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Federal Guidelines mandate that all institutions offering
Title IV funds have a Standard of Satisfactory Academic
Progress (SAP). The following information is Methodist University’s
minimum standards a student must maintain to remain eligible
for all types of financial
aid at Methodist University.
Methodist University Office of Financial Aid
Policy of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Introduction: August 2007
The Higher Education Act mandates institutions of higher
education to establish minimum standards of "Satisfactory
Academic Progress" (SAP). Methodist University makes
these standards applicable to all financial aid offered
at Methodist University. This includes Federal (Title IV),
State (North Carolina) and Institutional (Methodist University)
funding. Federal regulations require the university to establish
SAP standards in the following areas: (1) Cumulative GPA;
(2) Cumulative Hours Earned; and (3) Maximum Time Frame.
In addition the school’s SAP policy must include the
student’s total academic history.
Programs administered by agencies other than Methodist
University, such as private scholarships, or grants given
by states other than North Carolina, may have their own
academic standards for students. Students will need to contact
such agencies to determine what those requirements are.
- Federal Regulations require the university to establish
SAP standards in the following areas: (1) Cumulative GPA;
(2) Cumulative Hours Earned; and (3) Maximum Time Frame.
In addition, a school’s SAP policy must include
the student’s total academic history.
- These general principles apply to all of Methodist University’s
degree programs. In addition to the general principles,
students must meet specific guidelines for their individual
academic program(s). Program specific requirements are
detailed after the general principles.
- SAP will be determined once
per academic year, specifically, at the end of
one complete year of enrollment. For example, if a student’s
enrollment begins in the Fall semester, his/her SAP will
be evaluated before the following Fall semester.
- To earn hours at Methodist University, a student must
receive a grade of A, B, C or D. Any other grade does
not earn hours.
- Classes from which a student has withdrawn, regardless
of Withdrew Passing (WP) or Withdrew Failing (WF), will
be counted as hours attempted but not hours earned, therefore,
will negatively impact
a student’s ability to satisfy SAP.
- Classes in which a student receives a grade of Incomplete
(I) count as hours attempted but not as hours earned;
therefore, will negatively impact
a student’s ability to satisfy SAP.
- When a student repeats a course, the total attempted
hours will increase with each repeat, but the student
will only earn hours for a completed course once.
Therefore, repeating classes will
negatively impact a student’s ability to
satisfy the 70% passage rate, but may significantly increase
a student’s cumulative GPA.
- Included in attempted hours are all coursework attempted,
including transfer credits, passed, repeated, incomplete,
failed and withdrawn courses. Attempted hours do not include
credits earned through Advanced Placement (AP), College
Level Examination Program (CLEP) or other similar testing
programs.
Cumulative GPA
The cumulative number of credits attempted in the undergraduate
schools of the university includes those credits attempted
as of the last day to drop a course. Multiple attempts of
the same course will be counted for each attempt for financial
aid purposes.
| Credits Attempted |
Minimum Cumulative GPA |
| 1 – 48 |
1.4 |
| 49 – 77 |
1.6 |
| 78 – 109 |
1.8 |
| 110 – 129 |
1.9 |
| 130 – 186 |
2.0 |
In addition, any student with a quality point deficit of
40 or more as calculated by the Registrar, will be deemed
academically ineligible, and therefore, will be placed directly
on Financial Aid Cancellation without a probation period.
Cumulative Hours Earned
A student must pass (earn) at least 70% of their credits
attempted (excluding non-credit courses and pass/fail courses).
To earn hours at Methodist University, a student must receive
a grade of A, B, C, or D. Any other grade does not earn
hours.
Classes in which a student receives a grade of Withdrew
Passing (WP) or Withdrew Failing (WF) will be counted as
hours attempted but not hours earned, therefore, will
negatively impact a student’s ability to satisfy
SAP.
Classes in which a student receives a grade of Incomplete
(I) count as hours attempted but not as hours earned, therefore,
will negatively impact
a student’s ability to satisfy SAP.
When a student repeats a course, the total attempted
hours will increase with each repeat, but the student will
only earn hours for a completed course once. Therefore,
repeating classes will negatively
impact a student’s ability to satisfy the 70%
passage rate, but may significantly increase a student’s
cumulative GPA.
Maximum Time Frame
Undergraduate students must complete their degree requirements
within 150% of the published length of their academic program
to remain eligible for financial aid. At Methodist University,
students must complete the requirements for a bachelor’s
degree within a maximum number of credits attempted (including
transfer credits) of 186. Therefore, students will be allowed
to receive Federal and State financial aid for a MAXIMUM
of twelve (12) semesters or six (6) years. This is the maximum
allowable time for receipt of financial aid regardless of
whether the student did or did not receive financial aid
during any period of his/her enrollment. A student can not
have more than 150 percent of the published length of the
education program to graduate. For most students, 12 semesters
is the maximum time frame allowable for degree completion
(standard 8 semesters or 100 percent plus an additional
4 semesters or 50 percent). Students will be allowed to
receive institutional financial aid for a maximum of ten
(10) semesters or five (5) years. However, some institutional
scholarships are awarded for a maximum of eight (8) semesters
or four (4) years. The Office of Financial Aid has a listing
of these particular scholarships.
Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic
Progress
Students who fail to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
will be placed on Financial Aid Probation (FAP) for a period of
up to one academic year. Students can use the summer sessions toward
progress. During the FAP period, a student will be eligible to receive
financial aid.
At the end of the FAP period, students who still do not meet the
SAP standards will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension (FAS).
Students who are placed on FAS will be ineligible for all federal,
state and institutional financial aid. This includes any alternative
loans that require certification by Methodist University.
Transfer students will be evaluated at the time of enrollment
using the same SAP standards.
Students returning to Methodist University while they are
on financial suspension must meet Methodist’s SAP
policy in order to regain eligibility for financial aid.
Appeals
Students on Financial Aid Probation or Suspension may make
a written appeal to the Financial Aid Director. Financial
aid may be reinstated by the Director upon demonstration
of mitigating circumstances which must be documented to
the satisfaction of the director along with a written letter
of appeal from the student. Examples of mitigating circumstances
and appropriate documentation include, but are not necessarily
limited to:
- Serious illness of student--statement from physician
that illness interfered with student’s ability to
meet SAP along with written letter of appeal from student.
- Serious illness of immediate family member--statement
from a physician along with written letter of appeal from
student.
- Death of an immediate/close family member--statement
from a minister, nearest relative, or an unbiased concerned
adult along with written letter of appeal from student.
- Disruptive internal family problems—legal/court
documentation from lawyer, statement from parents, minister,
or an unbiased concerned adult along with written letter
of appeal from student.
Master of Medical Science in Physician
Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average
of 3.0 (B)
A student must achieve and maintain a Cumulative Grade Point
Average of 3.0.
Cumulative Hours Earned
A student must pass (earn) at least 70% of their credits
attempted (excluding non-credit courses and pass/fail courses).
Maximum Time Frame
MPAS students will be allowed a maximum of 188 attempted
hours to complete their degree. This is the maximum allowable
time for receipt of eligible Federal Title IV Funds regardless
of whether the student did or did not receive financial
aid during any period of his/her enrollment.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
or Justice Administration (MJA)
Maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average
of 3.0 (B)
A student must achieve and maintain a Cumulative Grade Point
Average of 3.0.
Cumulative Hours Earned
A student must pass (earn) at least 70% of their credits
attempted (excluding non-credit courses and pass/fail courses).
Maximum Time Frame
MBA students will be allowed a maximum of 56 attempted hours
to complete their degree. This is the maximum allowable
time for receipt of eligible Federal Title IV Funds regardless
of whether the student did or did not receive financial
aid during any period of his/her enrollment.
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