Undergraduate Students Appeal Process
Students who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements may appeal the decision to the Enrollment Services SAP committee if there were extenuating or unusual circumstances that affected their academic performance.
New for 2024-25
Students may appeal by filling out the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal online form. Be sure to review the steps below and watch this short video describing the appeal process prior to filling out the SAP form.
Step One: Gather Your Documentation
- On the appeal form, you will need to provide a description of the factors that contributed to you not meeting the SAP standards, what has changed in your situation that will allow you to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and what specific resources you plan to use to ensure academic progress.
- You will need to upload third-party documentation that confirms your circumstances. Examples are provided on the SAP Appeal form.
Step Two: Complete the Appeal Form
Complete the SAP appeal form and electronically sign. At the end of the form, you will enter your academic advisor’s name and email address.
Step Three: Check your URI Email from Adobe Forms and Confirm Your Signature
As soon as you submit your appeal, Adobe Forms will send you an email. You must click on the link in that email to confirm your electronic signature. Your appeal will not continue to the next step without this action.
Step Four: Contact your Advisor to Complete the Academic Plan
Following “Step Three”, a copy of your appeal will be e-mailed to your advisor. Contact them to meet to create your Academic Plan. This is a document that the advisor will submit with the courses you need to take in the academic term for which you appeal.
Important!
You will need to successfully complete the number of credits listed on the Academic Plan as a condition of future financial aid eligibility, as outlined in the next section entitled “If your appeal is approved”.
Step Five: Your Advisor Completes and Submits Their Part of the Form
Your advisor will receive an email from Enrollment Services with a copy of your appeal. They will click on the link in the email to access your appeal, complete the Academic Plan, and electronically sign. Then the form will be routed to Enrollment Services for review. You will be notified of the results of your appeal via your URI email address, typically within three weeks.
Before an appeal will be considered, the student must have an active FAFSA on file for the semester for which they are requesting financial aid, and not be dismissed from the University.
If your appeal is approved: You will be notified by email that you have been granted one semester of financial aid eligibility, on a probationary basis.
At the end of your probationary term, your academic record will be reviewed again.
- If you are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA once you reach your second year or 60 credits and a minimum 67% credit completion rate), you will regain eligibility for financial aid.
- If you are not meeting SAP requirements but you did meet the terms of your Academic Plan (number of credits successfully completed for the semester as written in the plan), you may receive financial aid for an additional probationary semester.
- If you are not meeting SAP requirements and did not meet the terms of your Academic Plan, you are no longer eligible for financial aid.
Note that if this Fall review results in the termination of eligibility for the Spring semester, the Winter J Term is included as an ineligible semester even if there is prior enrollment.
If your appeal is denied: You will be notified by email and will not receive financial aid for the next period of enrollment. You may regain your financial aid eligibility by enrolling in and completing enough credits to meet the qualitative and the quantitative standards described in the policy. You must submit another appeal to be considered for financial aid after this period. The decision of the SAP committee is final.
Graduate Student Appeal Process
Step One: Gather Your Documentation
- On the appeal form, you will need to provide a description of the factors that contributed to you not meeting the SAP standards, what has changed in your situation that will allow you to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and what specific resources you plan to use to ensure academic progress.
- You will need to upload third-party documentation that confirms your circumstances. Examples are provided on the SAP Appeal form.
Step Two: Complete the Appeal Form
Complete the SAP appeal form and electronically sign. At the end of the form, you will enter your academic advisor’s name and email address.
Step Three: Check your URI Email from Adobe Forms and Confirm Your Signature
As soon as you submit your appeal, Adobe Forms will send you an email. You must click on the link in that email to confirm your electronic signature. Your appeal will not continue to the next step without this action.
Step Four: Contact your Advisor to Complete the Academic Plan
Following “Step Three”, a copy of your appeal will be e-mailed to your advisor. Contact them to meet to create your Academic Plan. This is a document that the advisor will submit with the courses you need to take in the academic term for which you appeal.
Important!
You will need to successfully complete the number of credits listed on the Academic Plan as a condition of future financial aid eligibility, as outlined in the next section entitled “If your appeal is approved”.
Step Five: Your Advisor Completes and Submits Their Part of the Form
Your advisor will receive an email from Enrollment Services with a copy of your appeal. They will click on the link in the email to access your appeal, complete the Academic Plan, and electronically sign. Then the form will be routed to Enrollment Services for review. You will be notified of the results of your appeal via your URI email address, typically within three weeks.
Before an appeal will be considered, the student must have an active FAFSA on file for the semester for which they are requesting financial aid, and not be dismissed from the University.
If your appeal is approved: You will be notified by email and you are allowed to receive financial aid for one semester only, on a probationary basis.
At the end of your probationary term, your academic record will be reviewed again.
- If you are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA once you reach your second year or 60 credits and a minimum 67% credit completion rate), you will regain eligibility for financial aid.
- If you are not meeting SAP requirements but you did meet the terms of your Academic Plan (number of credits successfully completed for the semester as written in the plan), you may receive financial aid for an additional probationary semester.
- If you are not meeting SAP requirements and did not meet the terms of your Academic Plan, you are no longer eligible for financial aid.
Note that if this Fall review results in the termination of eligibility for the Spring semester, the Winter J Term is included as an ineligible semester even if there is prior enrollment.
If your appeal is denied: You will be notified by email and will not receive financial aid for the next period of enrollment. You may regain your financial aid eligibility by enrolling in and completing enough credits to meet the qualitative and the quantitative standards described in the policy. You must submit another appeal to be considered for financial aid after this period. The decision of the SAP committee is final.