Reasonable Academic Progress (RAP)
In order to be eligible to receive the financial aid, a returning student is required to have met certain standards of satisfactory academic progress during his or her previous UK attendance, whether or not financial aid was received. Entering freshmen students and students transferring to U.K. from a school outside the University system are automatically eligible to receive the aid offered.
Satisfactory academic progress is usually determined in early June. A returning student who does not meet the required standards during his or her last enrollment period(s) will have any offer of aid canceled. A student may then either appeal in writing his or her denial of aid or make up the deficit by earning additional credits during another enrollment period. Detailed instructions on how to file an appeal will be sent to the student along with his/her notification of unsatisfactory progress or may be found on the RAP Appeals.
A complete text of the University of Kentucky satisfactory academic progress policy may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or from the RAP Policy.
RAP Policy
For the University of Kentucky Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students. (Other than Medical and Dental Students)
Federal regulations mandate that all students be required to make measurable progress toward a degree in order to receive financial assistance through Title IV federal financial aid grant, work and loan programs. The University of Kentucky has adopted the following standards of satisfactory academic progress in order to comply with this federal requirement. These standards are for financial aid purposes only and neither replaces nor overrides University of Kentucky academic policies. Under normal circumstances, satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated once each year at the end of the Spring semester.
Criteria for Meeting the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
A. Credit Hours
A student will be required to complete at least two-thirds (67%) of all cumulative credits attempted, as expressed by the number of cumulative hours successfully completed divided by the number of cumulative hours attempted (with the result rounded up to the nearest whole percent).
Example: A student who attempts thirty (30) credit hours during an academic year must earn at least twenty (20) of those hours before he or she is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.
Undergraduate Students Example 1
An example of a typical undergraduate student enrolled in a four year degree program who attempts 15 credit hours per semester (full-time) would meet the satisfactory progress standards provided he or she follows the below schedule:
| Year in School | Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted* | Cumulative Credit Hours Earned** |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 30 credit hours during year 1 | 20 credit hours during year 1 |
| Year 2 | 60 credit hours by the end of year 2 | 40 credit hours by the end of year 2 |
| Year 3 | 90 credit hours by the end of year 3 | 60 credit hours by the end of year 3 |
| Year 4 | 120 credit hours by the end of year 4 | 80 credit hours by the end of year 4 |
| Year 5 | 150 credit hours by the end of year 5 | 100 credit hours by the end of year 5 |
| Year 6 | 180 credit hours by the end of year 6 | 120 credit hours by the end of year 6 |
Undergraduate Students Example 2
Another student enrolled in a four-year degree program may pursue the following schedule:
| Year in School | Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted* | Cumulative Credit Hours Earned** |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 24 credit hours during year 1 | 19 credit hours during year 1 |
| Year 2 | 48 credit hours by the end of year 2 | 42 credit hours by the end of year 2 |
| Year 3 | 78 credit hours by the end of year 3 | 72 credit hours by the end of year 3 |
| Year 4 | 108 credit hours by the end of year 4 | 102 credit hours by the end of year 4 |
| Year 5 | 126 credit hours by the end of year 5 | 120 credit hours by the end of year 5 |
As long as the undergraduate students in the above examples earn at least two thirds (67%) of all cumulative credits attempted by the end of each academic year, he or she will remain eligible for financial aid.
Graduate and Professional Students Example
A typical graduate or professional student enrolled in a two year degree program who attempts 12 credit hours per semester (full-time) would meet the satisfactory progress standards provided he or she follows the following schedule:
| Year in School | Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted* | Cumulative Credit Hours Earned** |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 24 credit hours during year 1 | 16 credit hours during year 1 |
| Year 2 | 48 credit hours by the end of year 2 | 32 credit hours by the end of year 2 |
| Year 3 | 72 credit hours by the end of year 3 | 48 credit hours by the end of year |
Graduate and Professional Students Example 2
Another student enrolled in a two-year graduate or professional degree program may pursue the following schedule:
| Year in School | Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted* | Cumulative Credit Hours Earned** |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 24 credit hours during year 1 | 24 credit hours during year 1 |
| Year 2 | 42 credit hours by the end of year 2 | 39 credit hours by the end of year 2 |
| Year 3 | 51 credit hours by the end of year 3 | 48 credit hours by the end of year 3 |
As long as the graduate students in the above examples earn at least two thirds (67%) of all cumulative credits attempted by the end of each academic year, he or she will remain eligible for financial aid.
* Credit Hours Attempted include all hours a student is registered for as of the last day of the add period during the first week of classes.
** Credit Hours Earned would be grades of A, B, C, D, or pass; unearned credit would be grades of E, F, W, Z, or Incomplete. Transfer credits hours that will be applied toward a student’s degree at the University of Kentucky will be counted only toward the maximum number of attempted hours allowed being eligible for financial aid (e.g., 180 Undergraduate credit hours or 72 Graduate credit hours). Transfer credits are not included in the GPA calculation. (See section C below.)
Audited classes
Credits earned through CLEP testing, or non-credit courses are not considered in determining satisfactory academic progress. Hours for courses with grades of ‘incomplete’ (I) will not be counted as hours earned until the credit is received, but will be counted as hours attempted. Hours earned on a ‘pass-fail’ basis or paid through a consortium agreement, however, will be used in determining satisfactory academic progress. Credits assigned to developmental (remedial) courses will be counted in calculating hours attempted; however, these courses are not used in calculating the grade point average (GPA). Repeat courses (see NOTE below) taken during the year will automatically be considered in the following Spring review for progress.
NOTE: A repeat option replaces only the credit hours earned for GPA calculation; all attempts at a course are calculated in total hours attempted and in the completion ratio calculation. Academic bankruptcy will delete an early academic record from the UK GPA but does not remove the attempted hours from the cumulative hours calculation nor from the completion ratio calculation.
B. Grade Point Average
In addition to the 'credit hour requirement' (see Section A), all financial aid students must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) that is consistent with the institution's requirements for graduation. However, per federal regulation, students with a "junior" standing or higher must have a cumulative "C" average or 2.0 GPA in order to remain eligible for financial aid.
Students who have attempted 60 credit hours or more will be considered to have earned a "junior" standing at the University of Kentucky. In addition, GPA calculations are based only on hours attempted in the University of Kentucky system. This is the official GPA as calculated by the Registrar.
C. Academic Probation
Students placed on academic probation by the Registrar's office will automatically be placed on financial aid probation. These students can continue to receive financial aid for up to one year. After one year, they will lose their financial aid eligibility if they have not been removed from academic probation.
D. Maximum Time Financial Aid May be Received
- Undergraduate Students
An undergraduate student enrolled at the University of Kentucky should be able to complete his or her program of study in no more than one hundred and twenty (120) credits of academic work, including any transfer credits. Therefore, a University of Kentucky undergraduate student typically may not receive federal financial aid after attempting one hundred and eighty (180) credit hours. The maximum time frame for students enrolled in programs of study requiring completion of more than one hundred and twenty credits will be 150% of the credits required, e.g., programs requiring 130 credits will have a 195 credit maximum. - Graduate and Professional Students
A graduate student enrolled at the University of Kentucky should be able to complete his or her program of study in no more than forty-eight (48) credits of academic work, including any transfer credits. Therefore, a University of Kentucky graduate student typically may not receive federal financial aid after attempting seventy-two (72) credit hours. The maximum time frame for students enrolled in programs of study requiring completion of more or less than forty-eight credits will be 150% of the credits required, e.g., programs requiring 50 credits will have a 75 credit maximum.
The maximum time frame requirement may be adjusted for students pursuing a second degree. However, before this occurs, the student will be required to file an appeal to document this situation. Generally, students will be allowed to attempt up to 150% of the additional credit hours required to earn the second degree.
E. Re-establishing Satisfactory Academic Progress
A student ineligible to receive financial aid for failure to meet the above standards of satisfactory academic progress may re-establish his or her eligibility by enrolling at his or her own expense in a subsequent term and meeting the standards according to the cumulative credit hours attempted and cumulative grade point average (see Sections A, B, C). Classes taken at other colleges will not automatically be taken into consideration for reinstatement purposes.
Right of Appeal
A student determined ineligible to receive financial aid for failure to meet the above standards of satisfactory academic progress may submit an appeal in writing to the Assistant Director for Financial Aid. Appeals should include the following:
- The reason(s) the student feels he or she should be considered to have made satisfactory progress.
- The reason(s) why the student failed to earn the required number of credit hours.
- Mitigating or extraordinary circumstances which may have prevented the student from earning the required number of credit hours. Documentation of such circumstances should be included with the written appeal. Note that inability to attend classes due to lack of funds is not an extenuating circumstance.
- A statement from the student's faculty advisor, Dean, or Department Chairman, if the student feels it appropriate.
- Credit hours earned for each preceding semester enrolled.
- The reason(s) for withdrawal (in cases where the student withdrew during the semester) along with documentation, if appropriate (medical advice, illness, personal, or family problems, etc.).
- Other information that a student may feel is pertinent or helpful.
- Appeals may be referred on to a Sub-Committee of the Committee on Student Financial Aid, appointed annually by the Chairperson to act upon such appeals.
- An appeal may be referred to the sub-committee by the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid if it is deemed appropriate, or
- A student may request his or her appeal be referred to the sub-committee if it cannot be resolved to the student's satisfaction by the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid.
F. Transfer Credits
As stated above, transfer credits hours that will be applied toward a student’s degree at a University of Kentucky will be counted toward the maximum number of attempted hours allowed being eligible for financial aid (i.e., 180 credit hours). If the student must take additional credits because of transferring from another institution, the student must submit a written appeal to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. If the appeal is approved, the student may continue on financial aid.
Transfer hours are counted toward total hours attempted in Section C (maximum time frame) but not in hours attempted in Section A (“quantitative” credit hours). In addition, transfer hours are not counted in the calculation of a student’s UK G.P.A., with the exception of credits earned prior to Fall 2007 in the UK Community College System and/or the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
G. Evaluation of Financial Aid Eligibility
Standards of Academic Progress are applied once each year at the end of the Spring semester. At that point, a student’s entire academic history at the university (even for periods he/she did not receive financial aid) will be subject to the above quantitative and qualitative standards. Students who do not meet the Standards of Academic Progress will be notified by mail. The student may make a written appeal or re-establish his or her eligibility by attending school at his or her own expense to make up for any deficits.
H. Summer School
Any credit hours earned during the four and eight week summer sessions will be included in the annual evaluation made at the end of the following spring term.
I. Notification
- A summary of the criteria for maintaining satisfactory progress shall be included with each student's Financial Aid Notification (FAN).
- A copy of the entire satisfactory progress policy statement will be mailed to every financial aid applicant who is not making progress.
- All students denied financial aid for failure to maintain satisfactory progress shall be notified in writing and furnished a copy of the entire satisfactory progress policy statement.
RAP Appeal
A student determined ineligible to receive financial aid for failure to meet the University of Kentucky standards of satisfactory academic progress the right to appeal these standards: exceptions to these requirements may be made in individual cases, if the student can demonstrate that his or her failure to meet the minimum standard was caused by extreme or unusual circumstances beyond his or her control.
Procedures for RAP Appeal
To initiate an appeal, the student must (1) complete the Reasonable Academic Progress (RAP) Appeal Form and (2) submit the above form with a letter and appropriate documentation, if required, containing the following:
- The reason(s) the student feels he or she should be considered to have made satisfactory progress.
- Mitigating or extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control, which may have adversely affected academic performance, preventing the student from earning the required grade point average and/or number of credit hours. Documentation of such circumstances should be included with the written appeal. Note that inability to attend class due to lack of funds is not an extenuating circumstance.
- Specify what measure(s) are being taken or have been taken to ensure that academic performance will improve if the appeal is approved, as well as any plans the student has developed with his/her academic advisor to address academic performance.
- A statement from the student’s faculty advisor, Dean, or Department Chairman, if the student believes it appropriate.
- The reason(s) for withdrawal (in cases where the student withdrew during the semester) along with documentation, if appropriate (medical advice, illness, personal, or family problems, et cetera).
- Other information that the student may believe is pertinent or helpful.
Examples of circumstances which might be considered in evaluating appeals include, but are not limited to, (a) medical (physical or mental) problems, (b) employment-related problems, (c) financial problems, (d) academic-related situations (e.g., change in major, academic bankruptcy, attendance at own expense with positive performance, attendance at another school with positive performance), and/or (e) family problems (e.g., divorce or separation, spousal abuse, death and/or illness, unexpected daycare problems).
Each appeal will be individually evaluated, usually within ten working days, and the student will be notified by mail of the results. Appeals may be approved, approved for only one term with conditions required for continued eligibility, deferred for additional information, or denied. Please note that appeals are held in the strictest confidence with release only to the Assistant Director and, when required, the Sub-Committee for Appeals.
Appeals may be referred on to a Sub-Committee of the Committee on Student Financial Aid, appointed annually by the Chairperson to act upon such appeals.
- An appeal may be referred to the sub-committee by the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid if it is deemed appropriate, or
- A student may request his or her appeal be referred to the sub-committee if it cannot be resolved to the student's satisfaction by the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid.
- Decisions of the committee are final.
Note: A student, who is academically dismissed or placed on academic suspension and wishes to appeal that status, should contact the Office Admissions for instructions. Completing a Financial Aid Appeal will not correct academic standing. Likewise, being readmitted to the University or being academically in good standing in the student's chosen program will not automatically remedy the suspension of aid.
RAP Appeal Application Form
Download RAP Appeal Application Form (PDF). After you download the application fill it out in the program and print it out and mail it or fax it to the following:
University of Kentucky Financial Aid Office
128 Funkhouser Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
Voice: 859-257-3172
Fax: 859-257-4398