SAP versus Academic Standing Georgia Military College Robin Knight – Associate VP Academic Records Brooke Bruton – Dean of Students/Assistant Director June 15th at 10:15AM

What is SAP? Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at GMC in order to receive financial aid. SAP is calculated after each term, including any term in which the student is not receiving financial aid. Georgia will only award financial aid for four of the five terms at GMC. SAP measures three components: 1. Minimum cumulative GPA standard 2. Completion rate of credit hours earned versus attempted. 3. Maximum time for the completion of a student’s academic program

Minimum Cumulative GPA Standard Students must maintain the minimum cumulative GPA, which includes students on academic suspension and repeated courses. Total # of credits attempted/transferred Minimum cumulative GPA 0-18 1.50 19-37 1.70 38-56 1.90 57 or more 2.00

Completion Rate Students must complete 2/3 of all credits attempted, as well as those credits transferred and accepted from other schools. Example: If a student registered for 15 hours for the 2016 winter term and withdrew from one (5 hour) course, he/she would have completed 2/3 of their attempted hours. During the 2016 spring term, the student registered for 10 hours and withdrew from one (5 hour) course. At the end of the summer term, the student would have attempted 25 hours but completed 15 hours. The student’s completion rate is 60%. The student is now on SAP warning. During the 2016 fall 1 term, the student registers for 10 hours and withdraws from one (5 hour) course. At the end of the fall 1 term, the student would have attempted 35 hours but completed 20 hours. The student’s completion rate is 57.14%. The student is now on SAP suspension.

Maximum time-frame A student’s maximum time frame for completion of their academic program must not exceed 150% of the primary program length. Maximum time frame is not increased for dual-degrees. A student may appeal SAP suspension based on the pursuit of a dual-degree. Rarely, dual enrollment students are on SAP for maximum time frame.

Monitoring Periods and Warnings Students are given a warning period after they fail to meet one or more of the requirements for SAP. If the requirements are not met after the second term, students are placed on “suspension”. It is important to advise students on “warning” status carefully so that “suspension” status can be avoided. Students who fail to meet the maximum time frame standard are placed on SAP suspension status immediately. There is no “warning” term.

Appeals Process If a student is placed on SAP suspension, an appeals process is the next step. Students can appeal their SAP standing in which extenuating circumstances occurred which prevented students from meeting the SAP requirements. Examples: Unexpected death or major hospitalization of an immediate family member, medical condition, divorce, house fire, or victim of a violent crime. If the appeal is approved, the student will be on a probationary period until the student meets the original SAP requirements. If probationary period is violated, the SAP status changes back to “suspension” status.

Effects of SAP A student’s SAP status will not be recorded on an official transcript. Each institution has different SAP minimum requirements. If a student is placed on SAP suspension, MOWR funding will not be awarded. The student can opt to pay out of pocket or dis-enroll from the program.

Academic Standing Students will be placed on academic warning when the cumulative grade point average at the end of any quarter falls below the Standards of Satisfactory Status or at the end of any quarter in which the quarterly GPA is 1.50 or less. If after the warning period the cumulative GPA is still below the required standard, the student moves to a probation status. Students will remain on probation as long as the quarterly GPA remains at least a 2.00, but the cumulative GPA remains below the required level. If the student cannot maintain a sufficient quarterly or cumulative GPA, the student will be suspended from attending GMC. Academic suspension is for one term, excluding summer term. Students can appeal after one term of suspension in order to re-enroll. If the appeal is granted, students are not eligible for financial aid until the successful completion of 10 hours.

Standards of Satisfactory Status # of hours attempted Minimum acceptable cumulative GPA 0-18 1.50 19-37 1.70 38-56 1.90 57 or higher 2.00

Recap: SAP vs. Academic Standing 3 components (GPA, pass-rate, max time frame) 1 component (GPA) Not aid eligible on suspension Not aid eligible on suspension until 10 completed hours Can appeal SAP suspension Can appeal suspension ONLY after sitting out one term (excludes summer term)

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