Standards of Academic Progress

Saint Leo University Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Policy Basics

Beginning July 1, 2011, the 2011-2012 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards will change in accordance with new federal regulations. The new Federal regulations require all schools participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy that conforms to the requirements detailed below.

Satisfactory academic progress status is based on the student’s entire academic record, at all schools attended, regardless of whether they received financial aid. If a student transfers in coursework from other institutions, we will count all attempted units accepted in the SAP calculation, for both progress and maximum time frame.

Newly admitted transfer students have SAP calculated based on adding their transfer credits to their attempted credits, allowing them to receive aid for the balance of maximum time frame.

SAP is calculated each semester (that includes two combined 8 week modules) after grades have been recorded by the registrar. An e-mail notice will be sent when a student loses eligibility, but may be close to the start of the next semester (or 8 week module).

Two Requirement Categories – Qualitative & Quantitative

Qualitative Requirement – The qualitative requirement sets a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average for the degree level at which the student is classified.  Note: This is the cumulative GPA used to determine your SLU academic status, and does not include grades from courses taken at another school.

Undergraduate Students - Students must maintain academic standing consistent with GPA requirements below. At 60 or more credits attempted one must maintain a minimum SLU GPA of 2.0 at all times.

Graduate students - A 3.0 SLU GPA is required at all times.  

Quantitative Requirement – The quantitative requirement has two parts, a maximum time frame and a required completion ratio. The requirements are different from undergraduate to graduate.

Undergraduate Students

Maximum time frame (maximum attempted credit hours) – Eligibility ends when the student has attempted 180 credit hours, which includes credits attempted at any school prior to and while enrolled at SLU regardless of whether the student received financial aid at the time they attempted them.

        No longer eligible - Once  students have attempted 180 credit hours, they are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate student, including a 2nd baccalaureate degree.

         No extended eligibility for changes in major – There is no added time for a change in major, except if a major is no longer offered and the student is requiredto change.

All undergraduate degrees at SLU require 120 earned credits. Federal regulations stipulate that the maximum time frame for an undergraduate student cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the academic program.

Completion Ratio – Students must earn at least 67% of all credit hours attempted at any school.  This is a cumulative calculation of all attempted and earned credits during all terms, at all schools attended.  

Graduate students

Maximum timeframe (maximum attempted credit hours) - Must earn your graduate degree within the time limitations set by the Graduate School for your graduate program.   

Completion ratio – Students must earn at least 67% of all attempted credit hours attempted at any school in the graduate program. This is a cumulative calculation of all attempted and earned credits during all terms, at all schools attended

Policy Details: 

When is SAP Determined?

Initial Review – First semester, first time college students are considered to be meeting SAP during the first SLU semester (or two 8 week modules).   New transfer students must meet the SAP requirements once all final transcripts have been received and reviewed. SAP will be calculated after all final transcripts have been received and recorded by SLU.

End of Every Semester (two 8 week modules) Review – SAP status is calculated at the end of each semester (two 8 week modules), after grades are posted by the registrar. Review Periods are Fall, Spring, and Summer.For combined 8 week module students SAP would be checked (Fall 1 -  Fall 2, Spring 1 - Spring 2, and Summer 1- Summer 2) or (Fall 2 – Spring 1, Spring 2 – Summer1, Summer 2 – Fall 1) depending on the academic calendar the student started on for BBAY

SAP status

Warning – The first time the student falls short of meeting the required completion ratio, the student is placed in warning status <67% completion.  NOTE: The student will remain eligible to receive financial aid while in warning status.

**After attending one semester (two 8 week modules) on warning<67% completion status, the completion ratio must be at least 67% of all attempted credits, or the student becomes ineligible for financial aid. 

SAP Cancel – When the status is SAP cancel (ineligible), the student will no longer qualify for financial aid

1.    If the student has not reached the required 67% completion rate by the end of the Financial Aid Warning Period (One Semester or Two 8 Week modules)

2.   When the student reaches the undergraduate limit of 180 attempted credits, they are a SAP cancel and are ineligible for financial aid.

3.   An undergraduate student, must meet the published GPA requirements <60 attempted credits, 60+ attempted credits must be at least 2.0 after each calculation or they are ineligible for financial aid.

4.   A graduate student must maintain their GPA at a minimum of 3.0 after each calculation, or they are ineligible for financial aid.

 
Probation – Probation status can only be granted with an approved appeal for extenuating circumstances and FA has determined the student will make SAP standards by the end of the next semester (payment period), if FA can’t determine the student will make SAP progress by the end of the next semester the student must be placed on an academic plan from an SLU advisor that details what is required for the student to meet the SAP requirements of 67%, and/or earn their degree.

What happens when the student’s status is SAP Cancel?

        The student is no longer eligible for financial aid, including federal loans, as well as any aid         that requires an eligible SAP status.

How do you regain eligibility?

Appeal – If extenuating circumstances during specific terms of enrollment caused the student to not earn all attempted credits, or maintain the minimum GPA, the student may file a SAP Appeal.  Appeal forms are available on the SLU Financial Aid website. 

Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to: unexpected death or major hospitalization of an immediate family member, extended hospitalization or medical condition of student, house fire, or a victim of a violent crime. Unexpected employment or work issues beyond the student’s control may be considered on a case by case basis. The appeal should address and document these extenuating circumstances AND describe how the circumstances have changed so that the student is in a better position to be academically successful.

Appeals must include supporting documentation. Incomplete appeals or those missing documentation are typically denied. A committee will review the appeal and the committee’s decision is final.

Appeal requirements:

• The student must provide a typewritten personal statement (not written by someone else on the students behalf), and attach documentation, of extenuating circumstances for specific terms of study with unearned (dropped, failed, incomplete, missing grades, repeated) credits that caused the student to not meet the SAP requirements and.
• The student must explain what has changed that will allow the student to either meet the SAP requirements at the next calculation, or meet the requirements of the academic plan.
• The student must attach an academic plan developed by an academic advisor that ensures the student will meet the SAP requirements by a specific point in time, if FA determines he/she can’t meet the SAP requirements by the end of the next semester

Probation – Probation status can only be granted with an approved appeal for extenuating circumstances and FA has determined the student will make SAP standards by the end of the next semester (payment period), if FA can’t determine the student will make SAP progress by the end of the next semester the student must be placed on an academic plan from an SLU advisor that details what is required for the student to meet the SAP requirements of 67%, and/or earn their degree.

Academic Circumstances that Affect Your Status:

Changes in major, double majors or minors – may cause the student to reach the maximum attempted hours, and lose eligibility before earning a degree.

Incomplete grades, missing grades, failing grades, course withdrawals – all lower the student’s completion ratio, because they are counted as attempted, but not earned credits.  They also count against the students maximum attempted hours. Incomplete grades, missing grades and withdrawals after the add/drop period are counted as attempted credit hours in the calculation.

Courses taken for pass/fail grades– count against both the students maximum attempted credits and the students completion ratio.   

Repeated courses - count as attempted credit hours each time the student registers for them, but reduce the completion ratio because they count as earned credits only once.  

Credits taken while enrolled in study abroad programs - count toward the students maximum attempted credits and  completion ratio.  Note: Credits count as attempted, but not earned, until the students official transcript is reviewed and processed by the SLU Registrar. This delay could cause the student to fall into warning or ineligible status for completion ratio.

Remedial courses – do not count as either attempted or earned credits.

Late posted grades or grade changes – will not change the student’s status.  The student may request a recalculation of SAP after the student has confirmed with the Registrar that the grade change has been posted to the student’s academic record. 

 
Contact Us:
1-800-240-7658
finaid@saintleo.edu