Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) - Undergraduates
Students who receive financial aid from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at WSSU need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible for receiving aid in future semesters.
To qualify for financial aid while enrolled at WSSU, students are assessed on the three standards detailed below: qualitative (grade point average), quantitative (pace) and timeframe. These standards are applied uniformly to all WSSU financial aid applicants. All hours (including transfer hours) are included in the SAPFA calculation. Students may receive financial aid for remedial courses for one year. A student who meets the standards is eligible to be considered for financial aid. A student who does not meet these standards is not eligible to receive financial aid.
Helpful Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Resources
The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00.
The quantitative standard (pace) is the number of overall credits earned in relation to those attempted.
All students must complete at least 67 percent of all courses attempted at any college attended. The completion ratio is measured by dividing total hours earned by total hours attempted.
Grades of F, W, WF, I, or U do not count as passing grades. Grades of IP are not considered passing for undergraduate students as it is assigned only for thesis or project research or similar courses to indicate that a grade is pending until the sequence of courses is completed. Repeated courses do not count toward the overall earned credit hours if no credit toward graduation is awarded the semester the course is repeated.
The timeframe standard refers to the maximum time frame allowed to complete the academic program. A student is eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum number of overall attempted hours. Completion of a degree must be accomplished within a maximum timeframe. Students can receive financial aid for up to 150% of the credit hours required for degree completion. All credit hours attempted (including transfer credits) are counted.
Most undergraduate programs require 120 credits to earn a degree. Students can receive aid for up to 180 credits.
Student Status/Type and Provisions Related to the Standards
First Baccalaureate Degree: As the majority of undergraduate academic programs require 120 earned credits to complete, the maximum timeframe provided to a student pursuing their first bachelor’s degree is 180 attempted credits. Exceptions are made for programs requiring more than 120 credits to complete. If it is determined that a student cannot earn a degree within the maximum timeframe, financial aid is suspended.
Second (or beyond) Baccalaureate Degree: As the average of post baccalaureate undergraduate programs require the student to earn 30 additional credits to complete, the maximum timeframe provided to a student pursuing an additional post baccalaureate undergraduate degree is 45 attempted credits. Exceptions may be made for cases where the revised maximum timeframe has been extended as a result of the SAPFA appeal process.
Certificate Programs: Students enrolled in eligible certificate programs may receive financial aid only for those courses that are required to complete the certificate program.
Study Abroad: Students who participate in study abroad will be evaluated for SAPFA at the end of the term for which they were enrolled in the program. Each academic year study abroad students must earn a minimum of 67% of the credit hours registered for (locked hours) at the end of schedule adjustment and meet the GPA requirement.
The standards are reviewed and assessed based on the student’s official academic record, which is maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Students who have failed to meet one or more of the SAPFA standards are not eligible for financial aid. Financial aid eligibility may be regained if:
- The student raises their cumulative GPA to the required minimum at WSSU (please see the section above entitled, “Minimum GPA”);
- The student’s credit hour completion rate has been increased to 67% or greater; Or
- A SAPFA appeal has been approved by committee.
