Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible for student financial aid, a student must be making "Satisfactory Academic Progress." The Office of Student Financial Services standards for satisfactory academic progress are not exactly the same as academic standards of each school. The established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating a student’s progress take into consideration course completion, the number of semester hours or terms attempted and completed, and the cumulative UMMC grade-point average.

The Office of Student Financial Services standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) apply to ALL students, regardless of whether a student has previous financial aid. These standards are reviewed at the end of each spring term; any student failing to meet these requirements is placed on financial aid suspension. Students on financial aid suspension are ineligible to receive any type of federal student aid.

A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal online citing special or mitigating circumstances. The appeal will be evaluated by a committee of individuals appointed by the Director of Student Financial Services at beginning of each award year. If appeal approved the student will be placed on FA probation and allowed to receive federal student aid. An approved appeal will include academic requirements that must be met to receive aid beyond the probation semester. Student’s appeals that have been denied may reestablish eligibility once they meet set standards. A student who has been denied probation by the committee can request an in-person hearing to petition for reinstatement, but only once while attending UMMC.

If a student leaves or is asked to leave UMMC for any reason and the student is on financial aid suspension, the student still will be on financial suspension when he/she returns. Re-admittance to UMMC by a specific school will not change the student's financial aid status; only the Office of Student Financial Services determines a student's eligibility for financial aid as directed by the Department of Education.

SAP standards are used to measure satisfactory academic progress for all students at UMMC. Some standards vary by academic program as outlined below.

• Undergraduate
• Graduate
• Graduate/professional
• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Special student
• Additional SAP requirements

Undergraduate students

Standard One 

• An undergraduate student must be passing at least 67% of the hours that he/she has attempted at UMMC.

• An undergraduate student's total number of hours attempted at UMMC and accepted transfer hours towards UMMC degree from other institutions cannot exceed 190 hours. If student's UMMC program requires a prior bachelor's degree for admission, he/she can attempt 150% of UMMC program length.

• An undergraduate student must achieve and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average. The cumulative UMMC GPA does NOT include any transfer work.

Graduate students

Standard One

• A graduate student must achieve and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. The cumulative GPA is based on course work at UMMC.

Standard Two

• A graduate student must complete at least 67% of the hours that he/she has attempted at UMMC.

Standard Three

• A graduate student is not eligible for further financial aid when the cumulative number of graduate credit hours attempted is greater than 150% of the minimum credits required for graduation.

Graduate/professional students

Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy

Standard One

• A graduate/professional student must achieve and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. The cumulative GPA is based on course work at The University of Mississippi Medical Center.

• A graduate/professional student is not eligible for further financial aid when the cumulative number of graduate/professional credit hours attempted is greater than 150% of the minimum credits required for graduation.

Medical students

Standard One

A medical student must achieve and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average. The cumulative GPA is based on course work at UMMC.

Standard Two

A medical student must achieve a grade of not less than 70.0 in each course, have no incomplete grades, and have a weighted average of 75.0 or higher.

Standard Three

A medical student is not eligible for further financial aid when the cumulative number of medical school credit hours attempted is greater than 150% of the minimum credits required for graduation.

USMLE STEP 1 EXAM

Students entering their third year of medical school are required to pass Step 1 of the USMLE Exam prior to promotion. Rising M3 students register for and begin attendance as full-time M3 students in anticipation of their passing the exam. Students receiving federal financial aid are eligible for their first disbursements based on their enrollment status at the time. Students whose enrollment status changes subsequent to receiving their first disbursements will have their financial aid eligibility reviewed and potentially reduced.

USMLE STEP 1 FAILURE

Students who take the USMLE Step 1 and report a failing score will be enrolled in Independent-Study course program as a full-time M2 student. Students in this course will retain financial aid eligibility, at the level of a M2 student, for a period of up to one year retroactive to the start date of the year within which placement occurs. Students must report a passing score and begin M3 coursework to maintain financial aid eligibility beyond the one-year period of eligibility. Students who do not report a passing score within this period are not eligible for further financial aid until they meet the criteria for promotion to M3.

A student who reports a failing score and does not enroll in the Independent-Study Course will be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy.

Dentistry students

Standard One

A dental student must achieve and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average. The cumulative GPA is based on course work at UMMC.

Standard Two

A dental student must achieve a grade of not less than 70.0 in each course, and each course component and satisfactorily complete all requirements stated for each course in the syllabi and Student Handbook for Clinical Evaluation.

Standard Three

A dental student is not eligible for further financial aid when the cumulative number of dental school credit hours attempted is greater than 150% of the minimum credits required for graduation.

SAP requirements for non-degree seeking students

This category includes those students who are not enrolled in a degree or Title IV eligible certificate program. A non-degree-seeking student is ineligible for federal or state financial aid, as well as some Institutional aid. However, if the student later enrolls in a degree-seeking program, all attempted courses including those taken while classified as a non-degree seeking student, must be evaluated when determining SAP status. If you are taking courses to earn professional licensure, you must be admitted to a degree program in order to receive financial aid.

Additional SAP requirements

• Although you may not be receiving financial aid, you will be evaluated for financial aid eligibility on the same basis as students who receive federal and state aid. Should you apply for aid, your eligibility will be based on your prior academic performance at UMMC.
• All undergraduate and prerequisite courses are evaluated in number of attempted hours used for SAP eligibility. Credits you have earned at foreign institutions will be included in your SAP evaluation provided they are applicable to the degree/program sought.
• Courses in which you receive a grade of ‘I’ (incomplete) accompanied by a letter grade will be considered when evaluating your completion ratio, and will influence your term and cumulative GPA. All attempted and earned credits are considered in maximum eligibility determination. Courses in which you receive a grade of ‘W’ (withdrawal) do not earn credits or affect your GPA, but they will be considered when evaluating your maximum eligibility. You may retake courses from which you withdraw and those credits will count toward determining your enrollment status and completion ratio, provided you have not earned credit for the same course.

Note: Withdrawing or paying for one’s own courses is not sufficient to reestablish financial aid eligibility. Students must demonstrate that they have taken steps to meet the SAP standards of UMMC. This includes but is not limited to meeting with academic advisors, providing copies of academic transcripts from another institution demonstrating your ability to successfully complete courses, and/or medical documentation indicating the student is able to successfully return to classes.

You should not assume that the Financial Aid Appeals Committee will reinstate your financial aid eligibility. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee decisions are final.