Once an undergraduate student has fallen below SAP metrics for two or more semesters, they are placed on SAP suspension.
Students reaching SAP suspension are ineligible to:
- enroll at Berklee or use Berklee facilities for a period of no less than one semester (including Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Online degree program, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, and the Berklee Abu Dhabi Center);
- receive federal financial aid; or
- participate in any Berklee-sanctioned class, ensemble, performance, travel, club, or activity.
Students may appeal their suspension to regain enrollment and financial aid eligibility on a probationary basis. Students who are suspended after their most recent semester of enrollment and either do not appeal or are not approved for probation must complete the following for reinstatement consideration:
- Demonstrate academic achievement at an accredited institution by enrolling, successfully completing all attempted coursework (with a passing grade of 2.0/"C" or better), and transferring a minimum of 6.0 credits (two courses) to their Berklee transcript according to the college's transfer credit policy.
- Appeal for a future semester of reinstatement by completing the SAP appeal process.
Appealing for Probation
Students may immediately appeal their suspension by completing the SAP appeal process no later than the final deadline noted in their suspension letter.
Probation appeal outcomes
Approved Appeals
Students with approved appeals will be placed at the level of probation from suspension, and will regain their financial aid and enrollment eligibility on a probationary basis. Students on probation from suspension will:
- create an academic contract with their student success advisor, discussing resources for academic achievement and courses to take in their next semester of enrollment;
- be expected to complete their semester with no F, I, or W grades;
- complete any requirements as set by the enrollment appeals committee in their decision letter; and
- maintain communication with their student success advisor regarding their academic progress and any challenges they may face.
Denied Appeals
Students with denied appeals, or students who fail to appeal by the deadline for probation, will remain at the level of SAP suspension. These students may appeal for reinstatement in a future semester once they have completed the transfer credit requirements for reinstatement consideration.
Appealing for Reinstatement
If a student takes one or more semesters off after being issued a notice of SAP suspension, or their probation appeal is denied, they may appeal their suspension by:
- Successfully completing 6 or more transfer credits at an accredited institution with a "C"/2.0 or higher in all attempted coursework.
- Credits earned before the date of your most recent SAP Suspension notification will not satisfy this requirement.
- Students must earn a 2.0/"C" or higher in all attempted transfer coursework. Students presenting transfer transcripts with grades of D, F, W, or other grades of non-completion may have their reinstatement appeals denied.
- Please review the SAP Transfer Credit Requirements section below for more information about transfer credit options and Office of the Registrar transfer credit policies.
- Submitting the SAP appeal form.
Both steps are required for a student’s reinstatement appeal to be considered complete.
Reinstatement appeal outcomes
Approved Appeals
Students with approved appeals will be placed at the level of reinstatement after suspension, and will regain their financial aid and enrollment eligibility on a probationary basis. Students on Reinstatement After Suspension will:
- create an academic contract with their student success advisor, discussing resources for academic achievement and courses to take in their next semester of enrollment;
- be expected to complete their semester with no F, I, or W grades;
- complete any requirements as set by the enrollment appeals committee in their decision letter; and
- maintain communication with their student success advisor regarding their academic progress and any challenges they may face.
Denied Appeals
Students with denied appeals will remain at the level of SAP suspension, and will be given specific instructions by the Enrollment Appeals Committee regarding future suspension appeals. Students may appeal for reinstatement for a future semester once these instructions have been completed.
SAP Transfer Credit Requirements
Attending Berklee Online for reinstatement transfer credits
If a student wishes to attend Berklee Online to complete transfer credits for the purposes of reinstatement:
- Students can review online course equivalencies between the Berklee Boston campus and Berklee Online.
- If you are unsure which courses you can take to make progress towards your degree, please make an appointment with your student success advisor to review your degree audit.
- Students should be mindful of Berklee Online's academic calendar, including all online semester start and end dates.
- Once final grades have been received for these classes, students should complete the SAP appeal process. As part of the appeal, students must upload a PDF of their official or unofficial transfer transcript, including the name/seal of the institution, the semester(s) the courses were completed, and all courses attempted with final grades. Failure to provide a complete transcript may result in the denial of an appeal.
Please note that the transferability of credits is subject to all Office of the Registrar transfer credit policies. Students are eligible to use transfer credits that meet the above criteria for the purposes of their appeal, even if classes are not transferable for credit, or cannot be immediately transferred due to ESL sequencing.
Students must complete six or more credits for the purpose of reinstatement consideration, with all attempted courses earning at least a "C"/2.0 or higher grade.
Attending a non-Berklee college for reinstatement transfer credits
Unless specifically noted in their letter from the enrollment appeals committee, students may complete their transfer credits for reinstatement purposes at any regionally accredited institution. Berklee does not have articulation agreements with other colleges, and cannot give specific recommendations for colleges to attend.
Students wishing to attend a non-Berklee college for their transfer credits should complete the following steps:
- Students should consider where they will be located during their time away from Berklee, and search online for colleges in the area.
- Students should review the college's course catalog online, select preferred classes, and complete Berklee's preapproval process for transferring credits to ensure that your selected classes will count towards degree progress.
- If you are unsure which courses you can take to make progress towards your degree, please make an appointment with your student success advisor to review your degree audit.
- Speak with the chosen college's admissions office to determine how to best enroll in these classes.
- Once final grades have been received for these classes, students should complete the SAP appeal process. As part of the appeal, students must upload a PDF of their official or unofficial transfer transcript, including the name/seal of the institution, the semester(s) the courses were completed, and all courses attempted with final grades. Failure to provide a complete transcript may result in the denial of an appeal.
Please note that the transferability of credits is subject to all Office of the Registrar transfer credit policies. Students are eligible to use transfer credits that meet the above criteria for the purposes of their appeal, even if classes are not transferable for credit, or cannot be immediately transferred due to ESL sequencing.
Students must complete six or more credits for the purpose of reinstatement consideration, with all attempted courses earning at least a "C"/2.0 or higher grade.
Do I need to take transfer credits for my appeal?
Berklee's transfer credit requirement is applicable in the following scenarios:
- Students who are academically suspended from Berklee, did not appeal for probation, and are interested in returning to Berklee at any point in the future.
- Students who are academically suspended from Berklee and are denied academic probation by the Enrollment Appeals Committee.
Berklee's 6.0 transfer-credit requirement is not applicable in the following scenarios:
- Students who are meeting the terms of their academic recovery contract and receive notification from the Enrollment Management Division of their contract renewal.
- Students who are academically dismissed from Berklee; academically dismissed students are indefinitely ineligible to enroll at Berklee.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Questions
If you have additional questions about your SAP standing or the appeal process, please email enrollment@berklee.edu.
