Do the appeal forms need to be signed?
- If you (the student) are unable to physically sign your appeal form, you may submit your appeal form via email without a signature as long as you send it from your UNI student email address.
- If your advisor is unable to physically sign the Plan of Study, your advisor may email the Plan of Study as long as it comes from the advisor's email address.
How do I submit my appeal forms?
There are multiple options for submitting appeal forms:
- Email: jennifer.sullivan@uni.edu
- Fax: 319-273-6950
- Mail: Address on the bottom of the form
- Drop them off at the Financial Aid Office - 105 Gilchrist Hall
Does financial aid suspension prevent me from registering or attending for classes?
No, financial aid suspension does not prevent you from registering for or attending classes. However, there may be other holds on your account that would prevent enrollment, such as academic suspension or a past due bill hold.
Does the SAP policy relate to my academic standing (academic probation/suspension)?
No. The SAP Policy is separate from the Office of the Registrar Academic Standing Policy. SAP determines financial aid eligibility and is unrelated to academic standing.
How does academic forgiveness impact SAP?
SAP is not reset because of academic forgiveness. Per federal regulations, total enrollment history is taken into account and all previously attempted credits and grades are included when SAP is evaluated.
How do my transfer credits affect my SAP standing?
Transfer credits are included in your total cumulative GPA, and count toward the maximum time to complete a degree. Most transfer credits do not count toward the pace of progression requirement, with the exception of credits earned through Study Abroad, National Student Exchange, and credits transferred under a consortium agreement.
How are repeated courses evaluated for SAP?
Repeated courses are included in the SAP calculation each time you take the course. Repeated course hours are counted as completed the first time the course is passed. Other times the course is taken, the hours are counted as attempted but not completed, which negatively affects your pace of progression.
Am I eligible for a Private Education Loan if I'm not meeting SAP standards?
It depends. Financial aid suspension applies to all types of financial aid, including private education loans. However, if you complete an appeal and your appeal is denied, you may explore private education loan options to pay your university bill, as long as the private loan lender allows students to receive loans while not meeting SAP.
How is SAP impacted if I've changed my major or completed a degree?
SAP calculations include all semesters of enrollment and are only reset when you officially complete a degree. If you change your major, it does not reset the calculations and courses from your previous major will still be included. If you complete a degree and start a new degree, your SAP calculation will be reset and will restart the first semester of your new degree.
Examples:
- An undergraduate student starts at UNI in the Fall 2018 semester as a biology major. However, they decide to switch their major to Interior Design starting with the Spring 2021 semester. Although this student has switched majors, their SAP calculations will not reset because they have not completed a degree.
- A student completes an undergraduate degree at UNI and graduates in the spring semester. This student then starts a graduate program at UNI the following fall semester. Their SAP calculation will be reset once they graduate and will start again with the first semester of their new program.
How do I complete the Plan of Study?
You must meet with your academic advisor to complete the Plan of Study. This is a tentative plan for each semester until graduation to ensure you will be able to complete degree requirements. If you are a deciding major or changing majors, you may meet with an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising.
The Plan of Study must be signed by an academic advisor (or emailed from the advisor’s email address) and must include an expected graduation date.
If you are within 30 credit hours of graduating, you may meet with a record analyst in the Office of the Registrar. The record analyst may submit a signed copy of your advisement report and confirm your expected graduation date.
What if I’m waiting for an incomplete grade to be updated? Do I still need to appeal?
If you are waiting on a grade change, you may contact our office once the grade has been updated and we can review your account to determine if you are now meeting the SAP requirements. We are not notified of grade changes, so you must contact us if you would like us to review your account.
However, it is generally recommended to submit an SAP Appeal instead of waiting for a grade change as the appeal process is usually quicker.
Is there a limit on how many times I can complete an SAP appeal?
No, there is no limit to the number of appeals you can submit. However, multiple appeals may be more difficult to approve and third party documentation should be included to help strengthen your appeal.