Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

(SAP)Featuring

Yolanda Cleveland

SAP

Satisfactory Academic Progress School must have a published policy for

monitoring a student’s progress Standards include

Qualitative Quantitative

Qualitative Standard

Grade based Programs > than 2 years- at least a C

average Programs < than 2 years- standards = to

a “C” Apply policy consistently Be as strict as those non T4 enrolled

students

Quantitative Standard

Time-related Determines a % of courses completed Set max time frame to complete program Undergraduate-150% of length of program Apply policy consistently Be as strict as those non T4 enrolled

students

Change of Major & Transfer Credits All period of enrollment count You may exclude courses not part of

new major You may limit # of times student

changes major Must count transfer credits for new

program You may count transfer grades Establish rules for those who want new

degrees

Repeats, Drops, Incompletes, Remedial, ESL Courses Explain course repeats including which

grade will count. Quantitative-include all repeated courses Policy must explain remedial, incomplete

grades, and ESL course work Cannot exclude course work from the

Summer term

When Do You Check SAP

No longer than one academic year or the length of the program, whichever is less

Increments generally coincide with payment periods

Regaining SAP Eligibility

Policy must explain how to regain eligibility

When student meets SAP standards Place them on probation , part of policy Submit an appeal, part of policy Sitting out a term doesn’t regain

eligibility Paying for one term doesn’t regain

eligibility

Probation/Warning Status

Policy explains circumstance and procedures

Continue to receive T4 funding

Must regain eligibility

Cannot allow over two such periods

Appeal Policy

May have an appeal policy for mitigating circumstances

Explain circumstance and procedures Cannot limit appeals Approved appeals receive T4 funding Must regain eligibility by your policy

standards

New Program Rules Effective 07/01/2011 Last comprehensive

review 1983 Inconsistent

terminology More structured

comprehensive, consistent approach to SAP

Rules were placed in 3 different sections

All rules in one section of Federal regulations

Continued Flexibility New definitions for

Warning/Probation Student not making

SAP, no longer eligible for T4 funds.

Evaluation timeframe Specific

elements/process required for an appeal

Specifies the pace a student must progress

Program Rules Effective 07/01/2011

SAP policy must include: Incompletes Withdrawals Repetitions Transfer of credit from other schools

Standardized Terms Pace= Measures the pace at each SAP

evaluation

Pace= Total cumulative hours completedTotal cumulative hours attempted

FA Warning -Fails to meet SAP at a school who evaluates after each payment period.

FA Probation—Fails to meet SAP at a school, approved appeal and aid reinstated.

Standardized Terms Maximum time frame-

Undergraduate program (credit hours), cannot exceed 150% of published length of program

Undergraduate program (clock hours), cannot exceed 150% of published length of program, measured by cumulative # of clock hours required to complete.

Graduate program—rules do not change.▪ 150% rule does not apply▪ Must develop a policy and apply consistently.

Appeal Policy Appeal

Process by which a student not meeting a school’s SAP standards petitions for reconsideration of T4 eligibility.

May have an appeal procedure How the student may re-establish T4 eligibility Basis for filing an appeal Petition must include why the student failed to

meet SAP, what has changed that will allow the student to meet SAP at the next review.

Schools That Evaluate SAP Each Payment Period Option 1

Place on FA warning Receives T4 funding for one payment period Not meeting SAP after that , loses T4 eligibility▪ No appeal policy, regain eligibility when meets SAP▪ Approved appeal, FA Probation, receives T4 funds▪ Student must meet SAP end of next payment period or▪ Comply with academic plan designed to ensure student will

meet SAP standards

School Evaluates Each Payment Period Option 2

SAP not met

Student loses T4 eligibility immediately

No appeal policy, regain eligibility when meets SAP

Approved appeal, FA Probation, receives T4 funds▪ Student must meet SAP end of next payment period or▪ Comply with academic plan designed to ensure student will meet

SAP standards

Evaluates SAP Annually or Less Than Each Payment Period

Student not making SAP, loses T4 funding

Approved appeal, receive T4 funding Part of your policy Student placed on FA Probation

▪ Student must meet SAP end of next payment period or▪ Comply with academic plan designed to ensure student will

meet SAP standards

No appeal policy-student regain eligibility when they meet school’s SAP standards

FINANCIAL AID PROBATION

School determines that student should be able to meet SAP standards by the end of the next payment period.

OR An academic plan is developed and

student can meet school’ SAP standards by a specific point in time.

Academic Plan

Steps needed to meet SAP standards Review of progress at each SAP

evaluation Specified time frame by which SAP

standards must be met

SAP Notification

Must notify students of the SAP evaluations end of each review

If an appeal process, describe how to appeal

Not meeting SAP, describe how to regain eligibility

Discussion Questions

Is the school required to have an appeal process?

Can the school limit the # of appeals?

What is included in the academic Plan?

Case Studies…..

Resources:

Federal Register 668.34 (c); (d); (a)

(3-7), (b)

2010 FSA Conference

Program Integrity Final Rules

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