Satisfactory Academic Progress
FEDERAL SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)
To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completing their degree. Purchase College reviews federal satisfactory academic progress at the end of each fall, spring, and summer semester. Students are notified electronically through their official Purchase College email account when they are not meeting satisfactory academic progress standards.
If students fail to meet satisfactory academic progress standards, they are given one semester of financial aid warning, during which they continue to receive federal financial aid. Failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards after the warning semester will result in the loss of the federal financial aid listed below:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Perkins Loans
- Federal Work-Study Program
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
- Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Once the minimum standards described below are met, a student will again be eligible for federal aid. In certain circumstances, students may appeal their unsatisfactory academic progress by submitting a: Satisfactory Academic Process (SAP) Appeal form
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) FOR FEDERAL AID IS ENFORCED BY THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:
Cumulative Grade Point Average: Students must maintain a GPA at or above 2.0.
Pace: Students must earn 66.7% of the credits they attempt. This is monitored on a cumulative basis. The completion rate is calculated at the end of each semester by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted.
Maximum Time Frame: Students are no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid once they have attempted 150% of the credits required to complete their degree. Example: A 120 undergraduate credit program must be completed by the time a student has attempted 180 credits. Overall credits required to graduate may change based on the program and/or major of the student. Dual degree/major students may be given an extension based on the Office of Enrollment Services’ review and decision.
The chart below is an EXAMPLE of an undergraduate student taking 16 credits per semester who has issues meeting the minimum SAP standards:
| Semester | Completed Credits at start of semester | Attempted Credits at start of semester | Cumulative GPA | Pace ( Completed credits/Attempted Credits) | Student’s SAP status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Good Academic Standing |
|
2nd |
8 |
16 |
2.0 |
50% |
Financial Aid Warning due to Pace |
|
3rd |
18 |
32 |
2.0 |
56% |
Bad Academic Standing- Loss of Financial Aid |
|
4th |
34 |
48 |
2.0 |
71% |
Good Academic Standing |
|
5th |
50 |
64 |
2.0 |
78% |
Good Academic Standing |
|
6th |
66 |
80 |
2.0 |
83% |
Good Academic Standing |
|
7th |
82 |
96 |
1.6 |
85% |
Financial Aid Warning due to GPA |
|
8th |
98 |
112 |
1.9 |
88% |
Bad Academic Standing- Loss of Federal Financial Aid |
|
9th |
114 |
128 |
2.0 |
89% |
Good Academic Standing |
|
10th |
130 |
144 |
2.0 |
90% |
Good Academic Standing |
DEFINITION OF ATTEMPTED CREDITS, EARNED CREDITS AND GPA
- All credits a student is registered for at the end of the add/drop period are considered attempted.
- Transfers credits will be included in attempted hours and hours earned.
- Progress will be reviewed once the temporary grade of I (Incomplete) has been replaced with an official grade.
- Repeated classes will count as credits attempted. The higher grade will be used to calculate the GPA.
- A grade of P counts as attempted credits and earned credits but is not calculated in the GPA.
- Grades of NC (no Credit) or W (Withdrawal) count as attempted credits but not earned and are not calculated in the GPA.
- A grade of WF (withdrawal with a grade of F) counts as credits attempted and will count as an F in the GPA.
- If students change their major, all credits attempted, including those taken towards the prior major will be counted when calculating the cumulative GPA. These credits will also be counted in credits attempted versus credits earned.
Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals
After Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters, students will receive email notification if they do not meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards. The email notification lists the students current standing for each satisfactory academic progress standard, describes the impact this has on their federal financial aid and describes the appeal process if applicable.
Students may be eligible for the appeal process if they have extraordinary circumstances, such as the few described below:
- Unforeseen medical/dental/mental health issues
- Financial difficulties (loss of income, unemployment, etc.)
- Death of spouse, parent, or family member
Students who have extraordinary circumstances can submit an appeal by providing the documentation listed below by the deadline provided in the email notification:
- Complete the Satisfactory Academic Process (SAP) Appeal form with your advisor.
- Provide documentation or proof of your extraordinary circumstances. Provide documentation that supports what is mentioned in your appeal letter (i.e., doctor’s note, medication, etc.)
- Provide letter(s) of support from your advisor or professor(s). An email from their Purchase email account sent directly to SFS at sfs@purchase.edu is also acceptable.
Once all documentation is submitted, the appeal will then be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee, and students will receive a final decision via their Purchase email account. Students who are approved will either be placed on a probationary period or on an academic plan. Placement on a probationary period or academic plan is determined by whether the committee feels it is possible for the student to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards after one semester, or if the student will need multiple semesters to once again meet the minimum satisfactory academic standards.
- Probationary Period: Federal financial aid is reinstated for one semester only, and the student must meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards by the end of that semester.
- Academic Plan: Federal financial aid is reinstated, and the student must follow his or her academic plan successfully. The student’s progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester by the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee to determine if the student is following his or her academic plan successfully and can meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards by graduation. If it is determined that the student is no longer following their academic plan, the student will be notified of the loss of federal financial aid for future semesters.
STATE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Calendar: Semester
Program: Baccalaureate Degree
This sample standard of satisfactory progress generally would be used to determine continuing eligibility for state support of students who have no “special circumstances.” The progress of students with special circumstances, such as those who have transferred from another institution or have used their waiver, must be monitored on an adjusted schedule.
The number of credits in the chart below refers to those courses granting academic credit in which a student earned a passing grade, which can be counted as credits completed toward a degree. It does not include remedial noncredit instruction.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services at (914) 251-7000 or financialservices@purchase.edu.
LEGISLATED STANDARDS REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO BE USED FOR FIRST-TIME BACCALAUREATE DEGREE STUDENTS RECEIVING THEIR FIRST TAP AWARD AT PURCHASE COLLEGE FROM 2010 AND ONWARD:
| Before being certified for this payment: | A student must have accrued at least this many credits: | With at least this GPA: |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 6 | 1.5 |
| 3rd | 15 | 1.8 |
| 4th | 27 | 1.8 |
| 5th | 39 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 51 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 66 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 81 | 2.0 |
| 9th** | 96 | 2.0 |
| 10th** | 111 | 2.0 |
LEGISLATED STANDARDS REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO BE USED FOR FIRST-TIME BACCALAUREATE DEGREE STUDENTS RECEIVING THEIR FIRST TAP AWARD AT PURCHASE COLLEGE BEFORE 2010:
| Before being certified for this payment: | A student must have accrued at least this many credits: | With at least this GPA: |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 | 1.1 |
| 3rd | 9 | 1.2 |
| 4th | 21 | 1.3 |
| 5th | 33 | 2.0 |
| 6th | 45 | 2.0 |
| 7th | 60 | 2.0 |
| 8th | 75 | 2.0 |
| 9th** | 90 | 2.0 |
| 10th** | 105 | 2.0 |
**Only students in five-year programs, approved pursuant to Section 145.2.7 of the regulations, are eligible for more than eight semesters of undergraduate awards (exclusive of Supplemental TAP).
• Pursuit of Program (POP): POP measures the student’s effort to complete coursework. This information is checked prior to TAP certification each semester. Students must receive a passing or failing grade (no W or WF grades) as follows:
- During the first and second semesters, at least 50% of the minimum amount of study (minimum of 6 credits per semester).
- During the third and fourth semesters, at least 75% of the minimum amount of study (a minimum of 9 credits per semester).
- During subsequent semesters a student must receive a passing or failing grade 100% (a minimum of 12 credits per semester).
**Only students in five-year programs, approved pursuant to Section 145.2.7 of the regulations, are eligible for more than eight semesters of undergraduate awards (exclusive of Supplemental TAP).
State Satisfactory Academic Progress Waivers
The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) review for TAP occurs within the first two to three weeks of each semester. A student will receive an email notification of the loss of state aid, including details of the TAP waiver process. A TAP waiver may be completed if a student has an exceptional circumstance, such as the ones listed below:
- Unforeseen medical/dental/mental health issues
- Financial difficulties (loss of income, unemployment, etc)
- Death of spouse, parent, or family member
Students applying for a waiver must complete the TAP waiver form and provide supporting documentation by the established deadline based on the e-ail notification. The waivers will then be reviewed, and students will receive a final decision via their Purchase email account.