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Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Undergraduate Studies

In accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE), Waynesburg University has established the following Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy which will determine whether an otherwise eligible student is making satisfactory academic progress in his/her educational program and thus is eligible to receive financial assistance under Federal Title IV, HEA and institutional aid programs. The University’s Registrar's Office will conduct this review at the end of each payment period (semester). All students will be reviewed and evaluated at this time. The University’s SAP Policy applies to all continuing undergraduate degree seeking Waynesburg University students. The effective date for the Waynesburg University SAP Policy was July 1, 2011 (amended June 2017; revised April 2022).

Please note that, although Waynesburg University will utilize this policy to determine eligibility for all institutional funding, including merit and need based University scholarships and grants, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and the Pennsylvania State Grant Agency use their own SAP standard to determine eligibility for its state grant program. For information regarding this, go to www.aessuccess.org.

Policy Requirements

The Waynesburg University Registrar's Office evaluates the SAP of all students at the end of each payment period (semester). At this evaluation, the following measurements of a student’s academic progress will be reviewed and determined:

  • Grade Point Average (GPA) – A student must achieve a minimum, cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of each payment period as set forth in the chart below. Transfer credits will not be considered in the calculation of a student’s cumulative GPA.
  • Program Length/Attempted Credits – Waynesburg University credits attempted cannot exceed one hundred-fifty percent (150%) of the credits required and defined by the University’s published length of the specific program (e.g., all undergraduate degree programs requiring 124.0 credits will have a maximum time frame of 186.0 attempted credits). All courses with a grade designated as “I,” “W,” “WF,” “WP,” “NG,” or “Pass/Fail” will be counted as credits attempted. Credits on all repeated courses will be counted as credits attempted. Transfer credits from another institution that are accepted toward the fulfillment of requirements of a Waynesburg University degree will be counted as both credits attempted and credits completed.
  • Pace of Completion – In order to ensure completion within the maximum time frame that a student is required to complete his or her educational objective at the University, the student must maintain a specific pace of completion. The pace of completion is calculated by dividing cumulative credits completed by cumulative credits attempted (credits completed/credits attempted). To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student must maintain the cumulative pace of completion set forth in the chart below. The cumulative pace of completion will be measured at the end of each payment period. All courses with a grade designated as “I,” “W,” “WP,” “WF,” “NG” or “Pass/Fail” will be counted as credits attempted in determining the student’s pace. Credits on all repeated courses will be counted as credits attempted. Transfer credits from another institution that are accepted toward the fulfillment of requirements of a Waynesburg University degree will be counted as both credits attempted and credits completed.

Waynesburg University Credit Hours Attempted/Enrolled

Cumulative GPA (grade point average) Requirement

Pace of Completion

1 - 18

1.30

35%

19 - 35

1.65

45%

36 - 52

1.85

50%

53 - 69

2.00

55%

70 - 86

2.00

60%

87 - 103

2.00

65%

104 - 120

2.00

70%

121 - 137

2.00

70%

138 - 154

2.00

70%

155 - 186

2.00

70%

Students who meet the GPA, maximum program length, and pace of completion requirements will be considered to be in compliance with the University’s SAP Policy and thus will maintain Title IV and institutional aid eligibility.

Students who fail to meet the University’s SAP standards at the end of a payment period will be placed on “Financial Aid Warning.” The student will be notified in writing of this status from the Registrar's Office and will continue to be eligible for Title IV and institutional financial aid for one subsequent payment period. At the end of this payment period, if the student has not met the University’s SAP standards, he/she will be notified in writing why he/she has failed to meet the University’s Policy and the consequences resulting from this failure (e.g., loss of Title IV and institutional aid eligibility, academic suspension, etc.).

Appeal Process

A student who has failed to meet the University’s SAP standards has the right to appeal his/her SAP failure. To do so, the student must state in writing the basis of his/her appeal (e.g., death of a relative, injury, illness or other extraordinary circumstances that prevented the student from attending classes and successfully completing the coursework), include documentation that supports the basis of his/her appeal, and explain what has or will change that will enable him/her to meet the SAP standards at the next evaluation. This appeal letter must be addressed to the Academic Standards and Procedures Committee c/o Registrar's Office, Waynesburg University, 51 West College Street, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 15370.

The Academic Standards and Procedures Committee will respond in one of the following ways:

  • Appeal approval – If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on “Financial Aid Probation” and will be eligible for Title IV and institutional aid for one subsequent payment period. The Academic Standards and Procedures Committee may impose terms and conditions on the student (e.g., taking a reduced course load, mandatory enrollment in specific courses or meeting the requirements of an Academic Plan, etc.). The student is required to submit an approved Remediation Agreement to the Registrar's Office, who will notify the Financial Aid Office accordingly.
  • Appeal denial – If the appeal is denied, the student will be notified in writing as to the reason (e.g., not able to meet the GPA, program length and/or pace of progression requirements in one term, failure to comply with a previous Academic Plan, etc.) and Title IV and institutional aid eligibility will not be reinstated until the SAP standards are met by the student.
  • Incomplete appeal – If the student’s appeal letter does not meet the University’s requirements, it may be returned to the student for further information and/or documentation. Until this is resolved, the student will remain ineligible for Title IV and institutional aid.

A student who is experiencing extreme circumstances may appeal his or her SAP failure more than one time at the discretion of the Academic Standards and Procedures Committee. However, if a student who has appealed on the basis of one circumstance wants to appeal again on the basis of the same circumstance, the student must provide information about what has changed or will change that will enable the student to meet the SAP standards at the next evaluation.

Specific questions regarding SAP and the University’s SAP Policy should be directed to the Registrar's Office at 724-852-7619. Questions regarding the financial aid implications or options should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 724-852-3208.

Other Considerations

Repeated Courses

If a student repeats a course, both attempts will count as cumulative credit hours attempted in determining the student’s program length and pace of completion. If a student repeats a course that he or she passed, but did not achieve a minimum course grade required by a specific program, both attempts will count as cumulative credit hours attempted and cumulative credit hours completed in determining the student’s program length and pace of completion. For the purpose of Title IV and institutional aid eligibility, a student is permitted to repeat each previously passed course once during his or her academic career at the University. The highest grade obtained will be used to determine the cumulative grade point average.

Incomplete Grades and NG Grades

Incomplete grades (“I”) and courses assigned a grade of “NG,” will count as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion. They will not be included in calculating the cumulative grade point average until a letter grade is assigned. Incomplete grades must be completed in the first six weeks of the semester following the one in which the work reported incomplete is taken or the incomplete grade is changed to an “F.”

Grade Change

The student is responsible for informing the Registrar’s Office of a grade change and requesting an immediate reevaluation of progress.

Medical Incomplete Grade

Students receiving a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) will receive an “MI” (Medical Incomplete) grade for all credit-bearing courses for the semester the MLOA is approved. A grade of MI will not count as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion.

Medical Withdrawal Grade

A grade of MW will not count as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion.

Withdrawn Courses

Courses with a grade designated as W, WP, and WF will be counted as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion. They will not be counted as credit hours completed, and only a grade of WF will be included in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Transfer Credit

Courses taken at another accredited institution and accepted by the Registrar for credit toward the educational or degree program of a student will count as credit hours attempted and credit hours completed in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion when they are officially recorded on the Waynesburg University transcript. They will not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Course Audits

Audited courses will not be counted as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion, and they will not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Pass/Fail Courses

If a student elects to take a course graded on a Pass/Fail basis, the course will be counted as credit hours attempted in determining the student’s program length and pace of completion. A passing grade will be counted as credit hours completed, but will not be used in grade point average calculations. A failing grade will not be counted as credit hours completed, but will be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Summer School Coursework

Summer school classes will be counted as credit hours attempted in determining a student’s program length and pace of completion and, if taken at Waynesburg University, will be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. Summer school courses may be used to support an appeal.

Part-time Enrollment

The program length, pace of completion and cumulative grade point average requirements described under the Policy Requirements section apply to students enrolled on a part-time basis.

Readmission

The progress of students who are readmitted to Waynesburg University after a period of non-enrollment will be evaluated upon readmission using the program length, pace of completion and cumulative grade point average requirements described under the Policy Requirements section, taking into consideration all past and present coursework. With regard to the five year (ten semesters) maximum time frame, periods of non-enrollment will not be considered.

Adjusted Resident Credit

If a student elects Adjusted Resident Credit status, progress will be evaluated using the program length and pace of completion requirements described under the Policy Requirements section, taking into consideration all past and present coursework. However, with the exception of courses where the student has earned a “C” or higher, the cumulative grade point average will be calculated using only courses taken subsequent to reinstatement.

Graduate and Professional Studies

See Graduate and Professional Studies SAP Policy.