SAP term definitions help students understand the minimum federal requirements for financial aid eligibility. Hence, students must meet the minimum federal requirements to be eligible for financial aid. The following definitions are to help students understand each aspect of Satisfactory Academic Progress as it relates to their financial aid.

Meet Status

A student is considered to be in a MEET status (i.e. good standing) if they meet all 3 mandatory SAP requirements.

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): You must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR): You must successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours.
• Maximum Timeframe: You must complete your program of study within 150% of its published length.

Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR)

CCR is a comparison of total hours attempted and total hours earned as reflected on the SWIC academic transcript. Hours attempted include all courses with a grade, withdrawals, repeats, and remedial courses. Hours earned only include courses graded with an (A), (B), (C), (D), or (P).

CCR is calculated as follows:

for example

Total earned hours / total hours attempted = CCR
65 earned / 72 attempted = 90% (student is meeting 67% CCR SAP requirement)
42 earned / 72 attempted = 58% (student is below the 67% requirement and will be placed on WARN for the following term)

WARN Status

A student is placed on warning after the 1st semester if they fail the CGPA (2.0) and/or CCR (67%) requirement. By the end of the warning semester, the student must meet both the CGPA and CCR requirements to regain good standing. If a student fails either requirement a 2nd semester in a row, they will be placed on suspension for the next semester. A student may still receive financial aid while on warning.

SUSPENSION Status

A student is placed on suspension after the 2nd consecutive semester failure of the CGPA (2.0) and/or CCR (67%) requirement. If by the end of the suspension semester, the student meets both the CGPA and CCR requirements, they will regain good standing and receive financial aid again. Students remain on suspension until they have completed enough credit hours to meet both the CGPA and CCR requirements. A student is not eligible for financial aid while on suspension.

MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME

Every student applying for and receiving financial aid is required to complete their program of study within 150% of its published length. Maximum timeframe is a projected calculation – a student’s total hours remaining to complete a program is added to the total hours already attempted. A student will receive a proximity warning (timeframe notice) upon exceeding 130% of the program length and will be placed on timeframe suspension upon exceeding 150% of the program length. This calculation is unique to each student’s situation.

TIMEFRAME NOTICE Status

A student is placed on timeframe notice when their total hours remaining to complete a program plus total hours already attempted exceed 130% of the program’s length. This is a proximity warning to prevent a student from progressing to timeframe suspension. A student may still receive financial aid while on timeframe notice.

for example

AA Degree = 64 credit hours
130% x 64 credit hours = 83.2 credit hours
Hours needed + hours attempted = 86 credit hours
The student is on TIMEFRAME NOTICE

for example

Certificate = 32 credit hours
130% x 32 credit hours = 41.6 credit hours
Hours needed + hours attempted = 43 credit hours
The student is on TIMEFRAME NOTICE

TIMEFRAME SUSPENSION Status

A student is placed on timeframe suspension when their total hours remaining to complete a program plus total hours already attempted exceed 150% of the program’s length (see example under maximum timeframe definition above). A student is not eligible for financial aid while on timeframe suspension.

for example

AA Degree = 64 credit hours
150% x 64 credit hours = 96 credit hours
Hours needed + hours attempted = 105 credit hours
The student is on TIMEFRAME SUSPENSION

for example

Certificate = 32 credit hours
150% x 32 credit hours = 48 credit hours
Hours needed + hours attempted = 52 credit hours
The student is on TIMEFRAME SUSPENSION

PLAN Status

A student is placed on a plan status, also known as financial aid probation, after having a financial aid suspension appeal granted due to failing the mandatory SAP requirements. This status is reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure academic plan requirements are being met according to the official letter of approval. Students who lose their plan status will return to a financial aid suspension status.