Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require institutions to monitor each student’s progress toward earning a degree within the maximum time frame permitted for the student’s degree or course of study.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements are set at the same level as the academic standards and apply to all students at the School of Environment. 

To remain eligible for institutional or federal financial aid, students must meet the following minimum qualitative and quantitative standards. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) jeopardizes a student’s eligibility to receive university or federal financial aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress is checked at the end of each term and Title IV payment period.

Qualitative Standard (Academic Performance)

As the Yale School of the Environment does not use GPA, academic performance is assessed through successful course completion and continued good academic standing. Students must have a cumulative passing grade average at each formal evaluation point throughout the program.

The following rules apply:

• One failing grade will result in a Financial Aid Warning period for one term.  If the standards are met at the next review, the student will return to good SAP standing.  If not, the student is considered not to be meeting SAP and may pursue an appeal. 
• Two failing grades at any point during enrollment will result in withdrawal from the program, regardless of financial aid status.

Quantitative Standard (Pace of Completion)

Students must successfully complete at least 75% of their required credit load per semester and cumulatively to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The required credit load is based on the student’s enrollment status, as defined below:

• Full-time students are expected to enroll in 12 credits per semester. To meet SAP, full-time students must successfully complete at least 9 credits per semester.
• Part-time students are enrolled in 6 to 8 credits per semester. For example, a student enrolled in 6 credits must complete at least 4.5 credits.

Failed, withdrawn, or incomplete courses will affect a student’s academic standing and eligibility for financial aid.

Course Incompletes

 If a student receives a grade of Incomplete for a course, the credits for that course will be factored into the student's SAP calculations at the time of the next formal evaluation, once the finalized grade has been recorded.

Course Withdrawals 

If a student withdraws from a course prior to the midpoint of the semester, the credits for that course are not counted in determining the pace of progression. If a student withdraws from a course after the midpoint of the semester, the credits for that course are counted as attempted, but not completed.

Course Repetitions

Both the repeated course and the original attempt are counted as attempted credits in determining the pace of progression. Only the second attempt, if completed, will be counted as earned credits. Transfers of Credit: Transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted and therefore do not affect SAP.

Change of Program or Major

If a student changes academic programs or majors, all attempted coursework and grades from prior enrollment will continue to be included in the evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This includes all attempted credits and grades, regardless of their applicability to the new program. The cumulative qualitative and quantitative measures, as well as the maximum time frame for federal financial aid eligibility, will reflect all prior coursework attempted at the institution.

Note: The program does not accept transfer credits; only coursework completed while enrolled in the program is included. Remedial courses are not offered.

Maximum Time Frame 

Students must complete all degree requirements within five (5) years of matriculation. This time frame is designed to accommodate full-time (typically 2 years) and part-time (typically 4 years) study and complies with the federal requirement that graduate students complete their program within 150% of the standard program length. Students who exceed the five-year maximum time frame are no longer eligible for federal financial aid. However, such students may submit an appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Financial Aid to request continued eligibility for non-federal institutional funding, such as scholarships or other school-administered awards. These appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a committee consisting of the Office of Academic Affairs and Financial Aid.

Appeals for institutional funding must include a justification for the extended timeline, a summary of academic progress to date, and a plan for completing the degree within a reasonable and clearly defined timeframe. Please note that Title IV aid cannot be extended beyond the maximum timeframe, even with an appeal, while institutional aid may be considered.

Status Definitions and Notifications

Financial Aid Warning

If the end of semester evaluation determines that a student is not making SAP, the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning. No appeal by the student is required. This status lasts one semester, during which the student may continue receiving financial aid. The Director of Financial Aid will notify students by e-mail if they are placed on Financial Aid Warning.

Financial Aid Probation

If the end of semester evaluation determines that a student on Financial Aid Warning is still not making SAP, the student may submit an appeal to explain their failure to make SAP. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation. This status lasts for one semester, unless it is determined that the student cannot meet SAP standards within a single term. In such cases, the student will follow an academic plan developed by the Office of Academic Affairs, which outlines a path to regain SAP eligibility over a specified period, taking into account all other SAP requirements, including the 150% maximum timeframe. The Director of Financial Aid will notify students by e-mail if they are placed on Financial Aid Probation. For additional information about the appeal process, see Appeals.

Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility

If a student fails to make SAP at the end of the semester during which (1) the student is on Financial Aid Warning and does not submit an appeal, or submits an appeal that is denied or (2) the student is on Financial Aid Probation without standards for an alternative pace of progression (see Appeals), the student will not be eligible for additional financial aid (federal or institutional). The Director of Financial Aid will notify students by e-mail if they become ineligible for financial aid.

Appeal Process

A student who fails to make SAP after a semester on Financial Aid Warning may submit a written appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Financial Aid. A committee consisting of the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, the Registrar, and the Director of Financial Aid will review the appeal and decide to approve or deny it.

Appeals will be considered only in cases of extreme circumstances, such as the death of a relative or the student’s own injury or illness. Supporting documentation is not required at the time of submission, but the committee reserves the right to request documentation during the review process. For example, a letter from a physician may be required in cases of medical circumstances.

Each appeal must include a specific plan for regaining SAP, including an academic plan outlining the steps the student will take. If it is evident that the student cannot meet SAP standards by the end of the following semester (the Financial Aid Probation period), the plan must include an alternative pace of progression to bring the student back into compliance within the five-year maximum time frame for program completion.

Restoring Eligibility for Financial Aid

A student can regain eligibility for financial aid only by taking action that brings the student into compliance with these SAP standards or by successfully submitting an appeal. Paying tuition without financial aid or taking a leave of absence alone does not automatically restore a student’s SAP standing. However, a student may regain eligibility by successfully completing coursework that brings them back into compliance with SAP standards, such as improving their pace of progression to 75% or higher, within the maximum time frame.