Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy M.S.ED
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Graduate students are required to establish and maintain an overall program cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0. To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), graduate students must also continue to complete courses at an appropriate pace. For full-time students in GPS the normal pace of course completion is one course per term or 6 courses (18 credits) per year.
The Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Cumulative grade point average
All courses completed in a graduate program at BVU are included in the analysis of academic standing. Incompletes are not a grading option. If a course is repeated, the repeat(s) will count in the CGPA calculation and the attempted hours for pace calculation. The same is true for courses from which the student withdraws. Up to 9 credits of graduate work may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Only course work with an obtained grade of B- (2.7) or better may be transferred. The student’s CGPA will not include the grades for courses completed elsewhere.
- Pace and Duration of Eligibility for Financial Assistance
Full-time students who fail to complete at least 66.667% of their attempted hours will be deemed to be progressing at an unsatisfactory pace and will lose eligibility for financial aid, pending a decision on an appeal (see Appeal Process, below). Credits transferred into the BVU program will be included in the SAP pace analysis when the transfer credits are recorded in the Office of the Registrar.
Review Process
- Academic Standing
The Committee on Graduate Academic Standing (CGAS) is composed of the Associate Dean of the Faculty as Chair, the Registrar, the Director of Financial Assistance, one Dean of a school with graduate courses, and one faculty member with Graduate Faculty status. This committee will review students’ progress at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer or Terms 2,4,6). Students with a CGPA lower than 3.0 will be placed on academic probation for the next semester. Failure to achieve a CGPA of at least 3.0 by the end of the next semester will result in suspension from the program. Students in this situation will be notified in writing by the Academic Standing Committee, as will the Office of Financial Aid and the Registrar’s Office. An appeal of suspension process is described below.
At the end of each semester (Terms 2,4,6) the CGAS will also notify, in writing, students who are failing to meet the expected pace of course completion (66.667% of attempted courses) in their graduate program that they are in danger of being suspended if they fail to meet the required pace by the end of the next semester of attendance. It will direct those students to their academic advisor to develop a written plan to come into full compliance with requirements for SAP.
- Financial Aid Eligibility
The committee will complete its annual review for Financial Aid Eligibility following the end of the summer semester (Term 6). All students, including those who have been enrolled in a program for less than a full year, will be evaluated based on an analysis of courses attempted and completed to date, along with CGPA progress. Graduate students who fail to meet the pace requirements will be suspended from their graduate program. Students in this situation will be notified in writing by the CGAS, as will the Office of Financial Aid and the Registrar’s Office. An appeal of suspension process is described below.
Appeals Process
A student who has been suspended and has faced extenuating circumstances such as his/her injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances may appeal a suspension. A student who wishes to appeal a suspension must consult with her/his academic advisor and/or a financial aid advisor to develop an appeal. All appeals must be in writing and received by the chair of the CGAS within one week of notification of suspension because of an unsatisfactory CGPA or failure to maintain a satisfactory pace. The written appeal must include and document the extenuating circumstance(s) that prevented the student from meeting the CGPA and/or pace requirements, what has changed in the student’s situation, and a plan with specific steps that will be taken to ensure future success, including a schedule of classes to be taken, where those classes will be taken, what grades must be earned, and if there will be transfer work.
If the appeal with its plan is approved, the student will be allowed to continue to take classes and receive financial assistance. Students in this situation will continue to be eligible for financial assistance and to continue to take courses as long as they are meeting the standards in the plan. A student whose appeal is unsuccessful will be suspended from the academic program and will have financial aid suspended.
If a student does not appeal or an appeal is not approved, the student will be dropped, without financial liability or academic record, from any class(es) in which he/she is currently enrolled.
If the appeal is not approved and the student has evidence of failure to follow policies or procedures or of arbitrary or capricious treatment in the appeals process, the student may further appeal to the VPAA and Dean of the Faculty. The decision of the VPAA and Dean of the Faculty is final.
Re-establishing SAP
A previously suspended student may apply for readmission to BVU. The application will be reviewed by the CGAS. For an application to be successful it must include documentation of actions the student has taken to assure success upon re-entry into a program. Neither paying for classes nor sitting out any length of time affects a student’s academic standing, so neither is sufficient to re-establish eligibility. The appeal must also include an academic plan that would bring the student back into SAP if it were successfully followed. The previously suspended student is strongly encouraged to consult with an academic program advisor when developing an application for readmission.
If a previously suspended student is readmitted to a graduate program, the student will be allowed to resume taking classes and will be eligible for financial assistance. The readmitted student will be on financial aid probation. The student will continue to be eligible to take classes and receive financial assistance as long as the conditions of the academic plan are being met. Should the student fail to meet the conditions of the academic plan, the review process, above, will determine the student’s standing.