Satisfactory Academic Progression (SAP) Policy Office of Student Financial Assistance Effective Spring 2017

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy Key Guideline Changes: SAP policy as strict or more strict than academic standing Students progress based on paced progression GPA scale (more strict) Suspension- Students on financial aid suspension are considered ineligible for federal financial aid (federal grants, student loans, (FWS) student employment). Additionally, they will not receive Financial Aid, if they are academically suspended. Financial aid eligibility may be reinstated if the student pays his/her own educational expenses at least one (1) semester by taking a minimum of 6 credit hours, and earns a 2.0 (grade point average) for the semester in which they re-enroll. Financial aid eligibility may be also reinstated if the suspended student does not attend at least one (1) semester, i.e., fall or spring (summer is counted with spring and therefore will not count as a qualified timeline).

Qualitative Measure (Cumulative GPA Chart) Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted   1-24 hours 25-35 hours 36 hours and above Minimum Cumulative GPA 1.87 1.92 2.00 All grades attempted will be considered. These include, but are not limited to, courses passed, courses failed, courses from which the student withdrew (officially or unofficially), repeated courses, transfer courses, and remedial/developmental coursework

Guidelines for SAP Policy Resets removed- students can receive a maximum of 5 appeals SAP academic plan personalized GPA 2.0 and 75% completion required • Academic plan- If it is determined that it is impossible for the student to meet SAP standards within one semester, the student will be placed on academic plan. Students are given specific requirements to show continual progression in order to stay in good standing with SAP in order to remain eligible to receive Title IV federal aid. o The academic plan requires specified cumulative GPA of 2.0 and 75% pace progression. While on academic plan, the student will continue to receive federal financial aid as long as the student adheres to the academic plan. The student’s academic plan will be evaluated at the end of each semester. Students will be allowed a maximum of five (5) appeals while attending Delgado Community College, not including continuing academic plans. Example 1: if a student is enrolled in 12 hours and drops a 3 hour course, the student is meeting 75% pace progression (12hours-3hours=9hours; therefore 9 hours divided by 12 hours = 75% pace progression) However, Example 2: if a student is enrolled in 9 hours and drops a 3 hour course, the student is NOT meeting 75% pace progression (9hours-3hours=6hours; therefore 6 hours divided by 9 hours = 66% pace progression).

Guidelines for SAP Policy Evaluating SAP once a semester Transfer students will receive a warning and will be re-assessed their next semester Transfer students are required to meet the minimum academic standards set by DCC in order to receive Federal Financial Aid. A transfer student must supply the Office of Admissions with transcripts from all previous institutions attended. All transfer students, attending Delgado Community College during their first semester, will receive a SAP warning – (no formal documentation required). Students will have SAP status reviewed at the end of the first semester, to determine satisfactory academic standards are being met.

Repetitive Coursework Repetitive (repeated) courses will count toward a student’s hours attempted.  Repeated courses that were previously failed are counted in hours pursued and, if successfully completed, hours earned. Students are allowed to retake a previously passed course. A passed course is any course in which a student earns a grade of “D”, “C”, “B”, or “A.” HOWEVER, financial aid will not cover the cost of re-taking any previously passed course for the third time. Example: if a student receives a grade of “D” in the fall and receive a “C” in the spring, the student cannot retake the same course for the third time AND receive financial aid for the same course.   If a student withdraws before completing the course, then the federal student aid funding may not be counted as his/her allowed retake course.

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