/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/2020-2021/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/2020-2021/Graduate-Catalog.json

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Introduction

Federal Title IV financial aid regulations require students receiving federal student financial aid to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the university in order to remain eligible for this aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress standards are also required for some state and institutional financial aid programs. The Financial Aid Office evaluates SAP at the end of each semester, once grades are posted. There are three components of SAP: a qualitative standard (i.e., GPA), pace of progression (number of credits attempted and earned for each year of study), and a maximum time frame to complete the degree or program. All semesters of enrollment including summer must be considered in the determination of SAP. SAP standards, including grade point average, pace, and maximum time frame, begin anew for students seeking a graduate or professional degree after completing an undergraduate degree.

Qualitative or Grade Point Average (GPA)

The student must maintain a GPA required for continued enrollment consistent with the University’s graduation requirements. Students working on a master’s or doctoral degree must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

All courses with a grade of A, B, C, and F are counted in the calculation of GPA. Satisfactory Academic Progress cannot be determined until all incomplete I (incomplete) grades are resolved. Thus, in order to make a SAP determination an F is assumed for grades of I or IP. Transfer grades that are accepted by the University are not counted in the determination of GPA because they are not part of the total or native GPA. However, the credits from all attempts accepted by UTRGV are counted in the calculation of pace and the maximum time frame requirement because transfer credits will be applied to meet prerequisites and course requirements for a student’s UTRGV degree. Repeated courses are included in the calculation of GPA, pace, and the maximum time frame requirements.

Audited courses do not count toward the qualitative or quantitative standards. Credit is not granted for audited courses.

PACE (Progression Requirements)

The student must be progressing toward graduation requirements by completing the courses for which they enroll each semester. Courses or classes are measured in credit hours. Students must complete at least 75 percent of all credits attempted. For example, a master’s student that has attempted 30 credit hours and has satisfactorily completed 24 of those credit hours would have completed 80 percent of attempted credits.

Credits attempted are all course credit hours for which the student is enrolled as of the semester census date, which is the 12th day of class in a semester for regular fall and spring and 4th class day for regular summer sessions (for terms shorter in length please check for census date), whether they have received a grade yet or not. Once grades are assigned, attempted credits include grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, NP, S, U, CR, NC, IP, I, DR, or W. Grades of DROPPED are counted as hours attempted if the student is enrolled in the class and charged for it as of the semester census date. Credits satisfactorily completed are classes for which the student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, P, CR or S.

Maximum Time Frame Requirements

Students must complete graduate degree requirements in a maximum time period according to federal regulation. Maximum time frame will be measured by the number of credit hours attempted. Students enrolled in a master’s program have a maximum of 63 attempted credit hours to complete their degree requirements. Students attempting a second or subsequent master’s degree are allowed 45 attempted credit hours. Students enrolled in the Physician Assistant Master’s program have a maximum of 150 credit hours to complete their degree. Students enrolled in the Physician Assistant Masters as a second or subsequent degree have a maximum of 132 credit hours to complete their degree. Students enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Master’s have a maximum of 107 credit hours to complete their degree. Students enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Masters as a second or subsequent degree have a maximum of 89 credit hours to complete their degree. Students enrolled in the School of Psychology Master’s have a maximum of 104 credit hours to complete their degree. Students enrolled in the School of Psychology Masters as a second or subsequent degree have a maximum of 59 credit hours to complete their degree.

Students enrolled in a doctoral program have a maximum 99 attempted credit hours in order to complete Doctoral degree requirements.

Attempted credit hours, for purposes of calculating maximum time frame, include all courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, NP, S, U, CR, NC, DR, W, or I and IP for courses for which grades have not yet been assigned. Transfer credits, AP credits, or CLEP credits accepted for the student’s academic program or degree are also counted when measuring the maximum time frame to complete the degree or program.

Warning Period

Students who fail to meet the minimum requirements, other than maximum time frame, will be allowed one warning semester to restore satisfactory standing. Financial aid will be processed for one semester only. At the end of the warning semester, the student must have regained satisfactory SAP status in order to continue receiving financial aid. Students having reached the maximum time frame to complete a program cannot receive a warning semester.