Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies

Federal regulations require all students receiving Title IV federal student aid at Mississippi Christian University (MC) to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be eligible for Title IV federal aid. Students must meet both the quantitative and qualitative standards in the course of study the student is pursuing to receive aid. SAP is calculated at the conclusion of each semester (summer, fall, and spring).

QUALITATIVE STANDARD:

1. Minimum Grade point average (GPA)

QUANTITATIVE STANDARDS (PACE):

1. The maximum time-frame a student has to complete a degree,

2. A minimum percentage of courses attempted must be passed, and

3. A maximum number of courses from which a student is allowed to withdraw or drop.

The qualitative and quantitative standards used to evaluate academic progress includes all periods of the student’s enrollment, even if no federal Title IV financial aid was received. It is important to recognize that although some aspects of the Financial Aid SAP policy are similar to MC’s Academic Standing Policy, the two should not be confused. Different metrics may be used to calculate successful progression which are different than financial aid metrics. Financial Aid SAP must calculate all grades and attempts. Institutions are not allowed to ignore attempted or earned grades from previously enrolled periods. Academics may “forgive” or “replace” certain courses which are not calculated in the student’s GPA which can also affect the quantitative standards. The removal of a grade or course based on academic forgiveness does not imply the reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.

Failure to meet these standards could result in the loss of federal aid. Students who fail to meet the requirements will be placed on SAP Warning for one semester. If the student is unable to meet the standards at the conclusion of the warning semester, the student will be placed on SAP Suspension and will not be eligible to receive any federal Title IV aid. A student may submit an SAP APPEAL and if approved the student will be placed on Financial Aid SAP Probation.

Title IV aid consists of the following programs:

Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH)
Federal Work Study
Federal Direct Loan Programs
- Subsidized Direct Loans
- Unsubsidized Direct Loans
- Parent PLUS Loans
- Grad PLUS Loans (“Legacy” Students Only)

Students with extenuating circumstances beyond their control may submit an SAP Appeal Form to request to have their aid be reinstated. The SAP Appeal is reviewed by the SAP Appeal Committee and the appeal must include documentation the circumstances that prevented a student from maintaining academic success. It is the responsibility of the student to thoroughly explain and document their request for an appeal. Appeals without supporting documentation or the ability to mathematically attain success could be denied.

Students who are on financial aid suspension can apply for a non-federal private alternative loan. To view more information on private loans click here as well as our historical lender list on ELM SELECT. These loans are credit based and often require a cosigner.

QUALITATIVE STANDARDS (GPA)

Undergraduate students must achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater on all coursework taken at MC.

Graduate students must achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater on all coursework taken at MC.

The cumulative GPA calculation does not include accepted transfer hours from another institution.

QUANTITATIVE STANDARDS (PACE)

Maximum Time Frame (Hours): Students are expected to complete the requirements for degree completion within a reasonable time frame. For this standard, the allowable time is based upon the number of hours each student attempts.

Undergraduate students attempting to receive their 1^st bachelor degree may receive Title IV Aid only through the point at which it is mathematically possible to complete the student’s education program within 150% of the published length of the program. EXAMPLE: If a degree requires 120 hours of course work, the student may attempt up to 180 credit hours for SAP maximum timeframe purposes. (120 x 150%). This includes all course work completed at MC including remedial courses and pass/fail courses.

Undergraduate students pursuing a second bachelor's degree are subject to the University's SAP standards, including the maximum timeframe established for the student's current educational program. Coursework from prior enrollment will be evaluated in accordance with MC's SAP policy.

For graduate programs. The maximum timeframe for graduate programs is established by MC and is based on the published length and requirements of the student's program.

Even if a student does not use Title IV aid to pay for hours attempted, these hours are counted toward Maximum Time Frame.

Transfer credits accepted toward the student's current educational program will be included in the quantitative SAP calculation and maximum timeframe.

Students who exceed their Maximum Time Frame allowable hours will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. Federal regulations also specify that a student is no longer eligible once it is no longer mathematically possible to earn the degree without exceeding the allowable maximum time frame hours. If all other eligibility criteria have been met, students who have lost their financial aid eligibility due to this standard may apply for an SAP Appeal and regain eligibility through a successful submission.

Completion Rate/PACE: Students must successfully complete at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted. The Completion Rate/PACE is calculated by dividing cumulative credit hours successfully completed (earned) by cumulative credit hours attempted.

EXAMPLE: Student A has attempted 12 hours, but successfully completes 9 hours (9/12 = 75%), the student has met the standard for Completion Rate/PACE. Student B begins has attempted 12 hours, but successfully completes 6 hours (6/12 = 50%) this student is not meeting SAP for Completion Rate/PACE since 50% is less than the required 67% minimum.

Students who do not meet the Completion Rate/PACE standard will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. Once a student is able to successfully meet the 67% minimum, the student is eligible for financial aid. If all other eligibility criteria have been met, students who have lost their financial aid eligibility due to this standard may apply for an SAP Appeal and regain eligibility through a successful submission.

Withdrawals: Withdrawal hours are assigned when a student withdraws from a class after the add/drop period. Excessive withdrawals and/or dropped courses indicate a lack of progression toward a degree. A grade of “W” (withdrawal) does not count as graded credit hours, and thus will not affect the student’s GPA; however, withdrawals do count towards the number of hours attempted. This will affect the Completion Rate/PACE standard.

Withdrawals occurring after the add/drop period are included as attempted credit hours but are not included in the GPA calculation. Withdrawals therefore affect the student's quantitative/pace SAP calculation.

Factors that influence SAP:

Incompletes
Transfer Credits
Changes in Major
Remedial Courses

Additional Information about MC’s policy on Grades, Credits, and Academic Standing can be viewed at: MC Registrar

Incomplete Grades: Incomplete grades (“I”) will be included as attempted but not successfully completed hours until a final grade is recorded. The final grade will be incorporated into the student's SAP calculation at the next scheduled SAP evaluation.

Repeat Courses: Repeat credits are applied when a student repeats a course in order to improve a grade For Title IV enrollment purposes, a student may repeat a previously passed course one additional time. Each course attempt will be included in the SAP pace and maximum timeframe calculations in accordance with MC's SAP policy.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credits accepted toward the student's current educational program will be included in the quantitative SAP calculation and maximum timeframe.

Transfer grades are not used at MC to calculate overall GPA. The transfer hours are only used in the calculation of the student’s completion rate.

Changes in Major: Students who have changed majors or are pursuing a double major may reach their maximum time frame before the program of study is complete. When a student changes majors, all previously attempted coursework will continue to be included in the student's SAP evaluation unless otherwise specified by this policy (quantitative, qualitative and maximum time frame).

REGAINING STUDENT AID ELIGIBILITY

A student cannot regain SAP eligibility by paying for courses without Title IV funds or by sitting out a semester. The student must take action that brings them back into compliance with MC’s SAP standards. SAP is evaluated at the conclusion of each semester (summer, fall and spring). At the conclusion of the SAP evaluation each semester, a notification will be sent to the student’s MC email and their SAP Status (Good Standing, Warning, Suspension, Probation) will be notated on the student’s MyMC portal.

Financial Aid Good Standing:

Student is successfully meeting all SAP Standards

Financial Aid Warning:

Financial Aid Warning may be assigned for one payment period only.
A student who fails to meet SAP at the end of a payment period may be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the subsequent payment period.
Eligible for financial aid
Student may receive Title IV aid while on Financial Aid Warning without submitting an appeal.

Financial Aid Suspension:

The SAP standards were not achieved during the Warning semester (payment period).
Loss of financial aid assistance eligibility
Student may submit an SAP Appeal.

Financial Aid Probation:

A student that has a successful SAP Appeal due to suspension can receive Title IV aid on a semester-by-semester basis.
Student must agree to academic plan and/or terms of approval and meet the conditions each semester.
- Student’s progress will be evaluated at the time of SAP evaluation each semester to ensure they are meeting the terms of the approved SAP Appeal.
- The student will remain on Probation if conditions are met; or,
  - If the student fails to meet the conditions of the SAP Appeal approval, they will be placed back on Suspension.
  - Once the student meets all standards, they are placed in Good Standing and eligible for Title IV aid.

Academic Probation and Suspension:

Academic standing imposed by MC
Academic Standings are independent of Financial Aid SAP Standards that affect Title IV eligibility

SAP APPEAL PROCESS

Students placed on SAP Suspension are allowed to appeal their suspension. The student must explain what extenuating circumstances occurred that resulted in the failure to meet SAP Standards. Examples of extenuating circumstances are:

Death of a Relative
Injury
Illness
Other special circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis

The student should explain what has changed in their situation that would allow the student to demonstrate SAP at the end of the following semester. This may include, but not limited to:

Meeting with the Office of Student Success
Seeking tutoring
Enrolling in fewer hours

Students are not allowed to receive their aid until their appeal has been reviewed and approved.

All SAP Appeals are considered by the SAP Appeals Committee and decisions are final with consideration of:

Appeal submission must be received within 2 weeks of notification
Appeal must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office
Per institutional policy, a student may appeal up to two (2) times to have their Title IV aid reestablished. The 2nd appeal must be due to different circumstances.
A student who needs to modify an approved academic plan must submit an SAP appeal explaining the circumstances requiring the change and how the revised plan will allow the student to meet SAP requirements or complete the program.

Academic Plans: Federal regulations allow an academic plan to extend beyond one semester (payment period) when the student is unable to reasonably regain SAP within the next semester (payment period). The academic plan is reviewed at the conclusion of each semester (payment period) to ensure the student is making progress and meeting the terms of the academic plan. The length of the academic plan can vary by student and is determined by a maximum of four (4) semesters (payment periods) or the expected completion of the degree, whichever comes first. The academic plan must exhibit a reasonable and be mathematically possible to achieve SAP.

Approved SAP Appeals:

Student is notified by email to their MC email. Due to privacy concerns, communication will not be handled through private email addresses except under extenuating circumstances.
A suggested academic plan will be presented for the student’s approval.
Student must return the SAP Appeal Approval Plan signed and initialed
- Final SAP Appeal Approval is not complete until the Financial Aid Office has received this document.
Financial Aid will be released once all steps of the appeal process are complete.

Denied SAP Appeals:

A letter will be sent to the student’s home address
Student will not be allowed to receive Title IV aid. Options to pay include:
- A payment plan through MC's Business Office
- Private/Alternative Loan
The student is allowed to continue taking courses at MC as long as they have a payment option plan in place with the Business Office and are not on Academic Suspension

FINANCIAL AID SAP AND INSTITUTIONAL AID

Eligibility to receive institutional scholarships and grants are calculated within the SAP process at the conclusion of each semester. Institutional scholarships and other institutional aid may have additional academic eligibility requirements. Students should consult the terms and conditions of each award.