Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To be eligible for federal and state financial aid, all students must satisfy Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is required by federal law. SAP measures a student’s completion of coursework toward a degree. JWU evaluates SAP at the end of each semester, including summer, for each student. Students who do not meet all SAP criteria may lose their eligibility to receive federal and state financial aid. Students will be notified of the decision both verbally and in writing.
Maximum Time Frame Criteria
Completion of undergraduate or graduate programs cannot exceed 150 percent of the published length of the program measured in credit hours attempted, as determined by the student’s program requirements.
Pace Measure of Academic Progress Criteria
- Students must complete a specified percentage of all credit hours attempted (see below).
- This percentage includes all credit hours attempted regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.
- This pace measurement is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours that the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of hours that the student has attempted.
- Credits attempted are defined as all classes for which a student receives a grade (D or better), or an F, I, W, WP, WF, NC, GP, S, U, PL, CX, NG, AU, etc.
- All transfer credit hours accepted from another institution toward the student’s educational program at JWU will be counted as both attempted and completed hours.
- The student’s GPA and pace of completion are negatively impacted by course incompletes, withdrawals, failures or repetitions (incompletes, failures and withdrawals count in attempted credits, but not completed).
Grade Point Average Criteria
- All undergraduate and graduate students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA).
- The student’s cumulative GPA for financial aid eligibility must be calculated on all grades received.
- All students, regardless of their enrollment status (e.g., full or part time), must meet the following minimum academic standards to remain eligible for financial aid.
| Program | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Minimum Cumulative Pace | Minimum Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 0–18 | 45% | 1.00 |
| Undergraduate | 18.1–36 | 50% | 1.26 |
| Undergraduate | 36.1–71.9 | 60% | 1.50 |
| Undergraduate | 72 or higher | 67% | 2.00 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 0 or higher | 67% | 2.00 |
| Graduate | 0 or higher | 67% | 2.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Doctorate | 0 or higher | 67% | 3.00 |
| Doctor of Business Administration | 0 or higher | 67% | 3.00 |
| Doctor of Education | 0 or higher | 67% | 3.25 |
Warning Period
Students who fail to meet SAP criteria will be placed on financial aid warning for one academic semester and a hold will be placed on the student's record, which will prevent them from course registration for all future semesters. Students remain eligible for financial aid during the warning semester. If SAP criteria are not satisfied at the end of the warning semester, the student will be ineligible for federal and state financial aid. Students on warning must meet with their assigned academic advisor to clear the hold prior to course registration, and/or to pursue an appeal. Students on warning must submit their appeal and supporting documentation no later than the 11th week of the warning semester. Students that withdraw or fail any credits during their warning semester will be ineligible for an appeal.
Ineligible for Financial Aid Period
Students who fail to meet SAP criteria after the warning period are ineligible for federal and state financial aid (this includes all veteran's benefits). If the student does not have an approved appeal, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid. Students may continue to take courses without federal and state financial aid to re-establish SAP standards; however, a payment plan must be established for the tuition and applicable fees associated with the course(s). Once a student is meeting JWU’s minimum SAP standards, the student may regain federal and state financial aid eligibility. Students who are interested in reestablishing aid eligibility should meet with their assigned academic advisor to determine what they would need to do to meet JWU's minimum SAP standards.
Appeal Process/Probationary Period
If extenuating circumstances impacted successful adherence to SAP criteria, the student may pursue an appeal. The appeal will require the student to indicate why they did not make SAP and what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow the student to demonstrate SAP by the next semester. Circumstances and required documentation are illustrated below. The appeal process begins with the student’s academic advisor. The student should be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of the next semester; however, based on the appeal, if the student requires more than one semester to meet progress standards, the student can be placed on probation and an appropriate academic plan will be created for the student not to exceed two semesters. If this plan allows the student to meet SAP criteria, the advisor will present it to the appeals committee. Appeals must include complete documentation and are reviewed during the warning period; incomplete appeals will be denied. Appeal decisions are final. Students will be notified of the decision both verbally and in writing. This notification will take place after final grades are reviewed for the warning period.
If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on a Financial Aid Probation Period, which is a status assigned by JWU to a student who fails to make SAP and who has successfully appealed and has had eligibility for federal and state financial aid reinstated. To continue receiving federal and state financial aid, the student will need to satisfy both the academic plan as outlined in their appeal and the SAP criteria.
| Circumstance | Required Documentation |
|---|---|
| The student’s own mental or physical illness or injury or condition | Provide documentation (e.g., a physician’s statement, police report or documentation from a third party professional, such as a hospital bill) |
| Death of a family member or significant person in the student’s life | Provide a copy of a death certificate |
| Illness, accident or injury of a significant person in the student’s life | Provide documentation (e.g., a physician’s statement, police report or documentation from a third party professional, such as a hospital bill) related to the individual for whom the student provided care or support |
| The student’s own divorce or separation or the divorce or separation of the student’s parent(s) | Provide an attorney’s letter on a law firm’s letterhead, petition for dissolution or copy of divorce decree |
| Personal problems other than the student’s own mental or physical illness or injury or condition with the student’s spouse, family, roommate or other significant person in the student’s life | Provide a written statement from an attorney, professional advisor or other individual describing the circumstances |
| Natural disaster | Provide a written statement and/or supporting documentation |
| Military deployment | Provide active duty service orders |