Allied American University › Academics › Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
• Credit Hour Completion
• Maximum Timeframe
• Academic Status Tables
• Appeal of Academic Dismissal
• Return from Dismissal

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to receive Federal Student Aid. According to Federal Regulations, students who fail to make satisfactory progress towards their degree or certificate will lose their ability to receive Federal Student Aid.

Students who lose their aid may appeal the loss provided there are mitigating circumstances that inhibited their academic progress. If mitigating circumstances do not exist, students may take classes at their own expense to demonstrate improvement for a future appeal. To otherwise restore eligibility, students must achieve the grade point average (GPA) and completion rate as defined in the policy.

AAU applies this regulation to ALL students, not just those who are receiving Financial Aid.

AAU evaluates Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of each semester. A semester is defined as a 16-week period of academic study. The requirements of each criterion are discussed in detail below and must be met. The University provides written notification to notify a student who is failing to achieve SAP standards.

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Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

CGPA is the qualitative measure of SAP, meaning that it measures the quality of the grades that each student earns in their courses. Evaluation occurs at the end of each semester as demonstrated in the sample segments listed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Progression Table. Only credits completed at AAU with a final grade of A through F are included in the CGPA calculation.

To meet SAP requirements students must maintain a CGPA of 2.0. Students who fail to meet CGPA requirements have failed to meet SAP requirements and will be put on Warning.

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Credit Hour Completion

• Credit hour completion is the quantitative measure of SAP, meaning that students must successfully complete 67% of attempted courses to meet minimum SAP standards and maintain eligibility for Federal Student Aid.
• Courses with a final grade of A through D will be counted towards credits completed.
  Final grades that fall below the minimum D are not counted as credits completed but will be used to determine credits attempted.
• Withdrawn (W) courses are considered credits attempted.
• Courses with grades of incomplete ("I") will not be counted as credits attempted until a final grade is earned.
• During week one of each semester students will be cancelled from any courses in which they have not met census. Courses that are dropped prior to the course start date or during the add/drop (week one of the semester) will not count towards attempted credits.
  
  Note: All students are required to log into each of their courses and participate in week one according to the class syllabus to confirm their attendance. Students who do not complete an academically related event during census will be cancelled from their course.
• Remedial courses do not count towards attempted credits.
• Any course in which the student remains enrolled beyond week one will count towards attempted courses regardless of the grade received.
• Repeated courses will count as attempted courses.
• Credits transferred in from other colleges or universities via an official Transfer Credit Evaluation are factored into credit completion.

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Maximum Timeframe

All students who receive federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act are required to complete their program of study within 150% of the published length of the program.The following maximum time frames apply to each academic program:

• Associate's degree: the published length is 60 semester credits. The maximum period must not exceed 90 (60x1.5) Total Semester Credits Attempted.
• Bachelor's degree: the published length is 120 semester credits. The maximum period must not exceed 180 (120 x 1.5) Total Semester Credits Attempted.
• Certificate programs: the published length is an average of 18 semester credits. The maximum period must not exceed 27 (18 x 1.5) Total Semester Credits Attempted.

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Academic Status

The table below provides information about how grades affect Credit Completion Rates and Cumulative GPA.

The table below provides information about how grades affect Credit Completion Rates and Cumulative GPA.

Grade	Credits Attempted	Credits Earned	Calculated in GPA
A - D	Yes	Yes	Yes
F	Yes	No	Yes
W (Withdrawal)	Yes	No	No
WF (Failure to Withdraw)	Yes	No	No
AC (Administrative Cancellation)	No	No	No
AW (Administrative Withdrawal)	No	No	No
IP (In Progress)	No	No	No

 

The table below provides information on the SAP process once minimum SAP requirements are not met.

The table below provides information on the SAP process once minimum SAP requirements are not met.

Situation	Requirements	SAP Status	Academic Eligibility	Federal Financial Aid Availability
First semester in which minimum SAP standards are not met	Student must seek academic advisement from Program Success Advocate (PSA).	Warning	Student Continues with Classes	Financial Aid eligibility remains in place
Second consecutive semester in which minimum SAP standards are not met.	Student may appeal the decision. The student must submit a typed petition to the Registrar's Office within seven business days of notification of possible dismissal	Eligible for Dismissal	Student continues with classes while in the appeal process	Financial Aid eligibility remains in place while in the appeal process
Approval of appeal	Student must follow conditions outlined by the Appeals Committee	Probation	Student continues with classes under PSA guidance.	Student loses eligibility for Financial Aid
Denial of Appeal	None	Dismissal	Student is dismissed. Student may appeal to return after one sixteen week semester has elapsed.	Student loses eligibility for Financial Aid
Student does not appeal or fails to meet appeal deadline	None	Dismissal	Student is dismissed. Student may appeal to return after one sixteen week semester has elapsed.	Student loses eligibility for Financial Aid
Student returns after one sixteen week semester has elapsed.	Student must meet set goals within an Academic Plan. To be removed from Extended Enrollment the student must meet minimum SAP requirements. The student will remain on Extended Enrollment if the academic goals within the Academic Plan are met.	Extended Enrollment	Student is placed in courses based on an academic plan and under guidance of the PSA.	Student is not eligible for Financial Aid
Student does not meet goals established on the Academic Plan while on Extended Enrollment	None	Dismissal	Student is dismissed.`	Student is not eligible for Financial Aid

 

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Appeal of Academic Dismissal

Any student notified of academic dismissal may appeal the decision based on mitigating circumstances that explain the unsatisfactory academic performance. Students must demonstrate a likelihood of success if allowed to continue at Allied American University. To appeal an academic dismissal, a student must submit a typed petition to the Registrar within seven days of notification of dismissal. The appeal should be a concise narrative with supporting documents. The appeal will be forwarded to the Provost for consideration. The Provost will recommend a decision to the Registrar's Office. A student will be notified in writing of the decision by the Registrar's Office within five business days of receiving the student's appeal. All decisions by the Provost are final.

If the appeal for dismissal is approved, the student will be permitted to continue coursework at Allied American University under an academic status of Probation.

If the appeal is not approved, the student will be dismissed. A student who is academically dismissed is ineligible to continue enrollment and may not be readmitted before the lapse of at least one 16-week semester. Upon return, the student will be permitted to take courses on academic probation and will be required to repeat courses that can raise cumulative GPA. See Return from Dismissal for processes or returning to Allied American University upon being dismissed.

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Return from Dismissal

Conditions returning after dismissal for unsatisfactory progress will be established by the Provost on an individual basis and will be provided to the student upon notification of their dismissal.

Traditionally students must demonstrate their ability to be academically successful by reviewing an academic plan and successfully completing pre-determined coursework at an accredited institution.

Based on the conditions provided, a student would appeal to return through the Office of the Registrar. The appeal would need to be reviewed by the appropriate administrative body to ensure conditions have been successfully met.

If the student is permitted to return from Dismissal their academic standing would be Extended Enrollment, and the student must follow an Academic Plan set forth by the administration.

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