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City Vision College: Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students receiving Federal student financial aid must maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress” at City Vision College in order to remain eligible for Federal aid consideration.

The Financial Aid Office evaluates Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) after the completion of each term (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2 and Summer). All terms of enrollment, including summer, must be considered in the determination of SAP (even periods in which the student did not receive federal student aid funds must be counted).

Satisfactory Academic Progress tests three components:

  1. a qualitative component (i.e., grade point average),
  2. an incremental quantitative component (number of credits attempted and earned for each term, also known as the completion rate), and
  3. an overall quantitative component (maximum time frame for the completion of a student's degree or certificate program).

Students academically dismissed from their academic programs are automatically recognized as failing to meet SAP standards.

Grades and Credits
Courses with grades of “W” (withdrawn), “I” (incomplete), “WF” (withdrawn with failure), “UW” (unofficial withdrawal), “U” (unsatisfactory), and/or “F” (failed) are counted as courses attempted AND count toward the maximum time frame. A grade of "F" is also counted as earned as it affects the student's GPA.  Transfer credits (accepted for the student's academic program or degree) are counted when measuring the maximum time frame to complete the degree or certificate program and establishing benchmark points for the qualitative standard, but do not impact the grade point average tested.

Satisfactory Academic Progress status will include repeated coursework.

The City Vision College Financial Aid Office will NOT automatically adjust a student's Satisfactory Academic Progress status when grades are changed or finally reported, but rather ONLY upon request from the student. In such cases, grades must be reflected on City Vision College's student records system prior to a review of a student's status.

For any grade change (especially regarding a prior grade of “I” incomplete that has now been assigned a traditional letter grade), a student is responsible for notifying the City Vision College Financial Aid Office of such a change and requesting a review of their Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation. Note that such a review is not considered an appeal. If a class grade is unreported, on the other hand, then Satisfactory Academic Progress is not established and a student's future receipt of Federal aid is immediately halted. In such a scenario a student must notify the City Vision College Financial Aid Office when a previously unreported grade becomes complete and make a request for a review of their Satisfactory Academic Progress status.

 

Three SAP Standards

1. Qualitative Grade Point Average and Academic Standing:
Students academically dismissed from their academic program are automatically recognized as failing to meet City Vision College's Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Otherwise, as a student progresses through their academic program, their cumulative GPA must meet the following benchmarks:

  • If aggregate attempted and transferred credit hours is less than 30, then cumulative GPA must be at least 1.75;
  • If aggregate attempted and transferred credit hours is greater than 30, but less than 48, then cumulative GPA must be at least 1.85;
  • If aggregate attempted and transferred credit hours is 48 or more (or the midpoint or more), then cumulative GPA must be at least 2.00. A student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.00 (or the equivalent) at the midpoint of their academic program. The midpoint of an academic program is defined as 48 credit hours OR one-half of the necessary completed credit hours as stipulated in the catalog of the respective academic division, whichever is less. Every attempted and transferred credit hour counts towards the midpoint measurement.

2. Quantitative Completion Rate:
A student must successfully earn at least 67% of attempted credit hours each term.

3. Quantitative Maximum Time Frame:
A student's maximum time frame for completion of their academic program must not exceed 150% of the primary program length specified in the catalog of each academic division. This means that a student's attempted and transferred credit hours cannot exceed 150% of the credit hours necessary for completion of their primary degree or certificate. The maximum time frame is not increased for dual-degree or combined degree candidates, but rather is always based on the program length associated with a student's primary academic program.

Automatic Warning Term
Students who fail to meet any of the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress will be notified and allowed one automatic Warning Term associated with their next term of enrollment to restore their satisfactory academic progress standing. During the Warning Term a student will be awarded Federal financial aid for which they have applied and are otherwise eligible. A student is not allowed to receive consecutive Warning Terms of Federal aid. A Warning Term assignment is not contingent on the student's application for federal student aid.

Appeal for Probationary Term
Students who fail to meet any of the minimum requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the conclusion of their Warning Term will lose all Federal aid eligibility until the student regains minimum satisfactory academic progress standards. A student who is denied Federal aid because of a failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards after the Warning Term has concluded may appeal this determination to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Committee of the Financial Aid Office by completing a Student Appeal Form. An appeal must be based on significant mitigating circumstances that seriously impacted academic performance. Examples of possible mitigating circumstances are serious illness, severe injury, death of a family member, and other similar situations. Students opting to appeal shall submit an Appeal Support Form to substantiate their case. Please note that merely filing an appeal does NOT guarantee continued eligibility for Federal aid.

If an appeal for a probationary term is denied by the Committee, the student will be notified and the decision is final for that term. The student may re-establish eligibility to be considered for federal aid for a subsequent term by taking action that brings him or her into compliance with the qualitative and quantitative components of City Vision College's SAP standard.

If a student's appeal is approved by the Committee, the student will be notified. The student will be considered for federal aid during the probationary term for which the student has applied and is otherwise eligible. Once the probationary term has concluded, the student may re-establish eligibility to be considered for federal aid for a subsequent term by either:

  1. Taking action that brings him or her into compliance with the qualitative and quantitative components of City Vision College's SAP standard; OR
  2. Meeting the specific academic plan and standards for the Probationary Term as established by the Appeals Committee.  

 

Effective December 7, 2011