CUNY’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) information and 

SAP Waiver appeal instructions 

 

Federal regulations require all students to meet specific academic criteria prior to receiving Federal 
Student Aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Work Study, Direct Student Loans, Perkins Loan, etc). Collectively, these 
criteria are referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and reviewed annually by the 
college. Specifically, Lehman College students must meet all of the following City University of New York 
(CUNY) Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements: 

 

A. Attempt no more than 180 credits (Graduate Studies credit maximums vary according to program 
length). 

 

B. Achieve and maintain a Cumulative GPA that is consistent with CUNY SAP Regulations: 
(Graduate Students: 3.0 GPA). 

 


.5-12 attempted credits requires 
at least a 1.5 GPA 

13-24 attempted credits requires 
at least a 1.75 GPA 

25 attempted credits requires 
at least a 2.0 GPA 

 

 

C. Accumulate credits toward graduation in accordance with the CUNY SAP Regulations: 

 

Credits Attempted 

15 

30 

45 

60 

75 

90 

105 

120 

135 

150 

165 

180 

Require these number of Earned 

Credits 

0 

5 

16 

27 

42 

50 

63 

72 

84 

95 

108 

117 



 

If you were identified as not meeting one or more of CUNY’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress 
criteria listed above you are not eligible to receive Federal Title IV Financial Aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, FWS, 
Direct Student Loans, Perkins Loan, etc.) 

 

In addition you should review your CUNYFirst account for information regarding possible financial liability 
as a result of not meeting SAP. 

 

Federal Student Aid eligibility will be restored when your academic record demonstrates that CUNY SAP 
requirements are being met. You may also regain federal financial aid eligibility through the SAP Waiver 
Appeal process. SAP Waiver Appeals are evaluated with regards to the circumstances that negatively 
affected your academic success. Some of those factors may have included illness, injury and or personal 
tragedy. Additionally, factors regarding changes in circumstances and/or expectation for improvement are 
also weighed. 

 

If you wish to file an appeal, follow the instructions on the following page. 


APPEAL INSTRUCTIONS 

Academic Dismissal/Loss of Federal Title IV Financial Aid Eligibility 

. In preparing your appeal, you may wish to consult with various student service offices. Academic 
Advisement (Shuster 280), SEEK (Shuster 257B), the Counseling Center (Old Gym 114), the Urban 
Male Leadership Program (Old Gym 302), and Student Disability Services (Shuster 238), can all 
provide assistance. 


 

. Your appeal must be typed. Handwritten statements will not be accepted. Include the following 
information: 
. Name 
. EmplID 
. Address 
. Phone number 
. Email address 
. Date 
. Signature 


 

. Your typed appeal must address each of the following questions: 
. What circumstances have contributed to your poor academic performance? How did these 
circumstances affect the grades that you earned? 
. What steps are you taking (or what steps have you taken) in order to resolve the difficulties 
in your academic and/or personal life? 
. If your appeal is granted: 





a) What courses do you plan to take during the following semester? 

b) What grades do you expect to earn? 

c) What is your plan for achieving these grades? 

 

. If relevant, you must provide documentation in support of your appeal. Documentation must be 
on official stationery and from professional sources, such as doctors, therapists, or employers. It 
must be verifiable (i.e., include telephone and/or license numbers). In documenting tragedies such 
as the death of a relative, a copy of the death certificate is required. 


 

In order to be considered for Fall 2019 readmission and/or Fall 2019 Federal Title IV Financial Aid 
eligibility, your appeal must be postmarked or received by July 9th, 2019. 

All appeals must be sent or delivered to: 

 

For Undergraduate students: For Graduate students: Office 
of Academic Standards and Evaluation Office of Graduate Studies 
Shuster Hall, Room 116 Shuster Hall Room 279 

Lehman College Lehman College 

250 Bedford Park Blvd West 250 Bedford Park Blvd West 

Bronx, NY 10468 Bronx, NY 10468