Both Federal statutes and U.S. Department of Education regulations require institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for students receiving federal aid. In addition, all State Student Assistance program regulations (Georgia Tuition Grant) require students to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria established for federal student aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress means a student is proceeding in a positive manner toward fulfilling degree requirements. Satisfactory Academic Progress consists of two components of measurement, quantitative and qualitative, which measure:
- Pace-Minimum Overall Completion Rate (67%)
- Overall Earned Credit Hours >=.67 x Overall Attempted Credit Hours
- Timeframe- Maximum Total Attempted Credit Hours (150%)
- Undergraduate: 180 overall attempted credit hour maximum (120 credit hours x 150%)
- GPA-Minimum Cumulative GPA (range 1.8 to 2.0)
- Based on grades earned each semester of attendance
A student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress status is reviewed at the end of each semester, including the summer term.
Quantitative Measurement
1. Pace-Minimum Overall Completion Rate Percentage (67%)
Number of overall earned credit hours must equal at least 67% of overall attempted credit h hours
Student financial aid recipients must demonstrate measurable progress toward earning a degree by successfully completing 67% of all hours at Morehouse, including all hours accepted in transfer and all hours included in an approved financial aid consortium agreement. The chart below shows whether a course with a specific course grade or course registration is included when determining attempted or earned credit hours or in the GPA calculation.
| GRADE | COURSE REGISTRATION | COUNTED IN ATTEMPTED CREDIT HOURS | COUNTED IN EARNED CREDIT HOURS | COUNTED IN GPA CALCULATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| F | Yes | No | Yes | |
| I | Yes | No | Yes | |
| P | Yes | Yes | No | |
| W | Yes | No | No | |
| Non-Credit Courses | No | No | No | |
| Repeat Courses (grade removed from prior course) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2. Timeframe-Maximum Total Attempted Hours Percentage (150%) Maximum of 180 attempted credit hours allowed for a 120 credit hour program
Student financial aid is available for up to 150% of the number of hours required to complete the degree program. For most undergraduate programs of study this provides up to 180 attempted semester hours for student financial aid recipients to complete a 120 semester hour program. Students in undergraduate programs of study requiring more than 120 credit hours may have their eligibility for federal aid extended proportionately upon appeal. All hours attempted and hours accepted in transfer by Morehouse College (including those for which the student did not receive financial aid), count toward the 150% maximum total attempted hours. Note: During the last semester of eligibility a student may only receive financial aid for the total number of credit hours remaining in their maximum timeframe.
Students who have attempted the number of credit hours needed to complete a degree may no longer be eligible for student financial aid. In addition, if it can be shown that the student will not be able to complete an undergraduate degree within the 150% maximum timeframe (generally 180 semester hours), student aid may be revoked.
|
DEGREE PROGRAM |
Maximum Credit Hours (Timeframe) |
|
BACHELOR’S (120 HOUR PROGRAM) |
180 |
Qualitative Measurement
3. GPA Minimum overall cumulative GPA requirement based on semesters of attendance
Students must maintain the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) dependent on their semesters of attendance to maintain financial aid eligibility.
|
SEMESTERS |
Cumulative GPA |
|
2 |
1.8 |
|
4 |
2.0 |
|
6 |
2.0 |
|
8 AND ABOVE |
2.0 |
Changing Majors
Students who change majors or degree programs during the academic year are strongly encouraged not to withdraw from any classes as doing so could impact their ability to meet the 67% PACE completion rate requirement and put them at risk of exceeding the 150% maximum timeframe. Students who decide to change majors or degree programs should do so early in their academic career so as not to jeopardize their eligibility for student financial aid. Students who change majors or degree programs must appeal if additional time is needed to complete their program.
Repeat Courses
All courses that are retaken to improve a grade are counted in attempted hours but only one passing grade is counted towards the PACE completion rate. For the purposes of federal assistance passed means any grade higher than an “F,” regardless of any school or program policy requiring a higher qualitative grade or measure to have been considered to have passed the course.
Incomplete Courses
Student should notify the Office of Financial Aid when a final grade is received.
Undergraduate Transfer Students
Transfer students are subject to the 67% Pace Completion Rate and the 150% Maximum Total Attempted Hours Percentage requirements. All hours attempted while enrolled and all transfer hours accepted by Morehouse College are included in Satisfactory Academic Progress determination. In addition, all courses counted as part of an approved Financial Aid Consortium Agreement will be included in the 67% and 150% calculations.
Mandatory Non-Degree Credit Hour Courses or Zero Credit Hour Courses
Students required to enroll in a non-degree or zero credit hour courses may be eligible for an extension to the 150% timeframe.
Independent Study
If grades for an independent study course are not entered prior to the end of the semester the student must contact the Office of Financial Aid when their grades are entered for re-evaluation.
Excessive Elective Courses
Students taking an excessive number of elective courses may have their financial aid revoked, as these courses do not contribute to making satisfactory academic progress toward earning a degree.
Study Abroad and Consortium Courses
Hours enrolled in Study Abroad or Consortium courses are included in determining a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress status. Students may be required to provide the Office of Financial Aid with a copy of their grade report or academic transcript, as these courses are included in the 67% and 150% calculations.
Students Seeking Dual Bachelor’s Degrees
Students enrolled in two Bachelor’s degree programs at the same time must still meet the 150% standard for completing their degrees and are not eligible for additional hours of aid eligibility. The 150% is calculated from the degree requiring the most hours. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Academic Re-Admission
College approval of Academic Re-Admission does not supersede Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
Notification and Evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Notification
The Office of Financial Aid will notify students of their Satisfactory Academic Progress status at the completion of each semester, including the summer term, via the student’s Tigernet email address and/or their personal e-mail address, if available. Students may also monitor their Satisfactory Academic Progress via Morehouse College’s Student Access Records.
Financial Aid Warning Status
Students failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the following semester during which they remain eligible to receive student financial aid. A student shall be removed from the Financial Aid Warning Status at the end of the following semester if he achieves the required Satisfactory Academic Progress Qualitative and Quantitative standards. Students who fail to achieve the Quantitative and/or Qualitative component(s) of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy during their Warning period (semester) will lose their eligibility for financial aid and must appeal to be reinstated in a probationary status for one semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process
Student financial aid recipients who fail to maintain the Quantitative and/or Qualitative component(s) of the Satisfactory Academic Policy due to an extenuating circumstance beyond their control (serious injury or illness involving the student, or death of an immediate family member), may submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid explaining their circumstances. Students must submit supporting documentation with the appeal which confirms the circumstance. This appeal must be filed within three weeks of the notification of your SAP status.
A student whose appeal is approved is placed on a Financial Aid probation status for the following semester/term and is required to work with his/her academic advisor to complete an academic advisor assessment that moves the student toward meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Qualitative and Quantitative standards.
- Students on Financial Aid probation status are required to meet the following conditions to be eligible to receive financial aid for the subsequent semester:
- Semester GPA must be equal to the cumulative GPA Standard
- Semester PACE completion rate requirement of 67%
- Other conditions as outlined on the student’s academic advisor assessment form
- Students who meet the objective outlined in their Academic Advisor Assessment and the GPA and PACE completion rate requirements during their Financial Aid probation period remain eligible to receive financial aid. Students remain on academic assessment until they once again meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
- Students who fail to meet the objectives outlines in their Academic Advisor Assessment or the GPA or PACE completion rate requirements during their Financial Aid probation period become ineligible to receive student financial aid and can only regain their eligibility by once again fully meeting all Satisfactory Academic Progress Quantitative and Qualitative standards.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
Re-establishing Eligibility without an Approved Appeal
Other than when an appeal is approved for unusual or mitigating circumstances and a student is placed on an Academic Advisor Assessment, a student may reestablish eligibility by taking action that brings the student into compliance with the qualitative and quantitative components of the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standard. A student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress status is reviewed at the completion of each semester, including summer.
Regaining Your Student Financial Aid Eligibility
A student may be awarded Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and State financial aid for the payment period in which the student resumes Satisfactory Academic Progress or as the result of an approved appeal. For Federal Direct Loans the Student regains eligibility for the entire period of enrollment in which the student again meets Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Other rules, regulations governing federal, and student financial aid programs still apply.
This policy pertains to applicants for federal, state of Georgia and Morehouse College controlled aid programs, including most student loan programs. If you have questions about the monitoring of Satisfactory Academic Progress not addressed in this policy please contact the Office of Financial Aid at studentfinancialservices@morehouse.edu or 470.639.0959.
*HOW TO COMPLETE THE SAP PROCESS*
- Click HERE to complete the electronic SAP appeal form.
- Download and complete the SAP Academic Plan.
- Attached the completed SAP Academic Plan to your electronic SAP appeal BEFORE submitting.