Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal regulations (Sections 668.16(e).668.32(f) and 668.34) require that schools monitor the academic progress of each applicant for federal financial assistance and that the school certify that the applicant is making satisfactory academic progress toward earning his/her degree.
This determination of progress is made at the end of each semester (fall, spring and summer) for all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate degree candidates. The review includes a determination as to whether the student has met the cumulative qualitative and quantitative standards set forth in the College’s SAP policy. Specifically included in the review is a measurement of the student’s Pace to ensure that the student will complete the program within the maximum timeframe. Students will be notified in writing of the results of an evaluation that impacts the student’s eligibility for federal and institutional financial assistance.
Qualitative SAP Standards
2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for undergraduates
3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for graduates
Quantitative SAP Standards (PACE and Maximum Timeframe)
PACE: Students must have earned at least 67% of their attempted course credits to be considered to be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress minimum standards. In other words, a student’s pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credits that the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credits that the student has attempted.
Maximum Timeframe: Students are permitted to receive federal student aid up to the maximum timeframe of 150% of the published length of the education program in attempted and transfer credits. Students are not eligible to receive federal financial assistance beyond this point.
Example: Published length of an Associate of Arts in Human Services is 60 credits. Students are permitted to receive federal student aid up to the maximum of 90 credits in pursuant of an Associate Degree.
Transfer credits are counted in both the cumulative number of successfully completed and attempted credits.
Attempted credits include incompletes (I and EI), repeated courses, failures (FNS, FWD and F), or withdrawals (WP).
Repeated courses
Students may not receive financial aid for more than one repetition of a previously passed course. Courses repeated due to an earlier failing grade are eligible for federal student aid if the course is a requirement for the student’s degree program.
Withdrawals
Attempted hours are those hours for which students were still officially registered at the conclusion of each semester’s Add/Drop period. Withdrawals made after the close of the Add/Drop period are classified with a grade of “WP”, and are counted as courses attempted and toward the maximum time frame for eligibility. Withdrawals made during the Add/Drop period do not count as attempted hours.
Change in Majors
Students who change their majors will normally be expected to complete all degree requirements before reaching 150% maximum time of normal program completion.
Reviewing SAP
Students meeting all minimum SAP standards are packaged for the full academic year. Students not meeting all minimum standards are subject to financial aid warning and suspension of financial aid eligibility. Alternatively, students may appeal the decision to regain eligibility.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who drop below the required qualitative and quantitative standards will receive a Financial Aid Warning for one semester.
Maintaining/Regaining Eligibility
Students can regain eligibility for financial assistance after the warning period as soon as they meet the qualitative and quantitative standards for SAP as stated above.
Financial Aid Suspension
A student on financial aid warning who has not met all SAP qualitative and quantitative standards by the end of the next semester of enrollment and who does not have an approved appeal on file with the financial aid office is no longer eligible to receive financial aid assistance.
A student who has lost eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs for reasons of academic progress can regain that eligibility only by enrolling at MCNY at his/her own expense and demonstrating that he/she is capable of completing a semester without any failures, incompletes or withdrawals and showing the ability to complete his degree requirements in a more regular fashion.
Right to Appeal
A student who becomes ineligible for financial aid (after receiving a financial aid warning and suspension) may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Request for Review to the Director of Financial Aid Office including the following information:
- Explanation of mitigating circumstance such as death of a family member, or a student’s personal illness or injury that resulted in the failure to meet SAP,
- Explanation of what has changed that will allow student to demonstrate SAP progress at the end of the next evaluation period, and/or
- An “academic plan of action” completed with an academic advisor.
The appeal along with all required statements and documentation will usually be reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid within ten business days of receipt of appeal. The Director of Financial Aid will consider waiving the SAP standards for a student who documents mitigating circumstances that contributed to their academic difficulties.
In some cases, it may be mathematically impossible for a student to repair his or her SAP deficiencies with one term of enrollment. In such cases, a student’s SAP appeal may be approved with an academic plan to restore SAP deficiencies over more than one term. In these cases, the Office of Student Services in consultation with the Director of Financial Aid will develop an academic plan with the student that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the College’s SAP standards by a specific point in time. The academic plan may require the student to fulfill specific terms and conditions, such as taking a reduced course load or enrolling in specific courses.
Financial Aid Probation
Students who do not meet the qualitative and quantitative standards and have successfully appealed to regain their financial aid eligible are placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students on financial aid probation retain both federal and institutional aid eligibility for one semester or as stated on the academic plan of action.
If the student continues to not meet the minimum SAP standards, s/he is no longer eligible for federal or institutional aid until these standards is met.
New York State TAP Program Pursuit and Academic Progress Eligibility Charts
To be eligible for TAP, you must be a full -time matriculated student. New York State regulations require recipients to maintain satisfactory academic progress and program pursuit. The charts below outline each TAP payment requirements.
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New York State Satisfactory Academic Progress Charts |
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Baccalaureate Program: Students First NYS Award Payment in 2010-11 and After – non-remedial |
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Before Being Certified for This Payment |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
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A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits |
0 |
6 |
15 |
27 |
39 |
51 |
66 |
81 |
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With at Least This Grade Point Average (GPA) |
0 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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Associate 2 Year Program: Students First NYS Award Payment in 2010-11 and After – Non-remedial |
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Before Being Certified for This Payment |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits |
0 |
6 |
15 |
27 |
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With at Least This Grade Point Average (GPA) |
0 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
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The table above illustrates the specific requirements needed to receive TAP. It is important to note that the number of credit hours that must be completed and earned depends on the number of TAP payments the student has received, not on the year of enrollment. Visit the NYS HESC website for full information.
Waiver of Academic Standing Requirement
Students who are academically ineligible for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) due to a documentable circumstance may apply for a one-time waiver of the Academic Progress/Programs Pursuit requirements and a one-time waiver of the grade point average requirement. However, multiple waivers for the TAP progress and pursuit requirements are not granted. Valid circumstances include illness, death of a family member, or other situations that may have adversely affected their academic work. Students who would like to be considered for a TAP waiver should contact the Office of the Registrar.