Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)The federal financial aid programs at HCU are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The Act states that a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress in the course of study (s)he is pursuing, according to the standards and practices of the institution at which the student is in attendance. The federal Title IV programs include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), and Federal PLUS loans. For purposes of consistency and equity among all students receiving aid, HCU applies the following standards to all students receiving federal Title IV aid:
All students (full-time, part-time)who wish to qualify for financial aid while attending HCU must meet certain standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). These standards include a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), a minimum credit hour completion rate, and the completion of a degree or program of study within a maximum time-frame.
Conditions for Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students must pass 67% of all courses attempted, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA as presented in the following table and complete a degree program in the allowable maximum time-frame:
Total Hours Attempted/
Minimum Cumulative GPA
0 - 59 1.80 GPA
60 and above 2.00 GPA
SAP will be checked at the end of each term. Any student who fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards will be placed on a financial aid warning for one semester. During this warning status semester, a student will continue to be eligible for Title IV funds. Upon completion of the warning semester, if the minimum SAP standards are not achieved on the courses enrolled, then all federal financial aid will be suspended for the next semester of attendance. Financial aid suspension does not prevent a student from attending HCU provided they are not on academic suspension. Students who are not on academic suspension and who have been placed on financial aid suspension may continue enrollment, but must attend at his/her expense and attain the hours and GPA required for satisfactory academic progress.
Time-Frame
Federal regulations allow a maximum time frame of 150% of the number of credits needed to complete the degree or certificate program. This time frame is effective for all students, even those that have not previously received financial aid. A student who attempts 150% of all the coursework for their degree and has not yet received the degree, cannot receive further aid for the program.
Example: If an undergraduate degree program requires 128 semester credit hours to complete, then a student is eligible for financial aid during the first 192 attempted credit hours as an undergraduate (128 x 150% = 192 maximum attempted credit hours for financial aid eligibility).
Status Review and Notification
A student's entire academic record at HCU, as well as all transfer work per the student's program of study will be evaluated at the end of each term to determine SAP, regardless if financial aid was received for all semesters. Students will be notified by email if they have been placed on warning or suspension. Attempts to notify all students will be made; however, students should be aware of SAP requirements. If a student is transferring from another school on financial aid warning or suspension, then they will have the same financial aid standing at HCU.
Repeated Coursework
All W's (withdrawn) are treated as attempted hours. Any semester in which a student withdraws for any reason will be counted as a semester of attendance and will count towards the number of semesters allowed to participate in the financial aid programs. If a student receives a grade of "I" (incomplete) in any course, the "I" will be treated as if it were an "F" for financial aid purposes. If the grade changes to a "D" or above, it is the student's responsibility to notify the financial aid office to have his/her transcript reviewed to determine financial aid eligibility. Students can receive Title IV aid for failed courses until that course is passed. However, a student is allowed only 1 repeat of a course that is passed.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals
Federal regulations allow for certain cases in which the university may waive the SAP standards due to mitigating circumstances. Appeals may be considered if a student’s failure to comply with one or more standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress is due to events beyond the student’s control. Events that may be considered include extended illness, serious illness or death in the immediate family or other significant life experience that has impacted the student’s emotional and/or physical health. The mitigating circumstances must be appropriately documented for the specific semester(s) in which the deficiency occurred. Appeals must include a detailed description of the extenuating circumstances that occurred during the specific semester in which the student failed to meet the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress and a statement and/or documentation as to what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to meet SAP in future terms. Appeals are acted on by the Financial Aid Administrator or, referred to an Appeal Committee. Students will be allowed one appeal after failing SAP minimums.
Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed. All documents received with the appeal form become the property of the Office of Financial Aid. Students are advised not to submit originals. The Financial Aid Administrator will send written notification to students as to the result of their appeal (approved and placed on probation or denied) within (20) days. Appeals may be denied, approved with conditions, or approved unconditionally. The appeal decision of the Office of Financial Aid is final. Appeals must include all necessary documentation to support the existence of the circumstances described and evidence that the circumstances have been resolved. Appeal forms are available in the financial aid office or online.
The deadlines for filing appeals will be established each year for the upcoming semester and will be set for the last day to add/drop for that particular semester. Appeals received after the established deadline for a semester will be reviewed for the following semester.
Approved Appeals - Probation Status
Successful appeals will allow a student to be placed in PROBATION status. Students must meet the conditions outlined in the appeal decision. The reinstatement letter will give the conditions and/or an academic plan the student must achieve per semester or the reinstatement will be terminated and the student will be placed on financial aid suspension status once again. Enforced conditions and/or academic plans may include the following: reporting to their academic advisor to discuss any problems that may be a hindrance to academic progress and seeking assistance in defining and implementing a plan to meet future educational goals, student will be limited to 12 credit hours during the probation period. The student will have to sign and return one copy of the letter accepting the conditions.
Financial aid suspension does not prevent students from attending HCU provided they are not on academic suspension. By the end of the probationary period a student must have received at least a 2.5 TERM GPA and completes a minimum 100% of the TERM Credit Hours with a C or better. If the student fails to meet both the term GPA and term completion requirements at the end of the probation term, his/her financial assistance will be suspended.
Eligibility
Eligibility for most financial aid is based on financial need. Students are expected to contribute to their own educational expenses and should not expect financial aid to provide for all living expenses. Financial aid is to be used only for education-related costs. Students receiving Title IV funds must not engage in the unlawful use of any controlled substance; must not be in default on a federal student loan; or owe an overpayment on a federal student grant. No financial aid will be processed until all admission requirements are met. If a student has a prior year charge, no more than $200 total from current year Federal student aid funds can be used to pay those charges per Federal regulations.
On a case-by-case basis, HCU may refuse to certify a request for a Federal Direct loan or may certify a loan amount that is less than the student's determination of need or student request if the reason is documented and provided in written form to the student.
Enrollment Status
Financial aid is awarded and paid according to the student's enrollment status:
12+ hours = full time enrollment
9-11 hours = ¾ time enrollment
6-8 hours = ½ time enrollment
Less than 6 hours = less than ½ time
You must be enrolled and attending at least six hours to receive a student loan.
Return of Title IV Funds
A Title IV federal aid recipient who withdraws, officially or unofficially, from all classes on or before the 60% point of the academic term (9th week of school) will be subject to repayment based upon the federal "Return of Title IV Funds" calculation. Federal regulations require that a percentage of the funds disbursed be returned. Students "earn" federal aid funds in direct proportion to the length of time they remain enrolled. A student who remains enrolled past the 60% point of the academic term has earned 100% of the Title IV federal aid for the enrollment period.
Refunds
In order to be eligible to receive a refund on any credit balance from Title IV aid, you must complete 60% of the semester. Please refer to the Office of Financial Aid for dates of refunds for each term.
