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SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC

PROGRESS

(Effective 2008-2009 Academic Year)

To receive financial aid from Title IV funds, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree defined as maintaining the graduating grade point average required for continued enrollment and completion of 67% of course work attempted each year up to the maximum time frame.

QUALITATIVE
The following table shows the minimal grade point average a student must achieve to maintain eligibility and to remain in good academic standing.

TOTAL HOURS ATTEMPTED            REQUIRED GRAD. GPA
0-15                                                                  1.50
16-30                                                                1.65
31-60                                                                1.75
61-and above                                                   2.00
Graduate students 0-55                                3.00

QUANTITATIVE
The following table is designed to assist students with minimal passage rate while enrolled as a full-time student taking at least 15 hours (for example) to insure the 67% passage rate.

 

EXAMPLES (BASED ON 15 HOURS COURSE LOAD Undergraduate and 2nd Degree)

(1)At the end of 2 semesters, a student should complete at least 20 hours.

(2)At the end of 4 semesters, a student should complete at least 40 hours.

(3)At the end of 6 semesters, a student should complete at least 60 hours.

(4)At the end of 8 semesters, a student should complete at least 80 hours.

(5)At the end of 10 semesters, a student should complete at least 100 hours.

(6)At the end of 12 semesters, a student should complete at least 120 hours

Graduate Level
At the end of 2 semesters, a student should complete at least 12 hours.

 

TIME FRAME
Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress (67%) toward graduation will result in financial aid being terminated. Aid will also be terminated after a student has attempted 180 credit hours for a 4-year degree and 120 credit hours for a 2-year degree, 60 hours for a 2nd degree. Graduate students cannot exceed 54 credit hours per graduate degree. Only one level of appeal is allowed for exceeding the time frame. If the appeal is denied at the first level, aid will be terminated.

At the end of Spring Semester (unless a review has been scheduled), the student’s progress will be reviewed. Whether or not the student’s aid can be renewed will be based on that progress. Non-credit courses will be counted as attempted hours against the time frame.


         YOU SHOULD BE AWARE:
     
  1. Course withdrawal will be considered hours attempted but not earned. Continuous withdrawal from classes each semester will have an adverse affect on passage rate and ultimately the time frame (hours earned/hours attempted).
  2. Repeated courses would be treated as all other hours attempted as additional time is built into the policy.
  3. Incomplete grades will only be involved if the student does not complete the requirement necessary to remove the “I”. Then the “I” becomes an “F,” therefore, calculated in the GPA.
  4. Non-credit remedial courses will be considered as regular hours earned, for Title IV purposes, if a grade of ”IP” or “S” is achieved. A grade of “U” is considered an attempted hour (only 30 hours of developmental studies can be paid with Title IV Funds).
  5. For transfer students, SAP begins at GSW. Transfer students will be judged on their progress at GSW only in terms of GPA. Transfer hours will be counted toward the total time frame.
  6. Part-time students - - - The minimal passage rate is 67% for successful achievement each year. If students attend fewer hours, an appropriate adjustment will be made in determining progress. (67% x number attempted = required credits).

Aid will be automatically terminated if the student is suspended by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students must appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Financial Aid Office, providing evidence of academic reinstatement to the Director of Financial Aid before restoration of Financial Aid is considered.

RIGHT OF APPEAL - - - A student whose aid has been terminated for one of the reasons outlined above shall have the right to appeal if there are extenuating circumstances which prevented the student from meeting these standards. Letters of appeal should be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid prior to the beginning of the semester for which aid is being requested. Students who wish to appeal the outcome may appeal to the Vice President of Student Affairs. THERE IS NO RIGHT OF APPEAL FOR EXTENDED TIME FOR LEARNING SUPPORT/ DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES. THERE IS ONLY ONE LEVEL OF APPEAL FOR EXCEEDING THE 180 HOUR TIME FRAME.

REINSTATEMENT--- It shall be the student's responsibility to initiate reinstatement. The student will be considered ineligible otherwise.

HOPE RECIPIENT --- There is an end of spring checkpoint regardless of hours attempted. The following must be met to continue to receive the HOPE Scholarship for regular and transfer students:

HOURS ATTEMPTED = 30, CUM GPA MUST = 3.00

HOURS ATTEMPTED = 60, CUM GPA MUST = 3.00

HOURS ATTEMPTED = 90, CUM GPA MUST = 3.00


     AFTER 127 HOURS (or maximum degree requirement) HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED, HOPE ELIGIBILITY
     ENDS.

Students who lost HOPE eligibility based on the scale above, but have regained a 3.00 HOPE GPA, should meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to determine if and when HOPE can be reinstated.

     Revised 3/11/2008