SAP FAQs
General Questions
- Where can I view my academic progress status?
- When am I reviewed for SAP?
- My appeal was denied. Now what? Can I appeal again?
- What documents are acceptable or commonly submitted for the appeal process?
- Can I Receive Aid for a Semester That's Not on My Academic Success Plan?
- Do I need to complete a new SAP appeal each semester?
- Can I take classes at a local community college while I serve my academic suspension?
Specific Circumstances
- What if I change my Academic Success Plan after the semester begins?
- What if I'm unable to take the classes listed on my Academic Success Plan for the semester?
- What if I have received academic forgiveness?
- What if I changed majors?
- What if I sat out for a while, but I'm returning to WVU?
- What if I have never attended WVU?
- What if I didn't receive financial aid for the semesters I was having problems?
- What if I am a visiting student (not pursuing a degree at WVU)?
Where can I view my academic progress status?
Students can view their SAP status through their WVU Portal. Please remember that students are reviewed at the end of each spring semester (or every semester if on an Academic Success Plan). See When am I reviewed for SAP? for full details.
To find your academic progress information:
- Go to your WVU Portal
- Enter your login credentials ( WVU username and password)
- Click on the "Financial Aid Information" button
- Select the appropriate award year
- Click on the "Satisfactory Academic Progress" tab
If you want to view or calculate values determining your academic progress*:
- Log into your WVU Portal
- Click on "STAR"
- Click on "Student Services & Housing"
- Click on "Student Records"
- Click on "Academic Transcript"
- Select "All Levels" and "Web Transcript" and submit
- Click "Transcript Totals" to view overall information
- Your Overall GPA determines your GPA for SAP standards
- To calculation your completion rate, take your Overall Earned Hours and divide by your Overall Attempt Hours to get the percentage
*To determine how close you are to your maximum attempted hours, take the hours required in the WVU Academic Catalog for the semester you began the program and multiply by 1.5 to see how many hours you can attempt.
When am I reviewed for SAP?
New students, including first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students, are automatically considered to be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP). For currently enrolled students, we review the maximum attempted hours each semester. GPA and completion rate criteria are evaluated at the end of each spring semester for students who were enrolled in the previous summer, fall, or spring. If a student who wasn't enrolled during those semesters submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we will conduct a manual review of their academic progress for financial aid, considering GPA, completion rate, and maximum attempted hours. This review will be based on their current academic record. Students who receive a grade change can request a manual review of your SAP status.
My appeal was denied. Now what? Can I appeal again?
Students can always appeal but only once per semester. Additional appeals submitted during an enrollment period would be reviewed for the next semester. If a student chooses to attend the semester for which the appeal was denied, they may consider paying out-of-pocket, utilizing the tuition payment plan to break institutional charges up into smaller payments, or pursuing credit-based loans from private lenders by searching for loans which do not require satisfactory academic progress.
What documents are acceptable or commonly submitted for the appeal process?
Visit our Third-Party Documentation webpage for a list of acceptable documentation for various extenuating circumstances.
Can I receive aid for a semester that's not on my Academic Success Plan?
Students should only take classes listed on their Academic Success Plan in the semesters in which they are listed. If not, the student is not meeting the terms of their Academic Success Plan and will be suspended from aid. However, students can meet with their academic advisor (or Academic Affairs for students on the Keyser campus) to develop a new Academic Success Plan. The new plan must be submitted as a PDF to the WVU Hub no later than 5 business days after the last day to add/drop a course for the semester.
Do I need to complete a new SAP appeal each semester?
If your appeal was approved and you're on an Academic Success Plan, you will be reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure you are meeting the terms of your Plan (or if you have come in compliance with SAP standards*). If you do not meet the terms of your Academic Success Plan, you will immediately be suspended from aid eligibility. You do have the option of appealing again should that be the case.
*If you have come in compliance with SAP standards, your financial aid eligibility will continue.
Can I take classes at another college while I serve my academic suspension?
It is your decision if you would like to pursue classes at another institution while serving your academic suspension. If doing so, you should take classes required for your degree completion AND ensure they will transfer to WVU. Visit the Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Students webpage for more information on transferring course credit to WVU.
What if I change my Academic Success Plan after the semester begins?
Any updates to the Academic Success Plan for the semester must be received by the WVU Hub no later than 5 business days after the last day to add/drop a course for the semester. Any changes after this date will require the student to submit an appeal to be considered for aid for future semesters.
Please note the only exception to this rule is if the student changes their enrollment for the next semester during the current semester. For example, changes to the student's spring schedule made during the fall semester would not require a new appeal.
What if I'm unable to take the classes listed on my Academic Success Plan for the semester?
If unable to take the classes during the listed semesters, you must develop a new Academic Success Plan with your academic advisor (or Academic Affairs for students on the Keyser campus) and submit a PDF of the new Academic Success Plan to the WVU Hub no later than 5 business days after the last day to add/drop a course from the start of the semester.
What if I have received academic forgiveness?
The measurement of Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined by reviewing a student's overall attempted hours, overall earned hours, and overall GPA as determined by the University in adherence to the University’s Grading Policies and Academic Forgiveness Policy. If a student is granted academic forgiveness, they will be required to appeal if they do not meet satisfactory academic progress standards.
What if I changed majors?
Students who have changed majors will continue to have all attempted hours and earned grades considered when evaluating academic progress
What if I sat out for a while, but I'm returning to WVU?
Students who are readmitted are only eligible for financial aid if they are meeting the SAP policy. If not meeting the policy, they may follow the appeal process to see if their financial aid can be reinstated.
What if I have never attended WVU?
Students enrolling at the institution for the first time are initially considered to be making SAP. This includes incoming first-time freshmen and transfer students. The measurement of academic progress will be made at the conclusion of their spring semester and will include all transfer hours (if applicable) on the student's academic record.
What if I didn't receive financial aid for the semesters I was having problems?
All periods of enrollment must be included in the measurement of satisfactory academic progress, including semesters in which the student was enrolled but did not receive financial aid.
What if I am a visiting student (not pursuing a degree at WVU)?
Visiting students must meet the satisfactory academic standards of their home institution (where they are pursuing their degree) since the home institution reviews them for aid eligibility, awards, and disburses their financial aid.
Click here to read the full Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.