the initial receipt of the FAFSA as well as each Spring semester after grades are posted. To be making satisfactory academic progress a student must maintain the required cumulative grade point average, attain a 75% completion rate and not exceed the normal completion time.
2. Students failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Such status will make students ineligible for financial aid until such time as the satisfactory academic progress requirements are met.
3. Courses taken via consortium will be taken into account when determining satisfactory academic progress.

During the period of Financial Aid Suspension, students may (unless placed on Academic Dismissal) attend UH Hilo without financial aid. It will be the student’s responsibility to secure other financial resources during this period.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

1. Maintenance of a minimum UH Hilo cumulative grade point average.
   • For undergraduates, post baccalaureate and pharmacy students a 2.00 UH Hilo GPA is required. Hours declared in academic bankruptcy count in the calculation of GPA for financial aid eligibility. Therefore, the GPA used to determine financial aid eligibility may differ from your institutional GPA.
   • For graduate students, a 3.00 UH Hilo GPA is required. Hours declared in academic bankruptcy count in the calculation of GPA for financial aid eligibility. Therefore, the GPA used to determine financial aid eligibility may differ from your institutional GPA.
2. Attainment of a 75% completion rate (pace) toward the educational objective for hours attempted at UH Hilo and via consortium.
   • Students must complete and pass 75% of all hours attempted. A student’s completion rate is calculated by dividing hours earned by hours attempted. Courses with grades of F, W, I, NC, NG and repeated courses count as hours attempted. Hours declared in academic bankruptcy count as hours attempted for financial aid eligibility purposes.
3. Normal Completion Time
   • Students will be eligible for a maximum of 150% of the credits required in their primary academic program (major).
   • All credit hours attempted are included in the calculation, regardless of grade received.
   • Transfer credit hours are included in the total number of credit hours attempted.
   • Hours declared in academic bankruptcy count as credit hours attempted for financial aid eligibility purposes.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process

A student who is placed on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal the denial of financial aid. The appeal must be made by submitting a completed UH Hilo SAP Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Office no later than 10 days after receipt of the notice of Financial Aid Suspension. The appeal must include information regarding why satisfactory progress was not made and what has changed that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory progress in the next enrollment period. The appeal will be directed to the Appeals Committee whose decision will be final. The decision will be based on demonstration of one of the following situations:

1. Error of fact;
2. Mitigating circumstances. Circumstances considered may include illness or injury, family difficulties, interpersonal and college adjustment problems.

If the appeal is granted, financial aid will be continued for a probationary period. The student will be advised in writing of the action on the appeal.