How the SAP Policy Works

This page provides detailed examples of each component of the satisfactory academic progress policy as well as the evaluation process. It is intended to demonstrate the relationship between a student’s academic performance, his/her satisfactory academic progress status and financial aid eligibility. Students are encouraged to become familiar with the satisfactory academic progress policy in order to best understand the examples provided below.

Examples of the following components of the SAP policy are:

1. Maximum Timeframe
2. Credit Hour Completion Rate
3. Grade Point Average
4. Evaluation process

Maximum Timeframe: Andrew

Andrew is an approved full-time undergraduate student who started his degree program in Fall 2005.  He declared a double major and a minor in Spring 2007 and he expects to graduate in Spring 2011.  For the purposes of this example, Andrew is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Spring 2010, Andrew is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because a student is allowed a maximum of 12 semesters.  So even though Andrew has above a 75% completion rate, he is not meeting satisfactory academic progress after the Spring 2010 semester because he has exceeded the maximum allowed number of semesters.

Maximum Timeframe: Jonah

Jonah is an approved full-time undergraduate student with 40 test credits who started his degree program in Fall 2007. He declared a double major in Spring 2010, and he expects to graduate in Spring 2012.  For the purposes of this example, Jonah is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Fall 2011, Jonah is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because a student is allowed a maximum of 180 attempted credit hours. Even though Jonah has above a 75% completion rate, he is not meeting satisfactory academic progress after the Fall 2011 semester because he has exceeded the maximum attempted credit hours.

Credit Hour Completion Rate: Juanita

Juanita is an approved full-time undergraduate student who started in Fall 2009. She is expected to earn a minimum of 12 credits per term when enrolled in the fall and/or spring terms with a 75% credit hour completion rate.  For the purposes of this example, Juanita is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Fall 2010, Juanita is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because she did not earn a minimum of 12 credits during the Fall term. So even though she has above a 75% completion rate, she did not meet the term minimum of 12 credits earned when enrolled for the Fall and/or Spring term.

Credit Hour Completion Rate: Dylan

Dylan is an approved part-time undergraduate student who started in Fall 2010. He is expected to have a 75% credit hour completion rate for all terms of enrollment. For the purposes of this example, Dylan is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Spring 2011, Dylan is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because his credit hour completion rate is 54%.

Credit Hour Completion Rate: Ahmed

Ahmed is an approved full-time undergraduate student who transferred 20 credits when he started in Spring 2010. He is expected to earn a minimum of 12 credits per term when enrolled in the fall and/or spring terms with a 75% credit hour completion rate.  For the purposes of this example, Ahmed is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Fall 2010, Ahmed is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because he did not earn a minimum of 12 credits during the Fall term and because his credit hour completion rate is 68%. However, at the end of Spring 2011, Ahmed is meeting satisfactory academic progress because he earned at least 12 credits and his credit hour completion rate is 75%.

Credit Hour Completion Rate: Grace

Grace is an approved full-time graduate student who started in Fall 2010. She is expected to have a 75% credit hour completion rate for all terms of enrollment.  For the purposes of this example, Grace is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of Summer 2011, Grace is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because her credit hour completion rate is less than 75%.

Grade Point Average: Mia

Mia is an undergraduate student who started her degree program in Fall 2010. She is expected to have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted.

At the end of Spring 2011, although Mia has above a 75% credit hour completion rate, she is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because she did not meet the minimum GPA requirement.

Grade Point Average: Miguel

Miguel is a graduate student who started in Summer 2010. He is expected to have a 3.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted.

At the end of Spring 2011, although Miguel has a 100% credit hour completion rate, he is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because he did not meet the minimum GPA requirement.

Evaluation of Academic Progress: Melanie

Melanie is an undergraduate student. At the end of Fall 2011, Melanie fails to meet satisfactory academic progress. She is placed on Financial Aid Warning for her next term of enrollment. At the end of Spring 2012, Melanie fails to meet SAP. Because she was not meeting during the previous term, Melanie’s financial aid eligibility is suspended. Melanie can either pay out of pocket until she is able to meet SAP or submit an appeal. Melanie chooses to pay out of pocket for Summer 2012.

At the end of Summer 2012, Melanie meets SAP and has regained her financial aid eligibility for her next term of enrollment. At the end of Fall 2012, she fails to meet SAP. Melanie is placed on Financial Aid Warning for her next term of enrollment.

Evaluation of Academic Progress: Liang

Liang begins his undergraduate program in Fall 2011. At the end of Fall 2011, he is meeting satisfactory academic progress and is eligible for financial aid for Spring 2012. At the end of the spring term, Liang fails to meet SAP. Since he was meeting SAP in the previous term, he is placed on Financial Aid Warning for his next term of enrollment.

Liang decides to enroll in Summer session. At the end of Summer 2012, he meets SAP and is eligible for financial aid for the Fall 2012 term. At the end of Fall 2012, Liang fails to meet SAP. Since he was meeting SAP in the previous term, Liang is placed on Financial Aid Warning for his next term of enrollment.

At the end of Spring 2013, Liang fails to meet satisfactory academic progress. Because he was not meeting SAP during the previous term, Liang’s financial aid eligibility is suspended. Liang can either pay out of pocket until he is able to meet SAP or submit an appeal. Liang submits an appeal which is approved by the Student Financial Services Appeals Committee. Liang is placed on financial aid probation for Fall 2013 and is eligible for financial aid.

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