Satisfactory Academic Progress Financial Aid Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Effective July 1, 2011 Policy: In accordance with Federal Regulations Morgan State University (MSU) has developed a revised Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. The university SAP policy measures Qualitative (grade point average),Quantitative (number of credits earned) and the Maximum Time Frame for completion of the program of study. This policy must apply consistently to all educational programs and to all students that apply for financial aid. The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy may slightly differ from the university’s Satisfactory Academic Performance requirements that are located in the university’s catalog. Purpose: The intent of this policy is to ensure that all students that are recipients of financial aid are evaluated and are meeting the Sap requirements developed by the university and in conjunction with adhering to guidelines set forth by the Department of Education. Students applying for financial aid through programs under the Title IV of Higher Education Act must meet SAP requirements in order to receive financial aid assistance from programs, such as: Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Plus Loans, State Scholarships Programs, Institutional Scholarships and others that are not mentioned but still require SAP monitoring. Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined after each spring semester which is generally one year in length, unless otherwise stated and documented. Procedure: For financial aid purposes, to be eligible for financial aid students must be making satisfactory academic progress. The Office of Financial Aid will determine aid eligibility by using the following criteria. Undergraduate Students Satisfactory Academic Progress Calculations: Cumulative Completion Rate calculation: example: If a student attempts 16 credit hours, and earns 11 credit hours. Per completion rate calculation is (11/16 = 68%), therefore, the number of earned credits divided by the number of attempted credits = the cumulative completion rate (68%) To meet Sap requirements at Morgan State University students must successfully pass a minimum 67% of all accumulated attempted credits and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA). The courses that are used when calculating attempted credits include developmental, audits and each repeated course. Grades of PT, CS, E, I, AW, W, TW,F and transfer credits are also counted. Repeating courses to get a higher passing grade will negatively affect your completion rate. Qualitative standard Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA by the end of each academic year unless otherwise stated and documented. Having an academic standing consistent with the graduation requirement could mean you use an escalating grade point standard instead of a fixed one. For example, a school using a 4-point scale can require students to have a 2.0 average by graduation but allow their average to be lower earlier in their academic career. MSU must be able to document that the student’s average is consistent with the academic standards required for graduation. MSU may grant appeals for students who fail this standard due to personal injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances. Quantitative standard To accurately measure a student’s progress in a program, more than a qualitative standard is needed. A student who is maintaining a high GPA by withdrawing from every course they attempt after the first year would meet a qualitative standard but would not be progressing towards graduation. To quantify academic progress MSU has a maximum time frame in which a student is expected to finish a program. For an undergraduate program the time frame cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program measured in academic years or terms or credit hours attempted, as determined by MSU. For instance, if the published length of an academic program is 120 credit hours, the maximum credits attempted must not exceed 180 (120 × 1.5). Change of major, dual major, 2nd degree, Consortiums and Transfer Students Generally all periods of the student’s enrollment count when determining SAP within the university, even periods in which the student did not receive financial aid. However, MSU students who change majors, credits attempted and credits earned that do not count toward the new major will not be included in the SAP determination. This is limited to 1 time that a student can change majors and “reset” SAP. Students seeking dual degrees and 2nd degrees will currently have to be calculated via Student ‘Status Summary Sheet’ because only credits that apply to the educational programs that they are currently seeking will be counted for SAP purposes. Generally, the total acceptable transfer credits are added to the student records, but not all accepted credits go towards the actual degree seeking program. Therefore, it must be determined that students that are in one of the above categories must request a Student Status Summary Sheet from Office of Financial to submit to their perspective Academic Advisor. Students are required to submit to the financial aid office the completed form with an Academic Advisor’s signature and extension with no exceptions. In addition, when the student credits are close to reaching 150 %, then a ‘Status Summary Audit’ will determine what the exact number of credits are counted toward that program. Consortium credits hours are treated the same as transfer credits. Graduate Students All graduate students must meet the Qualitative component of the SAP policy by maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA. The maximum time frame is based on the stature of limitation and the required number of credits required for each educational program. Repetitions, Withdrawal, Incompletes and Remedial Courses Only the most recent grade counts with repetitions. While you can exclude grades for prior attempts (repeat/delete) when calculating a student’s GPA, you must include the credits from all attempts including incompletes, withdrawals, and remedial courses when assessing if the student meets the quantitative SAP standard. Summer sessions are also included in total attempts. Failing Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements Appeals and Probation MSU’s policy will permit appeals and probationary periods. Students who fail their SAP requirements at the end of one academic period, which is determined after each spring semester, unless otherwise stated and documented are required to review online the forms and procedure to follow to submit to the Office of Financial Aid. . If granted financial aid probation which requires students to meet the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress requirements by earning 67% of attempted credits and have a minimum 2.0 GPA or at the end of the one term probation period pass all attempted classes without receiving an I, F or W. During that time they may continue to receive Title IV aid. If the first appeal is denied Financial Aid Probation students may submit another appeal request to the Director of Financial Aid. If the Director grants financial aid probation for one semester the student is given a written agreement to sign and adhere to before regaining eligibility for aid. At the end of that semester they must again be meeting MSU’s SAP standard or they will not be eligible to receive financial aid for future semesters. Re-establishing Academic Progress with the Academic Plan A student who loses financial aid eligibility because they are not meeting MSU School’s satisfactory academic progress can regain eligibility only by participating in the Academic Plan Program. Students will meet with their designated faculty advisor, casa advisors or retention advisors to develop an academic plan. Once the Plan is developed students must make show that they are academically progressing and for 4 semesters or less meeting the Plan’s requirements. The Plan will allow student to be taking action that brings the student into compliance with the qualitative and quantitative components and to help to graduate. Students that received financial aid probation because of special circumstances must follow the specific instruction per their contract. Financial Aid Appeal request forms can also be printed from the Required forms section of our menu.
