Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
All students receiving financial aid from Federal, State and/or Rider University resources must be making SAP at Rider to establish and retain financial aid eligibility. Enrolled students applying for financial aid for the first time must demonstrate SAP prior to applying for financial aid and must continue to meet SAP standards. If it is determined that a student’s SAP status is in jeopardy, they will receive written notification via their University email.
Statement of Standards for Full-Time Undergraduate Students
Full-time undergraduate students are reviewed annually for SAP after attempting a minimum of 24 credits and are required to complete 67 percent of the credits attempted to remain eligible for financial aid. All students must maintain a minimum Cumulative GPA (cGPA) of 2.00, which is consistent with graduation requirements at the University. All coursework will count towards attempted credits, except those officially dropped during the add/drop period. There is a maximum of 180 attempted credits for degree-seeking programs. This may include transferable and non-transferable credits from all schools previously attended. Federal regulations specify that the maximum time frame during which a student is expected to finish an undergraduate program and receive Title IV funds may not exceed 150 percent of the published length of the program. Therefore, full-time undergraduate students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per term toward graduation requirements each semester they attend Rider to maintain academic progress.
*Depending on the program, some Westminster Choir College students may be held to a different maximum number of attempted credits. If in doubt, check with your financial aid counselor.
Minimum Standards
The following table indicates the minimum number of credits a full-time student must attempt and complete each semester:
| Semester | Credits Attempted | Minimum Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 8 |
| 2 | 24 | 16 |
| 3 | 36 | 24 |
| 4 | 48 | 32 |
| 5 | 60 | 40 |
| 6 | 72 | 48 |
| 7 | 84 | 56 |
| 8 | 96 | 64 |
| 9 | 108 | 72 |
| 10 | 120 | 80 |
| 11 | 132 | 88 |
| 12 | 144 | 96 |
| 13 | 156 | 104 |
| 14 | 168 | 112 |
| 15 | 180 | 120 |
Statement of Standards for Part-Time Students
Undergraduate students enrolled less than full-time will be reviewed annually for SAP after attempting a minimum of 12 credits and are expected to complete at least 67 percent of the credits attempted. Part-time students are also required to meet the same minimum cGPA as students enrolled full-time of a 2.00. Appropriate consideration will be given to students required by the University to enroll in non-credit developmental courses, provided these courses are completed during the first two years in the case of a half-time student, and during the first one and one-half years in the case of a three-quarter time student.
Statement of Standards for Graduate Students
Graduate students are reviewed annually for SAP after attempting a minimum of 12 credits and are expected to complete 67 percent of the credits attempted. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cGPA of 2.00 to remain eligible for financial aid.
Withdrawals / Incompletes / Repeated Courses
If a student withdraws from courses during a given term, withdrawn credits are included in the number of total credits attempted. The only exception to this policy is when a student has been approved for a medical withdrawal or military leave. Any and all incomplete and repeated coursework is also included as attempted credits and a student’s cGPA calculation. Note: a student’s SAP cGPA calculation may vary from their institutional cGPA, as institutional GPA’s do not include withdrawn or the first of repeated courses.
Appeal Process
Students who fail to meet these standards will have their financial aid rescinded. To appeal, students must submit the following:
- SAP Agreement
- Academic Improvement Plan (AIP)
These documents should be completed with the student’s Department Chair or assigned SAP academic staff and submitted before the deadline outlined on the unsatisfactory academic progress notice. The AIP will outline how the student will meet all of the requirements for SAP by the end of the next period of study, subject to approval by the student’s financial aid counselor; the next period of study may include a summer session(s). Students whose appeals are granted will have their financial aid reinstated for a probationary period of one semester.
- An error was made when determining academic progress
- Late grade changes or course corrections were submitted
- Exceptional medical or personal circumstances
- Student has satisfied the condition lead to aid termination
- Successful completion of specified number of summer courses per the academic agreement
- Other extenuating circumstances
If, by the end of the probation period, students who do not meet the stated requirements on their SAP Agreement and letter, will be ineligible for financial aid in subsequent semesters until they are again meeting SAP requirements.
*Academic suspension or dismissal by a College of the University of any student will result in automatic termination of financial aid.