Financial Aid

To be eligible for financial aid, you must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward your degree. Download a copy of the current SAP policy using the link at the top of this webpage.

The policy applies to all students, even those who have attended previously without financial aid at CWU or another school. You are responsible for understanding all requirements.

• Federal regulations stipulate that academic progress be monitored even if you are not receiving federal student aid. 
• Federal and State regulations may change annually, so it is important to review the published SAP policy every year.
• SAP requirements are different for undergraduates, post baccalaureate, and graduate students.

The SAP appeal forms can be downloaded using the links at the top of the webpage.

Academic Suspension: Reinstatement to the university does not automatically reinstate financial aid. If you have been reinstated after academic suspension, you may need to file a SAP Appeal in order to receive financial aid.

All students’ SAP is reviewed at the end of the academic year, usually after spring quarter.

• Students on a SAP probation will be reviewed after every quarter.
• Students attending summer will be reviewed at the end of that quarter.

SAP status is evaluated using the following criteria:

• Pace
  • Earning credit for at least 67 percent of the credits you attempt (aggregate).
• Grade Point Average
  • Maintaining a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for undergraduate students, or 3.0 for graduate students.
• Maximum Time Frame
  • Graduating with less than 150 percent of the credits required to complete your degree.

Remember that a student’s Academic Standing must be in good, warning, or probation status. Academically suspended students are ineligible for financial aid.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

• When we evaluate SAP at the end of the academic year, we look at your cumulative CWU GPA, which is calculated based on all the classes you've taken at CWU only. Transfer GPA does not count towards this value.
• Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0, while graduate students must maintain a 3.0. If your GPA is below this standard, you will be suspended. You can reestablish eligibility by raising your GPA to the required value. If you feel you have mitigating circumstances, you can appeal the financial aid suspension.

Pace

• Your pace, or rate of completion, is the number of credits you earn divided by the number of credits you attempt. In most cases you attempt a credit when you enroll in a college-level class, and you earn that credit when you successfully complete the class with a passing grade.
• If your pace is below 67 percent at the end of the academic year, financial aid will be suspended. You can reestablish eligibility by raising your pace to 67 percent. If you have mitigating circumstances, you can appeal your financial aid suspension.
• When you enroll in a college-level course, those credits are added to your attempted credits. This includes classes taken at CWU and accepted transfer credits. You earn credit for grades of A, B, C, D, and P. You do not earn credit for grades of F, EF, NS, U, NR, W, HW, W+, EP, IP, or NC. Therefore, these grades will have a negative impact on the rate of completion. 
• Accepted transfer credits from another institution will be counted as both attempted and completed hours.
• If you repeat a course, each repetition counts toward your attempted credits, but you only earn credit the first time you earn a passing grade.

Maximum Time Frame (MTF)

• To be eligible for financial aid at CWU, you must complete your degree within the maximum time frame. This means graduating before accumulating 150% of the attempted credits required to complete one major program.
• Attempted credits include all courses taken at CWU, as well as transfer credits, regardless of whether or not you passed the class..
• If you do not graduate within the MTF or our office determines that it is mathematically impossible to graduate within the maximum time frame, your aid will be suspended. If you have mitigating circumstances, you can appeal your financial aid suspension.
• This policy applies to both undergraduate and graduate students, including post baccalaureate and certificate programs.
• Only one major degree program can be considered in the maximum time frame calculation.
  • Undergraduates
    • First baccalaureate degree: eligibility ends at 270 attempted credits.
  • Post-baccalaureate (declared major) & Teacher Certification
    • Eligibility ends at 135 attempted credits.
  • Post-baccalaureates (undeclared major)
    • Limited to receiving aid for 12 months from their start date.
  • Graduate students
    • Eligibility ends at 135 attempted credits.

If you do not meet SAP standards, you will receive an email notice of suspension, along with a letter to the mailing address on file. You may also have a checklist added to your MyCWU To-Do list, prompting you to turn in a SAP petition.

At any time, you can log on to the MyCWU Student Dashboard to see your current SAP Status.

There are two ways to regain eligibility for federal student aid:

• Attend without financial aid until you meet minimum SAP standards. Once you meet requirements for aid eligibility, notify the Financial Aid Office to request a review.
• Submit a SAP appeal.

Approval of SAP appeals is not guaranteed. You must be prepared to pay your CWU charges without aid if the appeal is denied.

Students who are academically suspended from the university must petition through the CWU Provost Office before a SAP appeal determination can be made.

You may submit an appeal your SAP suspension was the result of special circumstances. Examples include death of a relative, an injury or illness, or other special circumstances. You will be asked what circumstances prevented you from meeting SAP requirements and what has changed that will allow you to meet minimum standards in the future. You can review which requirements are not being met by logging in to your MyCWU Student portal and reviewing the SAP Eligibility on your dashboard.

If it will take more than one quarter to meet eligibility requirements, you must submit an academic plan, signed by your academic advisor. 

SAP appeals are reviewed in the order received, and must be submitted, with all documentation by 5:00 p.m. on the final deadline date.

SAP Appeals can be uploaded to your MyCWU To-Do list, emailed to [email protected], or dropped off in person at Bouillon Hall 106 (Ellensburg campus).

We recommend submitting your appeal as early as possible, preferably well before the next quarter begins. This will allow time for financial aid staff to review, process, and notify you of the decision. Appeals cannot be considered for a quarter that has ended.

The approval, denial, or request for additional details will be sent to your CWU email address. Here are examples of typical outcomes:

• One Quarter Probation: You are eligible for financial aid for one quarter and must meet all SAP requirements at the end of that term in order to continue receiving financial aid.
• Two or Three Quarter Probation: Each quarter you must receive a passing grade in all classes (without dropping any) and earn a term GPA of 2.0 or better. This plan continues through the end of the designated probationary period.
• Denial: Your appeal may be denied based on an incomplete form, lack of documentation, or evidence of academic or personal difficulties not being addressed or resolved.

If you fail to meet SAP standards while on probation, you will be suspended and ineligible for financial aid. If you have extraordinary circumstances, or want to find out more about regaining eligibility for financial aid in the future, contact a financial aid counselor.

The Financial Aid Office encourages CWU advisors, faculty, and other colleagues to review the SAP Policy.

Whenever issues regarding SAP eligibility arise, encourage the student to check in with a financial aid counselor or reach out to the Financial Aid Office yourself.

If your area would like specific training for staff on best practices with regards to SAP, reach out to our office to arrange a meeting.

Students suspended due to Maximum Time Frame will need to submit an MTF appeal with an expected graduation date.