All students who receive federal financial assistance are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completion of their academic programs within a reasonable period of time, as defined by federal regulations and institutional policy. Students who do not meet SAP standards are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. To remain eligible for federal financial aid, a student must meet all of the following minimum standards:

SAP Eligibility Requirements

A student must:

1. Remain academically eligible for enrollment under the University’s academic policies.
2. Maintain a cumulative institutional GPA of at least 2.0. The cumulative GPA is calculated using all coursework attempted, including transfer credit and repeated courses, as applicable.
3. Successfully complete at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.
   • Attempted hours include all credit hours for which the student is enrolled as of the end of the official drop period.
   • Earned hours include only credit hours for which the student receives a passing grade.
4. Complete the academic program within the maximum timeframe of 150% of the published program length, measured in cumulative attempted credit hours.
   • For example, a program requiring 120 credit hours must be completed within a maximum of 180 attempted credit hours.

SAP Review and Status Determination

Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of each academic term.

• A student who does not meet SAP standards after a term of enrollment will be placed on Financial Aid Warning, during which the student may continue to receive federal financial aid for one additional term.
• A student who fails to meet SAP standards after a subsequent term will become ineligible for federal and state financial aid.

SAP Appeals and Academic Plans

Students who become ineligible for financial aid due to failure to meet SAP standards have the right to appeal if there are extenuating circumstances (such as illness, injury, family emergency, or other documented circumstances beyond the student’s control).

• Appeal instructions and deadlines will be provided to each student who fails SAP at the conclusion of the term.
• If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an Academic Plan.
• While on an Academic Plan, the student must:
  • Meet the specific academic requirements of the plan each term, or Meet the minimum SAP standards outlined in this policy.

Failure to meet the conditions of the Academic Plan or SAP minimum standards at the end of any subsequent term will result in loss of eligibility for Title IV federal financial aid and the South Carolina Tuition Grant (for South Carolina residents). Important Notice Satisfactory Academic Progress standards apply equally to all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether the student received financial aid during a particular term.