JMU - SAP Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Undergraduate Students Receiving Financial Aid
All undergraduate students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to receive financial aid at James Madison University. Federal regulations require each institution to have a SAP policy, which establishes the minimum standards that must be applied consistently to all students. You will be denied financial aid if you fail to meet SAP requirements. If extenuating circumstances led to your noncompliance, you may submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for consideration. Our policy is designed to encourage students to improve their academic performance.
Students who wish to appeal must do so by a prescribed deadline.
2013-14 Appeal Deadlines
• Summer 2013 – Monday, June 24, 2013
• Fall 2013 – Monday, September 9, 2013
• Spring 2014 – Monday, January 27, 2014
Note: Some financial aid programs (e.g., Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program) have more stringent requirements than described in this policy. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you have questions.
Explanation of Requirements
The university measures your academic performance based on three standards: grade point average (GPA), pace and maximum time. See below for a detailed description.
Pace: You must earn at least 80% of your attempted hours. This calculation is performed by dividing the number of credit hours earned by the number of credit hours attempted.
Maximum Time: You may not receive financial aid for more than 150 attempted hours. If your program requires more than 150 hours and you have reached the maximum time limit, please contact the financial aid office for guidance.
Grade Point Average: The minimum GPA requirement is based on the number of credit hours attempted. GPA standards mirror the university’s academic suspension policy. (see table below)
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Credit Hours Attempted* (Includes transferred hours) |
Minimum GPA Requirement (Cumulative JMU GPA for financial aid) |
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1-27 |
1.500 |
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28-44 |
1.650 |
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45-59 |
1.750 |
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60-74 |
1.850 |
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75-89 |
1.900 |
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90-104 |
1.994 |
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105-119 |
1.999 |
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120 or above |
2.000 |
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* To determine the GPA requirement, start by calculating your total attempted hours. You will need to add:
In the example below, a student has attempted 60 credit hours at JMU, received 30 credits for transfer work, and 2 hours of no credit work. The hours attempted at JMU plus the no credit and transfer hours place this student in the 92 credit hour category, even though the total number of hours earned is equal to 82. With a cumulative GPA of 1.991, the student does not meet SAP requirements. |
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JMU Hrs Attempted |
Trans Hrs |
NC Hrs |
JMU Hrs Earned |
Cum Hrs Earned |
Total Hrs Attempted |
Cum Quality Pts Earned |
Cum GPA |
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60 |
30 |
2 |
52 |
82 |
92 |
119.5 |
1.991 |
Explanation of Attempted Hours
The financial aid office uses the university's academic suspension policy to evaluate your GPA. In compliance with federal regulations, financial aid developed procedures for evaluating pace and maximum time. The chart illustrates how we view attempted hours for each component.
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Type |
GPA |
Pace |
Max Time |
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College Level Examination Program |
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* If you have dual enrollment, AP or IB credits and feel they may affect your SAP status, please notify us.
** For repeat forgiveness, your most recent grade and credit(s) count toward your GPA.
Note: Federal regulations require that we conduct an additional review of your GPA status after you have completed four semesters (including summer) of enrollment. If you met SAP requirements previously, but do not meet the GPA requirement after your fourth semester, you will lose eligibility for financial aid. You may request reconsideration by submitting an appeal form.
Use the online estimator to determine whether your academic progress meets the requirements to receive financial aid.
It is your responsibility to be aware of SAP requirements.
Contact us at finaid_sap@jmu.edu if you have any questions.
Publisher:
Financial Aid Office
For Information Contact:
Financial Aid Office
James Madison University
Warren Hall , MSC 3519
Phone: (540) 568-7820
Fax: (540) 568-7994
Last Modified: 10/2/2013
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