Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Overview

Delaware State University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy follows federal and state regulations (Sections 668.16(e), 668.32(f), and 668.34). All students receiving financial aid must:

1. Maintain good academic standing, and
2. Make measurable progress toward completing their degree within a reasonable timeframe.

Students who fail to meet SAP standards are not eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid until eligibility is regained.

2025–2026 SAP Appeal Deadline: July 31, 2025

When SAP Is Reviewed

SAP is reviewed once a year, at the end of the spring semester. Students must meet both the GPA and completion rate requirements to remain eligible for financial aid. Students who fail SAP must appeal to be considered for continued eligibility. Students with an approved SAP appeal for the Fall semester, will have their academic progress reviewed at the end of the semester.

SAP Standards

1. GPA Requirement (Qualitative Component)

Students must maintain the minimum cumulative GPA required for their academic level:

• Undergraduate Students:  2.0 cumulative GPA
• Graduate Students:           3.0 cumulative GPA

All attempted courses are included in the GPA calculation.

2. Pace of Completion (Quantitative Component)

Students must successfully complete at least 66.67% of all attempted credit hours.

• Grades of A, B, C, or D = earned credits
• Grades of F, W, WF, AW, or I = attempted but not earned credits
• Transfer and AP credits count as both attempted and completed
• Repeated courses count as attempted each time but earned only once

Example:
If you complete 15 of 24 attempted credits, your pace is 62.5% (15 ÷ 24 = 0.625 × 100). Since this is below 66.67%, you are not meeting SAP standards.

3. Maximum Timeframe

Students must complete their degree within the maximum timeframe specified in the University Catalog:

Special Course Considerations

• Developmental Courses: Aid is allowed for up to 30 credit hours if required by placement testing and is in eligible program of study.
• Incomplete Grades: Count as attempted until completed and graded.
• Repeated Courses: Count as attempted each time but earned once.
• Withdrawals (W): Count as attempted, not earned.
• Transfer Credits: Count as both attempted and earned toward degree completion.
• Audit Courses: Not eligible for aid or SAP consideration.

Students with documented disabilities are held to the same SAP standards but may request academic accommodations through the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

Evaluation and Loss of Eligibility

SAP is reviewed annually. Students exceeding the maximum timeframe (150%) or not meeting GPA or completion standards will lose financial aid eligibility. Federal rules apply to all students, even if they are applying for aid for the first time.

Appeal Process

Students who lose financial aid eligibility may submit an appeal before the posted deadline. Appeals must include:

• A written explanation of extenuating circumstances (e.g., serious illness, injury, death in the family, family crisis),
• Supporting documentation, and
• A detailed plan describing how the student will meet SAP requirements moving forward.

Appeals cannot be based solely on the need for aid or lack of awareness of the policy.

While awaiting a decision, students are responsible for payment of tuition and fees. Financial aid will not be reinstated unless the appeal is approved.

Key Points to Remember

• SAP applies to all students, whether or not they previously received financial aid.
• Appeals are due by July 31, 2025.
• Students may regain eligibility only through a successful appeal or by meeting SAP standards after self-funding coursework.

Ready to Submit your Appeal?

Select the Reason for your Appeal

Account Creation

DSU has move to a new self-service mobile financial aid process for the 2020-2021 Academic Year! Follow the steps below to set up your account from any computer or mobile device.

Financial Aid Services: Create Your Account. This is a one-time account creation. You’ll be asked for some basic information when creating your account. This information is used to validate your identity so that electronic signature can be used on future forms.

Follow these steps:

1. Go to https://desu.verifymyfafsa.com/account/registerstudent 
    
2. Sign in using your DSU Single Sign on Credentials (hint: same log-in as Blackboard)
   
    
3. Click “Sign-In”
    
4. Enter/confirm your student information
   
5. Click “Register Account” button
   

How to submit an appeal:

1. Log on to desu.verifymyfafsa.com:
   
2. Click “Fill Out” under SAP Appeal
   
3. Confirm that the following information is correction (e.g. First Name, Last Name, Phone Number)
   
    
4. Insert your written statement that explains your extenuating circumstance and click “I will provide supporting documents”
   Please note: You must provide third-party documentation supporting your statements. If you submit an appeal without third-party documentation the appeal will be denied. All appeal decisions are final.
   

Note:   Students may only submit an appeal two (2) times within their academic program timeframe. All appeals after will be automatically denied, except for special extenuating circumstances. All appeal decisions are final.

 Status Definitions

Appeal “Approval”

Appeals can only be approved if the SAP Committee determines that documented extenuating circumstances occurred. Students with approved appeals are placed in a Probation status and remain eligible for financial aid, subject to specific requirements and restrictions.

Appeal “Approval”

• Probation status is assigned to students failing to make satisfactory academic progress who successfully appeal.
• Eligibility for aid may be reinstated for one semester/payment period, contingent on the student agreeing to conditions outlined in the Financial Aid appeal form.
• If a student on probation meets SAP requirements or the conditions of the approved appeal by the end of the term, they regain financial aid eligibility for the next semester.
• During probation, the student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.
• Students who fail to meet SAP cumulative requirements at the end of the probation term will lose financial aid eligibility until they are either:
  1. Submit and receive approval for a subsequent appeal, or
  2. Attend without federal or institutional aid while completing courses to meet SAP cumulative requirements.

Note: Students who meet SAP requirements are no longer required to undergo further evaluation.

Appeal “Denied”

An appeal is denied when:

• No extenuating circumstance is documented, or
• The circumstance is outside the timeframe of poor academic performance.

Students with denied appeals are ineligible for federal and state aid in subsequent semesters and must seek alternative means to pay tuition while completing courses to regain SAP standing.

Regaining Eligibility

Students who lose financial aid eligibility due to SAP may regain it by:

• Attending without federal or institutional aid, and
• Completing courses to meet SAP cumulative requirements.

Note: Simply waiting or the passage of time does not restore eligibility.

Students academically dismissed and later permitted to re-enroll are not automatically eligible for federal or state aid; admissions decisions are separate from funding eligibility.

Notifications

Students who lose financial aid eligibility due to SAP are notified via university email, including:

• Notification of unmet SAP requirements
• Specific requirements failed
• Instructions on how to appeal
• Appeal guidelines and deadlines

Contact Information

For any questions, please email:
faid [at] desu.edu