Satisfactory Academic Progress - Financial Aid Guide

Bridgewater State College

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal policy that measures two components:  Quantitative and Qualitative progress.

 

The quantitative portion requires students attending an institution that awards federal financial aid be making progress toward the completion of their degree within a reasonable period of time.  All attempted credits count toward the calculation, and withdrawals, failures, and incomplete grades will all negatively impact a student’s progress.  The state of Massachusetts and Bridgewater State College’s institutional financial aid programs adhere to the same standards.  Since standards are applied to all students, one does not necessarily have to be a financial aid applicant to fall under the auspices of this regulation.

 

The maximum time frame for completing an undergraduate degree is 150% of the published length of the program.  For programs that are 120 credits, a student would be allowed to attempt no more than 180 credits before completing the requirements for their degree.  Generally, for full time students, this is equal to six years.  Students who have not completed their degree within this parameter would be deemed ineligible for financial aid. 

 

Since a student has 150% of the published length of a program to complete their degree, one must complete at least 75% of all credits attempted to maintain compliance with the satisfactory progress standards.  Courses that do not carry credit, but are successfully completed, are not considered punitive under the calculation.  Repeating a course to obtain a higher grade may negatively impact compliance.  The credits will be counted as attempted, but not as earned since they have been previously earned.  Progress is measured over time, and the entire academic record is reviewed at the end of each academic year.  Repeating classes for which a passing grade has already been earned will negatively impact a student’s progress since no additional credits are earned, but additional credits are attempted.  Students who do not meet the college’s standards are notified of the loss of financial aid eligibility prior to the start of the next semester.    When a student is notified of their ineligibility, they are also given the opportunity to appeal, in writing, based on mitigating circumstances.  Summer classes are included as attempted and/or completed credits in the following academic year (unless a special condition is imposed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee).   

 

To remain in compliance with the satisfactory academic progress policy, a completion rate of 75 percent is required.  Simply stated, a student must complete at least 75 percent of all attempted credits over time.  To determine the number of credits required to maintain satisfactory progress, multiply the total number of attempted credits by 75 percent.

 

The following chart provides an example:

 

Student Example	Total of Attempted Credits	Required to Complete (75 percent)
#1	30	23
#2	20	15
#3	65	49
#4	9	7

 

 

 

All appeals are reviewed by the Satisfactory Progress Committee, whose representatives are from the Registrar’s Office, Academic Achievement Center, and the Financial Aid Office.  Decisions by the committee are final.  A student whose appeal is approved will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated on a probationary basis.  These students must be especially diligent in completing all attempted credits until compliance with the policy is reestablished.  In some cases, a student’s eligibility may be regained for only one semester, with the stipulation that the student successfully complete all attempted credits to regain eligibility for the next semester. 

 

Transfer credits are not evaluated toward the BSC completion rate that is performed at the end of each academic year.  However, transfer credits will affect the maximum timeframe in which a student must earn their degree.  For example, a student who transfers 60 credits toward an undergraduate degree would presumably have to earn 60 more credits to complete their BSC degree.  Using the federal 150% rule, the student would be allowed to attempt only 90 more credits before losing financial aid eligibility. 

 

The qualitative component of the policy deals with progress as it relates to the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA).  Satisfactory academic progress standards adhere to the College’s policy for academic standards. (See chart below).  Students who are academically separated from the College are not eligible for financial aid funds, unless they successfully appeal to the appropriate Academic Dean and are subsequently reinstated.  If such a student has met the quantitative component of the SAP policy, no further appeal is required, and financial aid can be reinstated.  However, if the quantitative standard has not been met, the student must present an additional appeal to the satisfactory progress committee.

Academic Standards:

Credit Hours Attempted	Probation GPA	Academic Warning	Separation Below This GPA
0-16	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.00
17-31	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.50
32-46	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.65
47-61	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.75
62-89	Below 2.0	2.0-2.19	1.85

 

 

Eligibility can be regained in two ways:  a student who is deemed ineligible may find an alternative funding source, continue to take classes, and regain eligibility on their own over time, or a student may instead decide to appeal to the Satisfactory Progress Committee.  Students, who submit their appeal by the deadline that is communicated in their letter, will retain their on-time status if their FAFSA was received by the published preferred deadline of March 1 and all other required documents, if any, are submitted to the financial aid office in a timely manner.  Appeals received after the deadline, if approved, will be awarded on a funds-available basis regardless of the FAFSA receipt date.  Appeals will be reviewed throughout the academic year.

 

This policy may be subject to changes or updates.  The policy on the financial aid web page supersedes the policy in this handbook.

 

Last Modified: November 21, 2008