The University of Rochester's High Standards
High expectations and strict academic standards help the University of Rochester maintain its strong ranking as an internationally recognized private research university. Without premier academic standards, a university doesn't produce as many Nobel, and Pulitzer winners and Guggenheim and MacArthur fellows as the University of Rochester have produced. As a University of Rochester student, you know the school's high admission requirements and the equally high expectations of its faculty members.
Failure to Progress at the University of Rochester
Once enrolled, some University of Rochester students fail to meet those high academic standards for a variety of causes, including things like illness, injury, pregnancy, military commitments, and death in the family. The university maintains both an academic policy requiring certain academic minimums and a separate satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy requiring certain academic minimums. When a student fails to meet the university's satisfactory academic progress standards, federal student loan regulations may disqualify the student from federally backed loans. Unsatisfactory academic progress in the form of low or failing grades, or repeated course incompletes and withdrawals, can also result in loss of university grants and scholarships. But unsatisfactory academic progress can also result in your dismissal from the school and attendant collateral consequences.
University of Rochester Academic Minimums
University of Rochester students who don't meet the school's satisfactory academic progress standards can face academic warning, probation, and dismissal. The University of Rochester publishes a policy for academic probation and dismissal. Under those policies, the student must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average, 2.00 semester grade-point average, and 2.00 grade-point average in the courses submitted for the student's major. The university places the student who fails to meet an academic requirement on probation for one term, giving the student that one term to improve grade-point averages. Continuation on probation for more than one term can result in academic suspension for at least two terms, and the university may require the suspended student to apply for readmission. A second suspension bars readmission. Every University of Rochester student should pay close attention to these academic standards.
University of Rochester Academic Procedures
University of Rochester students who face probation and suspension under the school's policy for academic probation and dismissal may appeal their suspension. But under the school's policy, a successful appeal takes a special showing: "Suspension appeals are reviewed only when new and compelling evidence bearing on the case is presented to the dean of the College." The student must also appeal quickly: "Students intending to appeal their suspension should make their plans known within seven business days of receiving their decision." Appeals are not as simple as writing a letter. You must state the special grounds for relief while also showing an achievable plan to regain good academic standing.
Academic Progression at the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester maintains a separate academic policy to continue to qualify for financial aid. The University of Rochester's financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy has both qualitative and quantitative standards you must meet to preserve your federally backed financial aid and remain in school in good standing. The university's qualitative standard requires that you maintain a cumulative 2.00 / 4.00-grade point average. The university's quantitative standard requires that you complete two-thirds of the course credits you attempt and graduate within 150% of the timeframe for the degree, which typically means within six years for a four-year program. Pay close attention to your good academic standing. Consider carefully the course grades and completions you need to remain in good standing.
Loss of Financial Aid at the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester may stop your federal financial aid and school scholarships and grants if you fail to comply with its SAP policy. The university bars a student from federal financial aid if, in that one term, the student doesn't get back into compliance with the university's SAP policy: "Students who fail to meet the cumulative GPA and Pace requirements after the warning period will lose their Federal and University aid eligibility unless they successfully appeal and are placed on financial aid probation with a detailed academic plan." The university may further bar the student from scholarships and grants: "University of Rochester scholarships and grants are subject to the same SAP standards for cumulative GPA and Pace as federal financial aid." Academic progression is plainly a serious matter. Sources indicate that nearly eighty percent of new University of Rochester students require financial aid, averaging nearly $50,000. Most of that aid is federally backed, while the state of New York has its own requirements for state aid. The vast majority of University of Rochester students need that aid to pursue and complete their degrees.
SAP Adjudication at the University of Rochester
While the University of Rochester's satisfactory academic progress standards is on their face, a matter of mathematics, grade and credit calculations can require some policy interpretation, and university SAP officials can make mistakes in applying SAP policies and performing calculations. The University of Rochester's Financial Aid Office keeps a protocol in place to identify students whose transcripts at the end of each term reflect non-compliance with the school's SAP policy. The Financial Aid Office notifies the student of the SAP warning for one term. If the following term shows continued non-compliance, the Financial Aid Office notifies the student of the suspension of federal financial aid and university scholarships and grants. The student may then appeal the aid suspension to the student's Financial Aid Counselor, the Senior Associate Director of the Financial Aid Office, and the SAP Appeals Committee. While this process may sound simple, the showing a student must make for a successful SAP appeal is not simple but instead requires meeting specific technical requirements. Retain national school discipline defense attorney advisor Joseph D. Lento for your best SAP appeal outcome.
SAP Decision Authority at the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester's Financial Aid Office is the first decision-maker on SAP matters. If the Financial Aid Office believes your academic transcript meets the university's SAP requirements, then you will face no SAP notice or warning and no suspension of federal financial aid. If, instead, the Financial Aid Office determines that your transcript does not meet the university's SAP requirements, and you receive the Office's SAP notice and warning, you need not take any action to challenge the warning but should be diligently addressing your academic work to restore your compliance. If you receive the Financial Aid Office's notice of the suspension of your federal financial aid and you make a timely SAP appeal, then your Financial Aid Counselor, the Senior Associate Director of the Financial Aid Office, and the SAP Appeals Committee are the authorities deciding your SAP appeal. Those SAP appeal decision makers must, though, ensure that your SAP appeal qualifies for relief. The University of Rochester's complete SAP policy warns, “Appeals containing significant coursework outside of the major, minor or cluster, extenuating circumstances which lack significant merit, and personal plans which fail to address the original cause of the SAP problem are subject to denial. Appeals are not approved for the sole purpose of pursuing an additional major, minor, cluster or elective.”
University of Rochester SAP Appeal Process
Federal SAP regulations permit the University of Rochester and other colleges and universities to grant student relief from SAP standards for extenuating circumstances. While the federal regulation lists “death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances” as qualifying circumstances, other circumstances may also qualify. But don't believe that all you need to do is write a brief letter giving your excuse. To the contrary, the University of Rochester's complete SAP policy states expressly that your SAP appeal “must explain why satisfactory progress was not met and what has changed that will allow the minimum standards to be met and include an academic plan approved by an academic advisor in the College Center for Advising Services.” Documenting your excuse with things like medical records, incident reports, or a death certificate in the case of a family member's demise can be critical to a successful SAP appeal. Your SAP appeal must also effectively advocate why your circumstances adversely affected your academics and how your circumstances have changed. Yet your plan for regaining SAP compliance may be the most important part of your appeal, not just to convince appeal officials but also to help you regain compliance. You need an achievable plan, not just a convincing plan.
SAP Appeal Attorney Advisor Available
Retain national school discipline defense attorney advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team for your University of Rochester SAP appeal. Attorney advisor Lento can also pursue other avenues for alternative special relief through the school general counsel or other oversight officials if you have already exhausted all appeals. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to retain attorney advisor Lento.
