Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions of higher learning to establish standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving financial aid. The satisfactory progress policy must include both a qualitative measure (cumulative GPA) and a quantitative measure (maximum time frame). Students must declare a major and be working toward the completion of that major in order to receive financial aid.
Notes: The SAP policy applies to all students regardless of whether he/she has previously received aid. SAP is checked at the end of each semester. Standards for the Title IV students are the same or stricter than non- Title IV students enrolled in the same educational program.
Qualitative:
Students must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0. The GPA is computed by the Office of Registration & Records on a scale of 4.0.
Successful completion of learning support classes requires a C* or better.
Students enrolled in a program of study of more than two academic years must have a GPA of at least a 2.0.
Quantitative:
Students must successfully complete two-thirds (66.66%) of all hours attempted. Example: Cumulative hours attempted (hours at GPTC as well as any hours transferred in as credit) = 25 25 x 66.66% = 16.65 (must round up to next whole number). In this example, you must successfully complete at least 17 hours to be making satisfactory progress. See unsuccessful grades below.
Successful grades include A, A*, B, B*, C, C*, and D. Unsuccessful grades include D*, F, F*, I, IP, W, W*, WF, WF*, WP, and WP* (see Grading System in catalog).
Students must also show a completion rate that will allow the student to complete a program of study in at least 150% of the time it should require (as determined by the college catalog). For example, a student in a program requiring a total of 50 semester credit hours will receive financial aid up to 75 semester credit hours for that program. Transfer credits accepted by GPTC will be counted in the maximum timeframe.
SAP is calculated at the end of each term. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the loss of financial aid including Pell, state grants and scholarships (HOPE/Zell), and private student loans. The SAP policy applies to all students, regardless of whether they have previously received aid.