Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy PDF
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires students to maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree to receive financial aid. At Lawrence Technological University, these standards are established for students who are receiving or requesting for financial aid from one or more of the numerous federal, state, or institutional grant, scholarship, work-study, or loan programs.
The Lawrence Technological University Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Financial Aid applies to all students who wish to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility. This policy applies separately to each degree program the student pursues, in its entirety, including semesters in which financial aid was not applied for or disbursed.
These standards require students to complete a specific number of credit hours each academic year and maintain the minimum GPA as defined by the standards. These are the minimum standards that must be completed. Specific aid programs, college, or department standards may vary and/or require more than these minimum standards.
The academic progress of financial aid recipients will be monitored a minimum of once each academic year. All terms, including summer, are equal and used in the SAP calculation. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid with questions regarding the intent and interpretation of this policy.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process
When a determination is made by Lawrence Tech that a student has failed to make satisfactory academic progress, the student's financial aid eligibility will be suspended. Students have the opportunity to appeal the determination by submitting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, along with an appeal letter and any supporting documentation for the appeal. The appeal letter should explain 1) why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and 2) what has changed in the student's situation that will allow them to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation period.
Reasons for appeal may include the death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. Appeals will be reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis.
Required Course Completion Rate
- Full and part-time students must progress toward the completion of their degree within a specified time frame. To meet this requirement, a student must successfully complete, with a grade of D or better, at least two-thirds (67%) of their cumulative credit hours attempted, based on the following schedule, or they will be denied aid until the deficient credits are earned at their own expense. Requirements may be satisfied on a cumulative total basis with eligibility terminating upon successful completion of all degree requirements, or when a student has attempted credit hours totaling 150% of the required credit hours for the student's program of study.
Examples
|
Attempted |
Minimum Completion Requirement |
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6 credits |
4 credits |
|
12 credits |
8 credits |
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15 credits |
10 credits |
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18 credits |
12 credits |
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66 credits |
44 credits |
|
100 credits |
66 credits |
|
132 credits |
87 credits |
|
198 credits |
132 credits |
‘Attempted credits’ are defined as any credits you remain enrolled in after the add/drop period each semester, grade include the following
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A |
4.0 |
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A- |
3.7 |
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B+ |
3.3 |
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B |
3.0 |
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B- |
2.7 |
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C+ |
2.3 |
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C |
2.0 |
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C- |
1.7 |
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D+ |
1.3 |
Not applicable to graduate students |
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D |
1.0 |
Not applicable to graduate students |
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D- |
0.7 |
Not applicable to graduate students |
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F |
0.0 |
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WF |
0.0 |
Failure due to non-attendance |
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W |
Withdrawal |
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CR |
Credit |
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NC |
No Credit |
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P |
Pass |
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WN |
No credit due to non-attendance |
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Grades of ‘I’ for incomplete, ‘IP’ for in progress (dissertation courses only), ‘DG’ for deferred grade, and ‘X’ for audited classes will not count toward minimum satisfactory academic requirement of 67% of credits completed. Please refer to the section titled ‘Grade Changes’ to see our policy on grade changes after final grades have been processed.
Duration Of Program And Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid eligibility is suspended when credits required for a degree/program are earned or when the student has attempted credit hours totaling 150% of the required credit hours for the student's program of study.
Examples
|
Program Length |
Maximum Attempted Hours Allowed |
|
10 credits |
15 credits |
|
15 credits |
22 credits |
|
30 credits |
45 credits |
|
45 credits |
67 credits |
|
120 credits |
180 credits |
|
131 credits |
196 credits |
|
132 credits |
198 credits |
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements (Qualitative Requirement)
Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Failure to achieve this standard will result in the suspension of eligibility until the cumulative GPA is 2.00. Please note that a college or department may require more than a 2.00 GPA to remain in good academic standing within your program.
Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Failure to achieve this standard will result in the suspension of eligibility until the cumulative GPA is 2.75. Please note that a college or department may require more than a 2.75 GPA to remain in good academic standing within your program.
Withdrawal Grades
All withdrawal grades are considered “attempted hours.” This includes official withdrawal grades W and WN, which are not calculated in the grade point average. This also includes withdrawal failure grades, “WF,” which are calculated in the grade point average as an “F.“
GPA Calculator
Enter your values into the yellow shaded rows only.
New Students With Transfer Credits
Upon admission to the University, all transfer students will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. Transfer credits from the previous school that applies to the transfer student’s program (major) will be counted towards the student’s maximum time frame (counted as both attempted and completed hours for measurement).
However, transfer credit hours are not included in the calculation of a student’s grade point average.
After admission to the university, courses successfully completed in subsequent terms at another institution that fulfill degree requirements at Lawrence Technological University may be used to achieve satisfactory academic progress compliance. Students must provide documentation to the Office of Financial Aid regarding such credit. This strictly pertains to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Financial Aid and is not in regards to the University Guest or Additional Credit Policy (refer to the Office of the Registrar for more information on these policies).
Program (Major) Change (Reset)/ Transfer Credits
Students may change their major to another College (i.e. moving from the College of Engineering to the College of Architecture) and have the one-time opportunity to reset their grade point average to 0.00. This option will allow students to begin a new SAP status from the semester their GPA was reset in the new program of study.
Transfer credit from the previous program (major) that applies to the new program (major) will be counted towards the student’s maximum time (counted as both attempted and completed hours for measurement).
Second Degree
Students interested in obtaining a second degree will need to have a degree audit performed by the academic department to determine the number of credits needed to complete the second degree. The Office of Financial Aid will then establish a new Maximum Time frame based on the degree audit.
Grade Changes
After final grades are issued, it is the student's responsibility to notify the financial aid office of any official grade changes.
Repetitions
Students may repeat a course in which a passing grade was previously earned to improve their grade; however, each repeat will count towards the number of credit hours attempted.
Evaluation Process
The Office of Financial Aid will assess each student’s progress according to these standards on an annual basis.
Revised 2/2023