Satisfactory Academic Progress Help

It is not uncommon for students to face academic challenges. Each year, many students placed on warning return to good academic standing. The warning period allows students to reflect and connect with resources to improve their academic record.  

If you are placed on academic/financial aid warning, you may continue to attend Minneapolis College and receive financial aid. However, you are expected to take action so that you return to good academic standing.

You should:

• Meet with your academic advisor to help you understand why you are on academic/financial aid warning
• Academic Success Center's tutoring services
• Visit the Student Support Center to see what non-academic services are available

Your academic progress will be reviewed at the end of the next semester you enroll, and you'll return to good academic standing if you meet the progress standards. However, if you do not meet minimum standards after a second consecutive term, your ability to register for courses and financial aid eligibility will be suspended.

Unfortunately, some students are not as successful as they hoped to be. This can be due to factors such as personal and academic difficulties, family concerns, or finances. Many students placed on suspension go on to have a successful career at Minneapolis College.

A student who is academically suspended is not able to register for further courses at Minneapolis College for one year unless they appeal to return sooner, and their appeal is approved.

What are my options?

1. Option #1 - Appeal your suspension to return next semester.
   Visit Appeal Your Suspension near the bottom of this webpage for instructions and tips for a successful appeal.
2. Option #2 - Serve your suspension.
   Suspended students will not be allowed to register for one year. The time away from Minneapolis College provides an opportunity for students to reassess their approach to academics. If you were challenged during the semester to balance work, school, and personal or family concerns, you can use this time to fully attend to these concerns.

How Do I Return When my Suspension Term Has Ended?

When you return to Minneapolis College, you should update any information that has changed, such as address and major. You’ll be placed in a probation status but will be able to register for classes. Your probation status will be in effect until you have met cumulative progress standards and return to good academic standing. See below for details about academic and financial aid probation.

If you are also on financial aid suspension, you will be required to appeal in order to have your aid eligibility restored.

Many students at Minneapolis College rely on financial aid support to attend college. Losing financial aid eligibility can be very difficult and stressful. You are not alone. Many students have faced this challenge and worked hard to return to good academic standing.

All students who have had their financial aid suspended are required to appeal to have their aid eligibility restored, regardless of when they plan to return. Visit Appeal Your Suspension near the bottom of this webpage for instructions and tips for a successful appeal.

All approved appeals and probationary terms require you to follow a conditional plan that will help you return to good standing.

Term standards:

• Academic probation requires that you complete 66.67% of your credits for the probation term with a 2.00 GPA.
• Financial aid probation requires that you complete 100% of your credits for the probation term with a 2.50 GPA. These standards are higher than academic probation requirements.

At the end of your probationary term, you’ll be returned to good standing if you meet the cumulative satisfactory academic progress standards. If you do not meet cumulative standards, but meet term standards, you will continue on probation for the next term you enroll. If you do not meet either cumulative or term standards, you will be re-suspended.

If you are placed on academic or financial aid suspension, you can appeal to have your ability to register restored and your financial aid reinstated. Your appeal is a chance to explain the circumstances that prevented you from making satisfactory academic progress and what steps you will take to be successful when you return.

Who Needs to Appeal?

• If you are on academic suspension and want to return to Minneapolis College before one year has passed, you will need to have an approved appeal to be able to register for courses.
• If you are on financial aid suspension, you will need to have an approved appeal for financial aid reinstatement, regardless of when you want to return.
• If you are on maximum time frame suspension, visit Maximum Time Frame Suspension near the bottom of this web page for appeal instructions. 

If your academic appeal is approved, you will be eligible to register for courses and will be placed on an academic probation status. If it is not approved, you will be removed from your courses for the next semester and the suspension will stand until served.

If your financial aid appeal is approved, your financial aid eligibility will be reinstated and you will be placed on a financial aid probation status. If it is not approved, you will need to find an alternate method to pay tuition. 

How to Submit an Appeal

1. Review the section below “Tips for a Successful appeal.”
2. Assemble your relevant documentation in .pdf format, ready to upload.
3. Open the Suspension Appeal eForm. You will log into the form using your StarID and password. 
   
   Important: Do not use this form to appeal a Maximum Time Frame suspension. Please see the section called Maximum Time Frame Suspension near the bottom of this web page for the correct appeal form and instructions. 
4. Complete all sections of the form and submit.

Note: you will not be able to save an in-progress appeal eForm to work on later. If you would like a copy of your responses, you can print the eForm (or save it a .pdf file) before you click the Submit button.

When will I find out if my appeal was approved?

Most appeals are reviewed within 10 business days of submission. The result of your appeal will be sent to your Minneapolis College student email address ending in @go.minneapolis.edu.

Get help with your suspension appeal

Your academic advisor can help you prepare your appeal. Visit the Academic Advising webpage for appointments and Drop-In Advising hours.

Appeal Deadlines

• Summer 2024: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
• Fall 2024: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
• Spring 2025: Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Summer 2025: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Appeal as early as possible to avoid delays to registration and financial aid. If you are currently on warning or probation and have reason to believe you may be re-suspended after the current term, you can submit your appeal at any time before the deadline (you do not have to wait until the current term ends).

Late appeals

Appeals submitted after the deadline will be considered for the next term. 

Approved Appeals

Academic Appeals

If your academic suspension appeal is approved, your ability to register will be restored for the upcoming term and you will be placed on an academic probation status.

• While you are on academic probation, you must complete 66.67% of your courses for the term and achieve a 2.0 GPA for the term.
• If you meet these requirements, and also meet cumulative standards, you will be returned to good academic standing.
• If you meet these requirements, but do not yet meet cumulative standards, you will remain on academic probation for the next term you enroll.
• If you don’t meet these requirements, your ability to register will be re-suspended.

Financial Aid Appeals

If your financial aid suspension appeal is approved, your eligibility will be restored for the upcoming term and you will be placed on a financial aid probation status.

• While you are on financial aid probation, you must complete 100% of your courses for the term and achieve a 2.5 GPA for the term. These requirements are higher than those for academic probation.
• If you meet these requirements, and also meet cumulative standards, you will be returned to good standing.
• If you meet these requirements, but do not yet meet cumulative standards, you will remain on financial aid probation for the next term you enroll.
• If you don’t meet these requirements, your ability to receive financial aid will be re-suspended.

What else do I need to know about being on probation?

While you are on academic or financial aid probation, you should not take more than 2 courses (or more than 8 credits). This is to increase the likelihood that you will meet the standards listed above.

You are also expected to take actions that will help you succeed, such as meeting with your academic advisor, utilizing the Academic Success Center, or learning about non-academic services available through the Student Support Center.  

Tips for a Successful Appeal

1. On the appeal form, you will be asked to provide information and details for the following two areas:
   • Describe the circumstances that led to your warning and suspension
   • Explain what has changed and what steps you will take to improve your academic performance
     
     It’s important that you spend time completing these questions to the best of your ability. The review committee is looking for evidence that you are committed to taking action that will help you be academically successful.  
   • Do not use an AI text-generator program such as ChatGPT to compose your statements. Statements that are not written using your own words will not be accepted.
     
2. Your documentation should relate to the situation you are describing.
   • These types of documents are helpful:
     • A letter from a healthcare provider (should be on letterhead and include dates and a signature)
     • A signed letter from someone who knows you and can attest to the situation you are describing
     • Documents that include dates that correspond to the period of poor academic performance
       Please do not submit documents with other people’s medical records or private information, paycheck stubs, tax documents, or bank statements of any kind.
3. Your documents should be uploaded in .pdf format.
4. The courses in your academic plan must apply to your current program/major. You should not take more than two courses (or not more than 8 credits) if you are approved to re-enroll.

What to do if your appeal is denied

If your appeal is denied, you will be notified by email to your Minneapolis College student email address. Make sure to read this email carefully for an explanation of why your appeal was not approved.

If you are not satisfied with this decision, you have the right to request a second review of your appeal by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee.

1. Make sure to understand the reason why your appeal was not approved.
2. Submit another Suspension Appeal eForm.  In the section Suspension and Appeal Information, select “I received a decision on my appeal and am requesting a second review.”  
3. You will need to provide additional information that was not included in your original appeal or resolve the reason your appeal was denied.

Second review decisions are final and cannot be reversed.

Deadline to request a second review of a denied appeal:

• Summer 2024: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
• Fall 2024: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
• Spring 2025: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• Summer 2025: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

All students are expected to complete their degree, diploma, or certificate within an acceptable period of time. This period is called Maximum Time Frame. Financial aid recipients may only receive aid until they have reached the cumulative registered credit equal to 150% of the credit length of their program, including credits transferred from other colleges.

• Maximum Time Frame calculation is a measure of the number of credits you have attempted, including transfer credits.
• A student who has reached the Maximum Time Frame for their program will have their financial aid eligibility suspended.
• It is not an academic suspension. Students on Maximum Time Frame suspension may still register for courses.
• The Department of Education requires Minneapolis College to monitor Maximum Time Frame for all financial aid recipients.

If you are placed on maximum time frame suspension, you may continue to register for classes, but you will not be eligible to receive financial aid unless you successfully appeal. Please see below for deadlines and information about how to submit your appeal.

How is Maximum Time Frame Calculated?

Maximum Time Frame is reached when you have taken (attempted) at least 150% of the credits required to complete your declared program at Minneapolis College.

For example, a student in a 60-credit degree program will reach their Maximum Time Frame once they have attempted 90 or more credits (150% of 60 = 90). Similarly, a student in an 18-credit certificate program will reach Maximum Time Frame once they have attempted 27 or more credits (150% of 18 = 27).

•  Your first 30 credits of developmental or pre-college level credits are not included in your attempted credit total.
• Transfer credits are included in your attempted credit total.
• Your attempted credits are counted whether or not you were using financial aid when you took the courses.

Why have I been suspended if I have a good GPA?

It is important to note that Maximum Time Frame calculation does not measure your GPA. Some students who reach Maximum Time Frame have excellent GPAs and course completion rates. Maximum Time Frame calculation is a measure of attempted credits only.

How to appeal

1. Review your Degree Audit to make sure your declared major is correct. You will need to attach your degree audit to your appeal. If you need to update your major, visit Change or Update Your Major.
2. Determine which courses you need to take to complete your program, and your anticipated graduation term. For help with this, work with your academic advisor or use the Student Planner tool.
3. Complete the Maximum Time Frame suspension appeal eForm

Note: you will not be able to save an in-progress appeal eForm to work on later. If you would like a copy of your responses, you can print the eForm (or save it a .pdf file) before you click the Submit button.  

When will I find out if my appeal was approved?

Most appeals are reviewed within 10 business days of submission. The result of your appeal will be sent to your Minneapolis College student email address ending in @go.minneapolis.edu.

Get help with your suspension appeal

Your academic advisor can help you prepare your appeal. Make an appointment, stop by Express Advising.

Appeal deadlines

• Summer 2024: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
• Fall 2024: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
• Spring 2025: Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Summer 2025: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Appeal as early as possible to avoid delays to your financial aid. If you believe you will reach Maximum Time frame after the current term, you can submit your appeal at any time before the deadline (you do not have to wait until the current term ends).

Late appeals

Appeals submitted after the deadline will be considered for the next term.

Approved appeals

If your appeal is approved, your financial aid eligibility will be reinstated for one year or until you complete your program, whichever comes first.  You may only take courses required for your program and you must remain in good academic standing.

If you aren’t able to finish your program by the anticipated graduation date (or up to one year), you will have to re-appeal in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. If this occurs, you’ll be notified to your Minneapolis College student email account.

Tips for a successful appeal

• The major on your degree audit from eServices should match the program/major you indicate you are pursuing.  
• Make sure that your course enrollment plan only includes courses that are needed to finish your program at Minneapolis College.
• Your personal statement explains how you accumulated excess credits. For example, perhaps you are in a short program, or you have a previous degree but have returned to complete a different program.
• If you have changed majors, please explain why you have chosen your current program and talk about your educational and career goals.
• Do not use an AI text-generator program such as ChatGPT to compose your statements. Statements that are not written using your own words will not be accepted. 

What if my appeal is denied?

If your appeal is denied, you will be notified by email to your Minneapolis College email address. Make sure to read this email carefully for an explanation of why your appeal was not approved.

If you are not satisfied with this decision, you have the right to request a second review of your appeal by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee.

1. Make sure to understand the reason why your appeal was not approved.
2. Submit another Maximum Time Frame suspension appeal eForm. Make sure to check the box to request a second review of a previously denied appeal.
3. You will need to provide additional information that was not included in your original appeal or resolve the reason your appeal was denied.

Second review decisions are final and cannot be reversed.

Deadline to request a second review of a denied appeal:

• Summer 2024: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
• Fall 2024: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
• Spring 2025: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• Summer 2025: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

If you have questions or concerns about whether or not you will meet satisfactory academic progress standards, make an appointment with your academic advisor.

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