Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Forms and Policies

Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients and Applicants

Medical students who wish to receive assistance through any federal, state or institutionally supported scholarships, grants or loans must comply with the following Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Satisfactory Academic Progress measures the quality of the academic work, and the rate of progress toward the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Students who fail to comply are not eligible for financial aid.

I. Qualitative Measurement – The quality of a student’s academic work and professionalism.
All medical students must maintain professionalism as defined (by the promotions committee) as well as passing grade(s) at the end of each academic year.
II. Quantitative Measurement – The rate of a student’s progress toward a degree. Students must complete a minimum of two-thirds (0.67) of the blocks for which they are enrolled and be making progress to complete their degree within the 6-year rule.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured once per year at the end of the second semester. To be considered satisfactory, students must successfully complete or remediate all of the academic work toward their medical degree during a period of consecutive and required blocks and semesters.

Students may not receive financial aid for more than 150% of the published program length (maximum time to complete program is 6 years).

Please note that both the qualitative and quantitative measurements indicate the passing grade(s) as well as the number of completed blocks needed to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements for financial aid and do not reflect the medical school’s recommended requirements.

Implementation of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed once per year, at the conclusion of the second semester after final grades have been posted.

Students whose performance or progress does not meet the required standards will be notified by the director of financial aid and will be considered ineligible for aid, including federal, state, institutional and most private loans. Students with financial aid applications on file for the upcoming year will receive a communication indicating the loss of aid after final grades are posted. Students who are not making satisfactory progress and have not filed an application for financial aid will not receive this correspondence until the financial aid application has been filed.

Students may appeal their loss of aid based on extenuating circumstances. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the director of financial aid and will be reviewed for decision by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Students who do not appeal, or whose appeal is denied, will not regain financial aid eligibility until all academic standards are met. Remediation courses may be considered in repairing deficiencies.

If an appeal is granted, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester or year and an academic plan will be prescribed for the student to follow. The student’s academic progress will be reviewed at the end of the probationary term and they must have met the conditions of the academic plan to receive financial aid. A student who fails to meet these conditions will lose eligibility for financial aid. Additional appeals will not be considered.

reviewed 9/22