Process Overview & Responsibilities
The standard length of the SPS Program is 4 academic years, in which time 128 semester units must be completed. The standard length of the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Credential program is 1 academic year, in which time 34 semester units must be completed. In order to be eligible for federal, state or institutional aid, ALL students (regardless of Title IV eligibility and regardless of full-time or part-time status) must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to the University’s policy.
This policy requires a student to have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 at the time of SAP assessment, not have a term GPA of below 2.000 for 2 consecutive semesters and successfully complete a minimum of 66.67% (2/3) of classes in the terms which the student was enrolled each academic year. This percentage is known as the pace of completion. Completing courses at this pace ensures that every student will complete degree requirements within 150% of the standard length of the program (SPS — 4 years x 150% = 6 years; Teacher Credential — 1 year x 150% = 1.5 years).
To determine the pace of completion, divide the cumulative units successfully completed by the cumulative units attempted. As long as this percentage stays at or above 66.67 % (21.33 units per academic year for SPS; 22.67 units per academic year for Teacher Credential), a student can be assured they will complete degree requirements in the federally required time frame.
Withdrawals, incomplete courses, repeating courses, non-credit remedial courses and units transferred in from other colleges have the potential to affect the pace of completion. Withdrawals lower the number of successfully completed units. Incomplete courses not completed in a timely fashion act essentially as a withdrawal and also lower the number of successfully completed units. Repeated courses are counted as attempted each time, but only as completed one time. All situations will lower a student’s pace of completion.
Non-credit remedial courses do not count as either attempted or completed, but do have the possibility of extending the time of completion beyond the 150% timeframe and must be carefully monitored by the student to ensure the length of the program is not exceeded.
Units transferred in from other colleges may actually help the pace of completion, as these units are counted on a 1:1 ratio for units completed and units attempted.
Appeals
Any student who loses financial aid eligibility for failing SAP does have the right to appeal to the Financial Aid Committee if extenuating circumstances have occurred such as medical problems, family emergencies, a death in the family, or other unique circumstances determined applicable by WJU.
An appeal is a request for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility and is initiated by completing the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, available at www.jessup.edu/sps/forms-and-resources. The appeal must address why the student failed SAP and what has changed in the student’s situation which will allow them to successfully achieve SAP by the next evaluation period.
Regaining Eligibility
Financial aid eligibility may or may not be reinstated at the discretion of the Financial Aid Committee. If an appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and financial aid eligibility will be reinstated for one semester. Specific criteria for successfully moving off Probation as well as a student-specific timeline for meeting those criteria will be outlined in a ‘Probation Granted’ letter to the student. The timeline will generally be the next semester (or defined period of enrollment), but can be extended if the Financial Aid Committee deems it appropriate to the situation. Failure to satisfy the terms of the Probation will result in immediate loss of all financial aid eligibility for subsequent semesters.
A student who fails to meet the terms of the Probation may submit a subsequent appeal for reinstatement by repeating the appeal process outlined above. Generally, after failing SAP in two successive semesters, a student may not be granted Probation again until achieving satisfactory progress without any financial aid. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: It is possible for a student to fail SAP (and not be eligible for financial aid) but not be academically dismissed from the school. In this situation, a student has successfully earned the right to completely pay for school on their own. Financial Aid SAP and WJU’s Academic Probation/Dismissal policies are different. Please refer to the Registrar website www.jessup.edu/registrar/academics-policies-and-procedures/academic-standings) for specific details on Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal.