Federal regulations require Cleary University (CU) to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for eligible student to receive financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. SAP is a federal student aid (FSA) eligibility requirement and is administered by the university in addition to the academic standards of performance required under the CU academic progress policy. The SAP policy is reviewed annually by the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid. Students are evaluated at the end of every academic term. All students are evaluated on three standards:

1. Grade point average (GPA) requirement.
   • Undergraduate 2.0
   • Graduate 3.0
2. Credit hour completion ratio.
   • Must complete 67% of credit hours attempted.
3. Maximum time frame, 150% rule.
   • Students must complete their degree within a specified amount of time. Students must complete their degree program within 150% of the published length of their program. Example, Bachelor program requires 120 hours student must obtain their degree within 180 attempted hours (120 x 1.5 = 180).

To maintain eligibility under SAP, students must meet all three standards.

Additional Degrees

Students pursuing additional undergraduate degrees are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete (earn) 67 percent of the remaining courses for the additional degree. The maximum time frame will be calculated based on 150 percent of the remaining requirements to complete the additional degree.

Students pursuing additional graduate degrees are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA. Completion of 67 percent of hours attempted and 150 percent maximum time frame of the remaining courses for the additional degree is also required.

Change of Program

All periods of a student’s enrollment are considered when evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), even those in which the student did not receive federal student aid. However, if a student changes majors, any credits earned for courses that do not apply to the new major will be excluded from the SAP evaluation. Only credits that count toward the new major will be considered. Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Updated: September 2024

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits accepted toward the student’s degree program will be included when calculating the SAP credit hour completion ratio (in both completed [earned] and attempted hours) and the 150 percent maximum time frame.

Repeated Courses

Students receiving federal student aid may repeat a course, as allowed under CU Academic Policy. Repeated courses will be included in the credit hour completion ration calculation (in attempted hours) and the 150 percent maximum time frame requirements for SAP. The last grade received is used in calculating GPA.

Incomplete Grades

Students receiving federal student aid may receive incomplete grades, as allowed under CU’s Academic Policy. Incomplete grades will be included in the credit hour completion ratio calculation (in attempted hours) and the 150 percent maximum time frame requirements for SAP.

SAP Evaluation

• SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester (fall, spring, and summer).
• The evaluation includes all periods of the student’s enrollment, including semesters during which the student did not receive financial aid.

SAP Statuses

• Financial Aid Warning: If a student fails to meet any of the SAP standards after a semester, they will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next semester in which they enroll.
• Students on Financial Aid Warning are still eligible to receive financial aid.
• Students will be notified of their Financial Aid Warning status and the steps needed to meet SAP standards by the end of the warning semester.
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• Financial Aid Suspension: If a student fails to meet SAP standards by the end of their warning semester, they will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
• Students on Financial Aid Suspension are not eligible to receive financial aid.
• Students will be notified of their Financial Aid Suspension status and provided with instructions on how to appeal against the suspension.

Financial Aid Probation

• Students on Financial Aid Probation are eligible to receive financial aid for one additional semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Updated: September 2024

• Students must adhere to the terms of their ASP and demonstrate improvement in their academic performance.
• If a student fails to meet SAP standards or does not comply with the ASP during the probationary period, they will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will need to submit a new appeal with different circumstances for non-compliance.
• Students can only appeal once per semester. Appeal decisions are final for the semester and cannot be appealed to a different level; however, students do have the option to appeal again for a future semester.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Documentation for SAP Appeals

Acceptable Documentation:

• Medical condition such as student injury, illness, or mental health diagnosis: Written statement from a health care provider (signed and on official letterhead) OR medical documentation confirming that the student was seen for the medical condition including dates of service.
• Family Emergencies: Written statement from a health care provider (signed on official letterhead), medical documentation confirming that the family member was seen for the medical condition including dates of service, death certificates or obituaries.
• Legal Issues: Court documents, police reports, or statements from legal professionals.
• Military Service: Military orders or deployment documents.
• Personal Issues: Statements from counselors, therapists, police reports or social workers.

Unacceptable Documentation:

• Personal Statements without Supporting Evidence: A written statement from the student without documentation to corroborate the claims.
• Repeat Documentation: Using the same documentation for multiple appeals without new evidence.
• Unverified Documentation: Documentation that cannot be verified or lacks credibility.
• Late Submissions: Documentation submitted after the appeal deadline without prior approval.

SAP Appeals Process

Notification and Appeal Submission:

• Students placed on Financial Aid Suspension will receive an SAP Appeal Form and must submit the appeal within the specified deadline.
• The appeal must include a detailed explanation of the reasons for failing to meet SAP standards, as well as documentation supporting the appeal.
• Students cannot use the same reason for multiple appeals.
• Students who appeal must meet with an academic advisor to develop an Academic Success Plan (ASP) that outlines the steps necessary to meet SAP standards.
• The ASP, along with the appeal form, must be submitted to appeals@cleary.edu.

Academic Success Plan (ASP):

• Students who appeal must meet with an academic advisor to develop an Academic Success Plan (ASP) that outlines the steps necessary to meet SAP standards.
• The ASP, along with the appeal form, must be submitted to appeals@cleary.edu.

Appeals Committee Review:

• The SAP Appeals Committee, consisting of all Financial Aid Staff and a member of the Academic Affairs office, will review appeals on a weekly basis until the SAP appeal deadline.
• The committee will determine whether to approve or deny the appeal based on the information provided.

Notification of Decision:

• Students will be notified of the committee’s decision and any applicable restrictions if the appeal is approved.
• If approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the subsequent semester.
• If the appeal is not approved, students are notified via their Cleary email and may consider other forms of funding such as: Private scholarships from providers external to the University, pay out-of-pocket, utilize our monthly payment plan to break institutional charges up into smaller payments and pursuing loans from private lenders by searching for loans which do not require satisfactory academic progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Updated: September 2024