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SPS Graduate Programs Policy

Federal and state regulations require recipients of financial aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress in their program of study. It is the University's expectation that students will make progress towards completion of the degree or professional development program in which they are enrolled. These requirements apply to part-time as well as to full-time students for all terms of enrollment within an academic year, including those terms for which no financial aid was granted.

SPS students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in three fundamental ways:

  1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  2. Complete two-thirds (66.6%) of all units attempted
  3. Complete program within a specified period of time

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

The satisfactory Academic Progress regulations require that you maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) in order to remain eligible for financial aid. This cumulative GPA is a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

2. Complete two-thirds (66.6%) of all units attempted

In order to meet the minimum standard of academic progress, students must complete at least two-thirds of all cumulative units attempted since the start of their SPS program.

Courses dropped after 11:59pm on the 7th calendar day of each term will be counted towards units attempted. Grades of F, NP (No pass), Y (incomplete), W (withdrawal), or X (unofficial withdrawal) do not satisfy the requirements for the two-thirds (66.6%) completion rate. Please note that this requirement is more stringent than the school's Drop policy, which may be found in the Graduate School Handbook.

3. Complete your program within a specified period of time

Students have a maximum timeframe of 150% of the length of their standard program to complete their degree requirements. For example, if a program is four full-time quarters, a student attending full-time may not exceed six quarters to complete their degree. Graduate programs in the School of Professional Studies must be completed within five years of the first quarter of enrollment.

All periods of enrollment, including Summer Session, are counted toward the maximum number of terms. Periods of academic leave or non-enrollment will not count against the maximum terms of enrollment. Students who are enrolled in two courses for a term as of the Drop/add date will use two-thirds of one term of eligibility. Students enrolled in one course as of the Drop/add date will use one-third of one term of eligibility. Students enrolled in three or more courses as of the Drop/add date per term will use one full term of eligibility.

Remedial and repeated coursework is counted in the same manner as all other coursework for the purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Grades of Pass (P) are not awarded a grade point and so will not contribute to the overall GPA calculation but do count as attempted and completed coursework. Grades of No Pass (NP) will be included in the GPA calculation at a 0.00 rate and count as an attempted course. A student who receives all Ps during their first term of enrollment and meets all other SAP requirements will be considered to be successfully maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Students who earn credits through a consortium/contractual agreement, students who change majors, or students working on a second major do not qualify for additional terms of eligibility.

Students registered in 588 are eligible for federal financial aid for one term.  Students registered in 588 beyond one term will only be eligible for private loans.

Students who have completed all required coursework for his or her degree or certificate but has not yet received the degree or certificate cannot receive further federal or state financial aid for that program.

Students must be on track to complete their degree within their maximum time-frame in order to maintain their financial aid eligibility.

Students who have questions about determining their personal maximum timeframe may contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Evaluation of satisfactory academic progress is made at the end each academic term by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid once grades are published in the university system. This review is completed through a manual review of grades received, courses attempted, pace toward graduation and GPA.

SAP Warning

If a student fails to meet the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress for any academic term, he/she is placed on SAP warning for one academic term. During this warning period, the student will still be eligible for federal and state financial aid but he/she must meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete at least two-thirds (66.6%) of all cumulative units attempted since the start of their degree program with a grade of D or higher. Courses dropped after 11:59pm on the 7th calendar day of each term will be counted towards units attempted. Grades of F, Y (incomplete), W (withdrawal), or X (unofficial withdrawal) do not satisfy the requirements for the two-thirds (66.6%) completion rate.
  2. Maintain or earn the minimum cumulative GPA required for the program in which the student is enrolled.
  3. Be on track to complete their degree within their maximum allowed time-frame.

The student will be notified via his/her NU email account that he/she has been placed on SAP Warning.

If a student does not enroll in the following term after a SAP warning is issued, the warning period will move to the next term of enrollment.

SAP Suspension

Students who do not meet the terms of Satisfactory Academic Progress warning quarter will be subject to a SAP Suspension, during which the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid. In order to reinstate federal financial aid eligibility after a SAP suspension, students must meet the following criteria for reinstatement:

  • Complete two-thirds (66.6%) all cumulative units attempted since the start of your degree program with a grade of D or higher. Grades of F, X, Y, N, W, and V will not be considered sufficient for meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
    • Be advised that any units you are enrolled in as of 11:59pm on the 7th calendar day of the term will count toward your SAP calculation.
  • Maintain or achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Have not exceeded the maximum time-frame allowed to complete your degree.

Once a student meets all requirements for reinstatement of financial aid after a suspension, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid to request a SAP review for reinstatement of federal and state financial aid eligibility. Once the Chicago Office of Financial Aid determines that a student is now in compliance with SAP requirements, aid will be reinstated for the following academic term.

Appeals

If a student fails to meet the SAP requirements as stated above due to extenuating circumstances such as a family member’s death, illness (of the student or immediate family member), or other exceptional circumstances that were encountered during their time in their degree program, the student may submit a written appeal to the Chicago Office of Financial Aid. The appeal must be received by the Office of Financial Aid prior to the first day of the subsequent academic term.

The written appeal should be in a Word document format (i.e. not email) and explain any relevant extraordinary circumstances, address the reason(s) for failing to meet the minimum academic requirements, and offer some solution to the problems that affected prior academic performance. Supporting documentation, such as statements from academic advisers, professors, professional health care workers, etc., is also required.

The appeal will be reviewed by a committee chaired by the Director of Financial Aid. All decisions made by the committee are final. Students will be notified if their appeal is granted or denied via an email to their NU email account.

If an appeal is granted, the student will be placed in one of two categories:

1. SAP Probation

If a student is placed on SAP Probation after an appeal, he/she will be eligible for aid during one additional academic term. During the probationary period, the student must meet all SAP requirements. If the student fails to meet SAP during their probationary period, their aid may be suspended unless the student can demonstrate via appeal that new extenuating circumstances not related to the original appeal have occurred. In order to reinstate federal financial aid eligibility after a SAP suspension when a subsequent appeal has been denied or has not been submitted, students must meet the criteria for reinstatement listed above without the use of federal financial aid.

2. SAP Academic Plan

Students may be placed on an academic plan upon submission of a successful appeal. If it is mathematically impossible for a student to resolve all deficiencies during one term of attendance and the student’s reason for appeal is appropriate according to federal regulations, the student may be placed on an academic plan with the end goal being to resolve all deficiencies. An academic plan varies in length and is determined by the SAP committee. It does not have to equate to the exact number of terms it would take a student to resolve all deficiencies. If the student is meeting the criteria identified in the SAP appeal approval at each quarterly review, the student’s academic plan may be extended. If a student is not meeting the criteria identified in the SAP academic plan at each term review, the student may be asked to submit additional appeal documentation that reflects new extenuating circumstances or their aid may be suspended until they meet the terms of SAP without the use of federal aid.

Special Considerations for First-time Financial Aid Applicants

Current students who apply for financial aid are required to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements. If you are a currently enrolled student, you are applying for financial aid for the first time, and your coursework does not meet the minimum academic progress requirements, you will need to complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal for first-time aid filers. Your appeal should include the following:

  1. Describe a specific reason, event, or circumstance that prevented you from meeting the academic progress requirements.
  2. Provide a specific plan/corrective action to improve your academic progress.
  3. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plan of action and obtain a signature from your advisor to document that you have discussed your plan/corrective action together.

The University reserves the right to make adjustments to these policies.