This policy provides the framework for monitoring academic progress and eligibility determination for all federal, scholarship and other aid programs. All students receiving any financial aid or scholarship from UNO must abide by this policy, as well as any specific requirements for scholarships/exemptions as applicable. This policy applies to all new, transfer, re-entry, re-admit with transfer work, and continuing students at UNO.
General Guidelines
Students must be in enrolled in an eligible curriculum as a degree-seeking student. Students must also maintain a Cumulative and UNO GPA, as well as, total earned hours/attempted hours ratio in accordance within the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, in order to retain their financial aid eligibility.
Maximum Attempted Hours
To establish a quantitative measure, a time frame is set for students to finish a program of study. For any program, regulations require the maximum time frame to not exceed 150% of the published length of the program measured in the required academic credit hours. For example, at UNO the published length of most undergraduate academic programs is 120 credit hours required for degree completion and may not exceed 180 attempted credit hours (150% of 120 credit hours= 180 maximum attempted/pursued hours)
Students enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum may receive financial aid up to a total of 180 attempted hours. Attempted hours include all hours as they appear on the transcript, including those with “W,” “P,” “S,” “U,” “I,” “U/W,” “X/F,” and audit courses. Attempted hours also include any suspended, non-credit remedial, repeated, transfer, and scholastic amnesty hours. All hours that appear on the transcript are counted as pursued, even those for semesters in which the student did not receive aid. However, while scholastic amnesty hours will count towards the maximum hours attempted, they will not be considered in determining a student’s earned/attempted ratio and GPA Standard.
Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree in an eligible curriculum may receive financial aid up to a total of 225 attempted hours, which includes all undergraduate course work attempted for the first degree. For example, if a student completed their undergraduate degree with 200 credit hours, then he or she will only be eligible to receive financial aid for 25 credit hours.
Graduate students enrolled in an eligible curriculum may receive financial aid up to a total of 107 attempted hours while a graduate student regardless of the matriculation level of the course work attempted while a graduate student. All hours the graduate student attempts will be counted towards the 107 attempted hours limit, including research hours which show on his/her transcripts.
Earned/Attempted Hours Ratio and/or GPA Standard
- Students must successfully complete 67% of all course work attempted throughout their academic history. This includes all work attempted at UNO and course work attempted at other schools, regardless of whether or not Federal Student Aid was received for the course work or how long ago the course work was attempted.
- Students must maintain both a UNO and Cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0.
- Students cannot exceed 180 attempted hours for their first undergraduate four-year degree. Although a student may attempt a double major or two degrees at once, students are limited to the 180 attempted hours until they officially graduate and are admitted to an eligible Post Baccalaureate program at UNO. Post Baccalaureate students cannot exceed 225 attempted hours, which includes all attempted hours for the student’s first degree attempt.
Graduate Level Criteria
Graduate students must earn at least 67% of total hours pursued and maintain a UNO and an overall GPA of 3.0 on all graduate and undergraduate course work attempted while a graduate student. Graduate students cannot qualify for Federal Student Aid while on academic probation.
Probationary Period
Continuing undergraduate students may qualify for one probationary period only, which allows them to continue to receive Federal financial aid. The probationary period may be up to one academic award year, depending upon when the student becomes ineligible. If a student becomes ineligible at the end of the fall semester, the probation period will be for the following spring semester only. If a student is admitted on probation for the spring semester, the probationary period will be for spring-only.
Scholastic Drop
A student who is Scholastically Dropped from UNO is not making satisfactory academic progress. A student who is dropped by UNO or by his/her previously attended school will have to submit a Federal Student Aid Appeal to have his/her eligibility considered for reinstatement. A student can only regain his/her eligibility through an approved appeal or by meeting the SAP requirements.
Scholastic Amnesty
Students who enter UNO on full Scholastic Amnesty will not have their prior work reviewed for the GPA or ratio requirements, but all hours attempted are required to be counted toward the 180 or 225 limits on attempted credit hours. Students admitted on Partial Scholastic Amnesty will have to meet the SAP Policy on the remaining work that is not included in the amnesty hours. A student’s eligibility cannot be reinstated with regards to SAP until our office receives the student’s updated information from the Admission’s office. Scholastic Amnesty processed after the initial Admission’s process will be considered for subsequent semesters only and is not to be used to retroactively receive Federal Student Aid for any prior semester. Students on Scholastic Amnesty who fail to meet the SAP Policy once again will not qualify for a second probationary period and will immediately lose their eligibility.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must enroll at UNO with at least a 2.0 GPA to qualify for Federal Financial Aid. A transfer student is one who has not attended UNO prior to transferring into the University. Students admitted on probation for the first time will qualify for their eligible Federal Student Aid for the term which they are admitted to UNO. Upon the next evaluation period, the student must meet all SAP eligibility components or the student will lose his/her eligibility for financial aid.
Re-entry (Returning) Students
Returning UNO students will be evaluated for SAP eligibility upon re-admission to the university and upon the receipt of the current year’s FAFSA. If the student is returning to UNO with additional attempted hours from another school, the student will have to meet the 2.0 UNO and cumulative GPA, and the 67% completion ratio requirement, without exceeding the limit of attempted hours. Official transcripts for all schools attended must be received by the Admission’s office before a SAP evaluation can be completed on a student returning with additional credit hours. Students who do not meet the requirements upon returning to UNO will not qualify for Federal Student Aid. Re-entry students are not considered continuing students and therefore will not qualify for the probationary period.
Evaluation Period
A student’s academic progress will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester for the preceding summer/fall/spring academic year to determine a student’s eligibility. Graduate students are reviewed each semester for academic probation and Return of Title IV. Students who do not meet all SAP components will lose their eligibility for financial aid/scholarships at the end of the spring semester. All incompletes given for prior semester course work must be resolved before an evaluation can be completed on a student.
Return of Title IV Funds
If a student ceases enrollment (resigns, officially or unofficially drops all classes during a semester), the Federal regulations require our office to perform a Return of Title IV on the funds the student received for that enrollment period. Prior to the student receiving another Federal Student Aid Award, SAP eligibility must be reviewed once again. If the student is not meeting the eligibility requirements, any pending Federal Student Aid eligibility must be cancelled and the student will be notified. Return of Title IV SAP eligibility reviews will be completed at the end of each semester, fall, spring, and summer if the student resigns, officially or unofficially withdraws during a semester.
Appeal Procedures
Students who have extenuating circumstances that affected their academic pursuits may submit an appeal to explain and document the circumstances. All appeals must be accompanied with supporting documentation and examples are given on the appeal form. An appeal will be denied if sufficient documentation is not submitted with the appeal. Appeal forms are available on our website at www.finaid.uno.edu/forms and at our Financial Aid Help Desk. Students are limited to a maximum of two financial aid appeals for their degree attempt. The Committee’s decision on each appeal is final. University Appeals
Students who are granted University Appeals to change the academic records of prior semesters may have their eligibility reconsidered for subsequent semesters only. Prior SAP Appeals, financial aid probation, eligibility determinations will not be considered. A student may submit a SAP Review to have their eligibility reviewed once the changes are posted on WEBSTAR.
Appeal Deadlines
Deadlines for filing financial aid appeals for each semester are listed on the appeal application. Students who lose their eligibility during the fall or spring semesters of the current award year may not submit an appeal for the summer session unless they are graduating in the summer session. Summer graduating seniors will need supporting documentation from your College or Registrar’s office showing graduation date. Approved appeals are for subsequent semesters only: Appeals are not retroactive for any semester.
Re-evaluation of Federal Aid
Students who have lost their federal aid eligibility may request an evaluation after any semester in which they achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid/Scholarships. Students should complete a SAP Review Form in order to have their academic record re-evaluated, which may take 7-10 business days to be reviewed. Evaluations will be processed after grades are posted for the current semester for which the evaluation is submitted for review. All incompletes given for prior semester course work must be resolved before an evaluation can be completed.
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