All students applying for or receiving Title IV federal assistance at Alabama A&M University must progress satisfactorily towards completion of a chosen academic or vocational program. Title IV federal assistance includes the following programs:

Alabama A&M University is required by federal law (34 CFR 668.16 (e)) to define and enforce the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The guidelines are established to successfully complete courses for which aid is received.

In addition, at the point that the Financial Aid Office receives the student's financial aid application for processing. The student's academic progress is measured using three components: academic standing, hours attempted and earned, and maximum time frame. If the student does not meet the minimum requirements for the three components, the student is not eligible for federal assistance.

Academic Standing

Undergraduate students must have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average (GPA) by the end of 24 attempted credit hours. Graduate students must have a cumulative 3.00 GPA by the end of 12 attempted hours. Students placed on academic probation, temporary suspension, and probation after suspension must complete the financial aid appeal process in order to qualify for financial aid.

Hours Attempted and Earned

Students must successfully complete at least 67% of their credit hours at Alabama A&M University. All hours attempted, included classes that may have been dropped and withdrawals, will be included in the Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation. Below you will find the minimum requirements for hours attempted, completion percentage, and cumulative GPA:

*Graduate students must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA by the end of 12 attempted credit hours to both retain their status as graduate students and continue to receive federal financial assistance.

Non-credit courses will not be counted in hours attempted, but earned credit hours for remedial courses will be recorded as hours attempted. A student must remove an incomplete (I) grade within the time frame indicated in the University's catalog or receive a grade of F. An incomplete grade will have the same effect as a failing grade with regard to earned credit hours.

All academic work, including work voided by AAMU's academic bankruptcy option, must be considered in determining federal financial aid eligibility. The Federal Student Aid program regulations make no provision for the concept of academic amnesty or academic renewal. Therefore, a school must always include courses applicable to a student’s major (whenever taken) in evaluating a student’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP).

Maximum Time Frame

An undergraduate student is allowed a maximum of 192 credit hours to complete degree requirements. Unless the student can provide documentation of a graduation date of two semesters or less at the time of the appeal, federal financial assistance for undergraduate work will not be extended beyond this time frame. All academic work, including work voided by AAMU's academic bankruptcy option, must be considered in determining federal financial aid eligibility.

Transfer students who are considered in good academic standing from the previous schools attended will be eligible for federal Title IV funds. Transfer credits will also be included in the maximum time frame.

Graduate students will be ineligible for aid if they do not meet their degree objectives after carrying the maximum number of credit hours listed below (whether or not they have received aid for all terms):

*Once a student earns a specialist degree, the student shall be eligible for additional financial assistance only at the doctoral level.

Financial Aid Appeal Notification

Financial Aid Analysts and Specialists typically assess satisfactory academic progress for each student at the end of each academic year. However, mid-year transfer or reinstatement cases, student academic records are reviewed to determine eligibility to federal assistance. If the student is not making satisfactory academic progress, notification is sent in the form of a letter informing the student of their noncompliance. A student apply for financial aid reinstatement by requesting a financial aid appeal. The financial aid appeal process allows the student to explain extenuating or unforeseeable circumstances that may have hindered the student's academic progress.

Financial Aid Appeals Procedure

Step 1: Student must complete the financial aid appeal form on the Financial Aid web page. Appeals based on extenuating circumstances (i.e. student injury or illness, death of student's relative, and/or other circumstances resulting in undue hardship to student) should be accompanied by documentation (if requested by the Director).

Step 2: The appeals will be forwarded to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee for review.

Step 3: Financial Aid Analyst or specialist will communicate the Appeal Committee's decision to the student via email. (Ensure that you provide a valid email address.)

Step 4: Students may also check their SAP status on the web.