Satisfactory Academic Progress is a set of standards that students must meet to remain eligible for federal, state, and most institutional financial aid. Refer to the below information to learn how these requirements apply at Paul Smith’s College.

Federal Aid

Minimum GPA:

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. The GPA increases based on the number of credits a student has attempted:

  • Less Than 30 Credits: Minimum 1.5
  • Between 30 and 59 Credits: Minimum 1.75
  • 60 Credits or More: Minimum 2.0

Maximum Time Frame:

The Department of Education stipulates that a student may not attempt more than 150% of the credits required to earn their degree. For students in a 120-credit degree program for example, the maximum number of credits they would be permitted to attempt before becoming ineligible for aid under the maximum time frame regulation is 180.

Percentage of Attempted Credits Earned:

Students must earn a minimum of 67% of the credits they attempt cumulatively. Courses that students withdraw from after the end of add/drop, regardless of whether or not it is a medical withdrawal, count as part of their overall attempted credits.

New York State Aid

NYS’s Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) requires students to meet certain GPA and Pursuit of Program Standards to remain eligible for TAP Grant, NYS Academic Excellence Scholarships, and other state awards.

Pursuit of Program:

NYS requires that students complete (though not necessarily pass) a certain percentage of a full time course load based on how long they have been receiving state aid in order to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree.

  • For students in the 1st year of receiving state aid (first and second semester) they must complete at least 50% of a full-time course load.
  • For students in the 2nd year of receiving state aid (third and fourth semester) they must complete at least 75% of a full-time course load.
  • For students in the 3rd year and beyond receiving state aid (fifth and all future semesters) they must complete at least 100% of a full-time course load.

Declaration of Major

HESC also stipulates that students must declare a major within a certain time frame to remain eligible for state aid. For students in two-year degree program, they must have a declared major within 30 days of the end of add/drop of the first semester of their 2nd year. For students in a four-year degree program, they must have declared a major within 30 days of the end of add/drop of the first semester of their 3rd year.

GPA and Cumulative Credits Earned Requirements

NYS also has minimum cumulative GPA and minimum cumulative credits earned requirements a student must meet. These requirements depend on a student’s program of study and how many semesters of state aid they have received. They are assessed based on the charts below.

Semester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students)

Before being certified 
for this payment		 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Credits Accrued 0 6 15 27 39 51 66 81 96 111
Grade Point Average 0 1.5 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

Calendar: Semester 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students
(if a student’s first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)

Before being certified 
for this payment		 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Credits Accrued 0 3 9 21 33 45 60 75 90 105
Grade Point Average 0 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

 

Semester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students)

Before being certified 
for this payment		 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Credits Accrued 0 6 15 27 39 51
Grade Point Average 0 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.0

Calendar: Semester Calendar 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students
(if a student’s first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)

Before being certified 
for this payment		 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Credits Accrued 0 3 9 18 30 45
Grade Point Average 0 .5 .75 1.3 2.0 2.0