UB Changes Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard
On April 16th, the University at Buffalo changed their Federal Financial Aid Eligibility Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Despite having “Federal” in the name, the change was to a part of this policy that is determined by the University, not the federal government. The change to SAP is available at http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/finances/federal.shtml , which states: “An undergraduate student is eligible for federal financial aid if the student is (1) in academic good standing as measured by the cumulative and semester GPA, and (2) is progressing toward the baccalaureate degree as measured by cumulative completed credit hours percentage according to the university’s Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. (3) Students must also complete their first bachelor’s degree within 150 percent of the normal number of credits required to complete a bachelor’s degree, not exceeding 180 credit hours.” (UB’s April 16th additions in bold.)
This is a change from what is provided in the 2008–10 Undergraduate Catalog. It states: “An undergraduate student is eligible for federal financial aid if the student is (1) in academic good standing as measured by the cumulative and semester GPA, and (2) is progressing toward the baccalaureate degree as measured by completed credit hours per semester according to the university’s Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students must complete their first bachelor’s degree within 150 percent of the normal number of credits required to complete a bachelor’s degree, not exceeding 180 credit hours.” (UB’s April 16th deletions in bold.)
The change to SAP also added: “A student must complete at least 70 percent of all cumulative hours attempted in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.” Before April 16th, this factor was not considered in satisfactory academic progress, according to the Undergraduate Catalog.
Cumulative credit hours, unlike prior definitions of satisfactory academic progress, include resignations, withdrawals, medical and family withdrawals, and military leave withdrawals. These credit hours are all now included into the 180 credit hours during which a student gets federal funding. After the Spring assessment of SAP, students over 180 credit hours are cut off from all federal funding. No warnings, no probationary periods.
The Spectrum estimated that 2,000 students may have lost federal funding due to this change.
Sub Board I, Inc.’s Legal Assistance, which provides student owned services, is trying to identify all students affected by this change. These students should have received a letter on June 12th or 13th indicating that the student “failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards due to” having 180 credit hours or more completed, or having a completion rate below 70 % of all cumulative attempted credit hours.
If you, or anyone you know is affected by this, please direct them to Sub Board I Legal Assistance, 377 Student Union, Monday through Friday, noon–5 p.m. They may also write sbilegal@buffalo.edu with a brief description of their circumstances. All communications will be held in confidence.