Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress is the standard by which a student must meet certain benchmarks in order to successfully complete a degree.  These benchmarks are measured by the following components:

  • The cumulative grade point average.
  • The pace of progression.
  • The maximum time frame.

The grade point average and the pace of progression are measured at the end of each academic year (two semesters).

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

Students must achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00 or greater based on a 4.00 scale in order to graduate. A student must maintain the following minimum CGPA for each academic year: At the end of the first academic year: 1.00 CGPA; At the end of the second academic year: 1.50 CGPA; At the end of the third academic year: 1.75 CGPA; At the end of fourth and later academic years: 2.00 CGPA.

Pace of Progression

At the end of each academic year, students must successfully complete 66.6% rounded to 67% of all attempted semester credit hours. Attempted semester credit hours include failed and retaken credits, withdrawn credits, pass/fail credits and transfer-in credits.

Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

All Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees must be completed within 150% of the published length of the program. Therefore 150% of 122 credits = 183 total credits may be attempted. A student enrolling for a semester after attempting 183 credits is no longer considered to be making satisfactory progress toward the degree.

The Academy’s policy applies to all students equally; however, rehabilitation students, and all others receiving institutional, federal or state support or assistance need to be particularly aware of their academic status since the school must report when these students fail to meet satisfactory progress requirements and this notification may lead to the loss of financial assistance or termination of studies.

Academic Suspension and Reinstatement

Students not maintaining satisfactory progress at the end of their academic year are placed on Academic Suspension and are not eligible to continue enrollment or receive federal financial aid unless there is a successful appeal. The Registrar’s Office will notify students by letter of their Academic Suspension. Students must complete the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Request Form and write a formal appeal letter addressed to the Registrar that describes the circumstance(s) which prevented meeting satisfactory progress requirements and the action(s) that are going to be taken to bring satisfactory progress back into compliance.

Students who successfully appeal will be placed on probationary status for one semester and may receive financial aid funds for the semester. Students whose appeal has been denied may appeal the decision by requesting Enrollment Reinstatement (see Enrollment Reinstatement). At the end of the probationary period, successful students regain aid eligibility and are no longer on probation. For a student who has not met the cumulative requirements for SAP on the initial probationary period, but who achieved the requisite GPA and Pace of Progression standards for the probationary period (but not cumulatively), may submit a Satisfactory Progress Appeal Request Form together with a letter requesting a second probationary period. The appeal must address the reasons for not meeting the CGPA and the 67% of cumulative attempted credits.

Students whose appeal is granted may continue for an additional semester with financial aid eligibility. Students whose appeal is denied may not be eligible to continue.

At the conclusion of the second probationary period, successful students regain their academic and financial aid eligibility. Students who failed to attain the CGPA and the acceptable progression of completing 67% of the cumulative semester attempted credit may not be eligible to continue enrollment.

Enrollment Reinstatement

Students may appeal to the Academic Dean for enrollment reinstatement by completing the Enrollment Reinstatement form and attaching an explanation letter. Acceptable reasons for appeal include: administrative error, circumstances beyond the control of the student or situations in which a student has experienced undue hardship as a result of a mitigating circumstance.

If the appeal is granted, a student may continue in enrollment despite not making satisfactory progress but is not eligible for financial aid until the student’s required grade point standard and ratio of attempted to completed credits is achieved. There is not a limit to the number of times a student may request an appeal, but the academic record must verify that the student will be able to complete the degree program within 150% (183 credits) of the published length of the degree.

If a reinstatement appeal is not accepted for the contiguous semester, the student’s enrollment will be terminated.

Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid

Financial aid may only be restored by taking actions that bring the student into compliance with satisfactory progress standards. The passing of time does not restore eligibility.