Spring 2023 > Academic Policies and Procedures > Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students enrolled in distance education programs will have their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status evaluated for the Spring I 2022 term under the requirements listed in the Winter 2021 Catalog; however, these same students will be reviewed under the new SAP criteria listed below, starting in the Spring II 2022 term.  

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

1. Cumulative Grade Point Average
   1. Undergraduate 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. 
   2. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester/trimester. 
   3. Pharmacy 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, except for transfer credits, challenge exam credits, audit credits, pass/fail credits, withdrawals, and incompletes.  

2. Rate of Progress Toward Completion of 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 their degree program. The progress toward completion is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted in their program.  
3. 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 (150% of 120 Credits).  If at any point a student cannot mathematically complete their program within the maximum allowable timeframe, the student will be dismissed.  

Please note: The Satisfactory Academic Progress status will remain unaffected if the student changes tracks within their degree program. (Example: The previous SAP status is retained for a student who moves between the MSN-Generalist Track and the Nursing Informatics Track.) Students who change programs will have their SAP status re-evaluated based on the coursework that may be transferred into the new degree program. (Example: A student who changes from the MSN program to the MHA degree offering.)

Withdrawals, Failures, Incompletes, Repeats, and Transfer Credits

• All courses attempted and given a non-passing letter grade will be included as credits attempted but not successfully completed in assessing the rate of progress and the maximum allowable time frame. 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 revised CGPA calculation.
• Every repeated course is included as attempted credits with the highest grade counted in the CGPA calculation.
• Audited courses or courses that are prerequisites to an academic program are not counted towards 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 and Campus Transfers, or Enrollment in Additional Degrees on Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student approved for transfer from one program or campus to another, or a student who seeks to obtain an additional degree, will be evaluated based on only those courses that will apply to the new offering.

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 Appeals Committee if there were extenuating circumstances that affected their academic progress. 

SAP Appeals must be submitted in writing within two calendar days of the Federal Student Aid suspension or academic dismissal notification to the students. The Appeals Committee will notify the student of the outcome within three days of receipt of the appeal. The denial of an appeal by the Appeals Committee is final and may not be further contested.

The written appeal should include:

1. Details of the situation that led to the student’s poor academic performance and the time 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 events.
2. Description of what has changed in the student’s circumstances and the impact it has on their capacity to return to good SAP standing.
3. Documentation that supports the appeal (for example, documentation related to the extenuating event).

Students dismissed for exceeding maximum program timeframe and are approved to return will be placed on an academic action plan. In addition to the standard academic action plan requirements, a new student specific maximum timeframe completion rate will be included. Furthermore, for the remainder of the program the students SAP status will be noted as probation, and they will be ineligible for Federal Student Financial Aid.

Academic Action Plan

If a student is placed on an academic action plan as a result of an appeals Committee decision, the academic action plan will be developed in consultation with the Academic Leader of the student’s program. The academic action plan must be documented in writing and outline how the student could return to satisfactory academic progress status; expected elements include:

1. The duration of the plan 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 minimum grades, GPA and rate of completion expected for each semester/trimester of 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.

Should a student on an academic action plan fail to meet any conditions they may be dismissed from the University.

Reinstatement Process for Students with No Appeal or Denied Appeals

A student who has been dismissed for not making satisfactory academic progress (failing to meet the minimum CGPA or rate of progress requirements) may request reinstatement after a semester/trimester on dismissal by submitting a request to the Campus Director of Student Affairs, who will forward to the campus Appeals Committee. 

To qualify for reinstatement, the student must provide documentation that the issues that led to dismissal have been resolved, evidence of remediation, or both to the Campus Director of Student Affairs. The Appeals Committee will consider factors such as grades, participation, attendance, account balance, conduct, and the student's commitment to complete the degree program within the maximum timeframe allowed within the University's policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress in making a decision to reinstate a student.

Dismissed students who are reinstated will sign a new enrollment agreement, be charged tuition consistent with the existing published rate when they are reinstated, and be subject to the current policies in effect at the time of their reinstatement. In addition, the student will be placed on an academic action plan which must be met each semester/trimester to continue in their program.  Students who are reinstated under these circumstances will remain in SAP Probation status and be ineligible to receive Federal and institutional Student Financial Aid until the semester/trimester following the semester/trimester in which the student's CGPA meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for the program and the student's rate of progress is at or above the requirement for the program. At this point, the student will be returned to regular status and again become eligible for Federal Financial Aid programs. If a student requests to be reinstated back into a new program, all of the mentioned above, ie: probation status and ineligibility for aid, still applies.