Satisfactory Academic Progress

(SAP)

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What we will cover…

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• Changes in Federal Regulations• SAP Policy Requirements• Maximum Credits/Timeframe• SAP Reviews and Notifications• Warning, Suspension, Probation• Academic Plans and Tracking• Repeat Courses

Federal Regulations…

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• Federal Register – 10/29/10• Program Integrity Rules – 7/1/11• SAP Regulations – 34 CPR 668.34• School Flexibility –

o Establishing Policieso Monitoring SAP

• Defines “warning” and “probation” and when to use these terms

SAP Policy Required Elements…

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• Measure progress at the end of each enrollment period or annually

• Qualitative – GPA

• Quantitative – Completion Rate and Maximum Allowable Credits for Declared Credential

SAP Policy must address…

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• Transfer credits – accepted credits are counted as attempted and completed

• Incompletes

• Withdrawals

• Repeat Courses

Maximum Credits/Timeframe…

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• Undergraduates – not to exceed 150% of the published length of the educational program/credential – minimum pace to meet requirement = 67%

• Graduates – school defines maximum period based on length of the educational program/credential

Maximum Credits/ Timeframe Policy…

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• Must specify pace of program required to ensure completion within maximum credits/timeframe and the pace is measured at each evaluation.

• Pace = cumulative hours/credits successfully completed

cumulative hours/credits attempted ***(Remedial coursework may be excluded)***

Frequency of SAP Review…

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• For programs less than or equal to one academic year – after each payment period

• For programs greater than one academic year – at least annually to correspond with the end of a payment period – can review at the end of each payment period

Required Notifications…

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• Schools must notify students of results of the SAP Review and the impact on Title IV eligibility

• Schools must describe the specific elements of the appeal process (if appeals are allowed)

• If no appeal process – must describe how to re-establish eligibility

SAP Warning…

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• Status assigned to student who fails to make SAP (usually the first time) and school evaluated at the end of each payment period

• Student can mathematically regain eligibility during the next payment period

• Student is still eligible for aid for the “warning” period – no appeal is required

Suspension and Appeal Policy…

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• Must specify the conditions under which a student may appeal financial aid suspension

• Appeal must include from student:o Why the student failed to maintain SAPo What has changed that will allow the student to be successfulo Documentation to support the above requirements

• Schools are not required to have an appeal policy.

Appeals…

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• What is required from students to appeal?

• Who will review the appeal?

• When will an Academic Plan be established?

• What are the requirements of the Academic Plan?

• Is there a limit on the number of appeals allowed?

Approved Appeals…

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• School has determined that SAP Standards can be met by the end of the next payment period

OR

• School has established an Academic Plan that will ensure the student is able to meet SAP Standards by a specific point in time

SAP Probation…

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• Status assigned to a student who failed to make SAP and who has appealed, had eligibility reinstated and will be compliant with SAP Standards end of the next payment period

• School may impose conditions for student’s continued eligibility

• Student may receive aid for one payment period

Academic Plans…

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• Assigned to students who fail Sap Standards and who have appealed, had eligibility reinstated, but need more than one payment period to become compliant with policy.

• School may impose conditions for continued eligibility.

• Students may receive aid while on a plan and meeting the terms of the plan.

Tracking Progress…

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• Must be able to show auditors that SAP Standards were reviewed

• Must be able to monitor students on Probation

• Must be able to track students on Academic Plans with multiple payment periods

Repeat Regulation…

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• Established to limit the number of times financial aid pays for a student to take a course

• Student may repeat a previously passed course once and receive financial aid

• Student may repeat a failed course until it is passed and receive financial aid

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•QUESTIONS??