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Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
What is it?
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) refers to a level of achievement that students must uphold in order to earn a degree at Goodwin and maintain their financial aid eligibility.
Three times per year, after final grades are posted, the Registrar’s Office reviews each student’s record to determine their academic standing. Students are notified if they have not met SAP requirements.
SAP Benchmarks
Making SAP involves getting at least a 1.6 SAP GPA in your first semester, 1.8 in your second and third, and a 2.0 beyond that. This applies regardless of part-time or full-time status.
Students who have attempted more than 30 credits are required to have a pace equal to or greater than 67%. Pace (also known as “rate of completion”) is calculated by dividing the number of credits received by the number of credits attempted. Students who have attempted 30 credits or fewer need at least a 50% pace.
Students cannot exceed the Maximum Time Frame (MTF). MTF is one and one half times the normal time frame to complete a degree. For an associate degree, students may not attempt more than 90 credits. For a bachelor’s degree, students may not attempt more than 180 credits. Once MTF is reached, students are no longer eligible for financial aid. Continuation in their program of study is subject to restrictions.
How can this affect me?
Students who do not make SAP risk losing financial aid and getting dismissed from the college.
More information about SAP can be found here.
How can I avoid getting in SAP trouble?
First, do well in your classes. Next, avoid getting “W’s” or “UG’s” on your transcript, or repeating courses. These will negatively impact making SAP.
What is the process to restore SAP?
If a student doesn't make SAP, they are placed on warning. The warning period lasts one semester. They must meet with the SAP Coordinator to assess their goals, academic situation, and develop a support plan. This is known as an academic progress meeting.
Students on warning who do not take part in an academic progress meeting prior to the sixth week of the semester will have a registration hold placed on their account.
If a student cannot restore their academic standing after one semester on warning, they will be notified that their financial aid eligibility has been revoked. Information regarding an appeal will also be provided in this communication. Students are advised to monitor their Goodwin.edu email accounts as well as mail from the U.S. Postal Service.
If a student doesn't make SAP after being on warning for a semester, they must file and appeal to attempt to be placed on probation. There is a very tight deadline for filing appeals. A student on warning, who knows that they will not meet SAP benchmarks at the conclusion of the current semester, should turn in an appeal letter as soon as possible to Student Services. (There is a form available here.) The ultimate deadline to turn in an appeal for review prior to the next semester is at noon on the last Thursday prior to a new semester start.
Once on probation, the student must follow an academic plan to work toward reinstatement of SAP.
The Promoting Academic Success Seminar (PASS)
The Promoting Academic Success Seminar (PASS) is a free program for students on warning. Attendance in the PASS program is strongly encouraged for students on warning. PASS incorporates the latest in study strategies, time management skills, and knowledge of campus resources to help you make the most of your educational endeavor and regain your focus. It meets once per week, beginning in the third week of each semester. PASS is led by the Student Support Coordinator, who can be reached at 860-727-6773.
Last Modified: 2/16/2012