Satisfactory Academic Progress

Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) can easily be the downfall of many students. Lack of satisfactory progress toward a degree can result in the loss of all student aid dollars! The requirement that SAP be monitored is based on federal laws that govern federal student aid. These regulations require that a student make progress in two ways:

1. By meeting and maintaining a minimum grade point average as defined by Doane College
2. By completing a minimum percentage of credit hours each term and academic year.

To comply with these regulations, the academic records of all students are reviewed each semester to determine if a student is maintaining minimum averages based on the number of credits attempted, according to the following chart.

The Student Status Committee reviews the records of all students with a GPA of less than 2.00.

The committee may consider dismissal of any student not making satisfactory progress and in danger of failing to meet any college requirements, and may set specific conditions for retention.

These requirements apply to all students.

In addition, federal aid recipients must meet the following standards to continue receiving aid:

1. A student enrolled in a program of study is considered in "good standing" if viewed as such by the Student Status Committee. This committee will monitor qualitative progress.  Students who receive aid for the first time after July 1, 1987 will also be reviewed at the end of their second year at Doane College (four semesters for traditional students eight terms for adult education programs) regardless of enrollment status. At that time, the student must have academic standing consistent with Doane graduation requirements.
   
   
2. Students may receive Title IV aid for up to 176 attempted credits, or until obtaining a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. A student must receive credit for a minimum of 75 percent of the total number of credits attempted as registered at the end of the add period (census day - check academic calendar for exact date). This is monitored on a cumulative basis each semester. Only credits that are passed (grades A through D, IP and P) will be counted as credits earned. Grades I, IF and/or MP will not be counted as credits earned until they are replaced by a satisfactory letter grade. Notification of this replacement to the Financial Aid Office is the responsibility of the student.  Withdrawals (W) and repeated courses for which credit has previously been earned will not count as credit received. Grades of I, MP, W, IF and F are included in credits attempted.
   
   
3. Transfer students who have never enrolled at Doane College will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they are admitted to a degree program and will be monitored from the point of enrollment at Doane. If a student was not making satisfactory progress at the previous institution, the Director of Financial Aid may review the case and place the student on financial aid probation or suspension at Doane.  Credits accepted by Doane in the transfer will be added to credits attempted at Doane to determine the academic average needed. The percentage of credits passed, over credits attempted, will be calculated only on credits taken at Doane College.  If a student attending Doane College enrolls at another institution and transfers those credits back, those credits ARE NOT used in the calculation of the satisfactory percentage. A student may appeal this policy. All such appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Financial Aid in coordination with the Student Status Committee.
   
   
4. Students returning to Doane under the HELPS program, or students who already have a degree and are seeking an additional degree or teacher certification, will be reviewed individually according to their academic goals for maximum attempted credits. Returning students will retain their prior SAP standing and cumulative percentage. Transfers will be treated as stated above. All other SAP standards will apply.
   
   
5. Satisfactory academic progress standards may be waived for students who first received financial aid on or after July 1, 1987 under the following circumstances:
• Death of a relative.
• Personal injury or illness.
• Special circumstances as determined by the institution.

The Financial Aid Office, in coordination with the Student Status Committee, may request documentation for these situations. The Director of Financial Aid, in coordination with the Student Status Committee, will determine if the student is eligible for consideration for a waiver of Satisfactory Academic Progress under guidelines outlined in the Doane College Policies and Procedures Manual for Student Financial Aid. If the student does not meet the standards outlined above, there may be serious ramifications for continued financial aid eligibility.