SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Jamie MaloneGreg Martin

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Student Eligibility

Maintains satisfactory progress in his/her course of study according to school’s published standards

• 668.32(f)• 668.34

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Administrative Capability

Establishes, publishes, and applies reasonable standards for measuring if a student is maintaining satisfactory progress in his/her educational program

668.16(e)

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Consumer Information• Publish and make readily

available to current and prospective studentsstandards for making satisfactory progress

criteria for reestablishing eligibility if SAP is violated

• 668.42(c)(2)

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SAP Standards

Apply to all Title IV programs

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SAP Standards Must Be• Consistently Applied

• Reasonable

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SAP StandardsMust be same as or stricter thanstandards for non-Title IV students in same educational program

Are you using your school’s academic standards or standards specifically for Title IV?

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SAP Standards Must Include

Two Components

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Both must be cumulative

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Qualitative Standard

To assess quality of academic work• Use standards measurable against

a norm grades, work projects

• May use fixed or graduated standard

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Fixed Standard Example

A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 after two terms of enrollment, and subsequently, each academic year.

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Graduated Standard Example

Grade Point Average Requirements

1 to 30 credits = 1.6

31 to 60 credits = 1.8

61 to graduation = 2.0

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Academic Programs Longer Than Two Years

• By the end of the second academic year, student must have:a “C” average or its equivalentORacademic standing consistent with

graduation requirements• Years measured in time, not grade

level

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Mitigating Circumstances Regarding “C” After Two Years

These standards may be set aside if certain circumstances affect progress death of a relative injury or illness of student other special circumstances

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Quantitative StandardTo measure progress toward course completion

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Maximum Time Frame• Undergraduates may receive aid for

a maximum of 150% of the published length of the educational programcumulative, including periods

without Title IV assistance

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Graduate Max TimeSchool must develop a writtenpolicy establishing a maximum time frame in which a graduatestudent must complete the program.

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Credit Hour SchoolsMay define maximum time frame in

Academic YearsCredit Hours AttemptedTerms

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Academic YearsDegree program takes 4 years to complete 4 X 150% = 6 years is maximum time

frame 4 X 125% = 5 years is maximum time

frame

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Credit Hours AttemptedDegree program requires 120credits for completion 120 X 150% = 180 attempted credits

is maximum time frame

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TermsDegree program takes 6 termsto complete 6 X 150% = 9 terms is maximum

time frame

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Clock Hour Max TimeMust use calendar time 900 clock hour program takes 8

months to complete 8 X 150% = 12 months is

maximum time frame

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Evaluating Students’ Progress

• How often should students’ progress be evaluated?

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Maximum Time Frame

• Must be divided into equal evaluation periodsEvaluation periods cannot

exceed the lesser of one half of the program or one academic year

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Programs One Year Or Less

School must evaluate progress atleast once, at the half-way point

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Clock Hour Program Example

8 months/900 clock hoursprogram is one year in lengthone half of the program = 4 month evaluation periods

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Credit Hour Non-Term Program Example

6 months/24 quarter creditsprogram is less than one yearone half of the program = 3 month evaluation periods

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Programs Longer Than One Year

School must evaluate progress atleast once per academic year

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Credit Hour Term Degree Program

• Must evaluate progress at least once academic year

• May evaluate progress at end of each term

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Evaluating Students’ Progress

How much work must be completed at end of each evaluation period?

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Student Must Complete Within Maximum Time Frame

Your policy may require a fixed amount of work that must

be completed in each evaluation period

a percentage of work that must be completed in each evaluation period

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Credit Hour - 6 Year Max TimeStudent must complete 1/6 ofthe work required for the degreeeach year

degree requires 120 credits1/6 = .1666620 credits per year required to

finish within 6 years

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Credit Hour - Attempted Credits

120 credits / 180 credits = 67% Student must earn 67% of credit

hours attempted

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Clock Hour Program - 12 Month Max Time

4 months / 12 months = 34%34% X 900 = 306 clock hours306 clock hours in 4 month period

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Course RepeatsHow do these affect progress?? Qualitative - average grades, count

both grades, or count the higher grade

Quantitative - included in maximum time frame

May only count toward enrollment status if receiving credit

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What About?

• Incompletes• Withdrawals• Non-credit remedial courses

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Transfer Students• May make initial disbursement • If no credits transferred in, then SAP

evaluated solely on work at current school

• If received transfer credits, those must be included when determining progress toward maximum time frame

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Probation/Warning• Optional• How long?• What stipulations must student

meet?• Notification process

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Major/Degree ChangesHow will you deal with maximum timeframe?

Take credits earned and apply toward max time

Student eligible for aid for 150% of remaining required credits

Does it require an appeal?

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Appeal Policy• Specific procedures for student to

appeal if not making satisfactory progress

• Who will decide appeals?

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How To Re-establish Eligibility

What happens once a student fails to meet the standards? No appeal or disapproved appeal

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Disbursement Of Funds

Make certain that student meets satisfactory academic progress standards as of last time your policy required evaluation.

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Contacts

Gregory Martin• Phone: (215) 656-6452 • Email: gregory.martin@ed.gov

We appreciate your feedback and comments.

We can be reached at:

Jamie Malone• Phone: (312) 730-1528 • Email: jamie.malone@ed.gov

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Please provide any comments regarding this training or the trainers

to:

Jo Ann BorelTitle IV Training Supervisor

joann.borel@ed.gov202-377-3930