Financial Aid Academic Progress Standards

Southwestern Adventist University's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy specifies the standards a student must maintain to be considered making progress in his/her course of study. The policy also establishes the criteria by which a student who has failed to maintain satisfactory progress may reestablish his/her eligibility for federal/state financial assistance.

Qualitative and Quantitative Components

Southwestern's satisfactory progress policy for undergraduate students contains a qualitative component which requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the end of each semester for undergraduate work. The quantitative satisfactory progress policy requires completion of a specified percentage of the coursework attempted as well as a maximum number of credits that may be attempted for the completion of a degree.

Attempted Hours		Completion Percentage Required
at 23		50%
at 55		58%
at 89		67%
90 +		67%

Each credit hour completed has a percentage minimum completion rate, beginning at 50% and ending at a minimum of 67% for cumulative credits of 90 or greater.

Maximum Attempted Hours
Baccalaureate Degree	192 (128 hour degree) 180 (120 hour degree)
Associate Degree	96
Master's Degree	54 (MEd) 72 (MA)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Process

Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each fall, spring, and summer term. When a student fails to meet the GPA and/or completion percentage standards they will be given a warning semester during which they are asked to complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress Agreement wherein they meet with their advisor three times over the semester. If the student is not making satisfactory academic progress at the end of the warning semester, the student will become ineligible for federal or state aid. To receive financial aid at this stage, the student must submit an appeal based on extenuating circumstances documenting the reason the student failed to make SAP. The appeal and documentation will be reviewed by the Student Finance Committee for approval. A student who does not meet the prescribed academic plan in subsequent semesters, will be ineligible for further federal and state aid and may not receive federal student aid until SAP standards are met. Students who exceed the number of years for completion of a degree must complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to be reviewed by the Student Finance Committee. A hold is placed on the student's federal and state aid until the SAP agreement has been signed, or an appeal has been approved. Appeals may be made for the following reasons: 1) The student has experienced illness; 2) The death of a relative; 3) The student has a degree plan change; 4) The student, out of financial necessity, carried an extremely heavy workload over an extended period of time; 5) Upon recommendation of the Vice President for Academic Administration; 6) At the discretion of the Assistant Financial Vice President for Student Finance.

Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) Requirements

Additional requirements apply to recipients of the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG). At the end of an academic year in which the student receives a renewal award, the student must have completed 24 credit hours of coursework during the renewal year, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater, with a 75% completion rate. These students may receive TEG for no more than five years for a 4-year degree program and three years for an associate degree program from the date of the first award. A student may appeal to receive a renewal TEG if they did not meet the requirements and there were circumstances that prevented them from attaining the required hours or GPA. In the event of hardship or other good cause, the Student Finance Committee may allow an otherwise eligible person to receive a TEG while enrolled less than three-quarter time or if the student's grade point average or number of hours completed falls below the satisfactory academic progress requirements.