Satisfactory Academic Progress (for US Federal Loans)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

It is a student’s responsibility to read and understand this Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Overview:

Students who are attending the University of Dundee and in receipt of US Direct Loans are required to make satisfactory progress in their degree programme. This applies to all full-time, part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) means the student is proceeding in a positive manner towards fulfilling degree requirements.

The University of Dundee’s Title IV SAP policy applies the same rules for students enrolled on the same programme but not receiving Title IV Aid.

International students at the University of Dundee in receipt of a Tier 4 visa are subject to regular monitoring of their attendance in accordance with the UK Government’s immigration rules.

Evaluation Process:

All students will have their academic progress reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students who have not fulfilled the SAP requirements will not be eligible for US Direct Loan funds for the subsequent academic year(s). Further information regarding the process can be found under the heading ‘Failure to make satisfactory progress’

The University does not have the right to waive the SAP requirement for any student.

SAP is measured by:

Academic performance (qualitative) – student grade level average

Timeframe (quantitative) – maximum time allowed to complete

Qualitative – Academic:

In order to remain enrolled in a programme or to continue receiving aid, a student must satisfy the requirements in the degree regulations and taught assessment regulations for progression. In order to graduate a student must satisfy the requirements for award and, where relevant, classification. The University of Dundee’s academic programmes are governed by the regulations as set out in the University Calendar https://www.dundee.ac.uk/governance/university-calendar/

The University of Dundee does not use Grade Point Average (GPA) assessments. Students are required to achieve the following results to pass individual modules, and to achieve these overall averages:

40% minimum for undergraduate programmes

50% minimum for postgraduate taught programmes

Educational programmes of more than two academic years:

If a student is enrolled in an educational programme of more than two academic years, at the end of the second academic year, the student must have achieved at least 40% for undergraduate programmes and 50% for postgraduate taught programmes, or have academic standing consistent with the University’s graduation requirements.

Quantitative – Timeframe:

Federal regulations for students specify that students must complete within 150% of the published length of the programme as measured in credits hours, see table below:

Students must complete their course at a pace which ensures they will graduate within the maximum timeframe and must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of 67% as calculated by dividing the number of completed credits by the number of attempted credits, in order to meet SAP maximum timeframes.

Please see example below based on a 4 year undergraduate degree:

4 x 120 credits = 480 credits required for graduation

150% Maximum time frame: 120% x 150 = 180 x 4 = 720 credits

480/720 credits = 0.666 rounded to 0.67 = 67% is the pace of completion

It should be noted that American students are usually ineligible to study on part-time programmes at all qualification levels, due to current UK visa restrictions. You must also be studying at least half-time in order to be eligible for federal loans.

Incomplete grade:

There is no ‘incomplete’ grade status at the University of Dundee, rather the student will be given a Failed grade for not meeting the required threshold and will count towards the maximum timeframe and grade level average.

Retaking assessments:

Students may be permitted to resit failed modules which will be capped at a ‘D3’ (unless mitigating circumstances have been approved).

Retaking full academic years:

The decision as to whether a student is permitted to retake part/full year of study will be determined by the School’s Progression Committee in line with degree regulations for that particular degree programme (see link to Degree Regulations above). Any repeat year will count towards the 150% timeframe – see table above.

Credit transfer:

Credits transferred will be considered as attempted/completed credits in the evaluation of the completion rate and will count towards the 150% timeframe. Only those credits which contribute towards the award being sought will be considered for the purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Withdrawing from a module:

If a student withdraws from a module any marks gained will no longer be considered in the Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation unless the marks are transferred to an alternative module. Withdrawal from a module may also affect the student’s pace of study depending upon the point in the year that the withdrawal is completed and whether an alternative module is registered. Where the student has registered on a new module in place of the withdrawn module, the replacement module will be used in all future Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluations and the withdrawn module will be disregarded.

Failure to make satisfactory progress:

A student’s studies may be terminated by the University if they have not made sufficient academic progress to warrant continuance of study. Students who fail to maintain sufficient academic progress may be required to discontinue study. The School Office will notify students of this in writing following the annual Progression Boards. This letter will contain information on the University’s Progression and Termination of Studies (Appeal) process. Registry will then notify the student that they are ineligible to receive further US financial aid disbursements and that their Financial Aid entitlements will be suspended unless they are successful in an appeal.

Appeals:

Students can appeal the decision within 10 calendar days of being notified their Aid has been suspended by submitting a signed and dated letter to Registry explaining why they should not have Financial Aid suspended. A student may appeal that result based on injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances, and state what has now changed that will allow them to meet Satisfactory Progress at the next evaluation date. Supporting documentation from a doctor, death certificate etc. may be required to verify the situation.

The Financial Aid Officer will consider the appeal in consultation with the School and render a decision, which will be conveyed in writing to the student within 14 working days of the appeal.

Subject to a successful appeal a student may be permitted to continue, this will be communicated to the student in writing and the student will be advised of the conditions they need to meet in order to re-establish eligibility e.g. re-sitting and passing exams/submitting dissertations/making up lost module time etc. The student will be placed on probation which last for one payment period, during this time eligibility for financial aid will continue.

If the above specific appeal requirements are not met, and the student fails to meet the SAP requirements then the student will again become ineligible for financial aid.

If the appeal is not upheld, is unsuccessful or the student does not appeal, the student loses eligibility and has financial aid suspended

A student who has had their financial aid suspended but continues on their programme, under their own means, and who subsequently meets satisfactory academic progress standards will be entitled to apply for or receive financial aid. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Student Records, Fees and Module Assessment Manager, Registry, that SAP requirements have been met and to apply for US Direct Loans. The Student Records, Fees and Module Assessments Manager will verify SAP requirements have been met prior to originating any future US Direct Loans.

Additional Support:

Students are facing challenges that are impacting on studies can contact our Student Services team for support. Further information can be found at: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/guides/get-help-stay-course

Please note:- Regardless of the above, students who exceed 150% of the published length of their programme are no longer entitled to receive Federal Aid.