This policy on satisfactory academic progress (SAP) relates specifically to full time undergraduate students who are receiving federal financial aid. Those students receiving funding from NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) must also meet additional TAP SAP requirements. In addition to meeting the standard for receiving financial aid, students must also meet the academic standards of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. For further information, please visit the Course Catalog Online Course Catalogue.
For the purpose of receiving federal financial aid, satisfactory academic progress is defined as earning a minimum number of credits over a specific number of semesters (fall and spring) and maintaining a minimum grade point average. To meet the standards you must:
| Semester Enrolled | Courses Completed | Minimum Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Must complete 13 courses by end of 4th semester |
Must receive a GPA of 2.0 by end of 4th semester |
|
2 |
||
|
3 |
||
|
4 |
||
|
5 |
16 |
2.0 |
|
6 |
19 |
2.0 |
|
7 |
22 |
2.0 |
|
8 |
25 |
2.0 |
|
9 |
28 |
2.0 |
|
10 |
32 |
2.0 |
Note that the criteria for the TAP satisfactory academic progress differs from the federal satisfactory academic progress criteria.
| TAP Payment Number | Number of Courses You Must Have Completed in the Previous Semester** | Total Number of Earned Courses** | Minimum Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
1.1 |
|
3 |
3 |
4 |
1.4 |
|
4 |
3 |
7 |
1.7 |
|
5 |
4 |
10 |
2.0 |
|
6 |
4 |
13 |
2.0 |
|
7 |
4 |
17 |
2.0 |
|
8 |
4 |
20 |
2.0 |
|
9* |
4 |
24 |
2.0 |
|
10* |
4 |
28 |
2.0 |
* Only students enrolled in the HEOP program are eligible for ten TAP payments. The maximum number of payments for all other students is eight.
** Incompletes cannot be included unless they are resolved to a passing or failing grade by the end of the following term. Failing grades are included in the number of courses completed per semester. Only passing grades are included in the number of courses earned.
The satisfactory academic progress requirements for both federal and state aid may be waived for undue hardship based on:
The waiver is intended only to accommodate extraordinary or unusual cases directly related to academic performance and the student's failure to meet the minimum requirements. Documentation must show the relationship of circumstances to the student's failure to achieve the requirements. The waiver will be granted only when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet future satisfactory academic progress requirements.
The student may write the appropriate dean to petition for a waiver if he or she believes he or she is eligible. The student's dean reviews the petition and official records to determine whether he/she meets the criteria for a waiver. The dean's office informs the student whether or not a waiver was granted, and notifies the Office of financial Aid about the decision.
If you have any questions regarding the financial aid process, please contact the Office of Financial Aid Services and Student Employment at:
Phone: (315) 781-3315
Fax: (315) 781-4048
Email: finaid@hws.edu
