Graduate Students

• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
• Students enrolled in a degree or licensure program at MSU Denver.
• Students who meet the Office of Financial Aid’s Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) requirements (SAP Policy at bottom of page).
• Students who are not in default on a student loan or owe a refund to the Title IV financial aid program.

If you are requested to provide proof of citizenship or eligible non-citizen documentation to receive financial aid at MSU you MUST bring the ORIGINAL documentation into our office so that we can make a colored copy of your ORIGINAL documentation. We do NOT accept black and white copies, or copies made by any other person besides an employee of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. If you are an out-of-state student and cannot provide the requested ORIGINAL documentation, than we will accept a NOTARIZED COLORED copy of your documentation. Please do not ever fax or email this documentation. If you are out-of-state, the required method of submitting your notarized colored documentation is through the mail.

Federal TEACH Grant for Graduate Students (GTEACH)

MSU Denver began participating in the Federal TEACH Grant Program at the graduate level during the 2010-2011 academic year.  Only students who are pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching, concentrating in Special Education, qualify for the GTEACH at MSU Denver. Other eligibility requirements include:

• GPA of 3.25+ or score within the 75th percentile in any battery of the ACT/SAT

• Citizen or eligible non-citizen

• Complete Financial Aid file

• Completing the Master in the Art of Teaching in Special Education program

Students who are retired teachers or who are currently teaching are exempt from the 3.25 GPA requirement.

If you are pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, concentrating in Special Education, and are interested in receiving the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant at the graduate level, submit a GTEACH Pre-Application to MSU Denver’s Office of Financial Aid.
 
Important Notice:  The Federal TEACH Grant is not need based and is awarded in amounts of up to $4,000/academic year and is subject to a graduate lifetime maximum of $8,000.  The Grant is pro-rated based on the student’s enrollment status.  Students receiving the Federal TEACH Grant agree to teach full time for at least four years in a Title I school within eight years of earning the Master in the Art of Teaching degree.  A majority of the classes taught by the student within this 8 year period must be in Special Education.  If the student fails to do so, the Federal TEACH Grant is converted to an unsubsidized loan, accruing interest as of the date of the first disbursement.

For more information, visit the Federal TEACH Grant webpage. 

Loans

Loans are types of financial assistance that must be repaid. Be sure that you understand the terms of any loans you borrow for your education. It is important that you and your family consider the amount of loans you truly need for your education related costs.

Federal Direct Loans

Federal Direct Loans (unsubsidized only) are available for graduate students and are made through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. For additional eligibility requirements and information please visit our Federal Direct Loans Webpage.

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time in an eligible degree program. These loans are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and are credit-based. Click here for more information about Graduate PLUS Loans.

Federal Perkins Loans

This loans program expired in September 2017 and is no longer available for awarding. If you borrowed Perkins Loans in previous years at MSU Denver please contact the Perkins Loan Office to inquire about repayment at 303-615-0072. Email: [email protected]

Alternative Loans

Alternative Loans, also known as Private Loans, can help a student cover the difference between their cost of attendance and financial aid. Alternative Loans should only be considered after careful review of your financial aid package. Please visit ELMSELECT for additional information about alternative loans.

Loan Counseling and Repayment

Entrance counseling is mandatory for all first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers at MSU Denver to inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a student borrower. The link for entrance counseling can be found at http://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/

Once a student graduates or drops below half-time status, they will need to make plans to begin repayment of these loans. Exit counseling is available to those who graduate, drop below half-time, or withdraw from the university. Exit counseling can be found at StudentLoans.gov as well. In most cases, students have an initial 6 month grace period before they must make their first payment.

There are many repayment options available to student borrowers as well as options for loan consolidation, forgiveness, or discharge. For more information, visit the Debt Management section of our website.

What is Work-Study?

Work-study is an employment program that provides paid jobs (typically on campus) for students who need to work to earn a portion of their education expenses.  Graduate students may be eligible to receive federal work-study funds.

Priority work-study funds are allocated first to students that earned work-study in the prior academic year.

Summer work-study is awarded in late-April. A WKSUM form must be turned in to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to be eligible for award consideration.

What Criteria must be met to receive Work-Study as a Graduate Student?

Please note, graduate students are only eligible for Federal Work Study which means they must be FAFSA eligible.

Federal Need Based Work-Study Criteria:

1. You must have completed a FAFSA for the academic year;
2. Your financial aid file must be complete for the academic year;
3. You must remain enrolled in at least 3 credits;
4. You cannot be on financial aid suspension (refer to MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy);
5. You must have an unmet need of at least $4,000 for the academic year;
6. You must turn in a work-study form (WK__) confirming your employment.

Things You Should Know About Work-Study

• Student jobs can be found at http://www.msudenverjobs.com/ 

• As a new Work-Study student, you will be required to provide your supervisor with proof that you are eligible to work in the United States. Please have a photo ID and a Social Security card, birth certificate or U.S. passport when you fill out your new-hire paperwork. If you are a non-citizen, you must have a Social Security card, an I-20 and your student visa to fill out the paperwork. The Office of Human Resources is located in the Jordan Student Success Building (JSSB) 310.

• If you have not earned Work-Study funds by the 3rd payroll of a semester, or 6 weeks from the time your award was accepted, whichever occurs later, your Work-Study award may be canceled.

• You cannot earn Work-Study if you are on financial aid suspension.

• You cannot earn Work-Study if you drop below 3 credit hours.

• Monitor your earnings. This is your responsibility. If you earn more than your award each semester, the department you work for will be billed for the overpayment.

• If you are not awarded Work-Study and wish to be considered for this award, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid.

How Much Can I Earn?

The average award for an academic year is $8,000 (this may vary depending on funding). This is based on your available unmet need & must be within your Cost of Attendance. The hourly pay ranges from $14.77 to $17.00 per hour.

How Do I Apply for Work-Study?

Work-study is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Students who are interested in receiving work-study must submit a WK___  form (available on the Forms section of the Financial Aid page). This form must be signed by the supervisor and all the necessary information must be complete.

Students who have already received work-study in the previous year and have a complete file by our office priority packaging deadline will be offered work-study before new applicants. These students must submit the WK__ form for the award to be accepted by a set deadline or the award will be cancelled.

Students who apply after the deadline and/or after funds have already been allocated are placed on a waitlist. The waitlist is awarded in date order that the WK__ form is received and that requirements are complete. Students who do not earn their work-study within the first three payrolls will have their work-study award cancelled.

Click for MSU Denver Work Study Job Listings

Cancellation or Reduction of Work-Study

Work-Study funds will be canceled if the following occurs:

• A student does not earn work-study funds by the 3rd payroll of a semester or 6 weeks from the time the award was accepted, whichever occurs later.

• A student drops below 3 credit hours (Any hours earned during the payroll will be charged to the department);

• A student’s satisfactory academic progress (SAPGR available on the Forms section of the Financial Aid page) appeal is denied.

Work-Study funds will be reduced if the following occurs:

• A student receives a scholarship or outside sponsorship award.
  (If a reduction occurs during a payroll and the student over earns, the department will be charged the additional earnings).

Work-Study Supervisors

For policies and procedures regarding work-study employment, please see the Student Employment Portal or contact us at the following address or phone number:

890 Auraria Parkway, Suite 310
Denver, CO 80204
(Student Success Building)

Ph:303-615-0999
Email: [email protected]

The short-term student loan program has been serving MSU Denver’s diverse student population for years by offering interest free, short term (30 day) loans to qualified MSU Denver students. Short Term Loans serve as a crucial financial bridge to students awaiting their financial aid checks at the beginning of each semester. Access to Short Term Loan funds enables students to purchase textbooks and supplies needed to succeed in classes. The Short-Term Student Loan Program can also help students meet other unexpected financial expenses that may occur throughout the term.

TO QUALIFY

• Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours at MSU Denver for the corresponding semester.

• Must have previously completed at least 6 credit hours of coursework at MSU Denver.

• Must have a complete financial aid file with approved awards pending disbursement
-or- qualifying on/off campus employment to use as collateral.

• In order to use off-campus employment as a source of collateral, students must submit their two most recent paystubs with the Short Term Loan Application/Letter of Understanding, as well as meet all other eligibility criteria. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis pending employment verification.

• Student account must be in good financial standing with all previous semester balances paid off in full. Cannot be on academic probation or financial aid suspension (below 67% cumulative completion rate and/or 2.0 cumulative GPA).

• Can borrow up to $515.00 (minus a $15.00 processing fee) for each Short Term Loan.

TO APPLY

All students must submit the Short Term Loan Application and the Letter of Understanding, along with any other documentation needed to show collateral (off-campus employment). Currently, these forms are only available in hardcopy form. Use the links below to access them and please submit to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in person or via fax.

STLAPP – Short Term Loan Application (find on our Student Forms Page)

For more information on the Short-Term Loan Program, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page -or- visit us in the Student Success Building– Area 6, Suite 130. Phone: 303.556.8593, Fax: 720.778.5833.

Colorado Graduate Grant (CGG) is a need-based grant funded by the Colorado General Assembly and are awarded to graduate students who are Colorado residents enrolled in a critical career degree program as identified by the Colorado Commission of Higher Education. Students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as determined by the FAFSA or must be classified as an ASSET student as determined by the state of Colorado. ASSET students must fill out the CASFA to be considered for this grant.

CGG is awarded to MSU Denver graduate students who demonstrate high financial need based off the submission of their FAFSA or CASFA application. Students must be enrolled in an eligible graduate program at least half-time and grant amounts may be prorated based on enrollment. Students must be in good standing with MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy each semester to receive the grant and meet all other financial aid eligibility criteria such as not owing an overpayment on a loan or grant or be in default on a student loan.

The amount of CGG awards will vary each year, depending on the allocation received from the state, the number of eligible MSU Denver graduate students who demonstrate high need and are enrolled at least half-time in one of the designated critical career programs.

Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students with a complete financial aid file. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships recommends you have your FAFSA/CASFA submitted by March 1 of every year to receive full consideration for most state and institutional financial aid awards.

Verification is the process of confirming that information reported by you and your spouse (if applicable) on the FAFSA is accurate. If selected for verification, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you through your MSU Denver email account.

When selected for verification, a copy of your and your spouse’s (if applicable) U.S. Federal IRS Income Tax Returns, W-2 forms, and/or other information must be submitted to our office. By signing the FAFSA, you have agreed, if asked, to provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed FAFSA. If this information is not provided, you will not receive financial aid. If you were awarded and received financial aid based on incorrect information, you will have to repay any funds disbursed.

All financial aid funds can be used for your educational expenses, including living expenses, while you are in school.

It is our intent to have your financial aid credited to your student account as early as 10 business days before the first day of class for each term. In accordance with federal regulation, this is the earliest date that aid can be disbursed. You must, however, have a complete application on file in our office to have your aid disbursed. If you apply late or do not complete your file promptly, your financial aid funds may be delayed. Almost all financial aid awards (with the exception of out-of-state loan checks, alternative loan checks, consortium checks, and some scholarship funds) are disbursed into your student account by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Contact our office for more information regarding the schedule of disbursements.

• In order for a disbursement to occur, you must have a complete file; you must be registered for the minimum credits required for your awards; you must not be on financial aid suspension (SAP); and you must have no holds on your financial aid file.

• Aid will be canceled if not disbursed by census date each semester. Census date is the “Last Day to Add/Drop Full-Semester Classes with 50% Refund” date as published in MSU Denver’s Academic Calendar.

• If you must buy books or if you need other financial assistance before your financial aid funds are available, contact the Tivoli Station Bookstore to inquire if you can charge your books/supplies to your student account in which your financial aid can apply towards when it disburses.
  • You may be able to obtain a short-term loan against your pending financial aid award. Please contact our office to inquire about this.

All students will initially receive an aid package quote that is based on full-time enrollment status (6 or more credit hours each semester). However, if you make any changes to your enrollment status prior to the census date (which is the “Last Day to Add/Drop Full-Semester Classes with 50% Refund” date as published in MSU Denver’s Academic Calendar for each semester), your entire aid package may be prorated if your enrollment status drops to less than full time. If you have already accepted your aid and it has paid into your student account, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships may have to adjust and bill a portion of your aid to keep within your total Cost of Attendance resulting in a balance owed to MSU Denver.

Likewise, if you increase your enrollment status upward from half-time enrollment prior to the census date, you may be eligible for an increase in your awards. Please note that each time you adjust your enrollment status before census date, your aid award will be prorated and your student account will be adjusted for necessary increases or decreases in tuition charges and financial aid awards. Notification of any changes to your awards will be sent via email to your Student Hub.

For Graduate students to maintain their full eligibility in Federal Stafford Loans, they must be established in at least 3 credit hours or more for the term.

Federal Stafford Loans and the Graduate PLUS can be accepted through Student Hub.

All students will initially receive an aid package quote that is based on full-time enrollment status even if you indicated three-quarter time or half-time anticipated enrollment on your FAFSA. However, if you make any changes to your enrollment status prior to the census date (which is the last day of each semester that you can drop a full-semester course and have it deleted from your academic record), your entire aid package will be prorated. If you increase or decrease your enrollment status from half- or three-quarter time enrollment prior to the census date, your award package will be prorated to the appropriate enrollment level. Please note that each time you adjust your enrollment status before census date, your aid award will be prorated and your student account will be adjusted for necessary increases or decreases in tuition charges and financial aid prorations.

Proration of aid ceases after each semester’s census date. At that time, your aid package and the amount of aid credited to your student account will be held at the appropriate amounts based on your recorded enrollment status on census date. No increases or decreases to your aid award will be made after the census date based on changes to your enrollment status. However, if you reduce your enrollment hours after the census date, you will be subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) regulations governing the completion rate for that term. All aid proration activities will be reflected on your student account billing statements. Therefore, we encourage you to change your enrollment status as little as possible.

Please note: If our office receives your FAFSA after the census date of the semester, aid will be disbursed according to your current enrollment rather than frozen hours. Federal Stafford Loans are ALWAYS disbursed according to current enrollment.

Graduate students Enrollment Level by Credits:

Full-Time Enrollment: 6+ credit hours
3/4 Time Enrollment: 4-5 credit hours
Half-Time Enrollment: 3 credit hours (MINIMUM OF FEDERAL LOANS TO DISBURSE)
Less than Half-Time Enrollment: 1-2 credit hours

You have the right to

• Know what financial assistance is available, including all federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs

• Know the application deadline for each of the financial assistance programs

• Know how your financial need is determined

• Know what resources are considered in the calculation of your financial need

• Know how much of your financial need, as determined by the University, has been met

• Receive an explanation of the various programs in your student package

• Receive equitable treatment in the consideration of your application for financial aid

• Receive copies of all policies with which you are expected to comply

It is your responsibility to

• Review the financial aid programs at MSU Denver
• You read, understand, and agree to any of your financial aid award conditions.

• Comply with all University and Office of Financial Aid deadlines

• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the renewal application completely for each year you plan to attend MSU Denver

• Respond promptly to all requests for additional documentation, verification items, corrections and/or new information

• Read and understand all forms you are asked to submit or sign

• Keep copies of all forms that you sign or are required to submit (You are legally responsible for all agreements that you sign.)

• Notify the Office of the Registrar of any changes in your name or address (You are responsible for keeping all lenders and loan agencies informed of address changes.)

• Know what portions of your financial aid award must be repaid and what portions are grant aid (If the aid is a loan, you are responsible for knowing the terms of your loan.)

• Comply with the University’s Return of Funds Policy should you withdraw from the University or fail to earn a passing grade in all of your classes for the semester

• Comply with the University’s Financial Aid Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
• Individuals willfully misrepresenting information provided in applying for Colorado Student Aid funds are subject to penalty of Colorado law

The U.S. Department of Education has required institutions and students to repay or refund unearned student aid funds.  Student aid may be considered unearned if a student withdrawals completely during a term in which federal Title IV money was received.  Refund and repayment regulations specify, in complex formula, exactly how much is due back to the federal programs from the institution and/or the student. The Return of Funds calculation determines how much aid a student earned based on how many days the student attended classes. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships uses the date the student withdrew from MSU Denver to determine the date of withdrawal in the calculation. The definition of what constitutes a student’s withdrawal date is below.

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 adopted a new approach for the return of unearned federal funds. The new approach became law on October 7, 1998 and was implemented in the 2000/2001 year.

Federal Regulations require that all or a portion of a student’s Title IV financial aid be returned to the appropriate aid program following the student’s complete withdrawal from classes. Following withdrawal, any credit balance in the student’s tuition and fees account will first be refunded to the aid programs from which funds were awarded. Any remaining credit balance will be refunded to the student. The student may owe the school money if funds were disbursed directly to the student.

For information on how to withdraw from your classes or to provide official notice of your intent to withdraw, please follow this link to the Office of the Registrar: http://fuli.joe-yan.net/registrar/student/#drop-%26-withdrawal

For important dates to consider for withdraw and tuition refund policy, please visit this Bursar Office webpage: http://fuli.joe-yan.net/bursar/important-dates/

Schools have certain responsibilities if a student with Title IV funds:

• Officially Withdraws
• Drops Out
• Is Expelled
• Unofficially Withdraws
• Takes an unapproved leave of absence
• Fails to return from an approved leave of absence

A student’s withdrawal date is:

• The date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process or officially notified the institution of intent to withdraw; or
• The midpoint of the period for a student who leaves without notifying the institution; or
• The student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically related activity.
• Oral notification may be acceptable if the institution has acceptable documentation to verify the intent to withdraw.

A student is considered an unofficial withdrawal:

• If the student does not officially withdraw from classes and stops attending all classes. A prorated portion of the federal aid received, based on the documented last day of attendance, must be returned to the federal aid programs (Return of Title IV Funds calculation).  If the school is unable to document the last day of attendance, then the institution will use the midpoint of the term as the last day of attendance.

• Please note: If all of your final grades post as “F”, “F#”, “U”, “UE”, “U#”, “CC”, “DW”, “SN”, “I”, “AW”, “W” and/or “NC”, by Federal regulation we are required to assume you unofficially withdrew. Your earned aid will be calculated based upon 50% attendance of the term, thus, you have earned only 50% of your total aid and you must repay all or a portion of your unearned federal aid. You must repay a portion or all of your unearned federal aid.

The Office of Financial Aid’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds follow:

• Providing students with the information given in this policy
• Identifying students who are affected by this policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds calculation for those students
• Returning any Title IV funds programs within the timeline specific to these policies. The school has 45 days to return and process Return of Funds calculations from the date the student withdrew or when the school was notified that the student has withdrawn. For students who unofficially withdrew, the 45 days begins when final grades post at the end of the semester.

The student’s responsibility in regard to the return of Title IV funds include:

• Returning to the Title IV programs any funds that were disbursed to the student and which the student was determined to be ineligible for via the Return of Title IV Funds calculation
• Withdrawal does not eliminate the student’s financial responsibility to the university. The student is responsible for any charges owed to MSU Denver, including any billing that was conducted through the Return of Title IV calculation.
• If a student withdraws and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships verifies that the student never attended their courses, 100% of all aid will be billed for that semester.

Return of Title IV funds to the Federal government will be in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Subsidized Stafford Loan
• Graduate PLUS Loan
• Federal Perkins Loan

It is important to be aware that withdrawing from courses may negatively affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which may make you ineligible for financial aid. Please see the Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress section for more information. If you would like to discuss the implications of our SAP Policy and reapply for aid at a later date, you may contact our office.

When students apply for financial aid, the government uses standard formulas to determine financial aid eligibility and dependency status. All students are treated equally by the formula that determines aid eligibility. Since the federal government understands that not all student and family situations are similar, they have given schools the authority to make individual adjustments to a student’s file on a case-by-case basis.

This process of adjustment is called professional judgment, and MSU Denver has a Professional Judgment Committee made up of full-time staff. Students can appeal to this committee regarding any unusual circumstances they can document which may affect their financial aid eligibility.

The Office of Financial Aid can make adjustments in some cases for loss of income or benefits, death, divorce or separation of spouse, unusually high medical bills or problems obtaining parental data due to family situation.

Medical Expenses

In some circumstances, you may be able to borrow additional loan funds to help cover the cost of uninsured and paid medical expenses that occur during the academic year.

To request that we evaluate your medical expenses and bills, you must complete a Medical Expenses Reevaluation Appeal Form available from our Forms Page. Documentation showing that you have paid the medical expenses will be required for us to adjust your income based on this appeal.

Loss of Employment/Separation

If you or your spouse experience a change in income and/or financial situation after you have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we may be able to make an adjustment to your financial aid eligibility.

To make an adjustment of this type, you must complete an Income Adjustment Appeal Form available from our Website. Please read the form carefully and be sure to provide all the necessary documentation. We will consider income adjustments for the following circumstances that occur after the FAFSA has been submitted to the federal processor:

• Your spouse die(s).
• You separate or divorce.
• You and/or your spouse:
  • lose(s) a verifiable benefit OR
  • become(s) disabled OR
  • experience(s) a loss or decrease of income.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies require all students receiving federal, state, and/or institutional aid to meet and maintain specific academic standards. All forms of financial aid are affected by this policy except for some externally funded scholarships and some private alternative loans.

Your academic record, all transfer credits, and all credits attempted while you are not receiving financial aid are subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. The highest grade you receive for any repeat courses will be used in the GPA calculation for your SAP status. Your academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester in which you attend school, and it will be reviewed before any disbursement of financial aid funds for a new semester. Graduate-level financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at MSU Denver is evaluated using three categories.  Please note that, in order to remain enrolled in an academic program, students must meet academic standards specific to their degree programs, and these standards may not be tracked by the Office of Financial Aid.

Students who are not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy will not have their financial aid awards packaged until they have been approved on an appeal, even though they may have completed all other necessary requirements on their file.

“GOOD STANDING”
You are considered to be in good standing for your program:

• By maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
• By maintaining a cumulative completion rate of 75% or higher.

“SAP – Not Making Satisfactory Academic Progress”
You will be placed on SAP status and will not be eligible to receive financial aid at MSU Denver for one or more of the following reasons:

• Your cumulative GPA is below 3.0. To obtain good standing, you must raise your cumulative GPA to 3.0 without the benefit of financial aid. You may also appeal. Appeal letters must document extreme extenuating circumstances to warrant approval of your appeal and must include a plan for future academic success.  Usually, for an appeal to be approved, your last semester GPA must have been at least 3.0, and you must have shown dramatic improvement and potential for a 3.0 cumulative GPA within one more semester.
• You fail to complete at least three quarters (75 percent) of the cumulative total number of credit hours you have attempted at MSU Denver. To obtain good standing, you must attain a cumulative completion record equal to three quarters (75 percent) without the benefit of financial aid. You may also appeal and document the reason you were unable to complete at least three quarters of the total credit hours you attempted.

If you are placed on financial aid SAP, you have the right to submit a written appeal to our office. Appeals must be based on extenuating circumstances that prevent you from meeting the requirements of this policy. Extenuating circumstances can be defined as medical problems, a death in the immediate family, and/or extreme personal problems. Documentation of these circumstances must be submitted with the appeal. The appeal must also explain why the circumstances no longer exist and what you will do to ensure meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy in the future.

We’ve made significant improvements to our SAP appeal process! We are now accepting on-line appeals. Simply click on the “SUBMIT A SAPGR HERE!” button above to submit your personal statement and supporting documentation.

The appeal will be reviewed by a financial aid counselor. You will be notified via email of the result of the appeal. If the appeal is denied, you may submit additional documentation in writing to the Professional Judgment Committee or pay for a semester on your own and re-appeal after earning a semester GPA of at least 3.0, in a graduate course for your Master’s program. If you have an appeal approved, your status will be updated to Probation and you will be expected to complete 100% of your attempted credits with at least a 3.0 semester GPA until you are meeting SAP requirements.

*Processing times will vary based on volume.

**If for any reason you are unable to access the on-line appeal, you can still submit a hardcopy appeal form with appropriate documentation to our office in-person or via US mail. Do note however that the processing of appeals NOT submitted via the on-line appeal portal may see slightly longer processing times. We therefore strongly encourage you to utilize the on-line appeal if possible.

If you were previously on probation (PROB) for SAP, we require you to:

• Enroll in a minimum of 3 credit hours and complete 100% of those credits
• Earn a minimum of 3.0 GPA in that PROB term

If you fail to meet those conditions, you will automatically be put back on SAP suspension.

If your appeal is denied, you do still have options.

• Pay out of pocket – seek payment methods with the Cashier’s Office
• Sign up for a payment plan with the Office of Bursar
• Alternative Loan which can be explored at www.elmselect.com
  • Please filter to indicate that SAP policy NOT be required (some lenders will not disburse a loan if you are not meeting SAP once we get to certifying it)

NOTE: SAP policy is for FINANCIAL AID ONLY & is independent of Academic Probation.

• If you are not making financial aid SAP, all financial aid is suspended, including student loans. A student on SAP will not be considered for any federal, state, or institutional awards at MSU Denver.
• Starting in Fall 2013, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will no longer package students who are not making SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) .  Students on SAP will need to submit an appeal and have it approved before they will be awarded aid.

• A grade notation of “W”, “AW”, “AP”, “CC”, “CL”, “EX”, “D”, “F”, “I”, “NC”, “NR”, “PL”, “PP”, “SA”, “SN”, “U”, “SP”, and “UE” does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for credit hour completion.

• When an Incomplete or grade change occurs, the student has until census date of the following semester (counting from the term of when they initially registered for the course) to have the grade updated and must then notify the Office of Financial Aid to recalculate his/her SAP status.

• Your entire academic record is taken into consideration when an appeal is reviewed. Please note that this does include any semesters where you paid for school without financial aid assistance.

• Credits removed from your record due to an approved Tuition and Fees Appeal will be included when calculating your overall completion rate and attempted hours.

• If you have completed a last grade stands request after retaking a course, the credits from your previous attempt can affect your cumulative completion rate. This is the result of your previous grade being changed to an “NC” and being replaced by the most recent grade earned. If you have any questions regarding the “Grade Replacement Policy”, please visit Office of the Registrar.

• If you are awarded in error while on SAP, you will be responsible for repayment of funds received.

• You are advised to check with their academic department to ensure compliance with all components of Academic Progress. Please visit your department’s website for this information.