Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress and Program Completion for Title IV Funds (Federal Student Aid)
Federal regulations require institutions to monitor each student’s progress toward earning a degree within the maximum time frame permitted for the student’s degree or course of study. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) jeopardizes a student’s eligibility to receive federal financial aid. This Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy applies to all students enrolled in Title IV eligible degree programs, regardless of whether federal financial aid was received in a given term. The policy is applied consistently and is at least as stringent as the institution’s academic standards for students not receiving Title IV aid.
Academic Standard Qualitative Standard:
The qualitative measure is cumulative and reflects the student’s overall academic record in relation to the School’s graduation requirements. All students must maintain the relevant quality standard for the degree program in which they are enrolled. Further information on the quality standard by program can be found in the relevant Degree Program chapter. Because the School does not calculate grade point averages, academic progress is evaluated using the grading system and academic standing policies of the School. Students are considered to be meeting the qualitative SAP standard if they are permitted to continue enrollment and remain eligible to progress toward degree completion under School academic policies.
Maximum Time Frame:
For purposes of Title IV financial aid eligibility, the maximum allowable time frame for receiving Title IV aid is equal to 150% of the length of the academic program. It is measured using cumulative attempted credit hours, regardless of whether the student received Federal financial aid for those credits. A student becomes ineligible for Title IV aid once it is determined that the student cannot complete the program within the maximum time frame.
In addition to the review of enrolled time frame, all required course work for the M.B.A. or EMBA programs must be completed within seven years of the date of matriculation. For M.A.M. and M.M.S. degree program students, all course work must be completed within six years. Exceeding the maximum time frame for financial aid may result in the loss of Title IV eligibility prior to academic dismissal from the program.
Quantitative Measure (Pace of Completion)
Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all cumulative attempted credit hours attempted each term to remain compliant with SAP policy. Pace is calculated by dividing cumulative earned credits by cumulative attempted credits. Credit hour progression will be based on a cumulative total of attempted hours to earned hours.
Attempted credits include failed courses, withdrawals, repeated courses, and incompletes. Earned credits include courses successfully completed in accordance with academic policy. The Yale School of Management does not accept transfer credits. If a student fails a course and remediates it, the first enrollment will be considered an incomplete attempt, and any future enrollment in the course will be considered a separate course attempt.
Frequency, Notifications, and Appeal:
The registrar conducts a review of the academic progress of all M.B.A., M.A.M., and M.M.S. students at the end of each academic term. Students are notified in writing when they fail to meet SAP standards and are informed of the effect on their eligibility for federal financial aid and the appeal process, if applicable. Students whose academic record is of concern are required to attend a mandatory meeting with the Academic Standards Committee. If, as a result of the committee process, a student is academically dismissed, they may choose to appeal.
Successful appeals result in a student continuing the program while being placed on Financial Aid Probation. Financial Aid Probation is granted for one term. Continued eligibility beyond one term is permitted only if the student is successfully following an approved academic plan designed to ensure the student meets SAP standards within a specific time frame.
Students on financial aid probation who fail to meet the benchmarks of their individual plans on time will not be eligible for financial aid for the subsequent academic term. Students who are ineligible for financial aid may reestablish eligibility in future terms by meeting all SAP standards without the use of an appeal. Further information on appeals of academic dismissal can be found in the Rights and Responsibilities of Students chapter. Yale School of Management does not participate in a Financial Aid Warning period.
SAP policy can be found in Yale SOM's Bulletin at https://catalog.yale.edu/management/rights-responsibilities-students/policy-satisfactory-academic-progress-program-completion-title-iv-funds/