Handbook Flip Book Update November 2016

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY

Law School Satisfactory Academic Progress 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. 1) Qualitative Standards Law School students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Transfer credits will not be factored into the GPA at Suffolk University Law School. In addition, Law School students earning two or more unsatisfactory grades (C- or below) in a given term will not be considered to be making SAP. 2) Quantitative Standards 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. 3) 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 academic catalog 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.

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