SAP Appeal Breakdown

Tips on writing a SAP Appeal

A strong SAP Appeal should comprise of the following: the obstacle(s) that prevented you (the student) from meeting SAP criteria, a plan detailing how you plan on improving your academic performance, and any supporting documentation to support your appeal (if available). SCU is aware that obstacles outside of your control may interfere with your academic success, however, SCU still holds you accountable for managing your academic progress. 

What happened?

You should clearly state, in detail, the obstacles preventing you from academic success. How did the obstacles keep you from your goals? Was there an attempt at using resources available to you? How did you try to correct the problem before failing to meet SAP? The more detail provided, the better the Financial Aid Office can understand why meeting SAP criteria was not possible.

What are the next steps? 

This is where you explain how you plan to improve. Your SAP Appeal submission should already include a copy of your academic plan signed by your academic advisor, but further clarification as to how your academic status will improve will allow SCU to better understand how you plan to achieve success. Your plan is not limited to how you will improve in the classroom, but it can also include personal routines or resources you will take advantage of that were not utilized before. When drafting this section, consider the following: What classes will you be taking? Are you changing majors? Will you attend tutoring? Are you cutting back hours on a job you currently hold? Will you prioritize your mental or physical well-being? Make sure to include anything you think will provide a positive change and improve your academic performance.

Additional Documentation

A well written SAP Appeal can be made stronger with supporting documentation. This can include official documents from doctor visits, screenshots of communication between you and tutors, appointment confirmations, and other items you feel may contribute to your SAP Appeal. If you are unsure whether a piece of documentation is appropriate, include it anyway. More documentation is always better than less. 

Examples

Transitioning from High School to University

To: SCU Financial Aid Office

As a first-year freshman at SCU, the transition from high school to college proved to be more challenging than anticipated. Attending college in a different state has made me feel homesick, and I have lost the sense of community being in an environment that is totally unfamiliar to me. On top of that, studying is more intense and is something I did not anticipate well enough. The quick pace of my courses has been challenging to keep up with, which has given me anxiety further putting me in a situation I can no longer manage on my own. 

Since the start of last quarter, I have prioritized building a support system and a community I can rally behind. This includes going to campus events to meet people, attending extra-curricular activities, and being open to making new friends wherever possible. I have also taken the initiative to attend professor office hours and tutoring sessions to ensure I do not fall behind in my studies. I will also participate in study groups to ask for help from my colleagues. Lastly, I have made counseling appointments with the Student Health Center in hopes of managing my anxiety levels and receiving guidance on how to manage stress. 

I am confident that the changes in my habits combined with the use of university resources will help me regain positive SAP status and provide academic success going forward. Thank you.

Supporting Family

To: SCU Financial Aid Office

I am writing to inform you that I was unable to meet SAP standards due to my father needing medical attention for the last few months. He underwent major surgery and has been unable to care for himself. My younger sibling cannot attend to my father alone; thus, I needed to help around the house and keep our home running smoothly. This made it difficult for me to attend classes as my father is my main transportation, and I do not live close enough to campus to get to class on time using public transportation. 

My father is now able to support himself better than before, which will allow me to better focus on my studies. I have already spoken to the Drahmann Academic Center to align on what classes I need to take to get back on track. I have also reviewed the tutoring schedule to attend sessions when necessary. Since my father still requires some assistance, I plan on working with my professors in the rare instance I am not able to physically attend class. Please see the attached doctors notes and my father's recovery plan that has required most of my attention the past few months. I look forward to hearing from you.