Satisfactory Academic Progress
(SAP) Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the standard by which National University (NU) measures students’ progress toward completion of a degree or certificate program. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress were established to encourage students to successfully complete courses and to progress satisfactorily toward degree completion.
These standards apply to University SAP status, state, and federal financial aid programs, including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Graduate PLUS Loans, and Federal TEACH Grant.
SAP is comprised of three components that cumulatively make up this standard. These components include a student’s grade point average (GPA), course completion rate/rate of progression, and maximum timeframe to completion. If at an evaluation point a student fails to meet one or all of these components, they will be notified of any impacts and appropriate resolutions/courses of action.
However, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to know these requirements, and failure to receive notification does not nullify the SAP status.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be reviewed at the end of each payment period period or, after the equivalent of the credits earned listed in the chart below for our non-term programs. Term programs will be evaluated for SAP at the end of each term.
Class-Based Modality
| Degree Level | Non-Term | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 18 credits | End of Quarter |
| Master’s | 18 credits | End of Quarter |
| Doctoral | 18 credits | End of Quarter |
One to One Modality
| Degree Level | Non-Term | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 12 credits | End of Quarter/Semester |
| Master’s | 9 credits | End of Quarter/Semester |
| Doctoral | 9 credits | End of Quarter/Semester |
At the end of an evaluation period, students will be placed into Good, Warning, Academic Probation, Financial Aid Probation, Dismissal, or Probation Two statuses. When a student hits Academic Probation, they have the right to appeal to be placed into an FA probation status and continue utilizing financial aid until the next evaluation period. The student will also have the opportunity to appeal to be placed into an Probation Two status. When a student reaches Academic Probation, they have the right to appeal to be placed into an FA Probation status and continue utilizing financial aid until the next evaluation period. The student will have the opportunity to appeal to be placed into Financial Aid Probation – Two status.This appeal doesn’t not change their status, it allows the student to move forward and utilize financial aid until the next evaluation period, while working on regaining a good academic standing. Submitted appeals will be reviewed by the SAP Committee for decision.
SAP Criteria
Qualitative Requirement – Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Undergraduates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Class-Based Modality
The University considers the following to the minimum passing grade by degree-level:
| Degree-Level | Grade |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | D |
| Graduate | C |
Grade points are assigned to academic performance grades as indicated and are used to calculate a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for each student:
| All Courses | Undergraduate Courses Only |
|---|---|
| A = 4.0 | C- = 1.7 |
| A- = 3.7 | D+ = 1.3 |
| B+ = 3.3 | D = 1.0 |
| B = 3.0 | |
| B- = 2.7 | |
| C+ = 2.3 | |
| C = 2.0 | |
| F = 0.0 | |
| S = N/A | |
| U = N/A |
NOTE:
- S (Satisfactory) denotes satisfactory progress in a course but does not contribute to the calculation of GPA
- U (Unsatisfactory) denotes unsatisfactory progress in a course but does not contribute to the calculation of GPA
One to One Modality
The University considers the following to be the minimum pass grade by course-level:
| Degree-Level | Grade |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | D |
| Graduate | C |
| Doctoral Sequence (CMP9000 to CMP9599 and DIS9000 to DIS9599) |
S |
| Doctoral Sequence (CMP-9600+, DIS-9901A+) |
B |
Grade points assigned to academic performance grades are indicated and are used to calculate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for each student:
| All Courses | Undergraduate Courses Only |
|---|---|
| A = 4.0 | C- = 1.66 |
| A- = 3.66 | D+ = 1.33 |
| B+ = 3.33 | D = 1.0 |
| B = 3.0 | |
| B- = 2.66 | |
| C+ = 2.33 | |
| C = 2.0 | |
| F = 0.0 | |
| S = N/A | |
| U = N/A |
NOTE:
- S (Satisfactory) denotes satisfactory progress in a course but does not contribute to the calculation of GPA
- U (Unsatisfactory) denotes unsatisfactory progress in a course but does not contribute to the calculation of GPA
Quantitative Requirement – Completion Rate (Pace)
Class-Based Modality
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% (two-thirds) of cumulative units attempted (attempted units are units for which a tuition charge was incurred). Transfer hours accepted by the University toward the student’s degree requirements are included as credits attempted/earned but not in the GPA according to NU Academic Standards Policy.
For course completion/rate of progression determination, successful completion of a course for undergraduates is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, S, and CR. Successful completion of a course for graduate students is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, S, and CR.
One to One Modality
Students must earn a passing grade in two-thirds or no less than 66.66% of the course credit hours attempted toward completion of their program of study. The Course Completion Rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted. All courses count as attempted except for drops and withdrawals for Military Leave of Absence (“WL” grade). Only courses for which the student receives a passing grade count as completed.
SAP Maximum Timeframe
Students must complete their degree program within 150% of the published length of their degree program. The following standards of attempted units are applied to determine when a student has exceeded the maximum time frame for completion of their degree program.
Class-Based Modality
| Degree | Published Length (Qtr Credits) | 150% or Maximum Attempted Units |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 90 | 135 |
| Bachelor’s | 180 | 270 |
| Master’s | 60 | 90 |
| Doctoral | 180 | 270 |
One to One Modality
The SAP Maximum Timeframe to complete a program cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s active program and is measured in credit hours. For example, if an undergraduate program consists of 120 credit hours, the student must successfully complete the program after attempting no more than 180 credit hours.
Maximum Timeframe resets for SAP only if there has been a substantial change in degree program. Refer to the substantial change definition in the Re-entry policy for more information. A SAP Appeal will need to be filed for all program extensions when it has been determined that a student cannot complete their program within the allowed attempted credit limits per their individual program requirements and will need more time to complete their degree program.
| Program Type | Published Length (Semester Credit) | 150% or Maximum Attempted Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 120 | 180 |
| Paralegal Certificate | 28 | 46.6 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 12 | 18 |
| Master’s | 30 | 45 |
| Master’s | 36 | 54 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 18 | 27 |
| Education Specialist (EdS) | 33 | 49.5 |
| Doctoral | 54 | 81 |
| Doctoral | 60 | 90 |
For Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades are calculated as an ‘F’ until the incomplete grade is changed to a passing letter or satisfactory grade.
Multiple Retakes
Repeated courses affect academic progress as follows:
Cumulative Grade Point Average – Only the most recent grade counts in the student’s Cumulative GPA.
Cumulative Completion Rate and Maximum Time Frame – When a course is repeated, each course attempt will be counted as attempted hours.
Remedial Coursework
Remedial courses are treated the same as other courses for satisfactory academic progress purposes.
Transfer Hours
Transfer hours that are accepted toward the student’s academic program count in the overall maximum time frame calculation and in the cumulative completion (pace) calculation. Transfer hours have no effect upon the cumulative Grade Point Average.
Changes of Major/Degree Program
Class-Based Modality
Undergraduate students who change majors or change programs are still held to the 150% maximum time frame rule but only credits applying to the new major or degree program are evaluated. The 150% maximum limit will be measured based on the number of credits required for the new major/program.
One to One Modality
Students are only permitted to make a substantial program or degree change once per degree level in their tenure with the University. If a comparison of the original program and the program the student is entering results in the determination of a substantial change by the Office of the Registrar, SAP will restart. The substantial change definition remains the same for both re-entry and continuing students who wish to change programs. Refer to the substantial change section in the re-entry policy for more details.
Second Bachelor’s Degrees
Students who enroll in a second bachelor’s degree program are still held to the 150% maximum time frame rule. However, only the credit hours from the first degree which apply to the second degree will be counted as attempted hours.
SAP Statuses
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
| Good | Meets all SAP criteria for GPA, course completion/rate of progression, or maximum timeframe for degree completion. |
| Warning | SAP criteria for GPA, course completion/rate of progression, or maximum timeframe for degree completion were not met for the evaluation period. The prior evaluation period had the SAP status of Good. |
| Academic Probation | SAP criteria for GPA, course completion/rate of progression, or maximum timeframe for degree completion were not met for the evaluation period. The prior evaluation period had the SAP status of Warning. |
| Financial Aid Probation | The student submitted an approved SAP appeal to continue utilizing financial aid while having the SAP status of Academic Probation. |
| Dismissal | SAP criteria for GPA, course completion/rate of progression, or maximum timeframe for degree completion were not met for the evaluation period. The prior evaluation period had the SAP status of Academic Probation or Financial Aid Probation. |
| Academic Probation Two | A student is in an Academic Probation Two status only if they were placed on an Academic/Financial Aid Probation and fails to regain Good Standing status before the next evaluation point and has then decided to Appeal for a second probationary evaluation period based on special circumstances. If the student wishes to maintain their financial aid, they will need to submit an Appeal for Financial Aid Probation – Two. See below for directions on the Appeal process. If SAP is met by the next scheduled evaluation period, the student will regain Good Standing status. |
| Financial Aid Probation Two | A student is in Financial Aid Probation – Two status only if they were placed on Academic or Financial Aid Probation and fails to regain Good Standing status before the next evaluation point and has then decided to Appeal for a second time based on special circumstances. If SAP is met by the next scheduled evaluation period, the student will regain Good Standing status and will remain eligible for federal financial aid. |
SAP Appeals
Students who are in a negative SAP status of Academic Probation, Dismissal, and Academic Probation Two will have the opportunity to submit a SAP appeal. The SAP appeal doesn’t change the student’s SAP status or evaluation but may allow the student to continue receiving financial aid or be readmitted into the University. Students who are placed in a negative SAP status will have a document added to their Student Checklist within their student portal labeled SAP Appeal. Students who would like to apply for a
SAP appeal will complete the form and upload documentation to support their extenuating circumstance. The SAP appeal will then be reviewed by the SAP Committee for decision.
Occasionally, a student’s academic progress may be delayed by circumstances beyond their control. A student may appeal:
- For federal financial aid to continue after the student has been placed on Academic Probation, or
- For an extension when it has been determined that a student cannot complete their program within the allowed attempted credit limits per their individual program requirements and will need more time to complete their degree program, or
- To return to the University and their program of study after being Academically Dismissed.
The SAP Appeal Committee is composed of various University leaders who meet on a periodic basis to review student appeals. Committee appeal decisions are made within 15 business days of receipt and are final.
For consideration, students should provide the following:
- An explanation and/or document that they have suffered from extenuating circumstances such as death of a relative, injury, disability, illness or other special circumstances.
- Specific information in the Appeal regarding why they failed to meet SAP;
- An explanation as to what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow them to achieve SAP Good standing by the next evaluation point.
The Class-Based Modality students will receive a message in the Message Center if the Appeal is approved or denied. One to One Modality students will receive a message via email. Students may not submit a second appeal for the same situation without new information documenting any extenuating circumstances not previously disclosed.