Caught Up with Satisfactory Academic Progress Issues? There’s Still Time to Turn It Around

Very few acronyms in financial aid strike more fear than this one: SAP. SAP, also known as Satisfactory Academic Progress, is an academic standard that each institution that participates in the federal student aid program must establish for its student populations to meet eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid sources.

At Goldey-Beacom College, undergraduate students must generally attain a C or better average (i.e., a 2.0 cumulative grade point average) and complete a minimum of 75% of the courses attempted and earned. Graduate students must generally attain a B or better average (i.e., a 3.0 cumulative grade point average) and complete a minimum of 75% of the courses attempted and earned.

The cumulative grade point average is straightforward to find on an academic transcript. The second part of the SAP equation, 75% completion of attempted credits, is a tad trickier for students to understand. Below are two examples of a student meeting the completion percentage and a student who is not meeting the completion percentage component of the SAP policy at Goldey-Beacom College:

Student A

Student B

Figure 1: Two charts depicting pacing and the SAP standing for two respective students.

As you can see from the second chart, student B is deficient in earned credits and does not pass the SAP test that the Financial Aid Office performs annually. Earned credits deficiency can occur when a student withdraws officially or unofficially from a course. While withdrawals have benefits, such as no negative impact on the quality points in the cumulative grade point average portion of your academic transcript, they can create havoc in the number of earned credits completed. When considering a withdrawal from a course, it’s crucial for a student to seek guidance from their academic advisor and financial aid counselor. Their expertise will help you fully understand the repercussions of your decision and navigate the process with confidence.
Students can take several steps to recover from a low cumulative grade point average. One effective strategy is to repeat failed courses in future semesters, which can quickly boost your grade point average. If your academic performance is suffering from multiple low passing grades, such as Cs or Ds, it may be beneficial to reach out to the Academic Excellence Center (AEC). The AEC offers peer tutoring options in courses that students find most challenging, providing a valuable resource for improving academic performance. Additionally, reducing outside commitments, such as a busy social life or excessive work hours, can help establish healthy study habits. These habits can lead to better retention of course material, potentially resulting in improved academic performance on course assignments and assessments.

Students who are not meeting the pacing requirements for their degree program should consider repeating classes they previously withdrew from. This strategy can help recover deficiencies in the earned credit hours category of an academic transcript. Equally important is the need to maintain a balanced academic schedule. Overloading yourself with too many courses can lead to academic stress and potentially result in future course withdrawals or failures. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan your academic schedule carefully to avoid overwhelming yourself.

When a student is not meeting the SAP requirements at the College, the Financial Aid Office typically gives the student a one-semester grace period to improve their academic performance. Students must heed the advice in this column to avoid losing eligibility for federal student aid altogether. Don’t let the acronym SAP scare you away from a successful college career; likewise, don’t squander your probationary period, as that can create the anxiety that SAP stokes in students’ minds.