Academic Catalog

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies

Satisfaction Academic Progress(SAP)

This section applies to all students regardless of whether they are receiving financial aid through the Federal Direct Student Loan programs. In this section, an individual receiving Title IV funds will be referred to as a student. 

Federal regulations require institutions to establish a reasonable Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for determining whether an otherwise eligible student is meeting SAP in an educational program and may receive financial aid under the Title IV HEA programs. The SAP policy applies to all students including those not receiving federal financial aid under the Title IV HEA programs.

All students must continually maintain the following standards of SAP to maintain eligibility to obtain federally insured student loans. 

 

The policies and procedures that make up the satisfactory academic progress requirements consist of:

·         A Qualitative Component

·         A Quantitative Component

·         Appeal Procedures

Qualitative & Quantitative Components

A student is subject to all of the requirements set forth in the SAP policy section of the academic catalog. In addition, once a student has been enrolled in the program for two semesters, they must have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) that would allow them to graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) and maintain this minimum cumulative GPA throughout the program.

A student must complete their studies in not more than 150% of the published length of the program. (For purposes of this component, “published length of the program” refers to the required number of credits.) For example, the MBA program requires completion of 30 credit hours to meet the degree requirements. A student who does not complete the program with 45 credits (150% of the total credit required) will become ineligible for additional student loans and the student will lose financial aid eligibility from the university.

With respect to repeated courses, students may only repeat courses that they withdrew from, were dismissed from, or failed. Only the most recent grade is computed into a student’s GPA. However, repeated courses are included in the 150% computation.

Students must meet the attendance policies, as outlined in the catalog or they will be administratively withdrawn from their course and deemed NOT to be making SAP.

Applicants seeking transfer credit for units earned at another institution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credit may only be accepted for courses offered at the university. Any transfer credit accepted will be calculated for determining the 150% of the published length of the program. Transfer students must also earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 GPA (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) or higher to meet financial aid eligibility.

Academic Warning

A student whose cumulative GPA is less than a 3.0 (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) after the most recent semester is not making SAP and will be placed on academic warning. A student will also be placed on academic warning when they reenroll in the university after being academically dismissed.

A.  Academic Probation

 A student whose cumulative GPA is less than a 3.0 (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) after the most recent semester is not making SAP, will be placed on academic probation, and is subject to dismissal. However, a student may appeal the SAP determination.  If the appeal is granted, the student will be allowed to continue as a student on academic probation but will be placed on a Student Academic Improvement Plan (SAIP).  SAP for a student on academic probation will be monitored at the conclusion of the next semester. If at the end of the next semester, while on academic probation, a student fails to satisfy the SAIP requirements, the student is again subject to dismissal. All students are subject to all the requirements set forth in the academic catalog.

 B.  Failure to Cure Academic Probation

 Failure to meet the minimum standards prior to the program will subject a student to dismissal from the program. Once a student fails to make SAP, academic probation will be in effect until the completion of the next semester. A student with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) is subject to dismissal. The student may appeal.  If there are mitigating circumstances, grades may be reassessed (see academic appeal). 

 C.  Financial Aid Probation

 Students who do not achieve SAP at the end of a semester will lose further federal financial aid eligibility. Students may appeal this financial aid status determination to regain financial aid eligibility for one payment period (see financial aid appeal). If the appeal is granted, a student will be put on financial aid probation, may retain financial aid eligibility for one additional payment period and is put on a SAIP. SAP will be monitored at the end of each payment period in the next academic year to determine the student's financial aid eligibility status. 

 

If at the end of the semester while on financial aid probation, a student fails to satisfy the SAIP requirements, the student will lose further financial aid eligibility.

Qualifying for Financial Aid

First Semester

First disbursement

  • Successfully complete 30 days of enrollment. 

  • Submit official transcripts within 30 days of enrollment. 

  • Satisfy all financial aid requirements, including being fully packaged.

 Future Semesters

Continuing disbursements (a student that needs to be repackaged must complete new financial aid documents)

  • Successfully complete 30 days of enrollment. 

  • Satisfy all financial aid requirements, including being fully packaged.

  • Satisfy all SAP requirements.

  • Complete midterms (JDET students)

 

In all semesters each student will be evaluated based upon the university’s standards for measuring SAP. For JDET students SAP will be evaluated at the end of the academic year.

Continuation as a Non-Title IV Student on Academic Probation

If a student fails to make SAP, the student will be on academic probation and is subject to dismissal. The decision to allow a student to continue on academic probation will be made by the university president or assigned designate. During this period, the student is not eligible for federal financial aid but may continue to take courses and will be responsible for tuition and fees.

Academic Appeal

A student may appeal a determination that the student is not making SAP by sending an appeal to the director of student services at the administrative offices of the university. The appeal should set forth in detail why the student did not achieve SAP and what the student will do to achieve SAP going forward.

 The appeal will then be given to the Academic Review Committee (ARC) that will review the student’s academic record and evaluate the student's written comments. The ARC may question the student or request additional information.

 If the ARC determines that the student’s grades were properly awarded, the student will be notified, and the grades will stand as awarded.

 If the ARC determines that the student’s grades were not properly awarded, the ARC will design a remedy to correct the grades. This may include, but is not limited to, allowing a student to retake such examinations as may be appropriate, having current examinations re-graded, or order such other actions that may equitably resolve the student’s appeal.

 Once the appeal is resolved and if any action is required, the director of financial Aid will be notified to reevaluate whether the student has met the SAP standards.

Financial Aid Appeal

A student may appeal a determination of being ineligible for financial aid by sending an appeal to the university program dean. The appeal should set forth in detail a concise statement detailing what extenuating circumstances occurred that caused the student to have the inability to meet SAP and what has changed so that the student may now meet SAP.

 The appeal will then be given to the chief academic officer who will review the student’s file and evaluate the student's written comments. The financial aid director may also request information from the ARC and/or may question the student or request additional information. 

 If the appeal is denied the student will be notified, and the probation status will stand.

 If the appeal is approved, the probation status may be cleared.

 Once the appeal is resolved and if any action is required, the director of financial aid will notify the student of its outcome and whether the appeal was approved or denied.

Reinstatement as a Title IV Student

A student may, subject to the approval of the financial aid director, be reinstated for Title IV after failing to make SAP if the student meets the following minimum criteria:

·         The student has successfully completed at least one semester on academic probation.

·         A recalculated grade point average indicates that the student now has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (2.0 for BSBA, JDET, or LLM students) or higher; and

·         It is possible for the student to complete the program in 150% of the published length.