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Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Summer 2009 Deadline Extended to May 28th

Fall 2009 (August 3, 2009)

• Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

• GPA

• Course Completion

• General Requirements

• Definitions for Grades and Impact on SAP

• Withdrawal or Failure to Complete the Semester

• Probation

• Suspension

• Appeals

• SAP and Financial Aid
   

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

UTB/TSC monitors academic progress every fall and spring semester to identify those students who are experiencing difficulty with their courses. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is based upon two components: 1) GPA; and 2) Course Completion.

All students must:
• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Complete 70% of the credit hours attempted.

If you meet the GPA and Completion (SAP) requirements:
• You will be considered a “student in good standing”
• You may enroll in more than 12 hours per semester
• You may receive financial aid, if eligible

If you fail to meet either requirement:
• You will be placed on probation.
• You will remain on probation until SAP requirements are met.
• You will only be allowed to enroll in 12 hours per semester.
• You may receive financial aid, if eligible.
• Your GPA and completion rate will be calculated on a semester basis.
• You should contact your advisor and/or your faculty mentor. If you do not have an advisor, you should contact the Academic Advising Center.
• You will be required to sign a contract outlining your responsibilities. You will be encouraged to meet with your professors and/or directed to the Learning Enrichment for tutoring.

If you do not meet SAP requirements (2.0 GPA and complete 70% of the hours attempted) for the semester while on probation, you will be suspended.
• You may not enroll in classes for one regular term.  (Regular terms are the Fall and Spring semesters only.)

A student returning from suspension:

• Will be enrolled conditionally
• May enroll in a maximum of 7 credit hours
• Will not be eligible for financial aid
• Must meet with an advisor
• Must participate in other programs designed to help the student succeed.

For additional information on SAP, visit Scorpion Online and Blackboard.

For free scantrons and additional information on SAP, visit the Student Success Center MRCN Annex and the Office of Student Life (Student Union 2.28).
 

Undergraduate students interested in receiving financial aid consideration must maintain good Academic Standing.  Additional information and requirements may apply.  The complete Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and                              Undergraduate Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid policy can be found in the current Undergraduate Catalog.

 

Cumulative GPA	Completion Rate	Maximum Hours (Financial Aid Only)
A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 F = 0.0 Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0	Students must complete at least 70% of all attempted hours (any hours in which the student is enrolled that are indicated on a transcript, including all hours taken at any school beyond the high school level).	Students who wish to receive financial aid consideration may not exceed 150% of the minimum credits required to complete the program of study.

GPA

Students are expected to maintain a level of academic achievement that allows them to meet the grade requirements for graduation (Note: Some Programs of Study may have higher GPA requirements). Students remain in good standing with the university when they maintain a UTB/TSC grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.  Students who fail to maintain the minimum required grade point average of 2.0 in all work attempted at UTB/TSC will be placed on probation or suspension as appropriate.

Course Completion

Students are expected to successfully complete at least 70% of the semester credit hours attempted.  This is calculated by evaluating the ratio of cumulative hours attempted vs. earned.  Attempted hours are those credits for which a student is registered for on the official record date (according to the published Academic Calendar) of each term or session, including mini sessions and summer terms and all accepted transfer credits (even for courses taken during periods when the student was not receiving financial aid, and periods of dual enrollment).  Earned hours are those credits for which a student receives a passing grade (according to Grade Standards published in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Courses with grades of A, B, C, D, P, S, and CR are considered as attempted and earned credit hours. Courses with grades of F, G, U, W, WC, WF, WM, WP, NR, DF, DP, XM and DR are considered as credit hours attempted, but not earned. Incomplete courses (with a grade of I) are considered as attempted hours until a final grade is posted. Students are required to request a re-evaluation after successful completion of an incomplete course. Repeated course hours (with a grade of R) are included as attempted hours, but are excluded from earned hours regardless of course grade. Withdrawn courses are considered attempted credits, but are excluded from earned credits regardless of the reason for withdrawal.

General Requirements

• Students must be in good standing according to the Academic Regulations listed in the University Catalog.

• Students are expected to complete the number of credit hours for which they are enrolled and funded.

• Credit hours are considered complete with the following grades: A, B, C, D, P, S and CR.

• Credit hours are considered not complete with the following grades: AU, DF, DP, DR, F, G, I, NC, NR, U, W, WC, WF, WM, and WP.

• It is each student’s responsibility to drop unwanted courses by the official drop date. Students should not rely on other individuals (i.e., professors) to ensure unwanted classes are dropped.

• Non-baccalaureate (developmental) courses in English and Math are counted as part of the SAP requirement.

• Full-time or part-time status is determined as of the last day of the add/drop period.

• Making up Incompletes after the end of the semester does not automatically change a student’s SAP status.

   Definitions For Grades and Impact on SAP

Withdrawal or Failure to Complete the Semester

Failure to complete a semester of enrollment in all classes, whether through withdrawal or lack of attendance, can have a drastic effect on a student’s credit hour progression and financial aid eligibility. It is important for students to consult academic and financial aid advisors before making a decision to stop attending classes.
 
Withdrawal, whether official or unofficial, carries the following possible consequences:

• Failure to meet SAP requirements and placement on academic probation or suspension.

• Repayment of some or all financial aid received.

• Cancellation of future scheduled financial aid.

To prevent withdrawal or failure to complete the semester, students should consult academic advisors for advice on selecting manageable course loads each semester.

Probation

Any student who fails to meet SAP requirements will be placed on academic probation. The student will remain on academic probation until SAP requirements have been met. If the student meets SAP requirements at the end of the probationary semester, he or she will be removed from academic probation.

While on academic probation, a student may only enroll for 12 credit hours per semester. He or she may still receive financial aid if eligible. GPA and completion rate for the student will be calculated on a semester basis. The student must contact his/her academic advisor or the Academic Advising center to develop a personalized Academic Success Plan Contract which will outline the student's probationary responsibilities.  Students on probation are encouraged to meet with professors and visit the Learning Assistance Center for tutoring.

Suspension

Any student on academic probation who fails to meet SAP requirements for the term will be placed on suspension and will not be eligible to take courses at UTB/TSC.

First Academic Suspension (Suspension 1) – The student will not be eligible to take courses at UTB/TSC for one regular term.

Second and Subsequent Academic Suspensions (Suspension 2) – The student will not be eligible to take courses at UTB/TSC for two regular terms.

Regular terms are the Fall and Spring semesters only.  Students on suspension are not eligible to take courses in the summer sessions.

Suspension and Reinstatement: Upon return from suspension, students will be enrolled conditionally, limited to a maximum of 7 credit hours, required to meet with an advisor to select appropriate courses, and required to participate in specific programs designed to help the student succeed academically.

Appeals

Any student placed on academic suspension has the right to appeal if unusual or extenuating circumstances prevented him or her from meeting SAP requirements. Students requesting an appeal must complete the  UTB/TSC Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. Unusual or extenuating circumstances include medical circumstances and personal circumstances.

The application should include: Unofficial Transcript, Letter, Action Plan ( Financial, Career and Academic), Documents (Academic Success Contract, Academic Success Plan and Career Counseling Action Plan) and Verification of Medical or Personal circumstances.

1. Unofficial Transcript must be from the Registrar's Office (not from Scorpion Online)

2. Letter -Please write an essay that a) explains the reasons for your poor academic performance and b) details your plans to succeed academically in the future.

a) Provide a detailed and concise explanation of those mitigating circumstances that led to your poor academic performance and that are relative to your academic probation and/or suspension.  Be sure to include a semester by semester explanation of the circumstances which led to your current academic status. 

 b) Provide a detailed plan for returning by explaining how you will meet your financial, career and academic goals.  Development of this plan requires that you use the services of the Student Success Center (MRC North Annex, 882-8292) and the Academic Advising Center (Lightner Center, 882-7514).  You will need to reference the Academic Success Contract, Academic Success Plan and Career Counseling Action Plan to develop each part of your plan.  Copies of these documents must also be submitted (see 3. Documents)

1.     Financial -Write an explanation of how you will pay for classes. Consider these possibilities: financial aid, if approved; wages from work; other benefits, such as VA, Social Security, Unemployment, Workmen’s Compensation; family and friends; savings or assets; other.

2.    Career -Write an explanation of how you will reach your long-term career goals. Include how you can develop the skills that are necessary for the jobs you are interested in. You should include how the Career Counseling Action Plan you developed with a counselor has helped you. Areas you should address include work habits, study strategies, and relevant work experience (part-time, internships, volunteer).

3.    Academic -Write an explanation of how you will change your behavior to be more academically successful. You should include how the Academic Success Plan you developed with an advisor has helped you. Areas you should address include time management, study skills, regular attendance, visits with faculty, and visits with advisors. Identify the campus resources and services you will use when you return.

 3. Documents

• Attach a copy of your completed Academic Success Contract and your Academic Success Plan, which you obtained from your advisor at the Academic Advising Center when your first learned of your academic status. Sample

• Attach a copy of your completed Career Counseling Action Plan which you developed with a counselor at the Student Success Center.                            (Sample).

  4. Verification of extenuating circumstances

• Medical Circumstance (Physical and/or Mental)

  • Provide documentation from doctor or hospital indicating dates of absence from school, diagnosis, treatment plan, and a schedule of when you will be ready to return to school.

• Personal Circumstance (affecting you and/or immediate family such as a divorce, death in the family, financial problems, job loss or other hardship)

  •  Provide documentation from counselor, clergy, lawyer, court, bank, employer, etc, to verify the specific circumstance.

Appeals must be submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs in person to Gorgas Hall, D100 or FAX to (956) 882-6522. Appeals will only be reviewed if the form has been filled out completely and all supporting documentation has been attached. Students will be notified of the decision made by the Academic Standing Appeal Review Committee via mail. The decision of the committee is final.

SAP and Financial Aid
 

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