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POLICIES ON FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
a. The student enrolled during: i. Fall or Spring may enroll in a maximum of 16 hours. ii. Summer may take a maximum of 3 hours, none of which may be EBEs or practicum-based hours. b. The student cannot receive an Incomplete grade for any class. c. The student may not participate in activities which represent the student body or the college in public or official capacities, including debates, dramatic or musical performances, or other similar public appearances; intercollegiate athletics (competing, dressing, traveling); student publications, elective or appointive positions in student government, or other leadership positions on campus; managing athletic teams, cheerleading, or similar activities unless participation in such activities is necessary for the satisfactory completion of academic course requirements. d. The student may be required to fulfill other conditions. 4. The student will be dropped from all future courses. 5. The student on SAP Suspension will be considered for readmission in one of the following ways: a. Must file an appeal to the Chief Academic Officer (or their designee). b. Must satisfactorily complete at least 12 academic credits at another college or university thus demonstrating the potential for academic success at Bethany College. (NOTE: Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses completed with a grade of C- or higher.) 6. If a student’s readmission is granted: c. They will be placed on SAP Suspension Probation. d. The conditions of readmission will be outlined in the student’s readmission letter. e. The student’s transcript will contain the following notation: “Changed to SAP Suspension Probation[Date].” 7. At the end of the SAP Suspension Probationary term: f. The student who achieves Good Academic Standing is removed from SAP Suspension. g. The student who does not achieve Good Academic Standing but meets the conditions of his/her readmission letter will remain on SAP Suspension Probation for the time period indicated in the readmission letter. h. A student who does not achieve Good Academic Standing or meet the conditions of their readmission letter will be dismissed. 8. If the student’s readmission is denied, the student will remain on SAP Suspension.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Dismissal
1. A student on SAP Suspension Probation who does not meet all of the conditions of their readmission will be dismissed. 2. The student’s transcript will contain the notation “Satisfactory Academic Progress Dismissal-[Date].” 3. The student will be dropped from all future courses. 4. The student on SAP Dismissal will only be considered for readmission upon appeal to the Chief Academic Officer (or his/her designee). 1. If a student’s readmission is granted: i. They will be placed on SAP Dismissal Probation for one term. j. The conditions of readmission will be outlined in the student’s readmission letter. k. The student’s transcript will contain the following notation: “Changed to SAP Dismissal Probation[Date].” 2. At the end of the SAP Dismissal Probationary term: a. The student who achieves Good Academic Standing is removed from SAP Dismissal. b. A student who does not achieve Good Academic Standing will be dismissed with no further opportunity to appeal. 3. If the student’s readmission is denied, the student will remain on SAP Dismissal with no further opportunity to appeal.
Appeal of Satisfactory Academic Progress Suspension or Dismissal Procedure
To appeal SAP Suspension or Dismissal, a student must submit a written appeal to the Chief Academic Officer (or their designee) within ten business days after notification is issued. The appeal should include: • Reasons why the student did not achieve minimum academic requirements • Reasons why the student should not be Suspended or Dismissed • Steps the student will take to improve academic performance in future terms.
The Office of Chief Academic Officer will schedule a meeting between the student and the SAP Appeal Committee within ten business days. The SAP Appeal Committee will review the student’s appeal. The student will be notified, in writing, of the final appeal decision within ten business days of the meeting.
Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Office to apply reasonable standards for measuring whether a student is making progress toward a degree or program completion for students seeking transition to teacher licensure. This is to ensure that the student is successfully progressing through their program of study. Maintaining Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is not only important for the student’s academic success, but it is also a key factor in terms of minimizing student debt.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP) is a term used to describe successful completion of coursework toward a degree or program completers seeking transition to teacher licensure. This policy applies to all students who receive Federal Student Aid including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Generally, all periods of the student’s enrollment will count in FASAP calculations including hours that were attempted/earned when the student did not receive Federal Financial Aid. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements, they could lose their eligibility for financial aid.
Degree-seeking and program completer-seeking transition to teacher licensure students’ academic progress is measured against the following standards: cumulative grade point average (GPA), pace progression (completion percentage), and maximum time frame.
Both pace and maximum time frame are measured in credit hours, regardless of full-time or part-time enrollment. To maintain FASAP, a student must meet the following standards: 1. Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) a. Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average 2. Pace of Progression a. At least 67% of all credit hours attempted must have a grade of D- or higher. The pace of progress is calculated by dividing cumulative hours that have been completed with a grade of D- or higher by the cumulative hours attempted. b. The 67% completion rate maintains a pace of progression toward the degree or program completer seeking teacher licensure that ensures completion of the academic credential within the maximum time frame allowed. 3. Maximum Time Frame (MTF) a. Complete a degree or program completer seeking teacher licensure in no more than 150% of the average published length of the program in credit hours. • Undergraduate degrees require a minimum of 124 credit hours. Attempted credit hours must be 186 or less (124 credits x 150% = 186 credits). Note: Federal financial aid regulations require the Financial Aid Office to place a student on FASAP Denial when the Financial Aid Office determines that the student is mathematically unable to complete their degree within the Maximum Time Frame allowed. 1. Resident - Related to a student’s time at Bethany
College: for example, resident cumulative GPA is a student’s GPA for all courses taken at Bethany College. 2. Good FASAP Standing - Meeting all three FASAP standards: cumulative GPA, pace of progression, and maximum time frame. 3. FASAP Appeal - FASAP appeal is a process by which a student who is not meeting FASAP standards petitions for reconsideration of eligibility for financial aid funds. 4. Academic Plan - An academic plan, when followed, will ensure that the student will meet FASAP standards by a specific time. If they fail the satisfactory progress check after the end of the probationary semester, they may only continue to receive aid if Bethany College can determine that they are following their academic plan. If it is determined they are not following the academic plan, they will be denied financial aid. The student may file a new appeal if they wish to be considered for financial aid eligibility.
Financial Aid Academic Progress Review
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the end of each payment period. This will include Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Students who are not maintaining FASAP will be placed on Warning status, Financial Aid Denial status, or Financial Aid Probation with Academic Plan status. Incoming transfer students will have their initial FASAP status determined once all prior college transcripts have been received and evaluated before any Federal Financial Aid disbursements.
The Financial Aid Office will notify by e-mail and postal mail any student who has been placed on or removed from FASAP Warning, Denial, and Probation with Academic Plan status. If one or more grades are not posted at the time of the FASAP review, the student’s status may be delayed or changed. The letter will be sent to the student’s Bethany e-mail address and most current mailing address on file within Bethany’s School Information System. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the Registrar’s Office of a correct mailing address at all times. FASAP status determinations will also be shared with the Provost.
Financial Aid Warning
1. A student not making Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (cumulative GPA, and/or pace) will be placed on financial aid warning for the following term and financial aid eligibility will
continue for that term. No FASAP Appeal is necessary. 2. During the Warning semester, the student is expected to: a. Improve their academic standing and continue to make degree progress b. Meet the standards of FASAP during the next FASAP evaluation term 3. If they fail to achieve FASAP at the end of the term, they will be denied financial aid beginning the following semester. The student must submit a
FASAP Appeal to request financial aid reconsideration.
Financial Aid Denial
1. A student not making Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (cumulative GPA and/or pace of progression or will/is exceeding MTF) will be placed on FASAP Denial for the following term. 2. All students placed on Financial Aid Denial will be unable to receive Federal Financial Aid until they meet the minimum FASAP requirements or submit an approved FASAP appeal. See Appeal of Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedure.
If a student loses financial aid eligibility, eligibility can be regained by taking action that brings the student into compliance with Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Action includes, but is not limited to, paying tuition with funds other than federal aid or transferring completed credits into Bethany College to increase GPA and/or pace. Students who are able to re-establish their Good FASAP Standing must submit notice to the Financial Aid Office in writing. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of any changed grades to ensure proper FASAP calculations after the end of the payment period.
When the student loses financial aid eligibility for failing to make satisfactory progress, they may submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Office within ten business days after notification is issued. Exception to this deadline can be made on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Financial Aid. The FASAP Appeal must include: ➢ A completed FASAP Appeal form ➢ A signed and dated personal statement detailing the unusual circumstances they experienced ➢ Supporting 3rd Party documentation that supports the personal statement (GPA/pace Denials only) Student appeals will be reviewed by the FASAP Appeal Committee to determine approval or denial. The student’s prior academic and financial aid history will be considered. Students that appeal subsequent FASAP Denials must appeal for a different unusual circumstance than previously submitted. If the FASAP Appeal is denied, then the student must regain Financial Aid Eligibility through SelfReinstatement. The Financial Aid Office will contact the student in writing regarding the outcome of their FASAP Appeal and the terms of their Academic Plan, if approved. Their Academic Plan will also be provided to their academic advisor to ensure proper enrollment for the following term(s) while the student is in the Financial Aid Probation-Academic Plan status.
Financial Aid Probation-Academic Plan (AP)
1. A student who is failing to make satisfactory financial aid academic progress and successfully appeals their denial will be placed in AP status with the Financial Aid Office. 2. Eligibility for aid may be reinstated for one or more semesters. 3. The student will be required to fulfill specific conditions stipulated in their AP. 4. Enrollment in courses not required for the student’s degree or for the program completers seeking teacher licensure are not allowed and will immediately make the student ineligible for Federal Financial Aid. 5. Students that change their degree while on an AP must notify the Financial Aid Office and complete a Change of Degree form to update their AP. Failure to do so will result in the student being placed back on FASAP Denial for failure to meet the AP terms. 6. Academic Plans are reviewed at the end of each payment period. If the student needs to continue their AP in order to meet FASAP minimum standards, then the AP will be reviewed and continued and/or updated (as needed). 7. If the student fails to meet the terms of their AP, they will be placed back on FASAP Denial and must submit a new FASAP Appeal. 8. Exceptions to the AP policy can be made on a caseby-case basis at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office.
Additional FASAP Guidelines
A student who meets the academic requirements of their program but does not yet have a conferred degree is not eligible for further Federal Financial Aid funds for that program. Audit hours are not considered for Federal Financial Aid enrollment status and will not be included as Federal
Financial Aid Eligible Hours. Students on an AP must not enroll in audit hours. Passing grades are considered to be attempted and completed/earned ➢ Passing grades consist of A, B, C, D, and P. Non-passing grades are considered attempted but not completed/earned. ➢ Non-passing grades consist of F, W, I, FL, AU, AW,IF, IP, and WF. ▪ If a grade of I is changed to an A, B, C, or D, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the Financial Aid Office.
Developmental/Remedial Courses are counted towards attempted/earned/GPA requirements for FASAP purposes. Once a student has attempted 30 credit hours of development/remedial coursework, any additional development/remedial coursework will not be considered as Financial Aid Eligible Hours and will not count towards their enrollment status for Financial Aid purposes.
Grades and Credits
Attempted credit hours include the following, whether or not paid for with financial aid: Earned Hours (Grades A through D-) Withdrawal (Grades AW, FW, W, WF) Incomplete (Grades I, IF) Attempted credit hours are affected by the following:
Audit Courses
Credits are not earned for audited courses. Therefore, they are not included in the calculation of the attempted credit hours total or GPA.
Changing Majors
If the student changes majors, the credit hours taken under all majors will be included in the calculation of the attempted credit hours total, the GPA calculation and the maximum time frame for degree completion.
Incomplete Courses
Credit hours for incomplete courses are included in the calculation of attempted credit hours total, but not in the calculation of GPA.
Pass/Fail Courses
Credit hours for pass/fail courses are included in the calculation of the attempted credit hours total, but not in the calculation of the GPA.
Repeat Coursework
If a student repeats a course, credit hours for each registration will be added to the attempted credit hours total. However, only the most recent grade received in the course will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. Note: Federal financial aid will pay for only one repeat of a previously passed course.
Remedial Courses
Credit hours for each remedial course taken are included in the calculation of attempted credit hours total in determining pace. Remedial courses are not included in the calculation of GPA.
Transfer Credits
Credit hours transferred from other schools that are accepted toward completion of the student’s Bethany degree count as hours attempted and hours earned. However, transfer credits are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.
Withdrawal from Courses
If the student withdraws from a course during the semester, after the last day to add/drop courses, the course credit hours will be added to the attempted credit hours total. Consult the academic calendar for the add/drop date for each semester.
