Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To remain eligible for financial aid, you must meet these satisfactory academic progress requirements:

• You must not have already received financial aid for more than the maximum specified number of semesters
• You must receive passing grades in a minimum number of units each year
• You must keep your semester and over-all grade point average at or above the level deemed satisfactory by your college

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF SEMESTERS

Financial aid is not available for an indefinite period. You are eligible for up to ten semesters of financial aid eligibility depending on your class standing when you were admitted. This policy is subject to change based on availability of funds.

The semester limit applies to time you have spent at any college or post-secondary institution; it includes semesters during which you received no financial aid, as well as terms during which you withdrew. It does not include semesters when you were not registered, or summer sessions.The initial class level is assigned by the Admissions Office, and it is based on transfer credits accepted, including Advanced Placement units.

 

YOU MUST EARN A MINIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS EACH YEAR

You must accumulate a certain number of units by the end of each year to remain eligible for financial aid. If you fail to complete sufficient units you will receive a warning letter . If you do not complete the minimum unit level within a year after being sent a warning you are no longer eligible for financial aid.

This chart below shows the number of units you must have completed by the end of each term at Berkeley to maintain your eligibility. Note: Terms that you withdraw count toward the total number of semesters.

Full-time enrollment chart*

Dropped, failed, and incomplete courses, remedial courses for which no credit is received, and repeated courses (in which you previously received a passing grade) do not count towards unit credit. To earn units for a course, you must complete and pass that class. Units are measured and warning letters are mailed during the spring semester.

*The full-time table is based on the 15 (n-1) minimum progress formula approved by the Academic Senate; n is the number of terms attended.

YOU MUST MAINTAIN SATISFACTORY GRADES

Each college has a minimum acceptable level for cumulative and semester grade point averages. Ask your college advisor or check the college announcement to learn what standards apply to you. Generally, colleges consider an average of `C' to be satisfactory.

If your grades fall below the acceptable level you are placed on academic probation. If you fail to achieve satisfactory grades while on probation you may be dismissed from the University. (College of Engineering students are “subject to dismissal” immediately upon falling below minimum academic standards; dismissal, however, is usually waived for at least one semester.)

You may receive financial aid while you are on probation, but you lose all financial aid when you are dismissed (unless dismissal is waived). If you are dismissed you must stop Work-Study employment immediately and you may have to begin repayment of student loans.

APPEALS

If your financial aid is denied, suspended, or terminated for failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress you may appeal if extenuating circumstances hindered academic performance.

Complete the appeal form, obtain and attach all documents that support the basis for your appeal and return the form and documentation to the Financial Aid Office.

You are strongly encouraged to file your appeal form immediately after receiving notification that your aid has been denied.

The appeal deadline is the end of the 3rd week of the semester.

Some students have not received a financial aid package because they are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). These students are strongly encouraged to appeal and they should submit appeals as soon as possible and include a current academic plan signed by the student's college or major advisor. FAO makes every effort to comply with this federal regulation and yet ease the way for students to progress to graduation. These students should go to the Financial Aid Office (201 Sproul Hall for graduate, law, and optometry students; 211 Sproul Hall for undergraduate students) for referral to a counselor if the information provided here is not sufficient to answer their questions.

 DEADLINE FOR TURNING IN A SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS APPEAL FOR THE FALL 2008 SEMESTER IS SEPTEMBER 14, 2008 AND FOR THE SPRING 2009 SEMESTER, THE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2009.