In accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act, Centennial University has established standards by which we will evaluate student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress and Title IV Financial Aid eligibility. This policy is reevaluated when changes in Federal and Institutional policy require us to do so in order to be in compliance with federal regulations. This policy also applies to other institutional and state aid programs administered by the University.
Basic Policy Components
Satisfactory Academic Progress, commonly referred to as SAP or S-A-P, refers to the level of progress a student is making toward the academic goal of completing a program of study.
Progress is assessed by evaluating three components:
- A Grade Point Average (GPA), a qualitative measurement.
- A Completion Rate, a quantitative measurement.
- A Maximum Timeframe for program completion.
The student must be satisfy all three components in order to remain in good standing and continue to receive financial aid. The review of a student’s SAP status is based on his or her entire academic record, even if he/she did not receive financial aid for previous semesters of enrollment.
Specific minimum SAP criteria by program is listed below.
Undergraduates must meet the following SAP criteria:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
- Minimum completion rate of 67%
- Maximum time frame of 150% of defined academic length for associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs
Graduate students must meet the following SAP criteria:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
- Minimum completion rate of 75%
- Maximum time frame of 150% of defined academic length for master’s degree programs
Definitions
Completion Rate is calculated by dividing the total number of attempted credits by the total number of earned credits.
Attempted Credits include successfully completed courses (A, B, C, D, P), withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), non-passing grades (F), transfer credits and repeated courses.
Earned Credits include successfully completed courses (A, B, C, D, P).
Maximum Time Frame is calculated by multiplying the published program length by 150% (or a 1.5 multiplier). For example, if your published program length is 120 credits, 120 x 1.5 = 180 credits. This program has a maximum time frame for completion of 180 credits. Once 180 credits have been attempted (see Attempted Credits above), a student is no longer eligible for financial aid.
Evaluations and Notifications
The Centennial University Financial Aid Office evaluates Satisfactory Academic Progress for all students at the end of every semester and upon any former student’s reentry to the University. Students must be meeting SAP in order to remain in good standing and continue to receive financial aid. Students who are not making SAP will be placed on Warning Status and will be notified of this change in status within 20 business days of the end of the semester. Notifications will be emailed to your MyCentennial student email account.
Financial Aid Warning
If the student’s grades or completion rate are below the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards for the first time, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Warning Status for one term, or the Warning Period. The student is eligible to receive financial aid during this Warning Period.
Students will be notified of this change in status within 20 business days of the end of the semester. Notifications will be emailed to your MyCentennial student email account.
It is expected that during the Warning Period, the student will make a concerted effort to bring themselves into SAP compliance by the end of the Period.
Financial Aid Termination
If, by the end of the Warning Period, the student is still not making SAP, the student will be placed in a Financial Aid Termination Status and will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid.
Students will be notified of this change in status within 20 business days of the end of the semester. Notifications will be emailed to your MyCentennial student email account.
Appeal Process
Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Termination Status, have the right to appeal their standing under certain special circumstances. Examples of such circumstances are as follows:
- Death of an immediate family member
- Serious injury, illness, or mental health condition for yourself or immediate family member
- Other extenuating circumstances beyond your control
A student appealing based one of the above must provide documentation that validates the circumstances.
To complete an appeal, you must:
- Complete an Appeal Form
- Write a personal statement explaining the circumstances
- Attach supporting documentation
- Meeting with an Academic Adviser to discuss and complete an Academic Plan. Both the student and an Adviser must sign this form
- Submit all completed paperwork to the Financial Aid Office within 60 days of notification of their Termination Status
Appeals are reviewed by representatives from the Financial Aid Office. Decisions are forwarded to the student’s MyCentennial Email account 3-4 weeks from submission and all decisions are final.
Approved Appeals
Students whose SAP Appeals are approved will be placed on a Financial Aid Probation Status. During a probation status a student is eligible to receive financial aid.
Financial Aid Probation
A student who has failed to meet SAP but has successfully appealed will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and be eligible to receive financial aid. At the end of the probationary period, a student’s SAP will be reevaluated and a new SAP status will be determined. Students who meet the terms of their Probation and Academic Plan will continue to be eligible for financial aid. Students who do not meet the terms of their Probation will be placed back on Financial Aid Termination Status and will not be eligible to re-appeal based on the circumstances of the original appeal.
Denied Appeals
Students whose appeals are denied will be placed back on Financial Aid Termination Status and are not eligible to receive financial aid until they are meeting the standard SAP requirements. These students may continue to enroll in courses but will be responsible for securing payment for this coursework from sources that are not subject to the SAP policy.