1. Janet Dodson, presenter
RMASFAA Summer & Fall Training Series – Satisfactory Academic Progress aka SAP
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Janet Dodson, presenter

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

3. What is SAP?

4. 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!

5. SAP Standards

6. 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

7. 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

8. SAP evaluation

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Financial Aid Probation
SAP Evaluation
Appeals
Financial Aid Probation
Academic Plans

14. 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

15. SAP Measurements

16. 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!

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. SAP Communication

24. 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

25. 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

26. Resources/References
FSA Assessments, Student Eligibility section
668.16, (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

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

28. Thank you for joining us today
We hope you will join us again on
July 11 for 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
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