Revised: 01/15/2013

Satisfactory Academic Progress for UPPS No. 07.07.01

Undergraduate and Certification Seeking Issue No. 8

Students on Financial Aid Effective Date: 05/11/2012

Review: February 1 E4Y

01. POLICY STATEMENTS

01.01 This UPPS defines satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for undergraduate and certification seeking students in determining eligibility under the relevant federal and state financial aid programs. This policy applies to all undergraduate and certification students who apply for financial aid regardless of whether a student has previously received financial aid.

01.02 The development and dissemination of this information to students is required by regulations of the Department of Education as specified in 34 CFR 668.34.

02. SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS GUIDELINES

02.01 The Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) requires each student to be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs. SAP is defined in both quantitative and qualitative measures. The quantitative measure consists of a maximum timeframe in which a student must complete his or her educational program. The qualitative measure requires each student to maintain a satisfactory grade point average consistent with the requirement to obtain a degree or eligible certification at the university.

02.02 The quantitative measure states that a maximum number of semester hours may be attempted for students to complete their academic program degree, and a minimum number of semester credit hours must be earned relative to the total attempted hours to ensure the student is on pace to complete his or her program requirements.

a. Maximum Timeframe: For undergraduate students, the maximum number of credit hours (total attempted hours) is limited to 150% of the published degree program requirements and includes all hours attempted (including repeats and withdraws) at any institution of higher education and hours accepted in transfer even if financial aid was not received. The university calculates non-credit courses taken at the university or any institution of higher education, including hours accepted in transfer, into the total attempted hours. There is no provision for academic amnesty in evaluating SAP. If a student changes his or her major, all of the hours attempted while working on those majors within a degree (first baccalaureate or second baccalaureate) or certificate program count toward the maximum allowable hours. The maximum number of total attempted hours will be 150% of the maximum number of semester hours for any undergraduate degree or certification program.

Examples:

1) A first baccalaureate requires no more than 120 hours, which will allow 180 attempted hours (120 * 150% = 180 hours). This calculation will apply to all first baccalaureate programs.

2) A second baccalaureate requires no more than 30 hours, which will allow 45 attempted hours (30 * 150% = 45 hours). This calculation will apply to all second baccalaureate programs.

3) A certification seeking program requires no more than 21 hours, which will allow 31 attempted hours (21 * 150% = 31 hours). This calculation will apply to all certification programs.

b. All grades that represent earned grades such as A, B, C, D, F, and CR will count toward the total attempted hours. Each repeated course will also count toward this total. Grades of I, W, and PR, which represent non-credit semester hours, will also count toward the total attempted hours.

c. Pace of Completion (Earned Hours): The quantitative measure for undergraduate (first baccalaureate and second baccalaureate) and certification seeking students requires that the student earn a minimum number of semester credit hours relative to the total attempted hours, including credit hours transferred from another school. If the number of completed hours drops below 70% of attempted hours, including those courses for which the student received no financial aid, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension. All coursework, including transfer hours, are included in the overall calculation.

Examples:

1) If a student attempts 30 credit hours while working on his or her baccalaureate, he or she must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours (pace = 21 / 30 = 70%) in order to meet SAP for the next year. All partial credit hours are rounded down to the nearest hour.

2) If a student attempts 100 credit hours while working on his or her baccalaureate, he or she must complete a minimum of 70 credit hours (pace = 70 / 100 = 70%) in order to meet SAP for the next year. All partial credit hours are rounded down to the nearest hour.

d. The university considers grades of W, I, F, and PR, as well as repeated courses that are not included in a student’s GPA, as attempted hours but not as completed hours when calculating the student’s completion rate. Changes in grades will be assessed during the annual evaluation at the end of the academic year (end of spring semester).

02.03 The qualitative measure requires that the student must at a minimum meet the following cumulative Texas State grade point average (GPA):

Undergraduate (First Baccalaureate)

End of spring 2.0

Undergraduate (Second Baccalaureate)

End of spring 2.5

Certification Seeking

End of spring 3.0

Effective fall 1991, when a student repeats a course once, the last grade earned (Ws excluded) is the only grade used in computing the GPA. If a course is repeated more than once, the university uses the second grade and all subsequent grades in computing the GPA. The university considers an I grade non-punitive for one year from the end of the semester in which the student received it and will not count it in the GPA calculation. If the student does not remove the I grade within the one-year period (active military duty may receive an exception), it will become an F, counted in the GPA calculation. Grades of W, PR, and CR remain non-punitive grades and will not count in the GPA calculation during the annual evaluation at the end of the spring semester. Grade changes will be assessed during the annual evaluation at the end of the spring semester.

03. REVIEW POLICY

*03.01 At the end of the spring semester, Financial Aid and Scholarships will review the SAP progress of all students. The only exception is for transfer students. The assessment of new transfer students will occur after their admission to the university and upon the articulation of all transfer coursework completed by the students prior to their first semester of enrollment at Texas State University. The review for all students will ensure they meet the following criteria:

a. Cumulative Texas State GPA of at least:

1) 2.0 for first baccalaureate

2) 2.5 for second baccalaureate

3) 3.0 for certification seeking

b. Successful pace of completion of at least 70% of all attempted coursework, including credit hours transferred from another school, and those periods during which the student did not receive financial aid.

c. Total attempted hours do not exceed 150% of the maximum number of semester hours required for any undergraduate degree or certification program (180 hours for first baccalaureate, 45 hours for second baccalaureate and 31 hours for certification seeking students).

03.02 Financial Aid and Scholarships will also review at the end of each semester the progress of students on financial aid probation (i.e., students on an approved appeal exemption). Students on an exemption for one semester (i.e., not on an academic plan) must meet the SAP criteria at the end of the probationary semester. If not meeting the requirements, the university will place the student on financial aid suspension making the student ineligible for financial aid. For those students on an academic plan, they must meet the criteria specified in the plan for each semester. If the student fails to meet any criterion, the university will place the student on financial aid suspension, making him or her ineligible for financial aid.

03.03 Financial Aid Suspension and Reinstatement: Students not meeting the SAP guidelines upon evaluation will have their aid eligibility suspended. The only remedy for financial aid suspension is for the student to pay for his or her own education until meeting SAP requirements at the end of the next spring semester. The only exception is when the university grants an appeal exemption for unusual or mitigating circumstances. If a student on financial aid suspension meets the SAP requirements prior to the evaluation period, the student may submit an appeal for review and possible reinstatement of aid.

*03.04 Financial Aid Probation: The university will place students granted an appeal exemption on probation. Students on financial aid probation are eligible to continue receiving financial aid for one additional semester. At the end of the probation semester, the student must be meeting all SAP requirements. The only exception is for a student on an approved appeal exemption based on an academic plan. Such students must meet the academic measures (i.e., expected semester GPA and expected semester completed hours) set forth in their academic plan during their evaluation at the end of each semester. If the student is not meeting all of the criteria specified in the academic plan, or the exemption has expired, the student must be meeting all SAP requirements or will be ineligible for financial aid.

04. APPEALS

04.01 If the university places a student on financial aid suspension for not meeting the quantitative or qualitative standards for SAP, the student may file an appeal. The university requires mitigating circumstances before approving an appeal. There is no guarantee of approval. Mitigating circumstances may include the death of a student’s relative, injury or illness of the student, or other undue hardship that prohibits the successful completion of coursework. The appeal reviewer will evaluate the circumstances. Any student who wishes to appeal the loss of his or her financial aid due to not meeting SAP (as outlined above) must do so through the appeals process below.

Under normal circumstances, an appeal to waive the conditions stated above must be made in the following order:

a. to the Financial Aid counselor (appeal 1);

b. to the Financial Aid supervisor, assistant director or associate director (appeal 2);

c. to the Financial Aid director (appeal 3); and

d. to the Financial Aid Advisory, Appeals and Scholarship Awards Committee (appeal 4 and final appeal level).

04.02 Students must file their appeal by the appropriate deadlines, which are as follows:

a. Fall semester – November 10

b. Spring semester – April 10

c. Summer semester – July 10

04.03 An appeal must include the following:

a. Student’s name, Texas State ID number and e-mail address;

b. A written description that addresses why the student has failed to meet SAP;

c. A written description of what has changed in the student’s situation to enable the student to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation point;

d. Documentation to support any claims;

*e. Documentation from the student’s academic advisor confirming that the student can within a single semester regain SAP eligibility or an academic plan from the student’s academic advisor that demonstrates the student can meet SAP by a specified and reasonable point in time (not to exceed four semesters) with measurable milestones for each semester;

f. If appealing because the student has exceeded the maximum timeframe or because of a change in major, the student must submit a degree plan showing the number of hours remaining until graduation; and

g. Student’s signature.

NOTE: Appeals submitted without documentation will be denied.

04.04 Once a student is first notified (verbally or in writing) of his or her being ineligible for financial aid (financial aid suspension), the student has ten working days to submit an appeal. If a student is denied an appeal at any level (with the exception of a level 4 appeal) and wishes to appeal to the next level, the student must submit a written notice of appeal to the next level within ten working days after receiving an oral or written notice of the decision at the previous level.

04.05 Graduate students on financial aid should refer to UPPS No. 07.07.02, Satisfactory Academic Progress for Graduate Students on Financial Aid.

05. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

05.01 The definition of SAP will be published annually in the Undergraduate Catalog and official university electronic publications and will be communicated to all financial assistance applicants by any other means deemed necessary by the director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

05.02 After grades are posted on a student’s academic transcript at the end of the spring semester, the student will receive an email (or letter if a student’s email address is not available), stating that he or she is no longer eligible to receive financial aid. New students will receive notification upon admission.

05.03 The director of Financial Aid and Scholarships or designee may waive any of the above requirements when extenuating circumstances are properly presented and documented.

06. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

06.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

Position Date

Director of Financial Aid and February 1 E4Y

Scholarships

Registrar February 1 E4Y

Associate Vice President for February 1 E4Y

Enrollment Management and Marketing

07. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from date of this document until superseded.

Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships; senior reviewer of this UPPS

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

President