Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, is defined as the successful progression through an academic program within a prescribed time frame. Cumulative grade point averages and successful completion of credits attempted are monitored at the end of each quarter/term, which is equivalent to the payment period. Students in 11-week quarter-based programs have SAP assessed up to four times annually. Students who are not meeting the standards are notified of their status in writing. Each such review includes the Qualitative (GPA), Quantitative (Pace of Completion), and Maximum Time Frame (150%) standards that are defined below. All attempted course credits that apply to a student’s program are considered when calculating SAP. This includes incomplete, withdrawn, repeated, failed, pass/fail, transferred, and developmental course credits. It also includes credits taken while attending the institution part-time and credits for which a student did not receive financial aid unless noted otherwise below.
SAP Standards: All students must meet all three of the standards that are used to measure a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards the completion of an academic program. These standards are the same for both financial aid recipients as well as non-recipients and align to the academic standards of Rasmussen University. The three standards are as follows:
- GPA. GPA is a qualitative measurement. Rasmussen University students are required to achieve and maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00. Graduate students are required to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.00.
- Pace/Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR). CCR is a quantitative measurement. This is the pace at which a student progresses through a program. CCR is calculated by dividing cumulative credits earned by cumulative credits attempted within a program (e.g., 6 credits earned ÷ 12 credits attempted = 50%). Minimum standards are listed in the chart below.
- Maximum Time Frame. Maximum Time Frame is a quantitative measurement. This is the maximum time frame for program completion and is equal to 150% of the number of total credits required for the program (e.g., maximum time frame for a 90-credit program = 90 X 150%, or 135 credits).
- Incomplete grade credits (I) will count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits, and will be included as a Failed grade in the GPA calculation until a final grade is posted. See Incomplete Grade Policy.
- Withdrawals (W/WD/WX/UXD) will count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits, and will not be included in the GPA calculation. See Course Withdrawal and Leave Policies.
- Withdrawals (WL) will not count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits, and will not be included in the GPA calculation. See Leave Policies.
- Cancel (CL) will not count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits, will not be included in the GPA calculation, and will not appear on the student’s transcript.
- Failing (F/FD) grades will count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits, and will be included in the GPA calculation.
- Repeated and unexpired course credits from prior attempts will count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate. The highest grade earned from unexpired repeated courses will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative GPA. If more than one attempt results in the same letter grade, only the most recent one will be used to calculate GPA. See Repeating Courses Policies.
- Pass/Fail (S/SX/U/UX/UD) credits will count toward both total credits attempted and earned (if passed) for the Cumulative Completion Rate, but will not count in the GPA calculation.
- Transfer credits (TR/PT/CW/TO) accepted by the University will count towards both credits attempted and earned in the Cumulative Completion Rate, and will not count in the GPA calculation. In the case of a course-to-course credit transfer, an “F/FA/FD” grade will be replaced by a “TR” and the student’s GPA will be recalculated to reflect the transfer of credit grade. See Transfer of Credit Policies.
- Program Transfer. Only credits counting toward a student’s program of enrollment will be used for the calculation of all SAP standards. See Program Transfer and Course Expiration Policies.
- Developmental Course credits (SX/UX) will count toward both total credits attempted and earned (if passed) for the Cumulative Completion Rate and Maximum Time Frame but will not be included in the GPA calculation. See Developmental Education Policy.
- Audit grades (Audit) will not be utilized in any SAP calculation. See Auditing a Course Policy.
- Withdrawal (PD), a grade used to identify a course withdrawal due to the 2020 Pandemic, will not count toward total credits attempted for the Cumulative Completion Rate, will not be considered earned credits , and will not be included in the GPA calculation.
| Percentage of Credits Attempted Toward Maximum Time Frame | Minimum Successful Completion of Cumulative Credits Attempted |
|---|---|
| Up to 25% | 25% |
| Greater than 25%, up to 50% | 50% |
| Greater than 50% | 67% |
Total credits are indicated for each program listing in the catalog. A student who exceeds 150% of the maximum time frame is no longer eligible for financial aid unless a successful appeal is granted.
Credits and grades considered in determining Satisfactory Academic Progress
All credits earned and attempted remain on the student’s transcript and will be applied to the program if the credits are considered part of the program. At the time of a SAP assessment, all credits attempted that are applicable to the student’s program are considered when determining all three SAP standards. Every time a student is enrolled in a course past the Course Drop Policy deadlines, the credits will count as attempted. For definition of grades see the Grade Scales. In instances where course expiration policies apply, the credits are no longer applicable to that program and they will not be utilized in determining the student’s SAP standing. See Course Expiration policies for core courses in the School of Design, School of Health Sciences, School of Justice Studies, School of Nursing and School of Technology.
Note the Following
Financial Aid Warning: a student’s CGPA falls below 2.00 or 3.0 for graduate students, or if Pace/CCR standards are not met, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the subsequent quarter/term. A student is eligible for financial aid during the Financial Aid Warning period. A student who fails to meet any one of the standards of SAP at the end of the Financial Aid Warning period is not eligible for financial aid, but is allowed to attend one subsequent quarter/term.
Financial Aid Probation: If a student fails to make Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of their Warning period, but submits a Financial Aid Appeal that is approved and has their eligibility for aid reinstated, they will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the subsequent quarter/term. A student is eligible for financial aid during the Financial Aid Probation period. At the end of the Financial Aid Probation period, the student must meet the conditions specified in their academic plan or the minimum SAP requirements to be eligible for further financial aid funding. A student who fails to meet the minimum SAP requirements or the conditions specified in their academic plan at the end of the Financial Aid Probation period is not eligible for financial aid.
Students must regain Satisfactory Academic Progress within two quarter/term or they will be terminated from the University and a “SAP Dismissed” status will be applied. The decision to terminate may be appealed through the Academic Review Committee process.
Financial Aid Appeal: A student may submit an appeal to have their access to financial aid reinstated based on mitigating circumstances that prevented the student from making satisfactory academic progress. Mitigating circumstances may include death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. The appeal must be in writing and describe the mitigating circumstances that prevented the student from making SAP as well as what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow them to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation.
Each student with an approved appeal will be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Each student placed on Financial Aid Probation must have an academic plan in place that, if followed, ensures they will be able to meet satisfactory academic progress by a specific point in time, typically the next evaluation period. The academic plan should include GPA and/or Pace/CCR requirements, depending upon the deficiency. It may also include additional requirements, such as a limit on the number of credits enrolled, consultation with an Advisor, or other items to help define and assist in the student’s progress.
Appeals will not be approved for students who cannot meet all SAP standards by the end of the Financial Aid Probation period unless the academic plan that is developed specifically accounts for the variance. The ruling of the Compliance Director and General Counsel is final and cannot be appealed. A student who chooses not to appeal or has an appeal denied will be allowed to attend for one quarter/term following the one quarter/term of Financial Aid Warning, but will not have access to Financial Aid.
Appeal Process: The appeal is sent via the student’s Advisor, Dean or Dean of Nursing/ Nurse Administrator to the Campus Academic Review Committee, who will determine whether mitigating circumstances exist and make a recommendation regarding the appeal. The Campus Academic Review Committee will forward the appeal request and a recommendation to the Compliance Director and General Counsel who will make the final determination. Appeals will be reviewed and have a determination made within 10 business days of receipt by the Compliance Director and General Counsel. Students will be notified in writing regarding the outcome of the appeal.
Reentering Students: Students who withdraw from the University and later reenter are treated as continuing students for the purpose of determining Satisfactory Academic Progress and must meet progress requirements. Reentry does not negate previous academic status or satisfactory progress requirements. Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations for a reentering student who changes programs will include only the grades and credits attempted and earned for credits that are part of the student’s new program; standard CCR requirements will be followed from the reentry point and for each quarter/term thereafter. If other credits have been taken at another institution and can be transferred in, the credits will be included in SAP calculations as described elsewhere in this section. A student terminated due to SAP may not reenter the University unless they have completed coursework elsewhere that is acceptable for transfer into the University and will bring the student back into good standing. See Reenter Policies for more information.