Janet Dodson, presenter RMASFAA Summer & Fall Training Series – Satisfactory Academic Progress aka SAP NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. Janet Dodson, presenter

Today’s Focus What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) SAP Standards SAP Evaluation SAP Measurements SAP Communication

What is SAP?

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress Established U.S. Department of Education requirement Each school may have slightly varying internal processes based upon the school type and organizational structure To be eligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds a student must make and meet SAP minimum guidelines at your school Your school’s SAP policy must be reasonable Reasonable means the policy measures both the qualitative and quantitative portions of the student’s academic transcript Must be as strict as the school’s policy for determining good academic standing at the college Must be communicated with all students Bottom line – SAP is about student success!

SAP Standards

SAP Standards required in your POLICY Grades - Qualitative Time - Quantitative Require a minimum grade point average (GPA) at each evaluation period Programs greater than two years in length At the end of the student’s second academic year, the GPA must be a “C” or its equivalent; or Must have an academic standing consistent with your school’s graduation requirement Require a pace at which the student must progress to ensure graduation within the maximum timeframe Cumulative hours completed Cumulative hours attempted Maximum timeframe Undergraduate 150% of published program length Graduate based on school’s defined program length Transfer students Accepted credits count in attempted and completed hours

SAP Standards consideration for your Policy Remedial courses. Will you include them when making the quantitative assessment – NOT required but must be consistent Consider the variations of enrollment status when calculating PACE When it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to complete his undergraduate program within 150% of its length or within the school’s established maximum timeframe the student is considered ineligible. If your school accepts appeals – an appeal from the student is possible Explain how the GPA and Timeframe are affected by Incompletes; Withdrawals; Course Repeats; and/or Transfer Credits from other schools Grade changes require a SAP review using the new information

SAP evaluation

SAP Evaluation Schools are required to evaluate at least once per academic year both the qualitative and quantitative measures All official SAP evaluations must be completed at the end of a payment period A SAP review is not complete until both the Qualitative and Quantitative measure is completed. The student must meet BOTH the Qualitative AND Quantitative measure in order to be eligible for FSA Procedure for late notification of grade changes

SAP Evaluation Once a year Students not meeting all SAP standards are not eligible for FSA funds unless… Your school allows for Appeals If your school allows Appeals When a student is provided FSA funds because of a successful appeal, the school MUST review the student's SAP at the conclusion of EVERY payment period A successful appeal is referred to as Financial aid probation (FAP) At the end of every payment period Students meeting all SAP standards continues to be provided FSA funds Students failing to meet any/all SAP standards are assigned the status of Financial aid warning (FAW) School can reinstate FSA fund eligibility for one payment period without a written student appeal provided… FAW has not been assigned to this student at any time in the past at this school FAW is only available to students making SAP in the most recent payment period; unless this payment period is the student’s first payment period

SAP Evaluation - Appeal Appeal – is a formal, written petition submitted by the student thoroughly explaining why the student failed to meet the SAP required credentials Acceptable reasons for failing to meet SAP requirements include: the student experienced injury or illness; death of a relative; or other special circumstances Written petition must explain and document the student’s reason for failing to meet SAP and what has changed in the situation that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation

SAP Evaluation Appeals – if allowed Students must document their individual circumstance(s) School should provide acceptable SAP Appeal reasons and limitations of SAP Appeals if applicable outline in the Financial aid suspension letter the steps a student can follow to Appeal – if Appeals are allowed provide deadlines for submitting any Appeals, if allowed share how and when the student will be notified regarding the outcome of their Appeal share how the student can escalate their Appeal in the case of the original Appeal is denied

Financial Aid Probation SAP Evaluation Appeals Financial Aid Probation Academic Plans

SAP Evaluation SAP Student not meeting SAP. School offers Appeal options. Student’s appeal is successful. School reinstates FSA for one semester Student again does not meet SAP and appeals again. School does not see any change. Appeal denied. Student pays for school until SAP is met Student not meeting SAP. School does not offer the APPEAL option Student pays for school until SAP is met Student is meeting SAP nothing additional is required

SAP Measurements

SAP Measurements Good Standing Student is eligible to receive all types of aid Student’s cumulative GPA is at or above the required minimum Student’s Quantitative measure rate is at or above the required minimum Student has attempted less than the Maximum Timeframe % for the enrolled degree or certificate program School is not required to notify this student of his Good Standing – it is assumed!

Alert – this applies to Time Frame only SAP Measurements Alert – this applies to Time Frame only Student has attempted X%, but less than 150%, of the required number of credit hours needs for the degree or certificate program. Student is eligible to receive all types of financial aid Student needs to be notified of what is on his FSA horizon.

SAP Measurements Financial Aid Suspension Student did not comply with stated SAP criteria Student is not eligible to receive FSA Depending on your institutional policy, potentially state and institutional funding is forfeited too If your school accepts Financial Aid Suspension Appeals refer to slide 11 Student must be notified of this standing and if appeals are allowed, the student’s options

Student must be notified of his SAP status SAP Measurements Financial Aid Probation This status is available ONLY if your school accepts Financial Aid Suspension Appeals This status is applied to student’s with an accepted Financial Aid Suspension Appeal. Student’s FSA funds are re-established* This status requires a SAP review at the conclusion of EVERY payment period Student must be notified of his SAP status * Provided funding is still available

Student must be notified SAP Measurements Warning This is an option ONLY if your school reviews SAP at the conclusion of EVERY payment period. Available for one payment period only Warning status is available for more than one time but NOT consecutively Student can receive FSA during this period Student must be notified Schools are not required to use this status. Instead student can be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and required to appeal this status

SAP Measurements Academic Plans – must be shared with the student in writing Academic plans are used when the school determines the student will not be able to be back in good SAP standing at the conclusion of the academic term/next payment period Schools are not required to develop an academic plan ED does not define what office(s) must develop and oversee the Academic Plan In the case of a student who completed successfully the probationary payment period under an academic plan and is making progress under that plan is considered to be an eligible student This student may be evaluated at the same time as other FSA recipients or at more frequent periods based on the academic plan The academic plan must be designed to ensure that the student is able to meet the institutional SAP standards by a specific point in time

SAP Measurements Reestablishing aid eligibility Must explain how student can restore their FSA eligibility The school can suggest that a student… However, this may not be sufficient to reestablish aid eligibility successfully complete X number of credits or enroll for a number of academic periods without receiving FSA funds is an option; or Interrupting attendance for one or more academic periods Bottom line – the student can only gain eligibility by taking action that brings the student into compliance with the school’s SAP standards

SAP Communication

SAP Communication Your SAP Policy(s) must be provided to potential and current students. Think about adding the policy to your College Catalog AND Student Handbook HINT – Consumer Information Current students must be notified. When SAP is calculated either… Once a year At the end of each payment period What is your school’s review calendar? The various SAP categories and what each category means If the results of SAP impact the student’s FSA eligibility. The impact must be shared with the student If the schools allows for SAP Appeals you must describe the specific elements required to Appeal All schools must describe how a student who has failed SAP can reestablish eligibility for FSA

SAP Communication Other issues to consider Academic Amnesty is not an option when determining SAP Students applying for FSA later in a college career must be reviewed from the beginning of his academic transcript at your school. Past periods not making SAP, regardless of receiving aid or not, can and does impact FAS eligibility in future terms

Resources/References FSA Assessments, Student Eligibility section 668.16, 668.34 (SAP) FSA Handbook Volume 1, Chapter 1 Electronic Announcement – September 2, 2011 Policy Q and A webpage on program integrity regulations IFAP Topic – Satisfactory Academic Progress Google Search keyword Satisfactory Academic Progress NASFAA materials are available to NASFAA members only

Let’s Recap What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) SAP Standards SAP Evaluation SAP Measurements SAP Communication

Thank you for joining us today We hope you will join us again on July 11 for 2017-18 Verification; July 18 for Consumer Information, Drugs and Crime; September 26 for Enrollment Reporting; and October 3 for Return to Title IV All RMASFAA Learning Webcasts are recorded and will be posted inside the RMASFAA website All registration material is posted on the RMASFAA calendar Please take a few minutes to complete the survey that launches at the conclusion of this webinar. Your feedback is important to us.