It is essential that students familiarize themselves with the following policy, as it affects not only current financial aid eligibility, but future aid as well. Conditions for Maintaining Satisfactory Academic ProgressAll students who wish to qualify for financial aid while attending Naropa University (NU) must meet certain standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), even if they have not used financial aid previously. These standards include a minimum  cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), a minimum credit hour completion rate (PACE), and the completion of a degree or program of study within a maximum time-frame.Minimum Credit Hour Completion Rate (PACE)All students must earn a minimum of 67% of the credit hours that they have attempted, including transfer credit hours and semesters the student did not receive aid. The credit hour completion rate is calculated by dividing total earned credit hours by the total number of credit hours attempted.  Example: A student has attempted a total of 24 credit hours at NU (transfer credits included). In order to meet the minimum credit hour completion rate requirement and be eligible for financial aid for future semesters, the student must have earned 16 of those credit hours (24 x 67% = 16).Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)In order to receive federal financial aid or other need-based aid, a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) must meet the minimum requirement as defined below: Certificate2.0Undergraduate2.0Graduate2.7Maximum Time-Frame RequirementDue to Federal regulations, students are allowed a maximum time frame of 150% of the number of credits needed to complete the degree or certificate program. This time frame is effective for all students, even those that have not previously received financial aid. Students who exceed the limit are no longer eligible for further aid. Reinstatement of eligibility requires the student to submit an appeal to determine aid eligibility.Example: If an undergraduate degree program requires 120 semester credit hours to complete, then a student is eligible for financial aid during the first 180 attempted credit hours as an undergraduate (120  x 150% = 180 maximum attempted credit hours for financial aid eligibility).Students who need additional time to complete their degree must complete a SAP Appeal.  A letter regarding why the student has not completed the degree, an advisor/department chair letter explaining what classes remain, what terms they will be taken in, and the student’s expected graduation date must accompany the appeal.Students who change their major, or add a dual major, will be evaluated in the same manner as all other students. All periods will count towards the maximum timeframe and cumulative GPA evaluation for SAP. For students who have a previously conferred degree, and are completing a second degree, no transfer credit will be accepted from the completed degree; therefore, the previous degree will be excluded from SAP evaluations.The Effect of Incompletes, Withdrawal Grades, Repeated and Remedial CourseworkIf a student receives an incomplete grade, that grade will count against the student’s PACE, until the grade has been updated. After the grade has been updated, PACE will be re-evaluated to determine if the student is now meeting SAP.If a student withdraws from a class after the drop/add period, those credit hours for which the student earns a grade of “W” are counted as attempted, but not earned, credit hours. Therefore, withdrawing from classes after the drop/add period, without earning a passing letter grade, will negatively affect the student’s PACE.A student may receive federal financial aid for a repeated failed course. Students may also receive aid for a repeated course that was previously passed (credit has been received, but taken again for a higher grade) only once. Every repeated course affects Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations; all repeated courses are counted as attempted credits.Remedial courses are not offered, or accepted as transfer credit, at Naropa University. Remedial courses, therefore, are not applicable to a student’s SAP evaluation.Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic ProgressThe financial aid SAP eligibility standard will be evaluated at the end of each term for financial aid applicants. If a student enrolls in coursework over the summer, SAP will be evaluated at the end of the summer term. Warning StatusWhen a student fails to meet the eligibility standards for either completion rate and/or cumulative GPA, a “Warning” status is enforced. A notification of this status will be sent to the student’s official Naropa student email. This notice will detail the change of eligibility status and the potential impact it may have on future aid eligibility. If a student in “Warning” status fails to meet either completion rate or cumulative minimum standards for another term, the student becomes ineligible for aid.Financial Aid SuspensionA student in “Warning” status who has failed to meet either the completion rate or cumulative minimum standards at the end of the next evaluation period will be placed on financial aid “Suspension” and will no longer be eligible for any federal, state or institutional aid until SAP eligibility standards are met.Reinstatement of Aid EligibilityStudents may re-establish their eligibility for financial aid by improving their academic standing in the subsequent evaluation period, without receiving financial aid. If the student on “Suspension” meets Satisfactory Academic Progress standards the following term, the “Suspension” is replaced by a status of financial “Probation” and the student regains financial aid eligibility.Appeal ProceduresA student may appeal the suspension of financial aid eligibility. Students, who wish to appeal, must submit a narrative detailing the below items, and provide supporting documentation (if needed).Why they failed to meet SAP standards in each of the relevant semesters.What has changed about their situation that will ensure problems will not arise again.How the student plans to meet SAP requirements once again.Students should submit the appeal narrative and all required documentation directly to the Office of Financial Aid (finaid@naropa.edu).  Appeals should be made in a timely manner.A committee will review each appeal on an individual basis to determine what prevented the student from meeting satisfactory academic progress. The review will take into account prior appeals submitted; the thoroughness of documentation; student’s current cumulative GPA; student’s current completion rate; length of time until the student’s program is complete; resolution of all extenuating circumstances and an explanation of all semesters in which the student failed to meet standards.Students are responsible for the completeness of their appeal.  Appeal requests  may  be  denied  because  the  application  is  incomplete,  there  is  not enough or adequate documentation to support the reason for the appeal, or the student fails to explain how the problem has been addressed.Appeal DecisionsA written notification of the decision will be sent to the student’s official Naropa email account, by the Office of Financial Aid. Successful appeals will allow a student to be placed on Financial Aid “Probation” status. The student must, if applicable, meet the probation status conditions outlined in the appeal decision. A Letter of Notification of Reinstatement of Financial Aid sent to the student will give the conditions and/or an academic plan the student must achieve per semester.Financial Aid Probation DeterminationsStudents placed on financial aid probation will receive one of two probation determinations:Financial Aid ProbationAn approved appeal places the student on Financial Aid Probation. The probation period is one term only and the student MUST meet SAP standards at the conclusion of the probation term. Student’s progress will be reviewed at the conclusion of the assigned semester. Failure to meet requirements will result in immediate suspension of aid eligibility and future appeals may be denied.Financial Aid Probation with Academic PlanThis probation is an approved appeal that requires students to not only meet SAP standards, but to also adhere to an approved academic plan with assistance from an academic advisor. Typically this plan will include reporting regularly to their academic advisor to discuss any problems that may be a hindrance to academic progress, seeking assistance in defining and implementing a plan to meet future educational goals, a limitation of 12 credit hour course load during the probation period, and signing a statement of understanding and agreement to comply to all stipulations.For financial aid purposes, a student who has been reinstated to eligibility under an academic plan and is making progress under that plan is considered to be an eligible student. Students who withdraw without extenuating circumstances while on an academic plan will not be allowed to appeal until they have met all SAP requirements. Denied AppealsDenial of the appeal will mean the student is not eligible for financial aid benefits; however, a student may enroll in subsequent semesters at his/her own cost. Financial Aid eligibility may be reinstated once all satisfactory academic progress minimum standards are met.If an appeal was denied students will only be able to appeal again after the successful completion of at least one semester. Successful completion requires a passing grade in the course(s) as required for the degree program or transfer credit. Successful completion will not result in automatic reinstatement of eligibility as the entire academic history will be taken into account when evaluating SAP. Sometimes two, three or more semesters of successful completion are required to meet SAP or appeal standards. In some cases, students may never regain eligibility at Naropa University.