Undergraduate Students Appeal Process

Students who are not meeting SAP requirements may appeal the decision to the Enrollment Services SAP committee if there were extenuating or unusual circumstances that affected their academic performance.  We recommend that students email esmail@etal.uri.edu to submit their completed appeal, letter, and supporting documents. Students must submit the following to appeal:

1. A letter that thoroughly describes the reason(s) you did not meet SAP, what has changed in your situation that will allow you to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and what resources you plan to use to ensure academic progress. 
2. SAP Appeal Form with all parts completed before the deadline on the form.
   • The SAP Appeal form includes an Academic Plan, which establishes a term-by-term plan for academic progress, must also be completed and signed by an advisor.
   • *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”.  

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: 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: 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

Appeal Process – Students who have been notified that they are not meeting SAP requirements may appeal the decision to the Enrollment Services SAP committee if there were extenuating or unusual circumstances that resulted in the student’s inability meet SAP. We recommend that students use the esmail@etal.uri.edu to submit their completed appeal, letter, and supporting documents. Students must submit the following to appeal:

1. A letter that thoroughly describes the reason(s) you did not meet SAP, what has changed in your situation that will allow you to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and what resources you plan to use to ensure academic progress. 
2. SAP Appeal Form with all parts completed before the deadline on the form.
   • The SAP Appeal form includes an Academic Plan, which establishes a term-by-term plan to progress towards your degree and must be reviewed and signed by an advisor. 
   • *IMPORTANT* If your SAP appeal is approved, you must either meet the SAP requirements by the end of one semester OR you must have followed the academic plan in order to continue to receive financial aid after one semester.  This means, you must successfully complete the number of credits listed on your academic plan during your probationary period if you are approved for a SAP appeal.

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: 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: 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.