All learners are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward graduation.  Also, Satisfactory Academic Progress must be maintained in order to remain eligible to receive assistance under the Title IV, HEA programs.  SAP sets minimum standards for program completion, course completion, and cumulative grade point average. SAP is measured at the end of each payment period and is checked prior to disbursement of aid.

All schools participating in Federal Student Aid (FSA), Title IV and HEA programs, military tuition assistance, GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill are required by federal regulations to monitor and document SAP properly. These standards apply to all learners enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as well as the PN and LPN to ASN Programs are used to measure the satisfactory progress towards graduation. This policy is provided to all learners prior to the first-class session and is consistently applied to all applicable learners.

This policy determines academic standards that all learners must meet and sets a schedule of measuring the achievement of Quantitative and Qualitative standards as well as the maximum time frame allowed to achieve SAP.

SAP is measured at the end of each semester (payment period) and is checked prior to disbursement of aid.

This SAP policy for Title IV, HEA and military learners is consistently applied and identical to the school’s actual measurement used to monitor qualitative and quantitative standards, as well as maximum time frame for learners enrolled in the same educational program and who are not receiving Title IV aid.

Evaluation Periods

At each formal SAP evaluation (end of each semester), the college checks:

• Qualitative Measure (grade based)
• Quantitative Measure (pace based)
• Maximum time frame

SAP evaluation coincides with the end of a payment period and is defined as the end of the semester. Learner’s transcript is used to evaluate SAP and is placed in each learner’s file.

Academic Year Definition

Academic Year Minimums –

• Academic Progress is measured by semester credit hours.
• Minimum instructional time requirement per semester is 15 weeks and one (1) week of final evaluations.
• An Academic Year is defined as 32 weeks.

Quantitative Measure

A learner must complete a certain percentage of credits attempted to be considered as making Satisfactory Academic Progress. To be considered meeting SAP, learners are required to attend a minimum of 67% of their educational program in no longer than 100% of the length of the program as measured in semester credits and determined by the program. Evaluation is conducted at the end of each semester to determine if a learner has the minimum requirements.

Pace is calculated by dividing the total number of semester credits successfully completed by the total number of semester credits attempted for all courses. At the end of each evaluation period the college determines if learners have maintained at least 67% course completion rate since the beginning of the semester. This indicates that, given the same completion rate, the learner will graduate within the maximum time frame allowed.

Withdrawn courses are counted as attempted credits that are not successfully completed for the purpose of calculating the successful course completion rate. Failed and repeated courses are counted in the calculation as credits attempted. The College has no provisions for remedial course work, non-credit courses, or pass/fail grades, these activities have no effect on SAP. The successful course completion rate requirements and academic remedies are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table in the corresponding Academic Program’s section of the College Catalog.

Full-time learners are scheduled to attend 12-16 semester credits and part-time learners are scheduled to attend 6-8 semester credits.

Qualitative Measure

A “C” grade is required to pass a course. A grade of “B-” or higher is required on all graded assignments and evaluations in all courses. Completion of the mandatory, faculty-prescribed remediation is required on all graded assignments and evaluations where a “B-” grade has not been achieved. Should the mandatory, faculty-prescribed remediation not be completed, an “F” grade will be assigned on the corresponding assignment or evaluation. Failure to complete any required learning activity may prevent learners’ progression to the next level of or graduation from an academic program. Any course with a failing grade must be repeated. If the course is a prerequisite for a higher-level course, it must be completed before progressing in the academic program. For standardized exam requirements, see the corresponding academic program section of the Catalog.

Learners must also achieve specific cumulative GPA requirements at certain points during enrollment at the College to meet SAP. These requirements are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table within the specific Academic Program sections of the College Catalog. Learners are required to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to graduate from the Academic Program. In order to avoid being placed on academic probation, a learner must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the end of each semester.

Learners receive a letter grade as indicated on the chart below and is based on the end-of-semester evaluation. Learners who receive F or D are required to repeat the course. Learners who fail a course must retake and pass the course in order to progress to any courses for which the failed course is a prerequisite. Those who wish to repeat a course in order to improve the grade may be allowed to do so at the discretion of the Program Manager. Learners must pay for all repeated coursework and any updated required course materials. In some instances, learners may be eligible to receive Title IV funds for repeat coursework.

AU – Audit – is recorded when a learner takes a course for no academic credit. An AU status has no effect on grade point average (GPA) or rate of progress for purposes of calculating SAP.

 I – Incomplete – is recorded when a learner is unable to complete the coursework by the end of the semester or if additional remediation is required. If a learner fails to complete the required coursework by the end of the semester, or if additional remediation is required, and reasonably believes that, with additional time, he/she could fulfill the requirements, the learner should request an Incomplete status from the course instructor. The decision to grant this request is at the discretion of the instructor.

When an Incomplete status is granted, both the learner and instructor must agree in writing on provisions for the make-up and/or remedial work. The Incomplete status cannot extend beyond the end of the following semester. When all required make-up and/or remedial work is completed in a satisfactory manner and within the allowed timeframe, the instructor will request that the Incomplete status change to the letter grade earned. Failure to complete the required work within the allowed timeframe will result in a failure of the course and the Incomplete status will be changed to an “F” grade.

L – Leave – is recorded when a learner takes an approved Leave of Absence before completing the required coursework for the semester. The “L” status has no effect on GPA or rate of progress for purposes of calculating SAP.

W – Withdrawal – is recorded when a learner officially withdraws from a course after the end of the add/drop period. Withdrawals have no effect on GPA; however, course credits will be considered as attempted but not completed for the purpose of calculating the maximum time frame and course completion rate portions of SAP.

R – Repeat – replaces the grade in the previous attempts when a course is repeated. The new grade is used in GPA calculation. All attempts count toward the maximum time frame (150%) for program completion.

TC – Transfer Credit – is recorded when the requested transfer credits have been approved. In order to receive credit, an official transcript must be requested by the learner directly from the institution attended. Specific grades for courses transferred from another institution are not recorded. For more information see Transfer of Credit section of the Catalog.

Maximum Time Frame

Each learner must successfully complete the educational objectives of the Academic Program, including the preceptorship, within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the normal program length. This will be measured by limiting learners to attempting 1.5 times, or 150%, of the number of credits in the program of study. For example, the total credits that may be attempted (maximum program length) for a 68 semester-credit program is 102 semester credits, or 150% of 68.

The maximum time frame is measured at the end of each semester.

If a learner is meeting satisfactory academic progress before the beginning of a payment period but will exceed the maximum time frame after the end of the payment period, the learner must submit a successful appeal to extend the maximum time frame to at least the end of the payment period.

Academic Probation and Suspension

At the end of each semester, the learner’s cumulative GPA and rate of progress is reviewed to determine if the learner is meeting SAP. Learners are placed on academic probation as outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table below. Learners will remain on academic probation until the learner is meeting the SAP requirements or have violated the terms of the probation and, therefore is withdrawn from the academic program. However, the learner must achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to graduate. Learners must participate in academic advising with the assigned Faculty Academic Advisor and meet predetermined objectives for the duration of the probationary period. See Student Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress sections of the College Catalog for information regarding SAP’s influence on Title IV eligibility.

In addition to the academic probation, learners receiving Title IV Federal Student Aid will be also placed on an automatic financial aid warning; or probation, following a successful appeal. Refer to Federal Student Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress sections of the College Catalog for more information.

Checking SAP

• Learner’s SAP evaluations occurs at the end of a payment period.
• Each evaluation includes qualitative, quantitative and maximum timeframe standards.
• The College reviews all courses taken toward a learner’s program of study, regardless of any academic amnesty.

At the time of review, any learner who is not in compliance with SAP standards is placed on Financial Aid Warning. This is true whether the student has not achieved the required qualitative assessment or is not successfully completing the program at the required pace of completion and will not complete within the maximum time frame.

Financial Warning

Learners who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements will automatically be placed on a Financial Aid (FA) Warning for the following semester. See the SAP section of this Catalog for more information. A Financial Aid Warning letter will be sent to the learner within fourteen (14) days of failing to meet SAP. Learners placed on a Financial Aid Warning will not need to do anything but bring up their GPA or their completion rate.

Learners on a FA Warning who do not meet the SAP requirements for the second consecutive

Semester are not eligible to participate in Title IV FSA programs without a successful appeal.

A letter notifying the learner of the loss of Title IV eligibility and the right to appeal will be sent within fourteen (14) days of failing to meet SAP after the second consecutive semester. Only reasonable explanations for not meeting SAP will be considered in the appeal. A learner granted a favorable decision in the appeal will be put on Academic and Financial Aid probations and is entitled to receive Title IV funding only if he/she is in full compliance with the terms of the probations.

Financial Aid Appeal

The Financial Aid Appeal process allows learners who are not meeting SAP to appeal the College for reinstatement of Title IV aid. Learners can appeal the decision and be place on Financial Aid Probation. Learners have ten (10) business days after being notified to submit an appeal. The appeal must be in writing and given to the Director of Financial Aid, who will meet with an Appeals Committee to make a decision on the appeal request. A learner may file an appeal based on: injury or illness; death of a relative; or other special circumstances. Learner must provide supporting documents and describe in writing any unusual circumstances that warrant special consideration. Information as to why SAP was not met and what has changes have occurred that will allow the learner to meet SAP by the next evaluation period are required.

Financial Aid Probation

If the appeal is approved by the College, the learner may be place on probation after it is determined that the learner did not meet SAP during the previous evaluation period. Probation will be for one additional payment period during which the learner remains eligible for Title IV aid. The learner is placed on an academic plan to progress toward meeting SAP and continue receiving federal aid beyond probation being in compliance with the written academic plan. Upon the completion of the plan the learner will either be within SAP, have completed the program or will no longer be eligible for Title IV funds because they failed to meet the standards set by the academic plan.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Funds

Learners meeting SAP by the end of the Warning or Probation period will be removed from that status and will regain eligibility for Title IV, HEA funding.

Leave of Absence and Withdrawals

If a learner takes a Leave of Absence (LOA), he/she will return to the same SAP status prior to the LOA. Semester credit hours that have elapsed during LOA will extend learner’s contract period by the same number of semester credit hours taken in the Leave of Absence and will not be included in the cumulative attendance percentage calculation.

Learners who withdraw prior to completion of the course and wish to re-enter the program will return in the same SAP status as at the of withdrawal.

Learners withdrawing from school will receive credit for all work successfully completed up to the point of withdrawal.

Transfer credits accepted toward the completion of a learner’s program are counted as both hours attempted and hours completed but excluded from program GPA calculation.

Official Withdrawals

The Date of Determination for learners who complete the formal withdrawal process by submitting a signed copy of the Status Change Form is the date on which the learner notified the College in writing to indicate that the learner planned to withdraw or to indicate the last day of attendance, whichever is later.

Unofficial Withdrawals

If a learner stops attending the College without providing official notification, the date of determination will be assigned by the College but will not be later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the last day of attendance.

The Registrar’s Office will submit a copy of withdrawal paperwork to Financial Aid department and will record information in SIS.

If a learner fails to return in a timely manner to the College after a Leave of Absence, the date of determination will be the date the learner was supposed to return from the LOA.

A learner must complete a certain percentage of credits attempted to be considered as making Satisfactory Academic Progress. A course is successfully completed if a grade of “C” or above has been earned. The successful course completion rate is calculated as the cumulative number of semester credits of courses successfully completed divided by the cumulative number of semester credits attempted for all courses. Withdrawn courses are counted as attempted credits that are not successfully completed for the purpose of calculating the successful course completion rate. Failed and repeated courses are counted in the calculation as credits attempted. The College has no provisions for remedial course work, non-credit courses, or pass/fail grades and these activities have no effect on SAP. The successful course completion rate requirements and academic remedies are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table in the corresponding Academic Program’s section of the College Catalog.

• Registrar
• Learner Advising and Life Resources (LALR)
• Financial Aid

• Registrar
• Learner Advising and Life Resources (LALR)
• Financial Aid

• College Catalog
• 668.34 Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • https://ecfr.io/Title-34/Section-668.34
• US Department of Education Regulations
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress
    • HEA, 484(c)
    • 34 CFR 668.16(e)
    • 34 CFR 668.32(f)
    • 34 CFR 668.34