Satisfactory Academic Progress
and Terminology
To be eligible for financial aid, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the following guidelines. SAP and all related criteria are evaluated at the end of each academic term.
Academic Criteria
Qualitative Requirements
The student must meet the appropriate cumulative grade point requirement. Cumulative GPAs are monitored at the end of each semester. Entering freshman have no minimum GPA requirement.
Undergraduate Programs
| Credits Completed | Minimum GPA |
|---|---|
| 1-57 | 1.85 |
| 58+ | 2.00 |
Seminary Graduate Programs
| Program | Minimum GPA |
|---|---|
| Master of Theology | 3.0 |
| All Other Programs | 2.5 |
Professional & Graduate Studies Graduate Programs
| Credits Completed | Minimum GPA |
|---|---|
| 1-49+ | 3.0 |
Quantitative Requirements
A student must complete his or her program within a period no longer than 150% of the normal program length (measured in credit hours). A student who receives financial aid is required to maintain the following pace to ensure progress toward the 150% completion requirement.
Undergraduate Programs
| Cumulative Credits Completed | Minimum Percent Completed |
|---|---|
| 1-57 | 70% |
| 58+ | 75% |
Seminary Graduate Programs
| Cumulative Credits Completed | Minimum Percentage Completed |
|---|---|
| 1-24 | 65% |
| 25-48 | 70% |
| 49+ | 75% |
Professional & Graduate Studies Graduate Programs
| Cumulative Credits Completed | Minimum Percentage Completed |
|---|---|
| 1-24 | 65% |
| 25-48 | 70% |
| 49+ | 75% |
Financial Aid Warnings
All regularly accepted and continuing students who do not meet either/or both of the above requirements will be placed on financial aid warning. After a semester on financial aid warning, students still not meeting the criteria will have their financial aid suspended.
If a student suffers unusual circumstances and would like to appeal the financial aid suspension, he or she must submit to the Academic Appeals Committee a written explanation regarding noncompliance with these criteria. The Academic Appeals Committee will then determine the academic status of the student. If it is determined that the student is making SAP, the student will be placed on financial aid probation. The Student Financial Services office will then consider eligibility for financial aid based upon the availability of funds and financial need.
If a student meets the qualitative requirements but does not meet the quantitative requirements and is allowed to continue enrollment, he or she will not be eligible for any type of financial aid until the proper level of progress is attained.
Appeals
An appeal is a written explanation of the unusual circumstances that occurred regarding why the student failed to make SAP. It should also include what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation. All appeals must be submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee by the date indicated in the suspension letter. After consideration by the Academic Appeals Committee, a determination of eligibility will be made. If the student is granted financial aid eligibility, he/she must meet the conditions outlined by the Academic Appeals Committee for the eligibility to continue.
Financial Aid Probation
A status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP and who has appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated.
Financial Aid Warning
A status assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) at a school that evaluates academic progress at the end of each academic term, and chooses to allow students who fail its progress standards to continue to receive aid.
Financial Aid Suspension
A student who is suspended from receiving financial aid must make a written appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee for re-admission. Once the Academic Appeals Committee has notified the Student Financial Services office in writing that the student has been re-admitted and is making SAP, financial aid eligibility can be determined.
Incompletes
Incompletes are counted toward courses “attempted” but not toward “completed.” Incompletes may be considered in the appeal process. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Student Financial Services office when incompletes have been satisfactorily completed. These credits may then be counted toward the student’s total hours completed.
Pace
The pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours a student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted.
Regaining Eligibility
If a student is denied aid because the required number of hours was not completed for the period the aid was received, the student must complete the necessary course work at his/her own expense before being considered for future aid. A student denied financial aid because of G.P.A. must bring his/her average to the minimum standard to regain eligibility. Aid granted after reinstatement will be based on the availability of funds at the time and on the student’s eligibility for aid.
Repeat Courses
Federal rules allow a student to receive federal aid for a course more than once as long as it is not a result of more than one repetition of a previously passed course or any repetition of a previously passed course due to the student failing other course work. A repeated course will be counted toward the 150% maximum time frame.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits will be included in the completion ratio calculation. Transfer credits will be included in the 150 percent calculation only if the transfer credits apply to the degree that a student is working toward.
Withdrawal
A student who totally withdraws from the college and has received federal financial aid for that semester must be readmitted and be making SAP before they will be considered for financial aid in any subsequent semesters. Financial aid eligibility will then be determined based upon the availability of funds and financial need.