2024-2025 Student Handbook

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY

Federal regulations require students demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in their educational program in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid. SAP is established and reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Services and is evaluated independently from the Law School academic policies set forth in the Law School’s Rules and Regulations . Because there are two separate standards involved, it is possible for a student to be making satisfactory academic progress as determined under this policy, but fail to be in good academic standing. It is also possible for a student to be in good academic standing under the Law School’s Rules and Regulations, but not be making SAP as determined by Student Financial Services. Students who are dismissed from the Law School do not retain eligibility for financial assistance.

Standards for SAP

Students must meet the following standards to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. These standards will be evaluated at the end of each academic term, including summer term, if applicable. Students will be notified if the SAP evaluation affects his or her financial aid eligibility.

Qualitative Standards

JD students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.500. LLM students receiving federal student aid must opt for the numerical grading system and are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.000. Transfer credits will not be factored into the GPA at Suffolk University Law School. In addition, JD, MSLL and LLM students earning two or more unsatisfactory grades (C- or below) in a given term will not be considered to be making SAP. Students enrolled in the SJD program who receive one or more “F” grade will not be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress.

Quantitative Standards

In addition to meeting the qualitative standards above, all law students must successfully complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credits at the time of each SAP evaluation. The evaluation of completed credits is calculated by dividing the number of hours a student has earned by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. Grades of F, I, NC, W, WI, NG, U and X will be counted as attempted credits, but will not be considered as earned credits. All other grades will be counted as both attempted and earned. Transfer credits accepted towards a Law School degree will be treated as both credit hours attempted and credit hours earned. Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence from the Law School at any time after classes have begun will be subject to the SAP policy. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not be evaluated under the SAP policy, unless a student drops all courses for the term. Maximum Time Frame Financial aid eligibility is limited to 150% of the published minimum credit requirement of the student’s academic program. Refer to the Law School’s Ru les and Regulations for specific program lengths. Suffolk University Law School measures a student’s timeframe in attempted credits. A student will not be considered to be making SAP if his or her enrollment exceeds the 150% timeframe. Periods of non-enrollment are not factored into this timeframe evaluation. Please note: ABA requirements stipulate, except in extraordinary circumstances, a student must complete his/her law school degree within 84 months. • Office of Student Fina ncial Services will review each student’s progress after each term, including the summer term if applicable and a student will be notified if the results of an evaluation impact financial aid eligibility. • All periods of enrollment while enrolled at Suffolk University Law School, including study abroad and consortium agreement terms, are considered when evaluating SAP. • Only credit bearing coursework will be considered as attempted credits for the purposes of SAP evaluation. Evaluation of SAP Performance

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