Policy and Procedure for Satisfactory Academic Progress (Undergraduates)

Federal and state regulations require educational institutions to determine that all students who receive state and federal financial aid are in good academic standing and are making reasonable progress toward completion of their academic programs. At the end of spring semester, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed.  Bradley University's standard stipulates undergraduate recipients of financial aid must meet the following conditions:

Quantitative Progress

Students who enroll "full-time" (12-16 credit hours) must successfully earn at least 75% of credit hours attempted in that semester or must have minimum number of earned hours which, when averaged, total at least twelve per semester less six credit hours (termed leeway) of the minimum total number of hours. For example, at the conclusion of two semesters, a student must have earned at least 18 hours: 12+12-6. Students enrolling for less than a full-time credit hour load (12) must complete at least six hours. The quantitative SAP calculation is as follows: Earned credit hours divided by attempted credit hours = completion rate (result will be rounded to closest whole number). Courses with grades of “W”, “F”, “IN”, “IP”, and repeated courses are included in attempted credit hours but are not included in earned credit hours. Credit hours from another institution that are accepted toward the student's educational program must count as both attempted and completed hours.

Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

The policy permits financial aid eligibility up to a maximum of six full-time years (or part-time equivalent) of enrollment. Summer or interim sessions of six hours or less will not count toward the six year time frame. Students who are meeting the required 75% of attempted credits will complete degree objectives within the expected time frame. Students who are pursuing a course of study with greater credit hour requirements need to notify the Financial Aid Office in order to have a review done on a case-by-case basis.

A separate statute limits the receipt of the Illinois MAP Grant to 135 credit hours.

In accordance with federal and state regulations, once a student meets the requirements for a baccalaureate degree, eligibility ceases.

Enrollment at other schools will be counted toward the required time frame based on a full-time equivalency of twelve hours. However, the Office of Financial Assistance may use discretion when determining the countable semesters of enrollment.

Grade Point (qualitative) Standards

Recipients of federal and state of Illinois financial assistance are expected to meet the same all-university academic standards (cumulative grade point average) as required of all other students. Evaluation of cumulative grade point average is performed no less than once per year at the conclusion of the spring semester (does not include GPA earned at other institutions). Students failing to meet the grade point standard are not eligible for federal or state of Illinois financial assistance. Students failing to meet the GPA requirement may appeal to the Vice President of Student Affairs. The following are the cumulative grade point average requirements by sources and types of financial assistance:

  • Federal Title IV Programs (FCWSP, FSEOG, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Pell Grant): 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of two years of college.
  • State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP Grant): 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of two years of college.

Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress

Those failing to meet SAP for the first time will be notified in writing at the conclusion of spring semester. Students already on financial aid probation will be reviewed at the conclusion of each semester and notified of any changes at that time. Written notification includes the reason for failure to meet SAP, the impact on eligibility for all sources of financial assistance (including Title IV) and the process for appeal.

Appeal Procedure

Students who are denied financial aid because they failed to make measurable progress or have reached the end of their duration of eligibility may appeal the decision. All appeals must be made in writing to the Director of Financial Assistance using the Satisfactory Academic Progress Petition Form - Undergraduates and must fully explain the extraordinary circumstances which prevented minimum progress. These circumstances may include personal injury or illness which occurs during an enrollment period, death of an immediate family member or legal guardian during an enrollment period, or other documented circumstances that were unexpected in nature and beyond control of the student. The appeal must include a detailed plan explaining how the student will reestablish SAP.

A student who appeals will be notified in writing of the outcome of the appeal. If the appeal is granted, the student will be considered to be on Financial Aid Probation for one semester. The terms and conditions that must be met for continued Financial Aid Probation will be detailed in the appeal approval “contract”.

Students who failed to meet the conditions set forth in their appeal approval “contract” or do not meet the GPA standard may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs who can grant an extension of their Financial Aid Probation for an additional semester.

Financial Aid Probation

“Probation” is the status assigned to a student who fails to meet SAP standards and who has appealed and had the appeal granted. A student on financial aid “probation” may receive financial aid for one enrollment period. At that point, the student must meet SAP standards and conditions specified in the appeal approval "contract".

Other SAP Considerations

  • The academic year at Bradley University consists of fall, spring, and summer enrollment periods. The measurement of academic progress is made at the end of each spring semester, and the status is effective with the summer enrollment period.
  • Students enrolled at Bradley University who are first-time aid applicants and other first-time (including transfers) students are subject to a SAP review prior to receiving aid. Students who have been academically suspended from and who are readmitted to Bradley are not eligible for financial aid unless meeting the SAP standards or successfully appealing.
  • Students may change majors/programs, but all attempted credit hours and all earned grades will be considered part of the evaluation of academic progress for financial aid; change of major may be considered as part of an appeal.
  • All periods of enrollment will be included in the measurement of satisfactory academic progress. Terms in which the student enrolled but did not receive financial aid and/or terms in which the student completely withdrew or ceased attending after classes began are included in the measurement.