Satisfactory Academic Progress A NASFAA Authorized Event Presented by [Name of Presenter/Association] [Location] [Date], 2017

Lesson 1: Introduction to Satisfactory Academic Progress

SAP General Policy Requirements For all categories of students Same As or Stricter Than Quantitative Qualitative Other factors Evaluation Components Warning Probation Appeals Assessment

Consumer Information Requirements Prospective Students Currently Enrolled Readily available in paper or electronic format Accessible to the public Easily accessible to students Describe standards for maintaining and re-establishing Title IV aid eligibility Not via restricted intranet If online, provide exact URL Annual notice of SAP policy SAP evaluation results, if eligibility is affected

Do you agree that the SAP standards should be the same as or stricter than the standards set for students who are not receiving Title IV aid? Why or why not? Is your SAP policy easy to find and easily understood by students? If not, how would you simplify it? What do you believe is the best way to distribute consumer information disclosures? Would you suggest one method or multiple methods? Page 7

Lesson 2: Evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress

Evaluation Frequency Timing SAP Evaluation Policy

Quantitative Component Pace: Maximum Timeframe Undergraduate students Graduate students Cumulative Hours Completed Cumulative Hours Attempted

Quantitative Component Maximum Timeframe Undergraduate: 150% of published length of program Graduate: defined by the school, based on length of program

Quantitative Component Graduated quantitative standard (optional) Transfer students Credits accepted count in both completed and attempted hours

Example: Amy 54 Hours Completed = 90% 60 Hours Attempted

Example: Henri POLICY Graduated Standard HENRI

Example: Tasha Maximum timeframe is 180 credit hours Pace expectation is 67% at each review Annual review after spring semester

Happy Valley Junior College Mountaintop University Example: Ivan Pace expectation is 65% at each review Annual review after spring semester 60 credits 30 credits Happy Valley Junior College Mountaintop University

Example: Alisha Program length: Review after first payment period: 900 clock hours 32 weeks Review after first payment period: Completion of 450 clock hours and 16 weeks Pace expectation is 67% At 16 weeks, her pace exceeds 67%, but she has not yet completed the first payment period

Quick Quiz 1: 1. How frequently are schools required to evaluate SAP?   2. Evaluation of SAP must coincide with the end of a payment period.  True  False  3. What three options are available to schools regarding the timing of evaluating SAP for students enrolled in clock-hour programs? 4. Define pace. Page 17

Quick Quiz 1: 5. What is the fraction for calculating pace? 6. The maximum timeframe for an undergraduate program offered in credit hours can be no longer than _______ of the published length of the program.   7. What is the maximum timeframe for a graduate program? 8. Schools must use a graduated pace standard.  True  False  Pages 17-18

Quick Quiz 1: 9. When calculating the pace of a transfer student, the school must include hours accepted towards his or her program of study in both the __________ and __________. 10. A student becomes __________ for Title IV aid when it becomes mathematically impossible to complete a program of study within the maximum timeframe.   Page 18

Learning Activity: Calculating Pace Page 19

Learning Activity: Calculating Pace 1. Carlo Carlo is enrolled in an associate degree program at Hilltop Community College. Hilltop evaluates SAP at the end of each payment period. Calculate Carlo’s pace for his first three terms.   100% (12/12) 85.7% (18/21) 72.7% (24/33) Page 19

Learning Activity: Calculating Pace 2. Maria Maria is enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at Sunrise State University. Sunrise State evaluates SAP annually at the end of the spring semester. Calculate Maria’s pace for her first two years.   N/A 81.8% (27/33) N/A 80.7% (46/57) Page 19

Learning Activity: Calculating Pace 3. Toby Toby is enrolled in a 900 clock hour program. Students complete the program in 32 weeks. Each payment period is the amount of time it takes a student to complete both 450 clock hours and 16 weeks of instruction. SAP is evaluated at the time students’ scheduled clock hours for a payment period have elapsed. Calculate Toby’s pace. * Note: Figure represents Toby’s cumulative clock hours completed at the end of the second evaluation period.  66.7% (300/450) 72.2% (650/900) Page 19

Qualitative Component Quality of the student’s work Grade Point Average Comparable Qualitative Measure Graduated Standard Equivalent of a “C” or better

Example: Anabelle Cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 SAP review after each semester Met GPA requirement

Example: Mikhail POLICY Graduated Standard MIKHAIL

Not making SAP after two years Example: Isobel Fixed qualitative standard of at least 2.0 Annual SAP review Not making SAP after two years

Example: Marlin POLICY Comparable Measure MARLIN

Consequences of Not Meeting SAP Standards Failure to make SAP results in immediate loss of aid eligibility Eligibility may be regained if: Pay for classes without federal financial aid Successfully appeal

Quick Quiz 2: 1. What does the SAP qualitative component measure?   2. All schools must use grade point average to measure the qualitative component, even if they otherwise don’t calculate GPAs.  True  False  3. Fill in the numerator and denominator below for the fraction used to calculate GPA. Page 24

Quick Quiz 2: 4. Which of the following are examples of qualitative measures?  GPA  Badges   Pace  Nonpoint rubrics   Maximum timeframe 5. Which students are impacted by the requirement to have a GPA equivalent of a “C” or better at the end of the second year? Page 24

Quick Quiz 2: 6. A school’s SAP evaluation is complete when it includes both ____________ and ____________ components at the same time. 7. What are the consequences when a student fails to meet SAP standards? 8. How can a student regain eligibility if he or she is not meeting SAP standards? Page 25

Learning Activity: Calculating GPAs Page 26

Learning Activity: Calculating GPAs For the case study of “Haley” described on page 26, use the information provided to calculate each specified GPA. You may find it helpful to refer to the blank Calculating Grade Point Averages worksheet on page 30.   Page 26

Learning Activity: Calculating GPAs Fall 2017: Spring 2018: (3x3) (3x4) (3x2) (3x4) ________ ________ 12 credits 39 points (3x4) (3x3) (3x4) (3x2) (3x3) ________ ________ 15 credits 48 points Page 26

Learning Activity: Calculating GPAs What is Haley’s GPA for Fall 2017? __________ What is Haley’s GPA for Spring 2018? __________ What is Haley’s cumulative GPA? __________   3.25 (39/12) 3.2 (48/15) 3.22 (87/27) Page 26

Do you think the use of graduated standards is effective? Should all schools be required to evaluate SAP after each payment period? Is pace a good way to measure a student’s progress towards completing his or her program of study in a timely manner? What measure would you use instead? As schools explore different ways to offer educational programs, is GPA still a good way to measure academic achievement? Do you think the use of graduated standards is effective? Page 27

Lesson 3: SAP Appeals, Probation, and Academic Plans

SAP Appeals Acceptable reasons Limitation of SAP appeals Conditions and Circumstances Student’s circumstances Actions taken on an appeal Documentation Steps to follow Making appeal decisions Processing SAP Appeals

What are the circumstances under which a student may appeal? How does a student submit an appeal? Who is responsible for reviewing appeals? What are the deadlines, if any?

Financial Aid Probation Meeting SAP requirements Academic plan or ineligible Appeal Review after one payment period Academic Plan Appeal Periodic Reviews Achieve Plan Goals

Financial Aid Probation Frequency of Monitoring Financial Aid Probation Conditions School Policy Option Regulatory Definition

Academic Plans Frequency of Monitoring Development of Academic Plans Consequences of Not Following the Plan

Under what circumstances does the school use academic plans for students who fail to maintain SAP? Who is responsible for developing academic plans for students? Who will monitor compliance and how often?

Re-Establishing Eligibility Methods for re-establishing eligibility Notification to students

How does your institution structure its appeal process? Does your institution use the financial aid warning and/or financial aid probation statuses? How does your institution structure its appeal process? Assuming SAP appeals are used, should students have the opportunity to meet with an Appeals Committee, or is only written documentation permitted? Assuming SAP appeals are used, should a student be allowed to appeal SAP status to a higher authority? Page 50

Learning Activity 1: SAP Review Scenario—Sansa Page 51

Learning Activity: SAP Review Scenario—Sansa For the case study of “Sansa” described on page 51, review the information provided to answer questions about her school’s SAP policy and Sansa’s SAP status.   Page 51

Quick Quiz Winterfell Institute offers undergraduate bachelor’s degree programs. Sansa is a sophomore majoring in Biology. What is the pace that a Winterfell student must maintain to complete the Biology program within 180 attempted credits? What is Sansa’s cumulative rate of progression (pace) at the end of the Fall 2017 semester? What is Sansa’s cumulative rate of progression (pace) at the end of the Spring 2018 semester? Is Sansa meeting the school’s qualitative (GPA) standard at the end of the Fall 2017 semester? At least 67% of credits attempted in each term (120/180 = 0.667). 61% (27/44 = 0.613). 63% (35/56 = 0.625). Yes, because her 3.0 GPA (cumulative) exceeds the school’s minimum of 2.5. Page 51

Quick Quiz Winterfell Institute offers undergraduate bachelor’s degree programs. Sansa is a sophomore majoring in Biology. Is Sansa meeting the school’s qualitative (GPA) standard at the end of the Spring 2018 semester? At the end of the Fall 2017 semester, what is Sansa’s SAP status? At the end of the Spring 2018 semester, what is Sansa’s SAP status? What three options are available for Sansa when you counsel her at the end of the Spring 2018 semester? Yes, because her 3.1 GPA (cumulative) exceeds the school’s minimum of 2.5. She lost eligibility before being placed on warning for one semester. She lost eligibility, but may appeal for probation under academic plan. Appeal. Sit out, then appeal. Improve, without aid. Page 52

Lesson 4: Additional SAP Policy Elements

Additional SAP Policy Elements Withdrawals and nonattendance Incomplete courses or grades Repeated coursework Transfer hours “W” “I” “R” “T”

Quick Quiz 1: 1. It is important to consider __________ in determining the impact of how withdrawn courses count toward a student’s SAP standing.  the total amount of federal loan debt the student has incurred  the effect the courses would have had on the student’s GPA if they had been completed  if the student is a Federal Pell Grant recipient  the effect of withdrawn courses on the student’s pace and maximum timeframe  Page 70

Quick Quiz 1: 2. Transfer hours accepted toward a student’s educational program must count as:  Only hours attempted.  Only hours completed.  Both hours attempted and completed.  Neither hours attempted nor completed.  3. Define repeated coursework. Page 70

Quick Quiz 1: 4. How a school handles incomplete coursework is:  Determined by SAP regulations.  Determined by the institution.  Not a component that must be addressed in SAP policy.  Determined by the student’s wishes.  Page 70

Learning Activity: Transfer Hours and Repeated Coursework Page 71

Learning Activity: Transfer Hours and Repeated Coursework 1. Fred Fred attends Bedrock University and is a Chemistry major. Introduction to General Chemistry is a required course for his degree. He took it his freshman year, and received a failing grade. He repeated the course in the spring.   How can Bedrock University account for Fred’s repeated coursework for SAP purposes? Page 71

Learning Activity: Transfer Hours and Repeated Coursework 2. Mary Mary decides to transfer to Big City University (BCU) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. BCU will only accept grades of “C” or better. After an evaluation of her coursework from County Community College (CCC) transcript, BCU accepts 36 hours of transfer work toward her bachelor’s degree.   How is BCU required to handle Mary’s transfer credits for SAP purposes?   Page 71

Additional SAP Policy Elements Audited Courses Pass-or-Fail Courses Remedial Coursework English as a Second Language Continuing Education or Enrichment Courses Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program School policy required

Quick Quiz 2: 1. ____________ may be excluded or included in the pace calculation.  Hours for remedial coursework  Hours with grades of “F”  Hours accepted for transfer by the school  2. Students enrolled in a CTP program are required to:  Maintain SAP as determined by the school in the context of the CTP program in which they are enrolled.  Be enrolled no more than half time for SAP purposes.  Have their SAP status reviewed only annually.  Be exempt from SAP regulations.  Page 74

Quick Quiz 2: 3. Students taking remedial coursework are limited to:  One academic year of remedial coursework.  30 credit hours.  450 clock hours.  9 quarter-credit hours.   One-half of an academic year of remedial coursework.  4. What are the conditions for receiving Title IV aid for continuing education or enrichment courses? Page 74

Quick Quiz 2: 5. Audited coursework may affect:  GPA or an equivalent measure.  Pace.  Maximum timeframe.  Title IV aid received.  Page 74

How is repeated coursework handled at your school? Does your school place a time limit on resolving incomplete grades? How have you seen incomplete grades affect SAP? How is repeated coursework handled at your school? Does your school use pass-or-fail grading for courses? How do you account for pass-or-fail grades in calculation of a student’s GPA for SAP? Page 75

Additional SAP Policy Elements School must determine SAP treatment Multiple Degrees or Credentials Double Majors Change of Program Academic Amnesty

Quick Quiz 3: 1. An institution’s SAP policy may allow certain hours a student takes prior to a change in major to be excluded in the SAP determination. Which of the following must be included in the SAP determination?  Successfully completed hours applicable to the current program of study  Hours earned that do not apply to the new program of study  Transfer hours successfully completed which do not apply to the current program of study  Grades that do not apply to the new program of study Page 77

Quick Quiz 3: 2. SAP regulations allow for academic amnesty.  True  False 3. A school can require students with double majors to appeal maximum timeframe if it becomes a SAP issue. 4. Schools may set a limit on the number of times it allows students to “reset” by a change of major. Page 77