/Institutions/Trident-University/json/current/2024-Academic-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Trident-University/json/current/2024-Academic-Catalog.json

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Academic Warning/Financial Aid Warning/Academic Dismissal

In order to maintain good academic standing, and maintain applicable financial aid eligibility, students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress toward completing their degree. This progress is measured by the qualitative and quantitative standards below. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured and evaluated at the end of each evaluation period.

Evaluation Period Definitions:

Each Academic Year consists of two evaluation periods also referred to as financial aid payment periods. The first evaluation period in the Academic Year ends when half of the credits and weeks required for a completed Academic Year have been successfully met. The second evaluation period in the Academic Year ends when the requirements for a completed Academic Year have been successfully met.

Academic Years:

A full academic year is defined as follows.

Undergraduate:

A minimum of 32 weeks of instructional time and 24 successfully earned semester credit hours that apply toward the student’s program of study.

Graduate:

A minimum of 32 weeks of instructional time and 16 successfully earned semester credit hours that apply toward the student’s program of study.

Graduate Programs with 3-unit Courses:

A minimum of 32 weeks of instructional time and 12 successfully earned semester credit hours that apply toward the student’s program of study.

Doctoral:

A minimum of 36 weeks of instructional time and 12 successfully earned semester credit hours that apply toward the student’s program of study.

 

Qualitative Standard:

Students are expected to remain actively engaged in their academic work (see applicable Academic Participation and Substantive Interaction policy) and maintain the following minimum grade point averages:

• Students in the undergraduate programs must complete each undergraduate course with a grade of “D” (1.0) or higher and maintain a cumulative GPA based on the scale below:

  Required Minimum Cumulative Program GPA as outlined below:

  Undergraduate Student Completed Credit Threshold (Transferred Semester Hours + Earned Semester Hours)	Minimum Cumulative Program GPA
  Level 1: 0 – 23 Semester Hours	1.5
  Level 2: ≥ 24 Semester Hours	2.0

• Students in the graduate (Master’s) programs must complete each graduate course with a grade of “B-” (2.666) or higher and maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 (B) or higher for all graduate-level coursework applying toward the degree.
• Students in the Doctoral degree programs must complete each Doctoral course with a grade of “B-” (2.67) or higher and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher for all courses applying toward the degree.

Quantitative Standard:

Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credits and will be placed on Academic/Financial Aid Warning if this requirement is not met. Applied transfer credits and courses with a grade of W assigned are included in this calculation. Non-passing grades, incompletes, and withdrawals will be counted as attempted credits, but will not count as earned credits. When coursework is repeated, the credits for the original and subsequent attempt(s) will be factored into the calculation of credits attempted and credit earned. This includes courses cancelled under the Repeat and Cancel policy.

Masters and Doctoral students are required to meet Quantitative standard as outlined below:

Master’s and Doctoral Student Completed Credit Threshold (Transferred Semester Hours + Earned Semester Hours)	Minimum Credit Completion Rate
Level 1: 0 – 8 Semester Hours	50%
Level 2: ≥ 9 Semester Hours	67%

Academic Warning/Academic Disqualification:

Students who do not meet either the Qualitative and Quantitative standards outlined at the evaluation period will be placed on Academic Warning and will be notified via email by the Office of Registrar. A copy of the notice will become part of the student’s permanent file. The notice will identify the requirements to be met by the student in order to be removed from Academic Warning. Once on Academic Warning, students have until the end of the next evaluation period to meet both the qualitative and quantitative standards. If all other requirements are met (e.g., successful completion of weeks and credits of the payment period), financial aid students may be eligible for aid while on academic warning.

If the qualitative and quantitative standards are not met within the next evaluation period, the student will be disqualified from the university and lose applicable financial aid eligibility. Students may regain financial aid eligibility by meeting the qualitative and quantitative standards. Approval to return from academic disqualification may also be based on factors including (but not limited to) the number of failed grades, the student’s overall academic engagement and performance, the level of academic deficiency, and the student’s probability of achieving satisfactory academic standing within a reasonable time.

Evaluation periods will be closed for students who cease attendance for more than 180 days, regardless of weeks and hours earned. At this time, the student will undergo SAP evaluation. Students already on Academic Warning, may face Academic Disqualification based on this review.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Veteran Affairs Educational Benefits

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to receive Veteran Affairs educational benefits. Undergraduate students who receive 6 consecutive W’s and Graduate and Doctoral students who receive 3 consecutive W’s may not be certified with veteran affair’s benefits and may be subject to academic disqualification as described above. Students who are previously Academically Disqualified and reinstated under Academic Probation will be required to go through the application process with the Department of Veteran Affairs for the resumption of aid after disqualification.

Students who Earn Three Non-Passing Grades Within an Evaluation Period:

Students will be academically disqualified if they earn three non-passing grades within an evaluation period. Please see Evaluation Period Definitions above. Students may appeal to the Registrar’s Office for reinstatement if the non-passing grades are resolved by being granted a Retroactive Withdrawal or if the student improves the grade on an approved Extension. Appeals may not be approved if the student will be unable to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress within the next evaluation period. The decision of the Registrar’s Office on reinstatements is final and may not be appealed further.

Program Changes and SAP

A student’s current evaluation period will end when a student switches programs, regardless of weeks and hours earned. At this time, the student will undergo SAP evaluation. Students already on Academic Warning, may face Academic Disqualification based on this review. For this reason, students should consult with their Student Success Advisor and Student Finance Advisor before submitting a request to switch programs.

When students switch programs within the same degree level, all prior coursework completed at that level will be factored into the CGPA and Credit Completion Rate Calculation for the new program. This includes successfully and unsuccessfully completed courses as well as courses from which the student has withdrawn.

Appeal of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Academic Disqualification

Students that have been Academically Disqualified (ADQ) due to not meeting SAP or for earning 3 non-passing grades in an evaluation period, may appeal the determination. In order to appeal, students must submit an Appeal of Satisfactory Academic Progress Disqualification form. Within this form, students must:

• Explain what type of circumstances contributed to their unsatisfactory performance.
• Include a timeline of events along with supporting documentation that corroborates the incidence of mitigating circumstances.
• Indicate what has changed that will allow them to be academically successful moving forward.
• Include an Academic Success Plan that will be implemented to ensure they meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements in the future.

Once the appeal is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee. The Committee consists of representation from various academic and administrative departments. The Committee meets bi-weekly to review appeals. The decisions rendered by the committee are final and may not be further appealed.

If the appeal is approved, students will return with a status of Academic Probation, and an Academic Success Plan will be documented in their file. Students will be required to continue to meet the terms of this plan until they have met Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements and/or successfully completed their program. The Registrar’s Office will monitor the conditions of the plan each evaluation period. Students meeting the conditions of their plans will be permitted to continue with a status of Probation. Students on Academic Probation are still eligible for financial aid if all other eligibility requirements have been met. Students who have not met SAP or the on-going conditions of their academic plans at the end of an evaluation period will be academically disqualified.

Appeal after academic disqualification from Academic Probation may be considered if mitigating circumstances occurred during the timeframe of the Academic Plan and impacted the student’s ability to meet the requirements of the Academic Success Plan. A full appeal with documentation of the mitigating circumstances will be required.