Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards ensure that you are successfully completing your coursework and can continue to receive financial aid. All students receiving financial aid are required to meet SAP standards as measured after each semester of attendance.

Federal regulations require the College to establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor your progress toward completing your degree program. If you fail to meet the SAP standards, you will be placed on financial aid warning, probation or suspension. Your academic performance must meet the SAP standards below.

1. Attain a B.A. degree within a maximum of ten semesters of full-time attendance or its equivalent.
2. Pace: A measurement of progress toward program completion.
• Student must complete at least 66.67% of credits completed divided by credits attempted.  Transfer and PSEO credits count in this percent.
3. Maintain the required minimum GPA.

• 1.75 GPA first year in residence
• 2.0 GPA after first semester of second year in residence

Students failing to meet financial aid SAP are eligible to be considered for financial aid as follows:

1. You will be placed on financial aid SAP warning for one term if you fail to meet the required GPA and/or overall cumulative completed credits percentage standards. While on warning you may still receive financial aid.
   1. To be removed from financial aid warning status, you must attain the required cumulative GPA and/or cumulative completed credits percentage standards by the end of your warning period. You will be placed on SAP probation at the end of your warning period if you fail to attain the required standards.
2. You will be placed on financial aid SAP probation if after one semester of SAP warning you again fail to meet the required GPA and/or overall cumulative completed credits percentage standards. While on probation you are unable to receive financial aid.
   1. You may appeal your financial aid SAP probation status by completing the SAP appeal process. Your appeal will include an academic plan that is approved by your academic advisor, CARE Office, and/or financial aid office.
   2. You will be placed on financial aid SAP academic plan if a SAP appeal is approved. You are eligible for financial aid while on probation with an approved academic plan.
   3. If you do not attain required GPA and/or cumulative completed credits percentage after the next semester, but you do successfully follow the academic plan submitted with your SAP appeal and are making progress on that plan is considered eligible for financial aid.
3. Financial aid SAP suspension-if you do not attain the required cumulative GPA and/or cumulative completed credits percentage during your SAP probation period and are not on or/maintaining an approved SAP academic plan, or if exceed your maximum timeframe of 150 percent of the published degree credits required to complete your program, you will be placed on financial aid suspension.
   1. While on suspension you are not eligible for most financial aid programs. Exceptions include some private loan programs. You must check with private lenders to determine if they offer loans to students not meeting SAP requirements.
   2. You may attend the College at your own expense until you attain the cumulative GPA and cumulative completed credits percentage requirement. To regain financial aid eligibility, your record must reflect that you have met these requirements. If you failed to meet these standards due to unusual circumstances, you have the right to appeal your SAP suspension status.

Academic Suspension

1. If you have been suspended from the College, you are no longer eligible for any financial aid. Once you have been readmitted, your financial aid status and eligibility will be determined based on financial aid SAP standards through a review of your academic record.

Grade and Credit Definitions

1. Attempted credits include all grades earned at the College and transfer credits accepted by the College.
2. Earned (completed) credits will not include grades of W or I.
3. If you repeat a course, credits will be added to your attempted/earned credit totals each time you register. However, only the most recent grade received in the course will be used in the calculation of your cumulative GPA.
4. Transfer and consortium credits accepted by Gustavus Adolphus College, will be included when calculating your cumulative completed credits percentage and maximum attempted credits, but not your GPA. This includes credits earned from institutions including non-Gustavus Adolphus College study abroad programs. Credits are included in both attempted and earned credits.
5. Federal regulations require the College to include the original grade and number of credits for any class you retroactively withdrew from when calculating your SAP status. If you have retroactively withdrawn from one or more courses, the GPA used to determine if you are meeting SAP standards may differ from your official University GPA.
6. Credits earned while a Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) student at the College will be included in your cumulative completed credits percentage, GPA, and the maximum attempted credits calculation. PSEO credits earned at another postsecondary institution will be treated as transfer credits.

Changing Majors

1. If you change majors, the credits you earn under all majors will be included in your GPA calculation as well as your maximum attempted credits and the calculation of credits you have attempted and earned.

Gustavus only offers a Bachelor of Arts degree, so there is no pursuit of a second degree.  Gustavus also does not offer summer terms.

 Financial Aid SAP Suspension Appeal Conditions

1. Your record shows that you earned the required GPA or cumulative completed credits percentage to meet SAP standards during a term.
2. You were readmitted after suspension from your college.
3. Unusual circumstances interfered with your ability to meet SAP standards, including but not limited to:
1. Illness, accident, or injury experienced by you or a significant person in your life
   Documentation required: physician's statement, police report, or other documentation from a third-party professional; hospital billing statement
2. Death of a family member or significant person in your life
   Documentation required: a copy of the obituary or death certificate
3. Divorce experienced by you or parent
   Documentation required: attorney's letter on law firm's letterhead or copy of divorce decree
4. Reinstatement after an academic dismissal or extended break in your enrollment
   Documentation required: adviser's written statement
5. Personal problems or issues with your spouse, family, roommate, or other significant person
   Documentation required: written statement from medical doctor, counselor, attorney, or another professional adviser
6. Successfully following an academic plan during the probationary term, yet remaining below the overall completion ratio of 67%
   Documentation required: appeal with adviser's statement section completed
7. If you are required to withdraw for military reasons, your cumulative completed credits percentage and maximum attempted credits requirements will be waived for the semester of your official withdrawal