Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress: M.S. in Management Studies (MSMS)
Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress
M.S. in Management Studies (MSMS)
Federal regulations require all recipients of federal financial aid to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in their program of study. For graduate students at Kellogg, this includes Federal Direct Stafford Loans-Unsubsidized and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans. It is also the University’s expectation that students will make progress toward completion of the degree in which they are enrolled. These requirements apply to students for all quarters of enrollment within the academic year, including those quarters during which no federal financial aid was granted.
Full-time Kellogg students enrolled in the MSMS program must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress in the following three ways:
- By maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for each quarter.
- By completing the prescribed coursework each quarter, or at the minimum two-thirds of courses attempted per academic quarter.
- By completing their program of study within a specified period of time.
Maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for each quarter
The Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations require that students maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) in order to remain eligible for federal financial aid. This cumulative GPA is 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
By completing the prescribed coursework each quarter, or at the minimum two-thirds of courses attempted per academic quarter
By completing the prescribed coursework each quarter, or at the minimum two-thirds of courses attempted per academic quarter. Grades of D (poor), F (failing), Y (incomplete), W (withdrawal), or X (excused absence for an exam) do not satisfy the requirements.
Completing the program within a specified period of time
MSMS students must complete their program within the standard three quarters. The Kellogg Office of Financial Aid may allow students to receive federal financial aid for one additional quarter in order to complete their program requirements.
Evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be completed at the end of each quarter by the Kellogg Office of Financial Aid when grades are posted for the MSMS program. This evaluation is conducted through a review of grades received, courses attempted, progress toward completing the program/graduate degree, and GPA.
SAP Warning—MSMS Program
If MSMS students fail to meet the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress for any academic quarter, the student will be placed on SAP warning for one quarter. During the warning period, the student will still be eligible to receive federal financial aid, but the student must:
- Maintain and earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Complete the prescribed coursework each quarter or at the minimum two-thirds of courses attempted per academic quarter. Grades of D (poor), F (failing), Y (incomplete), W (withdrawal), or X (excused absence for an exam) do not satisfy the requirements.
- Be on track to complete the degree within the maximum timeframe allowed.
Please note that if a student does not enroll in the following quarter after an SAP warning is issued, the warning period will carry over to the next quarter of enrollment.
SAP suspension
Students who do not meet the terms of the SAP warning period for the MSMS program will be placed on SAP suspension. SAP suspension will designate that the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid. In order for a student on SAP suspension to reinstate his or her federal financial aid eligibility, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Complete 100% of the courses in which they have enrolled during the suspension quarter. Grades of D (poor), F (failing), Y (incomplete), W (withdrawal), or X (excused absence for an exam) do not satisfy the requirements for completion. Receiving these grades will disqualify the student from receiving federal financial aid for the following quarter.
- Complete at least two classes according to the criteria above. Therefore, if a student enrolls in only one class for their first quarter of SAP suspension, the student must complete that course with a grade of C or higher and then complete 100% of all courses for which they enroll in the subsequent quarter before they can be reinstated.
- Any quarter in which a student does not enroll does not count toward Satisfactory Academic Progress. Therefore, the suspension period will go into effect in the next quarter of enrollment.
- Any courses that a student is enrolled in before the add/drop period will count toward their SAP calculation.
- Maintain and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
When a student meets all requirements for reinstatement of financial aid after a suspension, it will be the student’s responsibility to contact the Office of Financial Aid to request an SAP review for reinstatement of federal financial aid. If the Office of Financial Aid determines that a student is now in compliance with SAP requirements, federal financial aid will be reinstated the following quarter.
Appeals
If a student fails to meet the SAP requirements as stated above due to extenuating circumstances such as a family member’s death, or illness (of the student or an immediate family member), the student may submit a written and signed appeal to the Kellogg Office of Financial Aid. The signed appeal request must be received by the Office of Financial Aid within 15 days of receipt of the notice of SAP suspension.
The written appeal should explain any relevant extraordinary circumstances, address the reason(s) for failing to meet the minimum academic requirements and offer some solution to the problems that have affected prior academic performance. Supporting documentation, such as statements from academic advisers, professors, health care providers, etc., may also be requested. The appeal will be reviewed by an SAP Committee chaired by the Assistant Dean, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. All decisions made by the SAP Committee are final. Students will be notified if their appeal has been granted or denied via an email to their Kellogg email account.
If an appeal is granted, the student will be placed in one of two categories:
- SAP Probation
If a student is placed on SAP Probation after an appeal, the student will be eligible for federal financial aid during one additional payment period. During the probationary period, the student must meet all SAP requirements. If the student fails to meet SAP requirements during their probationary period, their aid will be suspended without the ability to appeal. In order to reinstate federal financial aid eligibility after the SAP suspension, students must meet the aforementioned criteria for reinstatement without the use of federal financial aid.
- SAP Academic Plan
Students may be placed on an academic plan upon submission of a successful appeal. If it is mathematically impossible for a student to resolve all deficiencies during the academic quarter and the student’s reason for appeal is appropriate according to federal regulations, the student may be placed on an academic plan with the end goal being to resolve all deficiencies. An academic plan varies in length and is determined by the SAP Committee. Progress will be reviewed at the end of each quarter and if the student is meeting with the terms of the plan, financial aid eligibility will be maintained.
Special considerations for first-time financial aid applicants
Current students who apply for financial aid are required to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Currently enrolled students who have not received federal financial aid for their previous quarters of enrollment and are considered to be first-time financial aid applicants must ensure that their previous coursework meets the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. If it does not, first-time financial aid applicants will need to complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal for first-time aid filers. The appeal should address the following:
- Describe a specific reason, event, or circumstance that prevented one from meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
- Provide a specific plan/corrective action to improve academic progress.
For any questions regarding the SAP policy for the Kellogg full-time programs, please do not hesitate to contact the Kellogg Office of Financial Aid at 847.491.3308 or finaid@kellogg.northwestern.edu.