Satisfactory Academic Progress

The GPA requirement is based on grades earned at the University of Nevada, Reno, and does not include grades transferred from another institution. Undergraduate students are required to maintain a 2.0 or better cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA.

Remedial courses are assessed qualitatively with S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) grades. If a student receives a U grade for a remedial course taken at the University of Nevada, Reno more than once, the student will no longer be meeting SAP. Successfully passing the same remedial course, or completing core math/English requirements, as applicable, will remedy the deficiency. Remedial courses taken at the University of Nevada, Reno do not affect pace or maximum time frame.

Pace is based on all college credits earned from the University of Nevada, Reno and all other post-secondary institutions, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students must earn 67% of all attempted credits in order to meet the pace requirement. Pace is calculated as: (number of credits earned ÷ number of credits attempted) × 100.

Courses that are assigned a grade of 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', or 'S' are included as both credits earned and credits attempted. Course assigned grades of ‘R’, ‘I', 'W', 'F', 'AD', 'IP', 'NR', and 'U' are not included as credits earned but are included as credits attempted. Transfer courses that are assigned ‘AR’ are also not included as credits earned but are included as credits attempted (for University of Nevada, Reno courses assigned as ‘AR’, please see Academic renewal policy).
Note: A pace calculation resulting in 66.5%-66.9% will be rounded up to 67%.

Federal regulations limit financial aid funding to no more than 150 percent of the average length of the program. All attempted (total enrolled) credits at the University of Nevada, Reno and at all other institutions are counted in this limit, regardless of whether or not aid was received. The credit limit includes dual majors, changes in majors, and multiple degrees. An undergraduate student has a maximum time frame of 180 total attempted credits.

Courses assigned as incomplete (I) will be incorporated into a student’s pace calculation at the time SAP is determined. Incompletes are not included as credits earned, but are included as credits attempted.

Repeated coursework will count towards all SAP standards.

All transfer work that is recognized by the University of Nevada, Reno will be included in a student’s quantitative component (Pace and Maximum Time Frame) of SAP. Transfer work that is received after SAP has been determined will be incorporated the next time SAP is determined.

The University of Nevada, Reno has an academic renewal policy through which a student may have a maximum of two consecutive semesters of course work disregarded in all calculations regarding academic standing, grade-point average and graduation eligibility. The institutional academic renewal policy does not supersede federal SAP guidelines and all original coursework grades will be used when determining a student’s SAP standing.

Students who are meeting all SAP standards have this status and are eligible for all financial aid resources.

Undergraduate students who have fallen below the minimum GPA or pace requirements, or have failed a remedial course more than once, will get a warning semester. During this semester they will be permitted to receive financial aid while resolving the deficiency. If, after the warning semester, the SAP deficiency is not resolved, eligibility for financial aid will be lost. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a Satisfactory Academic Progress Advisor at the beginning of their warning semester.

Students who do not meet satisfactory academic standards after their warning semester must either appeal or remedy the deficiency by taking and paying for classes on their own. Each student will only be permitted to receive one warning semester at the University of Nevada, Reno during their undergraduate career, regardless of deficiency or combination of deficiencies, and whether or not aid was received during that warning semester.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards and are not eligible for warning status will be placed on financial aid suspension. These students are not eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the suspension status. Students on this status are encouraged to speak with a financial aid representative to see what options may be available.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to a deficiency in remedial coursework completion, GPA, or Pace and have had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the probation status. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on probation status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication will result in the student moving to financial aid suspension status.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to exceeding the allowable attempted credits for their program and have an approved Maximum Time Frame Appeal will be placed on this status. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the academic plan status. The Financial Aid Office will only count enrollment for courses listed on the approved academic plan to determine aid eligibility. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on academic plan status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication will result in the student status moving to financial aid suspension.

If you do not meet satisfactory academic progress standards, you may submit an appeal. If you have a GPA, pace, or remedial coursework issue, you may submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. If you have a maximum time frame issue, you may submit the Maximum Time Frame Appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed and evaluated by the appeals coordinator. It is at the discretion of the appeals coordinator to make a professional judgement on whether an appeal should be discussed with a formal committee comprised of representatives from across campus.

All appeals must be received three weeks prior to the end of the term in order to be considered for aid in the current semester.

In addition to submitting the appropriate appeal form, signed and dated, you must also submit the required documentation, as listed on each form.

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that may be considered are:

• Death or serious illness of an immediate family member
• Prolonged hospitalization or confinement at home for reasons that resulted in required extended absences from classes
• A one-time emergency situation that impacted your ability to continue your education or affected your academic success for a short, specified period
• Situations for which you had no valid choice other than to interrupt your education

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that will not be considered are:

• Lack of knowledge or understanding of the satisfactory academic progress standards
• Medical appeals based on long-term or chronic conditions that were known and existed before financial aid was accepted and received
• Medical appeals for illness or hospitalization for dates that do not correspond to the semester(s) of sub-standard progress
• Any reason for which you have previously filed an appeal

If your appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation to amend your appeal.

Decisions made by the appeals committee are final and are not subject to further review.

If your final appeal is denied, you must take courses on your own until the issue is resolved. Courses must be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno to raise the GPA above the required minimum to resolve a GPA issue. Courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to raise cumulative pace above 67 percent to resolve a pace issue.

Remedial courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to address a remedial coursework issue.

There is no further aid eligibility for students whose Maximum Time Frame Appeals have been denied.

Discontinuing attendance for any length of time will not resolve a SAP issue.

The GPA requirement is based on grades earned at the University of Nevada, Reno, and does not include grades transferred from another institution. Graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA.

Pace is based on all graduate-level college credits earned from the University of Nevada, Reno and all other post-secondary institutions, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students must earn 67% of all attempted credits in order to meet the pace requirement. Pace is calculated as: (number of credits earned ÷ number of credits attempted) × 100.

Courses that are assigned a grade of 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', or 'S' are included as both credits earned and credits attempted. Course assigned grades of 'I', ‘AR’, ‘R’, 'W', 'F', 'AD', 'IP', 'NR', and 'U' are not included as credits earned, but are included as credits attempted. Transfer courses that are assigned ‘AR’ or ‘R’ are also not included as credits earned, but are included as credits attempted (for University of Nevada, Reno courses assigned as ‘AR’ or ‘R’, please see Academic renewal policy).
Note: A pace calculation resulting in 66.5%-66.9% will be rounded up to 67%.

Federal regulations limit financial aid funding to no more than 150 percent of the average length of the program. All attempted (total enrolled) credits at the University of Nevada, Reno and at all other institutions are counted in this limit, regardless of whether or not aid was received. The credit limit includes dual majors, changes in majors, and multiple degrees.

• Master's: 70 credits
• Doctoral: 105 credits (including all post-baccalaureate coursework)

Courses assigned as incomplete (I) will be incorporated into a student’s pace calculation at the time SAP is determined. Incompletes are not included as credits earned, but are included as credits attempted.

Repeated coursework will count towards all SAP standards.

All transfer work that is recognized by the University of Nevada, Reno will be included in a student’s quantitative component (Pace and Maximum Time Frame) of SAP. Transfer work that is received after SAP has been determined will be incorporated the next time SAP is determined.

Students who are meeting all SAP standards have this status and are eligible for all financial aid resources.

Graduate students who have fallen below the minimum GPA and/or pace requirements will get a warning semester. During this semester they will be permitted to receive financial aid while resolving the deficiency. If, after the warning semester, the SAP deficiency is not resolved, eligibility for financial aid will be lost. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a Satisfactory Academic Progress Advisor at the beginning of their warning semester.

Students who do not meet satisfactory academic standards after their warning semester must either appeal or remedy the deficiency by taking and paying for classes on their own. Each student will only be permitted to receive one warning semester at the University of Nevada, Reno during their graduate career, regardless of deficiency or combination of deficiencies, and whether or not aid was received during that warning semester.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards and are not eligible for warning status will be placed on financial aid suspension. These students are not eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the suspension status. Students on this status are encouraged to speak with a financial aid representative to see what options may be available.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to a deficiency in GPA and/or pace and have had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the probation status. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on probation status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on the appeal approval communication will result in the student moving to financial aid suspension status.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to exceeding the allowable attempted credits for their program and have an approved Maximum Time Frame Appeal will be placed on this status. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the academic plan status. The Financial Aid Office will only count enrollment for courses listed on the approved academic plant to determine aid eligibility. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on academic plan status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication will result in the student status moving to financial aid suspension.

If you do not meet satisfactory academic progress standards, you may submit an appeal. If you have a GPA, pace, or remedial coursework issue, you may submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. If you have a maximum time frame issue, you may submit the Maximum Time Frame Appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed and evaluated by the appeals coordinator. It is at the discretion of the appeals coordinator to make a professional judgement on whether an appeal should be discussed with a formal committee comprised of representatives from across campus.

All appeals must be received three weeks prior to the end of the term in order to be considered for aid in the current semester.

In addition to submitting the appropriate appeal form, signed and dated, you must also submit the required documentation, as listed on each form.

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that may be considered are:

• Death or serious illness of an immediate family member
• Prolonged hospitalization or confinement at home for reasons that resulted in required extended absences from classes
• A one-time emergency situation that impacted your ability to continue your education or affected your academic success for a short, specified period
• Situations for which you had no valid choice other than to interrupt your education

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that will not be considered are:

• Lack of knowledge or understanding of the satisfactory academic progress standards
• Medical appeals based on long-term or chronic conditions that were known and existed before financial aid was accepted and received
• Medical appeals for illness or hospitalization for dates that do not correspond to the semester(s) of sub-standard progress
• Any reason for which you have previously filed an appeal

If your appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation to amend your appeal.

Decisions made by the appeals committee are final and are not subject to further review.

If your final appeal is denied, you must take courses on your own until the issue is resolved. Courses must be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno to raise the GPA above the required minimum to resolve a GPA issue. Courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to raise cumulative pace above 67 percent to resolve a pace issue.

Remedial courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to address a remedial coursework issue.

There is no further aid eligibility for students whose Maximum Time Frame Appeals have been denied.

Discontinuing attendance for any length of time will not resolve a SAP issue.

The GPA requirement is based on grades earned at the University of Nevada, Reno, and does not include grades transferred from another institution. Physician Assistant students are required to maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA.

Pace is based on all graduate-level college credits earned from the University of Nevada, Reno and all other post-secondary institutions, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students must earn 67% of all attempted credits in order to meet the pace requirement. Pace is calculated as: (number of credits earned ÷ number of credits attempted) × 100.

Courses that are assigned a grade of 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', or 'S' are included as both credits earned and credits attempted. Course assigned grades of ‘R’, ‘I', 'W', 'F', 'AD', 'IP', 'NR', and 'U' are not included as credits earned but are included as credits attempted. Transfer courses that are assigned ‘AR’ are also not included as credits earned but are included as credits attempted (for University of Nevada, Reno courses assigned as ‘AR’, please see Academic renewal policy).
Note: A pace calculation resulting in 66.5%-66.9% will be rounded up to 67%.

Federal regulations limit financial aid funding to no more than 150 percent of the average length of the program. All attempted (total enrolled) credits at the University of Nevada, Reno and at all other institutions are counted in this limit, regardless of whether or not aid was received. The credit limit includes dual majors, changes in majors, and multiple degrees. A student in the Physician Assistant Studies program has a maximum time frame of 180 total attempted graduate credits.

Courses assigned as incomplete (I) will be incorporated into a student’s pace calculation at the time SAP is determined. Incompletes are not included as credits earned, but are included as credits attempted.

Repeated coursework will count towards all SAP standards. Please also see our Academic Amnesty policy.

All transfer work that is recognized by the University of Nevada, Reno will be included in a student’s quantitative component (Pace and Maximum Time Frame) of SAP. Transfer work that is received after SAP has been determined will be incorporated the next time SAP is determined.

Students who are meeting all SAP standards have status and are eligible for all financial aid resources.

PA students who have fallen below the minimum GPA and/or pace requirements will get a warning semester. During this semester they will be permitted to receive financial aid while resolving the deficiency. If, after the warning semester, the GPA and/or pace deficiency is not resolved, eligibility for financial aid will be lost. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a Satisfactory Academic Progress Advisor at the beginning of their warning semester.

Students who do not meet satisfactory academic standards after their warning semester must either appeal or remedy the deficiency by taking and paying for classes on their own. Each student will only be permitted to receive one warning semester at the University of Nevada, Reno during their graduate career, regardless of deficiency or combination of deficiencies, and whether or not aid was received during that warning semester.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards and are not eligible for warning status will be placed on financial aid suspension. These students are not eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the suspension status. Students on this status are encouraged to speak with a financial aid representative to see what options may be available.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to a deficiency in GPA and/or pace and have had a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal approved will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the probation status. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on probation status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on the appeal approval communication will result in the student moving to financial aid suspension status.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards due to exceeding the allowable attempted credits for their program and have an approved Maximum Time Frame Appeal will be placed on this status. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the academic plan status. The Financial Aid Office will only count enrollment for courses listed on the approved academic plan to determine aid eligibility. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on academic plan status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication will result in the student status moving to financial aid suspension.

If you do not meet satisfactory academic progress standards, you may submit an appeal. If you have a GPA, pace, or remedial coursework issue, you may submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. If you have a maximum time frame issue, you may submit the Maximum Time Frame Appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed and evaluated by the appeals coordinator. It is at the discretion of the appeals coordinator to make a professional judgement on whether an appeal should be discussed with a formal committee comprised of representatives from across campus.

All appeals must be received three weeks prior to the end of the term in order to be considered for aid in the current semester.

In addition to submitting the appropriate appeal form, signed and dated, you must also submit the required documentation, as listed on each form.

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that may be considered are:

• Death or serious illness of an immediate family member
• Prolonged hospitalization or confinement at home for reasons that resulted in required extended absences from classes
• A one-time emergency situation that impacted your ability to continue your education or affected your academic success for a short, specified period
• Situations for which you had no valid choice other than to interrupt your education

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that will not be considered are:

• Lack of knowledge or understanding of the satisfactory academic progress standards
• Medical appeals based on long-term or chronic conditions that were known and existed before financial aid was accepted and received
• Medical appeals for illness or hospitalization for dates that do not correspond to the semester(s) of sub-standard progress
• Any reason for which you have previously filed an appeal

If your appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation to amend your appeal.

Decisions made by the appeals committee are final and are not subject to further review.

If your final appeal is denied, you must take courses on your own until the issue is resolved. Courses must be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno to raise the GPA above the required minimum to resolve a GPA issue. Courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to raise cumulative pace above 67 percent to resolve a pace issue.

Remedial courses may be taken at the University of Nevada, Reno or taken elsewhere and transferred in to address a remedial coursework issue.

There is no further aid eligibility for students whose Maximum Time Frame Appeals have been denied.

Discontinuing attendance for any length of time will not resolve a SAP issue.

If the medical school determines that a student needs to be placed on academic probation based on a low quality of academic performance, the student will no longer be meeting SAP standards.

Students who are delayed more than two years’ worth of coursework from a leave of absence and/or failure to meet academic standards will no longer be on pace to graduate within the given six-year time frame and will no longer be meeting SAP standards.

Students must complete all coursework required to graduate within six academic years. Students who fail to meet graduation requirements will have exceeded the allowable time frame and will no longer be meeting SAP.

Incompletes may have an effect on the Medical School’s decision to place a student on academic probation and can also contribute to the delay of a student’s progression.

Repeated coursework may have an effect on the medical schools decision to place a student on academic probation and can also contribute to the delay of a student’s progression.

Students who are meeting all SAP standards have this status and are eligible for all financial aid resources.

Medical students are required to be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid.

Medical students are not eligible for a warning semester.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards will be placed on financial aid suspension. These students are not eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the suspension status. Students on this status are encouraged to speak with a financial aid representative to see what options may be available.

Students who are no longer meeting SAP standards and have had a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal approved will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the probation status. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on probation status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on the appeal approval communication will result in the student moving to financial aid suspension status.

Medical Students who are exceeding the maximum time frame of six years and have an approved Maximum Time Frame Appeal will be placed on this status. Students are eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid under the academic plan status. The Financial Aid Office will only count enrollment for courses listed on the approved academic plan. Students must comply with the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication in order to remain on academic plan status. Non-compliance with the terms of the academic requirements outlined on their appeal approval communication will result in the student status moving to financial aid suspension.

If you do not meet satisfactory academic progress standards, you may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal if you are not meeting SAP due to Academic Probation or a Maximum Time Frame Appeal if you are not meeting SAP due to pace or maximum time frame.

Appeals will be reviewed and evaluated by the appeals coordinator. It is at the discretion of the appeals coordinator to make a professional judgement on whether an appeal should be discussed with a formal committee comprised of representatives from across campus.

All appeals must be received three weeks prior to the end of the term in order to be considered for aid in the current semester.

In addition to submitting the appropriate appeal form, signed and dated, you must also submit the required documentation, as listed on the form.

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that may be considered are:

• Death or serious illness of an immediate family member
• Prolonged hospitalization or confinement at home for reasons that resulted in required extended absences from classes
• A one-time emergency situation that impacted your ability to continue your education or affected your academic success for a short, specified period
• Situations for which you had no valid choice other than to interrupt your education

Examples of Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that will not be considered are:

• Lack of knowledge or understanding of the satisfactory academic progress standards
• Medical appeals based on long-term or chronic conditions that were known and existed before financial aid was accepted and received
• Medical appeals for illness or hospitalization for dates that do not correspond to the semester(s) of sub-standard progress
• Any reason for which you have previously filed an appeal

If your appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation to amend your appeal.

Decisions made by the appeals committee are final and are not subject to further review.

Discontinuing attendance for any length of time will not resolve a SAP issue.

All students will be awarded assuming full time status. You may reduce your enrollment to three-quarter time, half time, or less than half time, but be aware that this may cause you to have to repay funds if you change any time before the final add/drop date for the semester. If you reduce your course-load after the final add/drop date, a pace problem may result.

Repeated courses affect total credits attempted and total credits completed. If you repeat a course, all grades for the same course will be averaged together. Repeated coursework will be counted toward your semester enrollment if you have not previously passed the course, or if you have passed the course and are repeating it one time to improve your grade. If you are repeating a course that you have passed twice or more, it will not count toward your semester enrollment.

You may only receive financial aid from one institution, even if you are concurrently enrolled at more than one. Your enrollment status at the University of Nevada, Reno only includes coursework that is listed in our semester class schedule. Exceptions may be approved in advance for students whose program requires courses that are never offered at this University or in other limited circumstances. Completed coursework at another institution may create or correct a pace problem.

If you completely withdraw or earn zero credits during a semester, you will be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. You may be required to pay back all or part of the financial aid disbursed.