Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Mount Carmel College of Nursing Participates in Title IV Student Aid Programs. Regardless of Full Time or Part Time status, Degree or Diploma program, or Financial Aid support level, all students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) while enrolled at the college. These standards take steps to fulfill federal financial aid requirements.

Maintaining SAP

1. To maintain SAP, a student must meet the following criteria:

   1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) Achieve a cumulative GPA 2.0 (equivalent to 70%) each time SAP is evaluated.

   2. Pace of Completion (POC) Achieve a minimum Pace of Completion rate of 67% for all programs.

      1. POC is calculated by dividing the credits earned by the credits attempted. Only those credits required in the student’s program of study, including credits that were transferred from the approved institutions, & proficiency credits earned, are used in the POC calculation. As with the determination of CGPA, the Pace of Completion requirement will be evaluated at the end of each grading period after grades have been posted to determine if the student is progressing satisfactorily. The Pace of Completion for part-time students will be evaluated based on the part-time requirements for the program.

   3. Maximum Timeframe (MTF) There is a maximum timeframe in which students must graduate.

      1. For all programs measured in credit hours, the maximum time frame is 150 percent of the total credits of the program.

      2. For an undergraduate program measured in clock hours, the maximum time frame is 150 percent of the published length of the program as evaluated by the cumulative number of clock hours the student is required to complete as expressed in calendar time.

      3. Students enrolled in a clock hour program cannot receive federal financial aid for hours beyond those in the program, the maximum time frame applies to the amount of calendar time the student takes to complete those hours.

   4. Effect of Incompletes, Withdrawals, Repetitions, & Transfer Credits on CGPA & Pace of Completion:

5. Transfer Credit on SAP

   1. Transfer credit awarded by the college has no effect on CGPA calculations for SAP but does affect the Pace of Completion Calculation.

   2. Transfer Credits are included in maximum time frame calculations.

6. Program Change on SAP

   1. Students who change programs will only have credits and final grades that are applicable to the new program (including transfer credits) calculated in SAP and maximum time frame.

   2. Any credits previously taken and not part of the student’s new program of study will not be used in the calculation.

7. Effect of Grade Change on SAP

   1. In the event a grade change is submitted outside the normal grade change period, a recalculation of SAP may be performed.

SAP Warning

1. If a student has not met the minimum SAP requirements, the student will be placed on SAP Warning.

2. SAP Warning letter will be mailed or emailed to the student which informs the student that s/he did not maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of his/her program of study during the most recently completed payment period or semester.

3. An Academic Advisor will conduct an advising session when a student is placed on SAP Warning to update their plan of study.

4. In addition to meeting with academic advising the student will be referred to the Student Success Center for academic progress.

5. The student will then be given an advising form indicating risk of probation, how long the status will last, and the conditions to be met to avoid being placed on SAP Probation. The letter also informs the student that s/he is eligible to receive financial aid (if applicable) for the next payment period or semester. However, if the student fails to make satisfactory progress by the end of that payment period or semester, s/he will be placed on SAP Probation & lose financial aid eligibility.

SAP Probation

1. If a student fails to meet the minimum SAP requirements for either two consecutive
   payment periods or two consecutive semesters, the student will be placed on SAP Probation.

2. If the student is a financial aid recipient, financial aid is suspended at that time.

3. SAP Maximum Probation Periods

   1. An undergraduate student may remain on academic probation no longer than two semesters.

   2. Graduate and Certificate level students may only stay on probation for one semester/payment period.

   3. All students placed on SAP Probation will develop a remediation plan with the assistance of their advisor and/or student success center advisor. All remediation plans include specific outcomes & a timeline. SAP Probation letter will be sent to the student notifying him/her that s/he is not making satisfactory progress towards completion of his/her program of study.

      • • The letter will also provide the student with instructions on how to appeal the suspension of financial aid eligibility (if applicable), as well as the deadline for submitting the appeal.

   4. Appealing Suspension of Financial Aid Eligibility (if applicable)

      • • Students have the right to appeal the suspension of financial aid eligibility within 10 days from the date on the SAP Probation letter.

        • The appeal form is available in the Registrar’s Office or Academic Advisor.

        • The appeal should include an explanation, & supporting documentation, of any circumstances that prevented the student from maintaining SAP throughout the semesters in question. Examples of such circumstances are:

          • • Death of a relative of the student.

            • Severe personal injury or illness of the student.

            • Extraordinary circumstances that have a causal link to the deterioration in academic performance.

        • The appeal will be reviewed by a minimum of two members of the Satisfactory Academic Progress committee in conjunction with the Director of Student Financial Services or designee. 

          • • The appeals committee’s decision is final & non-appealable.

            • Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility (FA Probation)

              • If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one payment period or semester at the end of which SAP is re-evaluated.

              • If SAP is not met, financial aid will again be suspended.
                
                

Frequency of SAP Evaluations

1. 1. Term Based Programs will be evaluated by the office of financial aid at the end of each semester.

   2. Clock hour programs will be evaluated by the office of financial aid at the end of each financial payment period based on the program.