Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

Financial aid eligibility is based on satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards that St Catherine University's Office of Financial Aid is required by the U. S. Department of Education to establish, publish, and apply. The Financial Aid Office measures academic performance and enforces SAP standards to ensure that financial aid recipients progress toward completion of their degree or certificate program. Students who fail to meet these standards become ineligible to receive financial aid until compliant with all of the requirements detailed in this policy.

To demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student’s academic performance must meet two main SAP components. The first is a qualitative component, represented by grade point average (GPA). The second is a quantitative component measured by credit completion (the ratio between attempted and completed credits) and the maximum timeframe to complete the degree or certificate program.

Section 1. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Grade Point Average - All undergraduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA that is equal to or greater than the graduation standards published by their program.

Credit Completion – Students must complete 67% of all credits attempted. A completed credit has a grade of A, B, C, D, or S. Withdrawals, incomplete courses, and repeated courses are included in attempted credits.

Maximum Time Frame – All students are expected to finish their degree or certificate within an acceptable period of time. Financial aid recipients may continue to receive aid through their cumulative attempted credit that equals 150% of the required number of credits needed to complete their program, including transfer credits from another college that apply to the St Catherine University program. Students who require developmental coursework may appeal to have the 150% limit extended.

Section 2. Definitions/Conditions

Credit – A credit is the unit by which academic work is measured.

Attempted credit – An attempted credit includes all credits for which you are registered at the beginning of each term.

Cumulative credits – Cumulative credits represent the total number of credits evaluated (attempted and earned) for all periods of enrollment at St Catherine University, including summer and J-terms or terms for which the student did not receive aid.

Earned credits – Earned credits are those that are successfully completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, P, and S. Grades of I, W, U, F, X, or drops are not counted as earned credits. Audit credits are not counted as attempted or earned credits.

Grade Point Average (GPA) – The GPA is calculated using a grade point value outlined in the catalog for grades A, B, C, D, and F and all plus or minus variations. Although a grade of P or S will count as credit earned, it carries no grade point value.

Incomplete Courses – An “I” is assigned as a temporary grade for pending course completion, and counts against the completion rate.

Repeat Credits – Repeats may be allowed in order to improve a grade or meet program requirements, and they are included in calculations for the SAP grade point average, credit completion, and maximum time frame standards. The most recent grade will become the grade calculated for GPA.

Developmental Credits – Remedial coursework may be included with registered credits, and will count toward the credit completion and maximum time frame standards.

Transfer Credits – Grades associated with transfer credits are included in the cumulative GPA calculation, and count toward calculation of the cumulative completion percentage. Transfer credits accepted by St Catherine University that are applicable to the current degree program apply toward the maximum time frame calculation for that program.

Second Major - Students returning after receipt of a first degree in a program in order to complete the requirements for a second major in the program will have their maximum time frame extended to provide for the additional course requirements of the new major.

Change of Major, and Dual Degree – Many students receive multiple awards from St Catherine University. Only attempted credits eligible for application toward the student’s current certificate or degree program will count toward the maximum time frame of that certificate or degree. Attempted and earned credits under all majors will be included in the calculation of GPA and credit completion. Students who change majors or seek a dual degree may appeal for an extension of the maximum time frame provision of this policy. Appeals will be evaluated on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Post Secondary Education Options (PSEO) – Credits earned while a PSEO student at St Catherine University will be included in the cumulative credit completion standard, GPA, and maximum time frame calculation. PSEO credits earned at another postsecondary institution will be treated as transfer credits.

Consortium/Joint Program Credits – Credits accepted by St Catherine University are included with attempted and earned credit totals.

Section 3. Implementation

The academic progress for every financial aid applicant will be monitored annually each spring or at the mid-point of the program, whichever is less. All of a student’s academic coursework is considered in the review process, whether the student received aid that term or not. The assessment will be based on the student’s entire academic record, including all transfer credit hours accepted.

Probation
If the student does not meet either the GPA or Credit Completion standard, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next registered term. While on probation, students are eligible to receive financial aid. Students on probation are encouraged to use the many academic support services on campus to improve their academic standing.

To be removed from financial aid probation, the student must meet the cumulative 2.0 GPA and 67% credit completion standards. If a student does not achieve the minimum cumulative standards, s/he may remain on financial aid probation and eligible for financial aid if s/he earns a minimum 2.0 GPA and completes 100% of the attempted credits during the probationary term.

A student who has reached the maximum time frame prior to completing the program will be suspended from financial aid. There is no probation for the maximum time frame requirement.

Financial aid suspension
Students who do not meet the minimum cumulative GPA and/or credit completion ratio or do not meet the terms of financial aid probation will be placed on financial aid suspension. While on suspension, students are not eligible for most financial aid programs. (Exceptions include private loan programs such as CitiAssist, US Bank No Fee Educational Loan, GAP Education Loan, Wells Fargo Collegiate Loan, and outside assistance that does not require SAP.)

Provided the student is allowed to register by the academic department, s/he may attend St Catherine University at his or her own expense until the minimum cumulative GPA and credit completion requirement has been met.

St Catherine University may immediately suspend a student from financial aid in the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as a student who registers for but does not earn any credits for two consecutive terms, or a student who demonstrates an attendance pattern that abuses the receipt of financial aid.

Students who failed to meet these standards due to unusual circumstances may appeal the financial aid SAP suspension status.

Academic suspension
Students who have been suspended by St Catherine University are no longer eligible for financial aid. If a student is readmitted, s/he must complete the SAP appeal process. Eligibility for financial aid will be determined based on financial aid SAP standards through a review of the academic record.

Section 4. Right to Appeal

A student who is unable to achieve satisfactory academic progress and is suspended from enrollment and/or financial aid has the right to appeal based on unusual or extenuating circumstances, such as medical or personal problems. The student may appeal the financial aid suspension status at any time during the year if:
  • The record shows that the student has now earned the required cumulative minimum GPA and credit completion ratio to meet SAP standards.
  • The student is readmitted after suspension by St Catherine University.
  • Unusual circumstances interfered with the student’s ability to meet SAP standards, including but not limited to:
    - illness, accident, or injury experienced by the student or a significant person in the student’s life.
    - death of a family member or significant person in the student’s life.
    - divorce experienced by the student or parent.
    - reinstatement after an academic dismissal or extended break in the student’s enrollment.
    - personal problems or issues with spouse, family, roommate, or other significant person.
    - exceeding time frame while in a second undergraduate or dual degree program or as a result of changing major.

To appeal, students must submit to the Financial Aid Office the following:

  1. A statement from the student explaining the nature of the extenuating circumstances that contributed to the SAP deficiency.
  2. An explanation of how the barriers to academic success have been removed.
  3. Third party documentation to support the circumstances.