Satisfactory Academic Progress (Financial Services)

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS 

The institution of higher education participants of federal programs of student assistance programs must have Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The standards for federal aid recipients must be at least as strict as those standards set for students in the same programs of study who do not receive federal aid. 

EVALUATION PERIOD 

According to federal regulations, the school must determine equal time segments, or evaluation periods, to review a student’s academic progress. For programs of one year or less, the school must measure SAP at the end of each payment period; for all other programs, the school must measure SAP, at a least, on an annual basis. (Federal Regulation: 34 CFR 668.34 (a)(3). 

The Administration of PHSU maintains the review of SAP according to federal regulations: programs of a year or less are reviewed by period of enrollment. The Satisfactory Academic Progress of a student might be reviewed as required by any administrative or programmatic sanction; in addition, as required by any funding sources that provide financial aid resources for eligible PHSU students. 

GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS 

All full-time and part-time students awarded financial aid must comply with the PHSU SAP policy. Although for some programs the SAP is evaluated annually at the end of the Academic Year, the student must maintain a good academic standing per period of studies (semester, quarter, trimester) to ensure an SAP that will ensure completion of their program degree goal with the award of financial assistance. 

STUDENTS NOT MEETING THE SAP REQUIREMENTS MAY LOSE THEIR FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY STANDARD REQUIREMENTS 

1. Cumulative Grade point Average (GPA) - Maintain a GPA as required by the program. 

2. Minimum Pace of Degree Progress (PACE) - The students must maintain the successful completion of courses per period of studies, thereby ensuring graduation within the maximum timeframe. 

3. Maximum Timeframe - May not exceed the maximum length of the program as required by academic program curriculum and established by PHSU. 

4. Compile with other requirements as established by the Academic Department. 

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS 

The Federal Department of Education has long stated that a student becomes ineligible for Title IV funds (or new awards) whenever it becomes mathematically impossible for the student to achieve the grades and/or timeframe required under SAP to graduate. A student in conjunction with the academic advisor must continually review the pace of academic progress to ensure meeting the PHSU SAP policy. The student not meeting the academic progress might be considered for continual Financial Aid by an SAP appeal aid receiving a positive response from the corresponding PHSU Appeal Committee. 

REPETION OF COURSE WORK 34 CFR 668.34 (A) (6) 

If a school allows repeated courses to replace previously passed courses, it can exclude grades for prior attempts when calculating a student’s GPA but must include credits from all attempts when calculating the maximum timeframe. Students may receive Title IV aid for only ONE repeat of a previously passed course. Students who repeat failed coursework may receive aid for multiple attempts until a passing grade is obtained. 

STATUS OF SAP NOTIFICATION 

At the end of the grading period for the Academic Year, the Promotions Committee and the Academic Dean will notify the students of the non-compliance with the satisfactory academic progress due to not obtaining the minimum academic progress as set forth in the PHSU SAP policy and indicates the deadline and process for appealing this status. The Promotions Committee will provide each department with a list of the students determined in non-compliance including the  

Registrar’s and the Student Financial Aid Office. 

SUSPENSION OF FINANCIAL AID 

The Office of Student Financial Aid may also forward communication to those students that the PC has indicated as not meeting academic progress. The students will be advised that their financial aid has been suspended and will not receive any additional disbursements, until the SAP is re-established, the student has submitted an appeal and received a decision that allows financial aid to re-evaluate the case. 

APPEALING PROCESS 

The student should refer to the specific program section in the PHSU Catalog, the department Dean/Director and of the Vice President of Student Affairs for specifics regarding the appeal process that usually has a 5-day period from receipt of the Promotions Committee notification of SAP status. The appeal process provides the opportunity for PHSU to determine whether the student might be able to reach the SAP standard by the end of the next period of evaluation. If the student would not be able to reach the SAP in one probationary period, then PHSU can approve an Academic Plan according to its policies and procedures, permitting the student to complete their educational goal within the maximum timeframe. 

REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID 

If PHSU approves the student’s appeal, the financial aid might be reinstated, however with a status of “Probation”, for one payment period. If the student does not successfully reach SAP standards upon the end of initial probationary period, the student may continue to study, however, will be suspended from receiving any financial aid until reestablishing SAP standards. If an academic plan was the decision of the Appeal Committee, the financial aid will be reinstated, if the student proceeds successfully with the established plan of studies. 

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) SUMMARY TABLE 

FINANCIAL AID PROBATION 

A student failing to meet the required academic standards of the school will lose their eligibility for financial aid. The student may formally request a review of their case to the Student Promotion Committee. If the appeal for reconsideration of the academic status is positive and/or establishes an academic plan, an opportunity for reconsideration of financial aid will be in effect a probationary status for the next period of enrollment. At the conclusion of the probation period, the student must have achieved compliance with the school’s academic standards in order to continue with the financial aid eligibility.