Satisfactory Academic Progress - Financial Aid Guide

Bridgewater State University

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal policy that measures two components:  Quantitative and Qualitative progress.

 

The quantitative portion requires students attending an institution that awards federal financial aid be making progress toward the completion of their degree within a reasonable period of time. All attempted credits count toward the calculation, and withdrawals, failures, and incomplete grades will all negatively impact a student's progress. Both the state of Massachusetts and Bridgewater State University's institutional financial aid programs adhere to the same standards. Since standards are applied to all students, one does not necessarily have to be a financial aid applicant to fall under the auspices of this regulation.

 

The maximum time frame for completing an undergraduate degree is 150% of the published length of the program. For programs that are 120 credits, a student would be allowed to attempt no more than 180 credits before completing the requirements for their degree. Generally, for full time students, this is equal to six years. Students who have not completed their degree within this parameter would be deemed ineligible for financial aid.

 

Transfer credits will affect the maximum timeframe in which a student must earn their degree. For example, a student who transfers 60 credits toward an undergraduate degree would presumably have to earn 60 more credits to complete their BSU degree. Using the federal 150% rule, the student would be allowed to attempt 120 more credits before losing financial aid eligibility. The same calculation applies to students pursuing a second degree.

Since a student has 150% of the published length of a program to complete their degree, one must complete at least 75% of all credits attempted to maintain compliance with the satisfactory progress standards. Courses that do not carry credit, but are successfully completed, are not considered punitive under the calculation. Repeating a course to obtain a higher grade may negatively impact compliance and eligibility. The credits will be counted as attempted, but not as earned since they have been previously earned. New regulations prohibit receiving financial aid for the repeating of a previously passed course more than once. Students who received credit for a course, and repeat the course to earn a higher grade can have that repeated course counted in the enrollment level for financial aid purposes only one additional time.. (See details in Repeat Coursework Policy). Progress is measured over time, and the entire academic record is reviewed at the end of each academic semester. Students who do not meet the University's standards are notified of the loss of financial aid eligibility prior to the start of the next semester. When a student is notified of their ineligibility, they are also given the opportunity to appeal, in writing, based on mitigating circumstances. Summer classes are included as attempted and/or completed credits in the following academic year (unless a special condition is imposed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee).

To remain in compliance with the satisfactory academic progress policy, a minimum completion rate of 75 percent is required. Simply stated, a student must complete at least 75 percent of all attempted credits when the review takes place at the end of each semester. To determine the number of credits required to maintain satisfactory progress, multiply the total number of attempted credits by 75 percent.

 

The following chart provides an example:

 

Student Example	Total of Attempted Credits	Required to Complete (75 percent)
#1	30	23
#2	20	15
#3	65	49
#4	9	7

 

 

 

All appeals are reviewed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee, whose representatives are from Academic Affairs, Academic Achievement Center, and the Financial Aid Office. Decisions by the committee are final. A student whose appeal is approved will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated on a probationary basis. These students must be especially diligent in completing all attempted credits until compliance with the policy is reestablished.

When an appeal is reviewed and approved by the Committee, in most cases, the student will be required to adhere to a contract that is designed to assist the student in regaining compliance with the policy over time. Contracts are generally in place for one academic year, unless otherwise stated.  If the student meets all the conditions stated in the contract, they will retain their eligibility for financial aid while they are working toward compliance.  Students who do not meet the imposed conditions will not be eligible for financial aid in the next semester.

Eligibility can be regained in two ways: a student who is deemed ineligible may find an alternative funding source, continue to take classes, and regain eligibility on their own over time, or a student may instead decide to appeal to the Satisfactory Progress Committee. Students who submit their appeal by the deadline that is communicated in their letter will retain their on-time status if their FAFSA was received by the published preferred deadline of March 1 and all other required documents, if any, are submitted to the financial aid office in a timely manner. Appeals received after the deadline, if approved, will be awarded on a funds-available basis regardless of the FAFSA receipt date. Appeals will be reviewed throughout the academic year.  An appeal must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the end of a semester for which the student is out of compliance.  An appeal submitted after the close of the semester, will be considered for the next semester only. Taking a semester off or paying for classes without financial assistance does not, in and of itself, re-establish financial aid eligibility.
 

The qualitative component of the policy deals with progress as it relates to the student's Grade Point Average (GPA). Satisfactory academic progress standards adhere to the University’s policy for academic standards. (See chart below). Students who are academically separated from the University are not eligible for financial aid funds, unless they successfully appeal to the appropriate Academic Dean and are subsequently reinstated. If such a student has met the quantitative component of the SAP policy, no further appeal is required, and financial aid can be reinstated. However, if the quantitative standard has not been met, the student must present an additional appeal to the satisfactory progress committee.

Academic Standards:

Credit Hours Attempted	Probation GPA	Academic Warning	Separation Below This GPA
0-16	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.00
17-31	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.50
32-46	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.65
47-61	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.75
62-89	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.85

 

 

Repeat Coursework Policy:
Federal regulations specify that students may not receive financial aid funding for more than one repetition of a previously passed course. Repeating a previously passed course two or more times may result in an adjustment to financial aid eligibility. This recalculation will occur regardless of whether or not a student received aid for the previous enrollments. Any adjustments will typically occur after the start of the semester during which the student is repeating the course. Therefore, students are responsible for monitoring their own enrollment in repeated coursework. A passing grade at BSU is defined as D- or higher, P (for pass/no pass course grading) or S/U (for satisfactory/unsatisfactory).

Students can receive financial aid:
 

·         To repeat a course that has already been passed (D- or higher, P or S) only one additional time. Any repeated attempts after that will not be eligible for financial aid. This applies even if a student earns a failing grade (F, N or U) during the second attempt.

·         As many times as necessary to repeat a course in which the only previous grade earned has been a failing grade (F, N or U).

·         If a passing grade has been earned for certain courses designated by the university as being repeatable for duplicate credit, such as some topics courses (i.e. performance studies or art studios), due to different subject content or level being studied in each term.

 

See examples of the impact of the repeated coursework regulation here.

Last Modified: April 19, 2013