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Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students enrolled in distance education programs will have their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status evaluated for the Spring I 2022 term under the requirements listed in the Winter 2021 Catalog; however, these same students will be reviewed under the new SAP criteria listed below, starting in the Spring II 2022 term.  

Student's academic progress will be measured at the end of each semester/trimester, regardless of the number of credits attempted. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must meet all of the following criteria:  

  1. Cumulative Grade Point Average
    1. Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester/trimester. 
    2. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester/trimester. 
    3. Pharmacy students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 (on a standard 4.0 scale) at the end of each semester/trimester. 

    The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned per the grading scale in this catalog by the total semester/trimester credits for courses completed at the Institution, except for transfer credits, challenge exam credits, audit credits, pass/fail credits, withdrawals, and incompletes.  

  2. Rate of Progress Toward Completion of Program: At the end of the evaluation period, the student must have successfully completed at least 66.67% of all coursework that the student has attempted in their degree program. The progress toward completion is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted in their program.  
  3. Maximum Program Completion Timeframe: Complete the program within a maximum timeframe of 150% of the published length of the program as calculated in credits attempted. 

For example, a student enrolled in a 120-semester credit program would have to complete the program in a maximum timeframe of 180 credits (150% of 120 Credits).  If at any point a student cannot mathematically complete their program within the maximum allowable timeframe, the student will be dismissed.  

Please note: The Satisfactory Academic Progress status will remain unaffected if the student changes tracks within their degree program. (Example: The previous SAP status is retained for a student who moves between the MSN-Generalist Track and the Nursing Informatics Track.) Students who change programs will have their SAP status re-evaluated based on the coursework that may be transferred into the new degree program. (Example: A student who changes from the MSN program to the MHA degree offering.)

Withdrawals, Failures, Incompletes, Repeats, and Transfer Credits

  • All courses attempted and given a non-passing letter grade will be included as credits attempted but not successfully completed in assessing the rate of progress and the maximum allowable time frame. When an "I" grade is converted to the final grade, SAP progression will be re-calculated, and the converted grade will be included in the revised CGPA calculation.
  • Every repeated course is included as attempted credits with the highest grade counted in the CGPA calculation.
  • Audited courses or courses that are prerequisites to an academic program are not counted towards any SAP measurement.  
  •  Credits transferred from another school and challenge exam credits are counted as both attempted and successfully completed credits, but do not count in the CGPA.

Impact of Program and Campus Transfers, or Enrollment in Additional Degrees on Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student approved for transfer from one program or campus to another, or a student who seeks to obtain an additional degree, will be evaluated based on only those courses that will apply to the new offering.

Standards of Academic Progress for VA Students

Students receiving veteran educational (VA) benefits must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 each semester/trimester to remain eligible for their VA education benefits.  

A VA student whose CGPA falls below 2.0 at the end of any semester/trimester will be placed on academic probation for a maximum of two consecutive terms of enrollment.   If the VA student's CGPA is still below 2.0 at the end of the second consecutive semester/trimester of probation, the student's VA educational benefits will be terminated.  A VA student terminated from VA educational benefits due to unsatisfactory progress may petition the school to be recertified after attaining a CGPA of 2.0.  

 

SAP Sanctions

SAP Warning

Students will be placed on SAP Warning status if the student does not meet either the CGPA or rate of progress toward completion requirement when the student was previously in a good SAP status.  A student will be notified of SAP Warning status in writing.  The SAP Warning is the duration of one semester/trimester, during which time the student will be given the opportunity to raise his or her CGPA to a minimum for their program of study and meet the minimum completion requirement for their program of study.  The student is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid while on SAP Warning status. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress after the SAP Warning period lose their Federal Student Aid eligibility and are dismissed from the university unless they successfully appeal and are placed on SAP Probation. Note that eligibility for California and Florida state grant funding is contingent upon meeting SAP qualifications for Federal Student Aid.

 

SAP Probation

 

The SAP Probationary period to retain eligibility for Federal Student Financial Aid will last only one semester/trimester. If by the end of any probationary period, a student raises his or her CGPA and rate of progress to or above the minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress, the student will be removed from SAP Probation and returned to regular status, and be eligible for Federal Student Aid. However, if at the end of the probationary period the student fails to meet the minimum CGPA or rate of progress requirements, the student will be suspended from receiving additional Federal Student Aid and may be academically dismissed from the institution for not meeting their Academic Plan. Students may appeal their academic dismissal, but may not appeal their Financial Aid suspension.  If the student successfully appeals their academic dismissal, they will remain in SAP Probation status but will not regain eligibility for Federal Student Aid until the subsequent semester/trimester after raising his or her CGPA and rate of progress to or above the minimum standards for academic progress.  The student will be notified in writing of the suspension of aid and/or dismissal from the University due to SAP reasons.  

 

SAP Appeal

A student who has been dismissed/suspended for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may file an appeal with the Campus Appeals Committee if there were extenuating circumstances that affected their academic progress.  

Written appeals should include:

  1. 1. Details of the situation that led to the student’s poor academic performance and the time period it occurred. There must be an explanation of the extenuating circumstance that contributed to the failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, a death in the family, student illness, or other mitigating events.
  2. Description of what has changed in the student’s circumstances and the impact it has on their capacity to return to good SAP standing. 
  3. Documentation that supports the appeal (for example, documentation related to the extenuating event).

Pending Dismissal

A student who has failed to meet satisfactory academic progress while on SAP Warning status will be placed in a temporary SAP Pending Dismissal status. SAP Pending Dismissal Appeals must be submitted in writing within (2) calendar days of the Federal Student Aid suspension or academic dismissal notification to the students. The Campus Appeals Committee will notify the student of the outcome within (3) days of receipt of the appeal. Students who fail to submit their appeal within (2) calendar days or students whose appeal is denied will be withdrawn from the university and be considered SAP Dismissed.  

SAP Dismissal

SAP Dismissal Appeals must be submitted in writing within (30) calendar days of the Federal Student Aid suspension or academic dismissal notification to the students. The Campus Appeals Committee will notify the student of the outcome within (30) days of receipt of the appeal. Students have the right to request for a Review for Reconsideration by the University Appeals Committee if they disagree with the decision from Campus Appeals Committee. The university understands there may be extenuating circumstances which prevent students from submitting their appeal within (30) days. Students may appeal after the (30) day deadline at the discretion of the Campus Executive Director or Director of Student Affairs.  

Students dismissed for exceeding maximum program timeframe and are approved to return will be placed on an academic action plan. In addition to the standard academic action plan requirements, a new student specific maximum timeframe completion rate will be included. Furthermore, for the remainder of the program the students SAP status will be noted as probation, and they will be ineligible for Federal Student Financial Aid.  

Academic Action Plan

If a student is placed on an academic action plan as a result of an appeals Committee decision, the academic action plan will be developed in consultation with the Academic Leader of the student’s program. The academic action plan must be documented in writing and outline how the student could return to satisfactory academic progress status; expected elements include:  

  1. The duration of the plan may not extend beyond the number of semesters/trimesters remaining in the student’s maximum timeframe for the program.
  2. The student must be able to achieve the minimum CGPA requirement as outlined in the WCU Catalog by the end of the academic action plan period. Upon completion of the academic action plan, the student must still be able to complete the program within the maximum timeframe.  
  3. The academic action plan must detail minimum grades, GPA and rate of completion expected for each semester/trimester of the plan.
  4. The academic action plan may also provide expectations related to participation, attendance, remediation, conduct, and other measures intended to lead to academic success.

Should a student on an academic action plan fail to meet any conditions they may be dismissed from the University.