Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Revised April 2011

A student is expected to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of course requirements.  Progress toward the course requirements is measured both qualitatively and quantitatively.  SAP will be checked at the beginning of each new academic term (fall, spring, and summer semester). Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy available in PDF format.

Qualitative Standard
Each financial aid recipient is expected to maintain the same minimum grade point average (GPA) as any other student enrolled at Waycross College.  GPA must be cumulative and includes all transfer work accepted by Waycross College.  A student is considered to be in good standing if his/her GPA falls within the acceptable range for the number of hours attempted (see chart below).  The GPA is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours attempted by the number grade points earned on the attempted hours.

Semester Hours Transferred into
and Attempted at Waycross College
Minimum Grade Point Average
(GPA) Required
0-9
No Minimum
10-15
1.7
16-30
1.8
31 -45
1.9
46 or more
2.0

 

Quantitative Standard
In addition to maintaining the required GPA, a student receiving financial aid must show that he/she is making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in fulfilling degree requirements.  To remain eligible for financial aid benefits, a student must successfully complete two-thirds (67%) of the hours for which he/she enrolls.  A student who fails to meet this requirement will have his/her financial aid suspended.  A student will regain eligibility when he/she is again meeting SAP standards.  Successful completion is defined as a grade of D or better, except in those courses where a D must be repeated (ENG 1101 and 1102).  Grades of I, IP, F, WF, and W are considered unsatisfactory.  Up to thirty (30) hours of noncredit remedial coursework may be excluded from satisfactory academic progress determination.

How to Calculate Your SAP

Financial Aid Appeals Process

(Revised August 2011)

Once a student has been notified by the Financial Aid Office that he/she has been placed on financial aid suspension and if the student chooses to appeal that decision, he/she must complete the Financial Aid Appeals form and submit to the Financial Aid Office.  This form must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at least 2 weeks prior the beginning of the semester in which the student is trying to enroll.  The financial aid appeal form is located on-line at:  http://www.waycross.edu/CompServ/Forms/FinAidAppealForm1a.pdf
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal of students who have been placed on financial aid suspension and determine:

  1. If the extenuating circumstances stated in the appeal are valid and have been proven. Extenuating circumstances include the following conditions during the period of enrollment in which satisfactory academic progress was not achieved:
    1. A serious injury or illness
    2. The death of an immediate family member
    3. An undue hardship as a result of special circumstances
  2. If it is possible for the student to mathematically meet the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy by the end of the next semester in which he/she is enrolled. 

Steps in the Appeal Process

  1. If at the end of any semester of enrollment, a student is not meeting the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), the Financial Aid Office will send the student a warning letter stating that the student’s financial aid benefits are in jeopardy of being suspended unless the student makes SAP during the next semester of enrollment. 
  2. If a student does not meet SAP during the semester of financial aid warning, the student’s financial aid benefits will be automatically suspended.
  3. The student can submit an appeal at this point to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee explaining the reasons (s) for his/her failure to achieve SAP and request that his/her financial aid benefits be reinstated.
  4. In order for the appeal to be reviewed, the Financial Aid Appeals Committee has to determine if:
    1. It is possible for the student to mathematically (Qualitatively & Quantitatively) meet the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy by the end of the next semester in which he/she is enrolled
          AND

      2. If the circumstances listed on the appeal form are indeed extenuating and have been proven with proper documentation

  5. If the appeal is denied, the student will not be allowed to receive financial aid benefits until SAP is achieved. 
  6. If the appeal is approved, the student will remain on financial aid probation until the end of the next semester when SAP is checked again.  If the student does not achieve SAP by the end of the next semester after the appeal was granted, his/her financial aid benefits will be suspended until SAP can be achieved.
  7. Once the student achieves SAP, he/she is responsible for contacting the Financial Aid Office to request that financial aid benefits be restored.
  8. A student is only allowed to file two (2) financial aid appeals.  If after using the second appeal, a student again fails to meet the standards of SAP, he/she will NOT be allowed to file a third appeal.  The student will only be eligible for financial aid benefits again once he/she again meets the standards of SAP.

Learning Support

You may receive financial aid for up to 30 hours of learning support coursework.

Failure to Exit Learning Support: If you fail to satisfactorily complete all Learning Support requirements, all financial aid (including HOPE and student loans) will be cancelled.
Reinstatement: When Learning Support requirements are completed, financial aid will be reinstated.

HOPE Scholarship

Hope eligibility is reviewed every 30 attempted hours and at the completion of each Spring semester. In addition, all Freshman that enroll full-time during any of their first three terms beginning with Summer semester 2004 will be checked. A student must have a 3.0 G.P.A. at each checkpoint.

If a 3.0 G.P.A. is achieved at each 30-hour checkpoint, student may receive HOPE until 127 hours have been attempted.

HOPE students also must meet all of the general requirements stated above (except time limits) to receive funds from HOPE.

Failure to maintain 3.0: Lose HOPE eligibility

If HOPE eligibility is lost at a check point, student may regain at 30, 60, or 90 hours if 3.0 G.P.A. is achieved.

Additional Considerations

Courses taken on an audit basis do not count when determining eligibility for aid, nor are they considered as courses completed for purposes of the quantitative measure.