Federal regulations require the University of Missouri to establish, publish, and apply standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility. The purpose of measuring and enforcing these standards is to ensure financial aid recipients make progress toward graduation.

If you fail to meet the SAP requirements, you are ineligible to receive financial aid, which can be reinstated in one of two ways: (1) you become compliant with SAP requirements or (2) you successfully appeal and become eligible for financial aid on a probationary status.

If you are ineligible for financial aid because you are not meeting SAP standards, you have the opportunity to submit an appeal for financial aid eligibility by following the process outlined below.

If you fail to meet the minimum SAP standards, you are notified via your official MU email address. The notification includes which standard(s) you failed to meet (i.e. grade point average, completion rate, and/or timeframe). You can also access your notification in myZou under the Message Center and you will have an item on your To Do List in myZou encouraging you to submit an appeal.

SAP Appeal Instructions

• Download the SAP appeal form by selecting the button below. There is a separate appeal form for undergraduate students and graduate students.
• Schedule an appointment with an academic adviser or faculty adviser.
• Type a narrative that explains the specific circumstances that have caused you to become ineligible for aid and the specific steps you are now taking to address these circumstances.
• Consult with an academic or faculty adviser to discuss your academic goals and complete the academic plan form. Your plan should be practical and realistic so you have a reasonable likelihood to complete each semester successfully and meet financial aid probationary standards.

SAP Appeal Form – Undergraduate

SAP Appeal Form – Graduate

Writing a Successful Narrative

If your appeal is based upon your cumulative MU grade point average, state why you have not earned the minimum cumulative MU grade point average and how you plan to address the issue. If your appeal is based upon your completion rate, state why you have received withdrawals, incompletes, and/or drops, etc. in much of your attempted coursework as well as how you plan to address the issue in the future. If your appeal is based on exceeding the timeframe limit, address why you need additional time to complete your degree.

Your SAP appeal narrative should clearly explain what happened (i.e. why you were unable to maintain satisfactory progress) and what has changed (i.e. what corrective measures you have taken or will take to maintain satisfactory progress). Reflect on your situation to determine what has kept you from making progress and how you can address the issues.

There is no page requirement for the narrative, but you want to make sure you are providing enough information for the review committee to be able to make a decision. If this is not your first appeal, include information about what has changed since your last appeal.

Academic Plan Expectations

Consult with an academic or faculty adviser to develop a realistic plan, based on your specific needs and past academic performance. Utilize the academic plan form included in the SAP appeal.

Your plan should be practical and realistic so you have a reasonable likelihood to complete each semester successfully and meet financial aid probationary standards. Your plan should indicate enrollment for the academic year, including the term for which you are appealing.

It should indicate the degree you are pursuing and, if applicable, the minimum requirements to be admitted into the degree program. If admittance is not assured, consider a backup plan.

Submitting a high-risk plan that does not set you up for success reduces the likelihood the appeal will be approved. A realistic academic plan is important for you to meet SAP standards in the future. Failure to follow the academic plan or meet financial aid probationary standards listed below, which are reviewed each semester, will result in loss of future financial aid payments.

A part-time plan (6-11 credits during fall/spring or 3 credits during the summer) may be more realistic for some students because of other commitments, including work, family, and/or health. If you are considering a part-time plan, consult with your academic and financial aid advisers before adjusting your enrollment.

Please note that some financial aid programs require a certain number of credit hours to be earned in an academic year to meet renewal requirements. Some financial aid programs require full-time status or reduced eligibility for part-time status.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Academic progress of each financial aid recipient is reviewed annually after the spring semester.
• It is recommended that completed appeals be submitted as soon as possible after meeting with an academic advisor. There are advantages to submitting an appeal well before any deadlines.
• July 1 – appeals submitted after this date will not be considered for summer financial aid.
• November 1 – appeals submitted after this date will not be considered for fall financial aid and will not be reviewed for spring financial aid until after fall grades have posted.
• April 1 – appeals submitted after this date will not be reviewed and the student remains ineligible for financial aid for the academic year.

SAP Appeal Review

All SAP appeals are reviewed by a committee on a case-by-case basis. Incomplete appeals will delay review as the committee will only review complete appeals. The committee may request additional or updated information before making a decision.

Appeal decisions by the committee are final and not subject to further review. If your appeal is denied, you may meet with your financial aid adviser to discuss options for funding your education and eligibility criteria for re-appealing in the future.

The sooner you appeal, the more time you have to be eligible to re-appeal (after completing a semester on your own) if your appeal is denied (see re-appealing for financial aid eligibility below).

Allow 2-3 weeks for your appeal to be reviewed. It is recommended you submit your appeal as soon as possible after meeting with an academic advisor, especially if your decision to enroll is dependent up on the appeal decision.

SAP Financial Aid Probation

If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on financial aid probation and must successfully comply with your academic plan and the standards below each semester until you are meeting the overall SAP standards. Failure to meet these probationary standards will result in loss of future financial aid payments.

Probationary standards are based on the reason you are failing SAP (ie grade point average, completion rate, and/or timeframe). You must meet probationary standard for each category you are failing. You will be ineligible to re-appeal until you complete a semester on your own (see re-appealing for financial aid eligibility below).

Undergraduate Students

All students must successfully follow their academic plan each term they are on probation to remain eligible.

Failed for GPA

• If you have fewer than 60 credits completed at the end of the term, you must have a minimum 2.00 term GPA
• If you have more than 60 credits completed at the end of the term, you must have a minimum 2.25 term GPA

Failed for Pace

• You must complete 75% of credits attempted each term you are on probation to remain eligible

Failed for Maximum Attempted Hours

• You must complete 75% of credits attempted each term you are on probation to remain eligible
• If you failed for more than one category you must meet probationary standards for each category

Graduate and Certificate Students

All students must successfully follow their academic plan each term they are on probation to remain eligible.

Failed for GPA

• At the end of the term, you must have a minimum 3.00 term GPA

Failed for Pace

• You must complete 75% of credits attempted each term you are on probation to remain eligible

Failed for Maximum Attempted Hours

• You must complete 75% of credits attempted each term you are on probation to remain eligible
• If you failed for more than one category you must meet probationary standards for each category

Re-Appealing for Financial Aid Eligibility

If your financial aid SAP appeal is denied or you fail to meet financial aid probationary standards, you are ineligible for financial aid. You have the opportunity to re-appeal your financial aid eligibility after completing a semester on your own.

The financial aid office can help you determine if you are eligible to re-appeal, and the appeal procedures are the same. Re-appeals should include a new narrative and updated academic plan describing what has changed since the last appeal and how you plan to address your academic progress.

Undergraduate Semester on Your Own

• Successfully completing 6 credit hours with at least a 2.25 grade point average without financial aid assistance
• Coursework may be completed at MU or another postsecondary institution as long as the credits earned are applicable toward your degree and are successfully transferred to MU

Graduate Semester on Your Own

• A semester on your own for a graduate student is defined as successfully completing 4 credit hours with at least a 3.00 grade point average without financial aid assistance

Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility

You may regain eligibility for financial aid by improving your cumulative MU grade point average and/or completion rate to meet the minimum SAP standards.