Winter 2021 > Academic Policies and Procedures > Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress

University Satisfactory Academic Progress (Please see Programmatic Policies for Each Program's Specific Requirements)

Student's academic progress will be measured at the end of each semester/trimester, regardless of the number of credits attempted.  In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must meet all of the following criteria:  

Undergraduate Programs

Cumulative Grade Point Average

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester/trimester.  

The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned per the grading scale in this catalog by the total semester/trimester credits for courses completed at the Institution, with the exception of transfer credits, proficiency or challenge exam credits, audit credits, pass/fail credits, withdrawals and incompletes.  

Rate of Progress Toward Completion of Program

Progress at a satisfactory rate toward completion of their program.  At the end of the evaluation period, the student must have successfully completed at least 66.67% of all coursework that the student has attempted in the program.  

The rate of progress toward completion of the program is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed within the program by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted by the student in the program.  

Maximum Program Completion Timeframe

Complete the program within a maximum timeframe of 150% of the published length of the program as calculated in credits attempted.  For example:  A student enrolled in a 120 semester credit program would have to complete the program in a maximum timeframe of 180 credits attempted (I150% of 120 Credits).  If at any point a student cannot mathematically complete his/her program within the maximum allowable timeframe, the student will be dismissed.  

Graduate Programs 

Cumulative Grade Point Average

 

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least: 

 

Graduate Certificates, DNP, MBA, MHA, MPH, RN-MSN, Post-Masters Certificates, and MSN:  3.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each trimester

 

DPT, MSOT, OTD: 3.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester

 

MPA:  2.7 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each trimester.  

 

PharmD:  2.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester

 

The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned per the grading scale in this catalog by the total semester/trimester credits for courses completed at the Institution, with the exception of transfer credits, proficiency or challenge exam credits, audit credits, pass/fail credits, withdrawals and incompletes.

 

Rate of Progress toward Completion of the Program

 

Progress at a satisfactory rate toward completion of their program. At the end of the evaluation period, the student must have successfully completed at least:

Graduate Certificates, DNP, MBA, MHA, MPH, RN-MSN, Post-Masters Certificates, and MSN:  50% of all coursework that the student has attempted in the program.

DPT, MSOT, MPA, OTD and PharmD: 75% of all coursework that the student has attempted in the program.

The rate of progress toward completion of the program is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed within the program by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted by the student in the program.  

Maximum Program Completion Timeframe

 

Complete the program within a maximum timeframe of the published length of the program as calculated in credits attempted.

 

MBA, MHA, Post-Masters Certificates, and MPH: 200%

 

Graduate Certificates, DNP, MSN, RN-MSN, DPT, MSOT, MPA, OTD and PharmD: 150%

 

For example: A student enrolled in a 120 semester credit program would have to complete the program in a maximum timeframe of 180 credits attempted (150% of 120 Credits). If at any point a student cannot mathematically complete his/her program within the maximum allowable timeframe, the student will be dismissed.

 

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

 

Withdrawals, Failures, Incompletes, Repeats, and Transfer Credits

• All courses attempted and given a letter grade, including “F”, “I”, W”, "WP", "WNP", or "WF" will be included as credits attempted, but not successfully completed in assessing the rate of progress and the maximum allowable time frame. Of these grades, only the “F” and "WF" grades are included in the CGPA calculation.When an “I” grade is converted to the final grade, SAP progression will be re-calculated and the converted grade will be included in the new CGPA calculation.
• Every repeated course is included as attempted credits with the highest grade counted in the CGPA.
• Audited courses or courses that are prerequisite to an academic program are not counted in any SAP measurement.
• Credits transferred from another school and challenge exam credits are counted as both attempted and successfully completed credits, but do not count in the CGPA.

Impact of Program Transfers or Additional Degrees on Satisfactory Academic Progress

Should a student be approved to transfer from one program of study to another, or should a student wish to obtain an additional degree, attempted and completed coursework within the institution will be treated as completed credits within the new program only if the courses pertain to the new program of study as outlined in the catalog. In such cases, attempted and completed credits will be considered in determining satisfactory academic progress from both a cumulative grade point average calculation and maximum allowable timeframe.  

Impact of Campus Transfers on Satisfactory Academic Progress

Should a student be approved to transfer from one WCU campus to another, grades for all courses attempted at both WCU campuses will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative grade point average and rate of satisfactory academic progress.  

Standards of Academic Progress for VA Students

Students receiving veteran educational (VA) benefits must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 each semester/trimester to remain eligible for their VA education benefits.  

A VA student whose CGPA falls below 2.0 at the end of any semester/trimester will be placed on academic probation for a maximum of two consecutive terms of enrollment.   If the VA student's CGPA is still below 2.0 at the end of the second consecutive semester/trimester of probation, the student's VA educational benefits will be terminated.  A VA student terminated from VA educational benefits due to unsatisfactory progress may petition the school to be recertified after attaining a CGPA of 2.0.  

 

SAP Sanctions

SAP Warning

Students will be placed on SAP Warning status if the student does not meet either the CGPA or rate of progress toward completion requirement when the student was previously in a good SAP status.  A student will be notified of SAP Warning status in writing.  The SAP Warning is the duration of one semester/trimester, during which time the student will be given the opportunity to raise his or her CGPA to a minimum for their program of study and meet the minimum completion requirement for their program of study.  The student is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid while on SAP Warning status. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress after the SAP Warning period lose their Federal Student Aid eligibility and are dismissed from the university unless they successfully appeal and are placed on SAP Probation. Note that eligibility for California and Florida state grant funding is contingent upon meeting SAP qualifications for Federal Student Aid.

 

SAP Probation

 

The SAP Probationary period to retain eligibility for Federal Student Financial Aid will last only one semester/trimester. If by the end of any probationary period, a student raises his or her CGPA and rate of progress to or above the minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress, the student will be removed from SAP Probation and returned to regular status, and be eligible for Federal Student Aid. However, if at the end of the probationary period the student fails to meet the minimum CGPA or rate of progress requirements, the student will be suspended from receiving additional Federal Student Aid and may be academically dismissed from the institution for not meeting their Academic Plan. Students may appeal their academic dismissal, but may not appeal their Financial Aid suspension.  If the student successfully appeals their academic dismissal, they will remain in SAP Probation status but will not regain eligibility for Federal Student Aid until the subsequent semester/trimester after raising his or her CGPA and rate of progress to or above the minimum standards for academic progress.  The student will be notified in writing of the suspension of aid and/or dismissal from the University due to SAP reasons.  

 

SAP Appeal

 

A student who has been dismissed/suspended for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may file an appeal with the SAP Appeals Committee if there were extenuating circumstances that affected his/her academic progress.  SAP Appeals must be submitted in writing within 2 calendar days of the Federal Student Aid suspension or academic dismissal notification to students. The SAP Appeals Committee will notify the student of the outcome of the appeal within 3 days of receipt of the appeal. 

The written appeal should include:

1. Details of the situation that led to the student’s poor academic performance and the period it occurred. There must be an explanation of the extenuating circumstance that contributed to the failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, a death in the family, student illness, or other mitigating event.
2. Description of what has changed in the student’s circumstances to allow for the return to good SAP standing.
3. Documentation that supports the appeal (for example, documentation related to the extenuating event).

The denial of an appeal by the SAP Appeals Committee is final and may not be further appealed.

 

Academic Action Plan

 

If a student is placed on an academic action plan as a result of the SAP Appeals Committee decision, the academic action plan will be developed in consultation with the Academic Leader of the student’s academic program to determine how the student could return to satisfactory academic progress status.

1. The plan must be of definite duration that may not extend beyond the number of semesters/trimesters remaining in the student’s maximum timeframe for the program.
2. The student must be able to achieve a minimum 2.0 CGPA by the end of the academic action plan period.
3. Upon completion of the academic action plan, the student must still be able to complete the program within the maximum timeframe.
4. The academic action plan must detail courses to be taken, minimum grades expected and the GPA and rate of completion criteria for each semester/trimester for the plan.
5. The academic action plan may also provide expectations related to participation, attendance, remediation, conduct, and other measures intended to lead to academic success.
6. The Academic Leader shall be responsible for monitoring student progress for students on academic action plans.
7. Should a student allowed to continue on an academic action plan fail to meet any condition of the academic action plan, the student may be dismissed from the University.

Students that have been dismissed for exceeding maximum timeframe in order to complete the program may appeal the dismissal.  If the appeal is approved the student must return on an academic action plan with a specific new maximum timeframe completion rate, but will not be eligible for Federal Student Financial Aid for the remainder of the program.  They will remain in SAP Probation status until they successfully complete the program.