SAP: So Far, So Good… Evelynne Blatt Director of Financial Aid, Union County College Heather Keith Director of Counseling, Union County College 1

Past Long Standing Policy Quantitative ▫Based on proration of semesters attempted or completed (show policy on slide) ▫18 credits semester was considered 1 FT while a student who took 6 credits for 3 semesters was considered 1.5 FT Qualitative standard (GAP) was calculated after 3 full time equivalent semesters ▫Could be 36 credits if student took 2 18 credit semesters ▫Did not address programs less than two years in length Maximum Timeframe ▫Did not exclude ESL courses (ESL series is up to 72 credits) so students would max out and appeal every year after their ESL courses 2

Past Policy Changes Quantitative ▫Based on credits attempted and completed ▫Benchmarked so that newer students had lower standards Qualitative ▫Benchmarked so that newer students had lower standards ▫Begins at 13 credits to address shorter programs Maximum Timeframe ▫Excludes ESL 3

Past Long Standing Appeals Process Appeals reviewed by committee that didn’t meet. Members from 3 campuses. Appeals had to be copied and interoffice to each member. Process took up to 4 weeks. Committee did not take into account prior appeals Committee “meeting dates” were provided to students but dates did not extend through appeal deadline Appeals approved for whole year 4

Past Appeals Process Change Appeals reviewed by Assistant Director and Director of Financial Aid Required student to compose a letter Appeal Guidelines provided (show guidelines on slide) Required extenuating circumstances Required a plan Not approved if poor performance after prior appeal Appeals approved for whole year 5

Present - Policy Changes to accommodate new regulations ▫Warning school now, so we review each semester ▫Not approving appeals if won’t graduate within 150% ▫Policy (click it)Policy (click it) 6

Present – Appeal Policy Appeals approved for 1 semester only ▫Students must submit a plan (all students and why) – meet with Counselor ▫Appeal Agreement Required (copy for slide and why) 7

SAP Appeal Guidelines How to Appeal (click it) ▫Identification ▫Reason for the Letter ▫Facts of the situation ▫Extenuating circumstances ▫Supporting documentation ▫Corrective active ▫Signature 8

SAP Appeal Agreement Agree to an understanding of the process (click it)Agree to an understanding of the process (click it) ▫Appeal process ▫Plan process ▫Keep on the plan ▫Signature tear off 9

Future – Policy Changes No Federally Required Changes Pending Changes based on experience… 10

Future – Appeals Process Changes Add programming requirements to plan (workshops – available online as needed) Assign and track attendance in ALC Assign Academic Counselors 11

Resources ▫Click on “Becoming a Student” ▫Click on “Paying for College” ▫Click on “Forms”  SAP Policy  SAP Guidelines  SAP Appeal Agreement ▫Click on “Becoming a Student” ▫Click on “Counseling” 12