Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic progress is monitored by the Registrar's Office, to ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree. In addition, students on federal financial aid are monitored by the Financial Aid Office to ensure they are meeting additional standards set forth by federal regulations (Section 668.34).

Type & Frequency of Measurement

Augustana University measures Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of each term (i.e. fall, spring, and summer) for degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal aid. If a student becomes degree-seeking, SAP benchmarks will be evaluated at the end of their first term as degree-seeking. However, any/all previous coursework being recognized within their program of study is used in the qualitative and quantitative measurements.

For financial aid purposes, Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured both by grade point average (qualitatively) and by pace of progression (quantitatively). For students who repeat a course, the higher grade earned is used in the GPA calculation. Any transferred coursework will be reflected in the student's cumulative GPA.

	Required GPA for Degree	Completion Percentage of Courses Attempted (Pace)	Required Credits to Complete Program	Maximum Timeframe for Completion
All Undergraduate Majors	1.5 (0-27.99 credits) 1.75 (28-57.99 credits) 2.0 (58+ credits)	67%	124	186
Accounting (MPA)	3.0	67%	30	45
AdltGero AcutCre NP	3.0	67%	46	69
AdltGero ClinNrs Spec	3.0	67%	46	69
Athletic Training (MS)	3.0	67%	54	81
Augie Access	2.0	67%	72	108
Business Admin (MBA)	3.0	67%	39	58.5
Education (M.Ed.)	3.0	67%	30	45
Genetic Counseling	3.0	67%	62	93
Nursing (Accelerated)	3.0	67%	47	70.5
Physical Therapy	3.0	67%	113	170
Special Education (M)	3.0	67%	30	45
Sports Admin & Leader (MA)	3.0	67%	33	49.5

The pace requirement for both undergraduate and graduate students is 67%. This means the student must complete at least 67% of the coursework attempted. Transfer hours accepted by the University are included in this calculation, both in the completed and the attempted hours. Grades of A+ through D- and S or VS are considered successful completion of the course. Grades of F, W, U, VU or I are considered unsuccessful completion. All letter grades, S/U grades, and incompletes are used in both the GPA and pace calculation. Repeated courses are included only once in both the GPA and pace calculations.

In the event a student changes their major, all credits taken in the previous major are included in the SAP calculation. Similarly, all credits taken as part of any major or minor are included in the calculation.

Students who exceed 150% of the published program length will be ineligible for federal aid. For example, if a program requires 124 credit hours for completion, the maximum time frame for funding the student is up to 186 credit hours. These criteria are determined based on completed credit hours.

Financial Aid Warning & Suspension Status

Students that do not meet both the grade point average and pace of completion benchmarks are placed on financial aid warning status. A Financial Aid Warning notice is sent to their University email.

Please note that it is possible for a student to be in good academic standing with the Registrar’s Office, but to be in warning status with the Financial Aid Office, since the Financial Aid Office must monitor both GPA and pace of progression.

A student may continue to receive financial aid for one term while on warning status. Students on warning status will have their academic standing reviewed at the end of the warning term. Students who have met the required GPA and pace of progression benchmarks by the end of the term will be removed from warning status. The Director of Financial Aid will notify these students via their student portal (my.augie.edu). Those who do not meet the requirements will be placed on financial aid suspension, and will not be eligible for financial aid until the GPA and pace benchmarks are met. A Financial Aid Suspension notice is sent to their University email.

Appeals & Financial Aid Probation Status

A student placed on financial aid suspension may file an appeal with the Director of Financial Aid, who reviews and approves or denies appeals. Failure to meet either the GPA or the pace requirement may be appealed.

Reasons for appeal may include, but are not limited to, situations involving serious medical issues, death in the family, significant interpersonal issues, or other extenuating circumstances. Appeals with circumstances in which most students could find themselves (i.e. not enough time devoted to study, playing video games too often, etc.) will not be approved.

An appeal must include 1) letter of explanation including information regarding why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and an explanation of what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory progress at the next evaluation and 2) a course completion plan (i.e. academic plan).

Appeals may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Office of Financial Aid, Attn: Director of Financial Aid.

2001 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Email: financial.aid@augie.edu
Fax: 605.274.5295

If approved, the student will be placed on financial aid probation status, and will be allowed to receive aid for one term. A Financial Aid Probation notice is sent to their University email.

The University may grant an appeal only if it determines that the student will be able to meet SAP standards after the subsequent payment period; or the student’s academic plan, if followed, will allow the student to meet SAP standards at a specific point in time.

A student who is on financial aid probation will have his or her progress evaluated at the end of each term (i.e. fall, spring, and summer). If the student has met the conditions of the academic plan as set forth, the student is considered to be eligible for financial aid for the following term. If the student has not met the conditions of the academic plan, financial aid will be suspended.

Appeals Related to COVID-19

Students who do not meet the pace of progression (quantitative) benchmark of 67% due to S/U grading and COVID-19 are allowed to appeal their suspension.
Appeals will NOT be automatically applied. Students MUST proactively initiate the appeal.

To appeal, students need to send a letter/email to the Director of Financial Aid requesting a SAP appeal for pace due to COVID-19. This must be completed prior to the start of the next term to allow for recalculation of their completion rate. Additional information or requirements, such as providing an Academic Plan may be requested.

Augie Access SAP Policy

All components of the Augustana University SAP Policy apply to Augie Access students with the following exceptions.

Augie Access students are required to earn a 2.0 cumulative GPA for completion of their program. For SAP standards, they need to be meeting or exceeding a 2.0 GPA at each SAP check.

Students need to maintain a 67.0% completion rate (pace). All attempted courses are used in the calculation. Courses for which a student earns a letter grade of D- or better, an S or VS are deemed to have been successfully completed. Courses in which a student earns an F, U or VU are considered to have been not successfully completed.

In the event a course is repeated, all credits attempted are included in the calculation. Transfer credits accepted by the University are included in the pace calculation. However, only the highest grade earned is used in the GPA calculation.

Students need to complete 72 credits to earn their Augie Access certificate. The maximum time frame, then, is 108 credits (72 x 150%).

SAP is checked at the conclusion of each term. If a student does not meet both qualitative and quantitative standards, they are placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next term they are enrolled. On warning, a student may continue to receive federal aid.

If a student on warning does not pass SAP the following term, they move to Financial Aid Suspension and are ineligible for federal aid.

If at any point it is mathematically impossible for a student to earn 72 credits within the 108, they will have failed SAP and be placed on suspension, no longer eligible for federal aid.

A student placed on Financial Aid Suspension is allowed to appeal their suspension to the Director of Financial Aid. An appeal includes a written statement from the student with any supporting documentation. It also needs to include an academic plan outlining what the student will take each semester until completion. The academic plan needs to be approved by the student's advisor and the Registrar.

A student with an approved appeal will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and be eligible to receive federal aid. Students on probation remain eligible for federal aid as long as they continue to follow and successfully complete their academic plan.

All communication regarding SAP is sent directly from the Director of Financial Aid to the student via University email.

Doctor of Physical Therapy SAP Policy

Transfer hours are not accepted by the university and are not included in the pace calculation. Grades of A through D and S are considered successful completion of the course. Please note that a letter grade below C will need to be retaken for program requirements. Grades of F, W, U or I are considered unsuccessful completion. All letter grades, S/U grades and incompletes are used in both the GPA and pace calculation. The grading system will adhere to whole-letter grading without any additional distinctions.