The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended by Congress in 2008 mandates institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of “Satisfactory Progress” for students receiving federally funded financial aid. This policy is consistent with the federal guidelines that identify both full-time and part-time students as being eligible for federally funded financial assistance.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is based on THREE Compor □ Qualitative Progress (cumulative grade point average) □ Quantitative Progress (hours earned), and □ Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion
A student must maintain satisfactory progress in all three areas even if federal aid was never received in the past. Satisfactory progress standards are reviewed at the end of every academic term. A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined will not be permitted to receive federal or institutional financial aid.
| Degree Level | Minimum Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students with 0 – 29 credit hours | 1.70 |
| Undergraduate Students with 30 or more credit hours | 2.00 |
| Graduate Students | 3.00 |
A student must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of the credit hours attempted. Successful completion for this purpose is defined as receiving a grade of “D” or better. Example:
Total Attempted
| Total Attempted | |||
| Fall Semester/Spring Semester | (All Years) | Must earn at least 67% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | 15 hours + 15 hours | 30 Hours | 30 hours × 67% = 20 hours |
| 2nd Year | 16 hours + 16 hours | 62 Hours | 62 hours × 67% = 42 hours |
| 3rd Year | 17 hours + 17 hours | 96 Hours | 96 hours × 67% = 64 hours |
Withdrawing from courses at any point after the drop/add period will negatively affect a student's completion rate. A student who repeats courses, withdraws frequently, or takes courses not related to a degree objective is not making progress toward graduation and is subject to loss of eligibility for financial aid.
All undergraduate and graduate students are expected to finish their program within a maximum time frame which cannot exceed 150% of the published length of their program. All attempted credit hours are considered toward the maximum time calculation, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received. Test, Transfer, and remedial/developmental hours are also included. Example:
| Program Hours Needed to Graduate | Total Attempted (all years) | Attempted × 150% | MTF SAP Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 credit hours | Student A: 60 Hours | Meeting SAP < 72 hours | Meets SAP |
| 66 credit hours | Student B: 90 Hours | Meeting SAP < 99 hours | Meets SAP |
| 128 credit hours | Student C: 197 Hours | Meeting SAP < 192 hours | Not Meet SAP |
A student who changes his/her major is still responsible for completing his/her degree in the maximum time frame. The allowed time frame does not automatically increase if you change your major or pursue double majors.
Students who fail to meet satisfactory progress standards, as defined above, may appeal the ruling to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee if they believe extenuating circumstances led to their failure to maintain satisfactory progress. Students wishing to appeal must submit a completed SAP appeal to Financial Aid office two weeks prior to the following academic term.
The committee is comprised of faculty and/or staff members from various departments on campus. The committee meets as needed to review appeals. The Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid prepares and presents the appeals to the committee, but does not vote on the appeal decision except in the case of a tie vote. Once the committee's decision is complete, the student
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