44 th NYSFAAA Conference “On Track for Excellence”

1. 44th NYSFAAA Conference“On Track for Excellence” Satisfactory Academic Progress Thomas J. Dalton, Excelsior College & Curt Gaume, Canisius College

2. Session Description - SAP "Last year new regulatory requirements were put in place by the U.S. Department of Education for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This session will review the new requirements, emphasizing standardization of SAP terminology and identify where schools have options within the new requirements. In addition, participates will hear an overview of how two schools implemented the new regulations”

3. Statutory Authority • All SAP regulations are now included in CFR 668.34 • 668.32(f) includes SAP with other eligibility requirements • 668.16(e) refers to SAP as “reasonable policy”

4. Basic Components: SAP Policy • Qualitative Standard – GPA • Quantitative Standard (Pace ) – Credits Attempted/Credits Earned Ratio • Maximum Time Frame –150% of requirements • Evaluation schedule – How often will SAP be reviewed at your institution? • Every Term or Annual

5. What Differs from the old SAP Policy? • New SAP regulations clearly outline required elements that must be present in an institutional SAP policy • Institutions that monitor SAP each payment period have more flexibility

6. What Differs from the old SAP Policy? • Standardization of terminology • Warning, Probation, Pace • Appeal process • Requirements of an Academic Plan • Inclusion of Transfer Hours • Repeat Coursework

7. SAP Standard – Warning • Warning Matriculated students who fail to achieve the minimum standard for satisfactory academic progress as defined by the SAP Standard will receive a notice of warning from the college • Warning can only be used if checking SAP each payment period • This status is automatic (no appeal required) • Allows for one additional payment period of SFA funds only

8. SAP Standard - Loss of Eligibility • Loss of Eligibility • If a financial aid recipient is not able to achieve SAP during the Warning period, the student is no longer eligible for FSA funds • Students at schools monitoring SAP annually go strait to this status (no warning period allowed)

9. SAP Standard – Reestablish Aid Eligibility • Reestablish Aid Eligibility A student can reestablish financial aid eligibility by achieving the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard

10. SAP Standard – Appeal • Appealing Loss of Eligibility • If SAP is checked annually, student may appeal to have a financial aid Probation term to meet minimum requirements • If SAP is checked each term, a student may appeal after the financial aid Warning term if SAP standards are still not met

11. SAP Standard - Probation • Probation – AStudent that is successful in their Appeal will be placed on probation for Financial Aid. • Financial aid may be for one term or multiple terms based on an Academic Plan

12. Academic Plans • An academic plan for an approved appeal may state specific conditions that must be met such as: • Registering for fewer credit hours • Achieving a certain term grade point average • Only taking certain courses

13. Academic Plans • May be as simple as a calculation or as detailed as a class by class schedule • May require buy-in from other offices on campus such as Academic Advising/Counseling, School Dean or Provost etc. • May be several terms in length

14. Transfer Hours • SAP Regulations - Now require to count transfer hours accepted at your school toward the degree as both attempted and earned hours for SAP. Transfer students may now have slight advantage over other students.

15. Repeated Coursework and SAP If institution allows repeat coursework: • Unlimited repeated courses could be funded if student has not passed the course • Only one repeat of course could be funded with Title IV aid if student has previously passed the course

16. Repeated Coursework and SAP • SAP rules must address the treatment of repeats to Title IV eligibility • Repeat coursework is a separate topic, but directly related to SAP • Information on repeat courses is found in 668.2(b)

17. Excelsior College SAP Standard • Assessed for all students after every term a student attempts Excelsior College credit • EC GPA • 2.0 Undergraduate • 3.0 Graduate • Minimum Completion Ratio (67%) • Maximum Time Frame (150%) An EC student achieving these standards are consider to be making SAP

18. Excelsior College SAP Standard • Assessed for all students after every term a student attempts Excelsior College credit • EC GPA • 2.0 Undergraduate • 3.0 Graduate • Minimum Completion Ratio (67%) • Maximum Time Frame (150%) An EC student achieving these standards are consider to be making SAP

19. Circumstances for Appeal at Excelsior College • Serious medical illness or injury to the student. • Death of an immediate family member. • Significant change in employment or military status that prevents the student from attending class. • Significant trauma in the student’s life that impairs the student’s emotional and /or physical health. • If after a term on Warning a student demonstrates significant progress toward Reestablished Aid Eligibility he/she may appeal if: • The student has no withdrawals (exception Military Withdrawals MW)in that term. • There are no incompletes in that term. • All grades earned at Excelsior College are C or better for an undergraduate or B or better for graduate students.

20. SAP Log in EC SIS

21. SAP Log in EC SIS

22. Canisius College SAP Standard • Assess of SAP after each term • Canisius uses a graduated Pace approach • Canisius Standard:

23. Warning Period & Appeal Process at Canisius College • Because Canisius measures progress after each term a financial aid warningstatus is assigned automatically and the student is eligible for financial aid for a one semester warning term. • If SAP standards are not met during financial aid warning term, an financial aid appeal can be filed with the Academic Associate Dean. • Reasons for an Appeal of Financial Aid Eligibility • Medical Illness or injury to the student • Psychological/emotional distress in the student’s life • Death of immediate family members • Unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control

24. Warning Period & Appeal Process at Canisius College • Associate Academic Dean collects the documentation and make the determination for granting or denying the appeal for an additional term. • If the student is placed on financial aid probation an academic plan is agreed to by the student and the Dean. • Possible action plan items may include: • Register for fewer credit hours • Register for specific courses • Meet with academic advisor on a regular bases • Utilize our tutoring labs • Meet with our Retention Office • Canisius does not extend the academic plan beyond the one probationary term.