A student is required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of a degree, certificate, or credential program while attending TCSPP. SAP is measured to ensure that a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion. A student who meets SAP is considered to be in Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing.
A student enrolled in a Dual Degree program will be subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements in all terms/semesters where they are registered and attending TCSPP.
This SAP policy meets federal and accrediting agency regulations governing student eligibility for financial aid. This requirement applies to all students regardless of method of payment or enrollment status. Failure to meet these standards may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility.
SAP is measured qualitatively (grade-based) and quantitatively (time-based). The qualitative measure is cumulative grade point average (CGPA). The quantitative measure is the percentage of attempted credit hours that are successfully completed which is rate of progress (ROP). A student must complete the required credit hours for the program of study within the maximum allowable credit hours attempted (150% of the required credit hours), referred to as the maximum time frame (MTF).
SAP Standards
Qualitative Standards
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
The CGPA, the qualitative standard, includes all undergraduate and graduate level coursework attempted at TCSPP except grades of Audit (AU), Credit (CR), Credit by Exam (CE), Course Waiver (WA), In Progress (IP), Incomplete (I), No Credit (NC), Transfer Credit (TR), Withdrawal (W), and Withdrawal No Credit (WNC), where applicable per the Grading Policies. Only the latter grade is counted in the CGPA for any repeated course.
- An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above.
- A graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above.
Quantitative Standards
Rate of Progress (ROP)
ROP is the minimum percentage of attempted credit hours a student must successfully complete to remain in Academic & Financial Aid Good Standing. A student successfully completes a course and earns the credit hours attempted when the student’s performance merits a passing grade. ROP is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours earned by the number of credit hours attempted.
Rate of Progress = Cumulative number of credit hours successfully completed / Cumulative number of credit hours attempted
Attempted credit hours is defined as all courses attempted at TCSPP and recorded in the student’s record including course repeats, withdrawals, and incompletes. Credits accepted and applied in transfer count as both credit hours attempted and credit hours completed in the ROP calculation. Grades that negatively impact ROP are Fail (F), Incomplete (I), No Credit (NC), Withdrawal (W), Withdrawal Fail (WF), and Withdrawal No Credit (WNC). Repeated courses negatively impact ROP since the original and repeated credit hours are counted as attempted credit hours. Grades included in the ROP calculation appear in the Grading Policies.
All undergraduate, graduate, and certificate students must maintain a minimum of 66.67% ROP for all attempted credit hours.
To access the GPA and ROP calculator, click here.
Maximum Timeframe (MTF)
MTF requires the successful completion of all program requirements within 150% of the published program length as measured in credit hours attempted for the program of study. Credit hours accepted and applied in transfer toward a current enrollment are included as attempted and earned credit hours in determining the MTF. A student’s progress must ensure degree completion within the MTF. The number of credit hours required for degree completion appear in the programs of study descriptions.
- Program length is measured based on required credit hours; therefore, a student may not attempt more than 150% of the number of required credit hours i n the degree program.
- For example, a degree program that requires 60 credit hours for completion may not extend beyond 90 attempted credit hours (60 credit hours X 150% = 90 credit hours). In order for the degree program to be completed within the MTF, the student must complete a minimum of 66.67% of all credit hours attempted (60 credit hours ÷ 90 credit hours = 66.67%).
SAP Evaluation Period
SAP is evaluated at the end of the payment period after all final grades are posted. A payment period is defined as one semester for on-ground students and two consecutive terms for online students. After evaluation, a student who does not meet SAP standards will be notified in writing by the Office of the Registrar. It is important for a student to check the school email frequently to respond to any communication regarding SAP status.
A student who wishes to transfer to a new campus or program must be in Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing. A degree program change may impact the SAP evaluation period. The SAP review will include only TCSPP coursework that is applicable to the new degree program.
Veteran Affairs (VA) benefit recipients are responsible for complying with the SAP requirements established by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for benefit eligibility. When a recipient is placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation, TCSPP will report this status to the VA.
A student must meet SAP in order to be eligible for degree conferral.
Academic and Financial Aid Warning: SAP Not Met
A student who does not meet SAP will be placed in Academic and Financial Aid Warning. A student in this status has two online terms or one on-ground semester to meet SAP. A student is eligible for financial aid while in Academic and Financial Aid Warning.
A student in Academic and Financial Aid Warning must:
- Meet with their faculty advisor and/or Department Chair to discuss academic implications.
- Repeat as soon as possible the course(s) in which a grade of “C” and below for graduate students or “F” for undergraduate students was earned.
At the conclusion of the Academic and Financial Aid Warning period, a student who meets SAP will be returned to Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing. A student who does not meet SAP will lose their financial aid eligibility and must petition to have it reinstated and to remain enrolled on Academic and Financial Aid Probation.
Academic and Financial Aid Probation: SAP Not Met 2
In order to be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation, a student must have their reinstatement appeal approved by their academic department. To appeal, a student must submit a Reinstatement Petition including supporting documentation indicating the circumstances that led to the student’s academic difficulty to the Office of the Registrar immediately following email notification. A student who fails to submit the Reinstatement Petition will be dismissed from TCSPP by the Add/Drop deadline.
Once received, the Reinstatement Petition will be reviewed by the student’s Department Chair or designee within 3 business days. The petition will either be approved or denied by the reviewer. The Office of the Registrar will notify the student of the Department Chair or designee’s decision.
Petition Approval
A student whose Reinstatement Petition is approved will be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation for the following two online terms or one on-ground semester, depending on delivery modality. Should extenuating circumstances that necessitate additional time to meet SAP be required, it is possible to grant a student a maximum of four online terms or two on-ground semesters on Academic and Financial Aid Probation. This exception must be approved by the student’s Department Chair or designee and be outlined in the SAP Development Plan.
If the petition is approved, the student will be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation and will be required to:
- Adhere strictly to requirements set forth in their SAP Development Plan. The academic department may also institute additional Academic Development Plan requirements that the student must meet.
- Meet regularly with their faculty advisor regarding their SAP status.
- Repeat as soon as possible the course(s) in which a grade of “C” and below for graduate students or “F” for undergraduate students was earned.
At the conclusion of the Academic and Financial Aid Probation period, a student who meets SAP will be returned to Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing. A student who does not meet SAP will be dismissed from the institution as detailed in the Academic and Financial Aid Dismissal section below.
Petition Denial
A student whose Reinstatement Petition is denied will be dismissed from TCSPP.
Academic and Financial Aid Dismissal: Dismissal
A student is academically dismissed if the student fails to meet the conditions of the SAP Development Plan or SAP standards at the end of an Academic and Financial Aid Probation period. The dismissal will be noted permanently on the student’s official transcript.
A student who has been awarded financial aid or Veterans’ education benefits for the subsequent term/semester is advised that academic dismissal carries with it the cancellation of any financial aid or benefits. In-school loan deferment status ends as of the dismissal date. Financial aid previously received by a dismissed student may be returned to the lender by the institution depending on the date of dismissal. In such cases, the student may owe the institution for aid returned or outstanding charges.
A student who is re-admitted may be reconsidered for financial aid at that time. However, reinstatement does not necessarily mean that financial aid will be available for that term/semester or any future term/semester. A student who loses financial aid eligibility may be readmitted by improving their academic standing to meet the minimum standards of the SAP policy. Refer to the Re-admission Policy and Financial Aid and Student Account Policies for more information.
Maximum Timeframe Dismissal
A student who exceeds the 150% MTF for a program of study or who cannot mathematically complete the degree program within the MTF will be deemed ineligible for financial aid and dismissed from the institution.
For more information on the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, please contact the Office of the Registrar or visit the Student Handbook.