Satisfactory Academic Progress

 

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is the successful completion of coursework to maintain eligibility for student financial aid.

PennWest Edinboro has developed standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with federal regulations. The policy applies to students seeking eligibility for Federal Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Subsidize and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Work-Study, Federal Plus Loan, Federal Graduate Plus Loan and Federal Nursing Loans) and other programs that require monitoring of academic progress. This policy measures quantity (number of credits completed), quality (cumulative quality point average), and maximum time frames for completion, and measures progress incrementally.

For financial aid purposes, a student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if he/she meets the following criteria:

Undergraduate Students

End of Semester #

% of hours attempted** that must be completed

Minimum
C.Q.P.A.

1-12

67%

2.0

13

Ineligible to receive financial aid

**Number of credits enrolled at the end of the add/drop period.

The number of semester is based on an equivalency of full-time enrollment (e.g., a student enrolled in six (6) credit hours has an equivalency of .5 semester (6 credit hours / 12 (full-time credits hours = .5).

Students who have attempted 180 credits and/or 12 semesters in a baccalaureate degree (90 credits and/or six semesters in an associate degree) with or without the benefit of financial assistance are no longer eligible for financial aid. If it is determined that a student has met the requirements for his/her degree but did not apply for graduation, federal aid will not be awarded. An undergraduate student enrolled in an associate degree program has the equivalent of eight full-time semesters before they become ineligible for Financial Aid.

Graduate Students:

End of Semester #

% of hours attempted that must be completed

Minimum
C.Q.P.A.

1-6

75%

3.0

7

Ineligible to receive financial aid


The number of semesters is based on an equivalency of full-time enrollment (i.e., a student enrolled in six (6) credit hours has an equivalency of .75 semester (6 credit hours/9 full-time credit hours=.75).

Graduate students who have attempted 46 credits and/or six semesters with or without the benefit of financial assistance are no longer eligible for financial aid. Programs requiring more than 60 credit hours will be review individually for maximum time frames.

Note:

Additional SAP Criteria

PennWest Edinboro has additional criteria in place for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress under certain circumstances.

Incompletes, Withdrawals, Failures and Repeats

Changing Major or Double Major

Summer School Enrollment/Cooperative Education Consortium

Credits by Examination, Military Credits, or Life Experience Credits

Probation/Suspension and Appeals

PennWest Edinboro has additional criteria in place for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress under certain circumstances.

PennWest Edinboro has additional criteria in place for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress under certain circumstances.

Students who fail to meet SAP requirements will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester if they have not before been on financial aid warning or financial aid probation.

Appeals

Students who wish to appeal the suspension of financial aid eligibility based on extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness, death of close family member, severe injury, other traumatic experiences, may do so by submitting an appeal form and supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office within the first two weeks of the semester.

To appeal you must:

  1. Complete the Appeal Form and turn it in by the end of the second week of the semester.
  2. Identify the circumstances that led to SAP not being maintained in an attached statement.
  3. Provide supporting documentation, e.g., statement from the doctor, death notice, etc. when applicable.
  4. Must be signed by the student.
  5. Include your Edinboro student ID number (or Social Security number) and current address.
  6. Must be legible.
  7. Upon receipt of your Appeal Form, an Academic Plan will be completed and emailed to your Edinboro email.
  8. The Academic Plan must be reviewed by the student and his/her advisor.
  9. The Academic Plan must be signed by both student and advisor and returned by the end of week eight.
  10. The Academic Plan must be returned to the Financial Aid Office for completion of the appeal process.

The Financial Aid Director will notify the student of the decision to reinstate or deny aid. If approved, conditions may apply. If the conditions are not satisfied, aid may be denied in a subsequent term. As described in the federal regulations, all decisions at this point are final.

All initial and subsequent appeals, supporting documentation and corrective plans of action must be received within ten days of notice. The committee will not review incomplete and/or partial appeals. All documentation is retained by the Financial Aid Office for audit purposes.

Reinstatement of Aid

Aid may be reinstated on a probationary status by meeting the requirements for SAP or by an approved appeal. If aid is reinstated, a probationary status will remain in effect. A period of non-enrollment does not reinstate aid eligibility.

Contact Us

Financial Aid Office
Hamilton Hall
210 Glasgow Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Email: finaid-edn@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-3500
Fax: 814-732-2129

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.