Federal regulations require Drury University to establish a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy to ensure all students receiving financial aid are making reasonable progress towards completing their degree. Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements established in this policy will be suspended from receiving financial aid. Title IV aid recipients must meet the requirements of both university policies related to academic standing, as well as Title IV requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress. This policy applies to all students, regardless of enrollment level, degree program, or academic pursuit.
Satisfactory academic progress is defined as successfully completing a minimum of 67% of attempted courses in a degree program (quantitative assessment), and achieving a required grade point average (GPA) during a reasonable period of time (qualitative assessment). Academic records of financial aid recipients are reviewed at the end of the spring semester each year in which they are enrolled to determine academic progress.
These standards apply only to a student’s eligibility for federal and/or state financial aid. Refer to the academic policies of Drury University for requirements that apply to all students regardless of whether they are receiving financial aid. Students will receive written notification of the opportunity to appeal, the appeal decision, and subsequent financial aid eligibility via Drury email.
In order to graduate within the maximum timeframe allowed by federal regulations, both undergraduate and graduate students must successfully complete 67% of the cumulative hours they have attempted during that program. Pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted. Only the courses in which a student has earned academic credit will count toward completed hours.
The maximum timeframe for undergraduate students is 150% of their program length. Students are no longer eligible for financial aid once they have attempted more than 150% of the credits required for the degree in which they are currently enrolled. For example, if a bachelor’s degree requires 124 credit hours, the limit for maximum attempted hours eligible for financial aid would be 186. Students who reach the maximum attempted hours eligible for financial aid at any point in the year are subject to financial aid suspension.
The maximum timeframe for graduate students is 45 credit hours. Students who reach the maximum attempted hours eligible for financial aid at any point in the year are subject to financial aid suspension.
Students who have reached the maximum timeframe will be evaluated on a case by case basis through the appeal process. Successful appeals will be monitored in the same manner as other SAP appeals.
Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to meet the qualitative measure of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to meet the qualitative measure of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Students who are placed on academic probation, extended probation, or suspension are not considered to be meeting the qualitative measure of SAP, regardless of GPA.
Transfer courses accepted by Drury University are included when calculating SAP as hours attempted and hours earned.
Academic Forgiveness will not be applicable when reviewing academic progress for financial aid eligibility.
Students under academic suspension are not eligible to receive financial aid and are not eligible to appeal until they have been reinstated to the University. Reinstatement to the University does not guarantee financial aid eligibility or appeal approval.
Failure to meet either qualitative or quantitative requirements of satisfactory academic progress will result in automatic suspension of aid eligibility for Title IV and HEA programs unless the student has successfully appealed.
Academic progress is monitored annually, following the end of the spring semester. Students will be notified via their Drury email address if they are not meeting SAP requirements, and that their eligibility for financial aid is suspended. Every effort will be made to assist students in submitting complete documents, but submission of appeal documents is ultimately the student’s responsibility. Failure to review the Drury email account or read notices sent regarding SAP and financial aid eligibility do not negate the loss of aid eligibility or need for appeal. Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed.
Students who are not meeting SAP requirements may have the opportunity to appeal the loss of financial aid, if the failure to meet SAP requirements is due to an extenuating circumstance. Appeal documents will be available in the student’s MyDrury account. Successful appeals will meaningfully address the extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from meeting SAP requirements and describe changes in the student’s situation that will allow him or her to meet SAP in future semesters.
Students who successfully appeal will remain eligible for aid for the next semester of enrollment and may be placed on probation or an academic improvement plan. At the end of the next semester of enrollment, the student’s academic progress will be reviewed.
If an extenuating circumstance occurs that prevents a student from successfully regaining SAP while on financial aid probation, or from meeting the terms of the established academic improvement plan, the student may appeal once again, and if successful, be placed on a new academic plan.
Students may reestablish eligibility by enrolling in one or more semesters and successfully completing the course(s) without the assistance of financial aid. When a student’s qualitative and quantitative measures meet established requirements, the student will be eligible for financial aid for the next semester in which he or she is enrolled.
