Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Financial Aid Recipients

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for federal financial aid. This policy contains qualitative (grade-point average), quantitative (credit hour completion rate), and reasonable length of time measure requirements.

Undergraduate Students

Qualitative Measure

In order to meet the required qualitative measure, students must maintain a minimum overall AUM GPA based on the chart below:

Transfer credit and remedial course credit are not included in the GPA calculation.

Quantitative Measure

In order to maintain measurable progress toward the completion of their degrees, students must successfully complete the percent of all credit hours attempted at Auburn University at Montgomery and transfer hours accepted by AUM as indicated below:

Percentiles may be rounded using normal rounding rules.  Hours attempted include repeated courses, remedial courses, dropped courses, withdrawals, and incomplete courses. Passed Hours ÷ Attempted Hours = Passing Rate

Reasonable Length of Time Measure

At Auburn University at Montgomery, reasonable length of time for the completion of a degree program is defined as no more than 150 percent of the normal timeframe required to complete a degree program. Course work that transfers will adjust the timeframe accordingly.

Graduate Students

Most Graduate Programs:

Masters-Level Education Majors seeking Dept. of Education Certification:

Education Specialist Level Education Majors seeking AL Dept. of Education Certification:

Appeal Process

If extenuating circumstances are involved, the student may submit an appeal letter. Appeals are reviewed based on documentable extenuating circumstances impacting academic performance. Extenuating circumstances are considered to be past events that are no longer barriers to academic progress that were beyond the student’s control. Appeals received without the inclusion of extenuating circumstances and what has changed will automatically be denied. Circumstances related to the typical adjustment to college life are not considered as extenuating for purposes of appealing suspension of financial aid.

To submit an appeal, the student must document the extenuating or special circumstance(s) and indicate what has changed that will allow the student to meet the conditions by the next evaluation. Follow the instructions below to appeal:

1. Draft a letter of appeal to the Senior Director of Financial Aid requesting reinstatement. The letter must:

2. Explain the reason(s) why satisfactory progress is not being made. Be specific.

3. Provide documentation that supports the rationale for the appeal (i.e., medical documentation, death certificate, etc.).

4. Indicate what has changed that will allow the conditions to be met by the next evaluation.

5. Submit the letter of appeal to the Financial Aid Office with the supporting documentation mentioned above. 

Appeals are reviewed and processed on a case-by-case basis, and the result of the appeal may lead to a denial. All decisions are final. An email notification will be sent to the student’s AUM email address to inform the student of the decision.

Appeal Process for Reasonable Length of Time

1. Student must complete steps 1 and 2 from appeal process above.

2. Student’s advisor will also need to email the Director of Financial Aid addressing the following:

   a. How many hours the student has already taken toward the degree program

   b. If the student is a transfer student, how many transfer hours counted toward the degree program

   c. How many hours does the student still need to complete their degree program

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility

A student failing to meet the SAP Policy requirements may regain financial aid eligibility for future terms once all components of the policy are again met.

Process for Appealing Suspension of Financial Aid

A student not meeting SAP Policy requirements has the option of appealing the suspension of financial aid. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate any appeal. Academic reinstatement by the Registrar's Office or the Office of Admissions does not constitute reinstatement of federal aid eligibility.

Probationary Status

A student approved after review of their written appeal will be placed in probationary status and will be allowed to receive financial aid for one semester. The student will be provided with academic requirements that must be attained during the semester in which the approval is granted. If the requirements for the semester are met, the student may submit another appeal for the following semester. Failure to meet the conditions outlined will result in a loss of continued aid eligibility and an automatic denial on all future appeals for reinstatement.