Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy – SAP for Financial Aid

TBR Policy Reference: 2.03.01.02

Approved by: President's Cabinet

Original Date Effective: 2020-12-06

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Federal and state regulations require that students meet certain academic standards to be eligible for financial aid. The basic standards are:

students are required to maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average;
students are required to successfully complete at least 67% of the classes they attempt;
students are required to complete their program in a timely manner; and
students must also be working on their first associate degree.

All coursework is evaluated for financial aid purposes whether or not financial aid was received for that work. These standards will be evaluated at the end of each semester. There is a process for appealing if requirements are not met. The following provides more information on each one of these standards:

GPA: Cumulative Grade Point Requirement

Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA regardless of the number of credit hours attempted. The GPA includes all coursework attempted, including Learning Support and transfer hours. Students who do not meet this standard will be placed in a financial aid warning status which means the student is one semester away from losing their financial aid. The student remains eligible for financial aid during the warning semester. If the 2.0 cumulative GPA is not met after the warning semester the student will be on Financial Aid Suspension.

Pace: Measurable Progress Requirement

Students are expected to maintain progress toward the completion of their degree. Therefore, students must have an overall completion rate of 67% of all hours attempted (includes transfer and repeated courses; excludes Learning Support hours). The completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative overall number of hours successfully completed by the cumulative overall number of hours attempted, using standard rounding rules. A grade of A, B, C, D or P will be required for successful completion. Grades of W, N, AU or F are not considered completions. Students who do not meet this standard will be placed in a financial aid warning status which means the student is one semester away from losing their financial aid. The student remains eligible for financial aid during the warning semester.

Maximum Time Limit: Reasonable Length of Time Requirement

A reasonable length of time for completion of an educational program is defined as no longer than 150% of the length of the program. For example, a student enrolled in a degree program that requires 60 credit hours must complete all requirements by the time they have attempted 90 hours (60 hours x 150% = 90 hours). Students will not be considered to have reached the 150% hour maximum until after the semester in which they reach or exceed the attempted hours allowed. However, students will be immediately suspended from aid if it is projected that it is not possible for them to meet graduation requirements within the 150% limit. All transfer hours count toward the attempted hours, including withdrawals. Learning Support hours are not counted in this limit. Once the required courses to earn a degree have been completed, students are no longer eligible to receive aid.

Warning Status

Students who do not meet the GPA or Pace standards will be placed on financial aid warning status and may continue to receive financial aid for one semester without an appeal. This includes transfer and readmitted students. A student who meets the standards at the end of the warning semester will return to good standing. A student who fails to meet the standards at the end of the warning semester will be on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension / Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

Students who fail to meet any of the above requirements are making unsatisfactory academic progress. Failure to meet these standards results in the loss of eligibility to receive federal aid, which includes the work-study program, as well as most state funds, including the lottery scholarship programs. Once a student becomes ineligible for aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress they are not eligible to receive aid until the standards have once again been met, therefore, students may attend classes and pay for them from their own resources until satisfactory progress has been re-established. Loss of financial aid eligibility may be appealed in writing to the Student Aid & Awards Committee.

Learning Support Limit

Students can receive aid for up to 30 attempted semester hours of remedial or developmental coursework. Transfer credits will be included in the total hours of eligibility. All attempts including withdrawals, repeats, unsatisfactory, P and PR grades count toward this maximum. Federal aid for a student who has exceeded this maximum will be based on college level courses only. This time limit cannot be appealed.

Incomplete Grades

Students with an “I” grade(s) will be held for review since satisfactory academic progress cannot be determined until all final grades are posted.

Repeated Courses

All credits from repeated courses will be counted toward maximum hours. Students may repeat a previously passed course once and be eligible for payment on the repeat. Students may repeat a failed course until it is passed and be eligible for payment.

Transfer / Readmitted Students

Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined according to the policy in effect for the current semester. All academic transcripts must be received and evaluated by the institution prior to determining satisfactory academic progress for financial aid. All transfer coursework posted by the college will be counted. Transfer/readmitted students who have graduated or reached the 150% limit will be ineligible for financial aid.

Academic Fresh Start

Students granted an Academic Fresh Start remain accountable for all academic work on their record for financial aid purposes. The appeal process is available if necessary for aid.

Appeal to Regain Eligibility

In some cases, a student’s failure to follow one or more of these requirements is due to events beyond the student’s control. If unusual or extreme circumstances can be documented for a specific term(s) or relevant timeframe, the student may be able to submit an appeal. Examples of situations that may be considered beyond a student’s control include, but are not limited to: the death of a relative; injury or illness of the student or a family member; family difficulties resulting from divorce, strained relationships, finances, work or balancing family responsibilities.

Appeal Process

Any loss of eligibility because of this policy may be appealed in writing to the Student Aid & Awards Committee. The appeal request consists of a signed appeal letter, appropriate support documents and an academic plan. The appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory progress by the end of the next semester or by a specific point in time. Appeal guidelines are available to assist with the appeal process. Students will not be granted more than three appeals throughout their enrollment at Jackson State; however, an appeal denied by the Committee may be appealed in writing to the Vice President of Student Services (or designee).

Financial Aid Probation and Academic Plans

The status of financial aid probation will be assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and who has appealed and has had eligibility reinstated. Conditions may be imposed for a student’s continued eligibility to receive aid. The student may receive aid for one semester, after which the student must be making satisfactory progress, or multiple semesters under an approved academic plan. The academic plan is a semester by semester list of all the courses required for your program of study until you graduate. The college may void an approved academic plan if the student changes majors, violates the plan or does not enroll for the initial term of the plan.

Appeal Deadlines

Appeals and supporting documentation should be submitted by the following dates. Appeals submitted after the deadline or without the required documentation may result in an automatic denial, or may be held until the next semester for committee review. Students pending an appeal decision at the beginning of the semester are responsible for payment of their tuition and fees. No class schedule will be held due to a pending appeal decision.

Fall Semester…………………August 1

Spring Semester…………….January 4

Summer Semester……………..May 15

Notification

It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of the satisfactory academic progress standards and to monitor their own progress. You may check your status at any time by logging into your jWeb account. The Financial Aid Office will notify by letter any student that does not meet minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements as well as the results of any appeal. It is the responsibility of the student to keep the Records Office informed of their correct mailing address.

The termination of eligibility to receive financial assistance has no effect on the right to enroll as a student at Jackson State.

Sources

Authority

CFR 668.34 – Federal Regulation has been followed by the college since receiving federal financial aid.