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This Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy outlines how Abertay University assesses students’ continuing eligibility for US Direct Loans.
The US Department of Education Federal regulations requires any student in receipt of Direct Loans1 must be registered and enrolled on an eligible course of study and who is making satisfactory progress in order to receive and continue to receive Title IV funds. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) means the student is proceeding in a positive manner toward fulfilling degree requirements. SAP includes two standards: qualitative and quantitative. Students must meet both standards to continue receiving financial aid.
Both the qualitative and quantitative SAP standards are reviewed at each progression point.
The process requires Abertay to check progression at various points throughout the academic year. This policy is not linked with the University Academic Regulations that may impose a more onerous definition of SAP and, is measured by duration of course, attendance and progression in terms of coursework submission and examinations.
Student progression will be considered at the end of each term. The main progression point will be at the end of each stage of study. However, interim progression decisions may be taken where a student has failed to engage or does not have the academic prerequisites to continue. Students who have received grades of NS in all modules in a term will normally be required to withdraw.
The Student Progress Panel oversees student progression. A student has the right to appeal against a decision of the Student Progress Panel, in line with the Academic Appeals Procedure.
Academic Progression will be reviewed at the completion of each semester to determine eligibility for the following semester/academic year. Students will only be notified of the outcome if they have not met SAP requirements. In this instance, students will be notified in writing by the International Student Support Manager. Progress/grades are noted within the student record system (SITS). Any student who does not progress satisfactorily at the time of review will be placed on probation for the following term. If SAP has not been reached during the period of probation the student will then become ineligible for Direct Loans (Federal Aid) for the following term and a ‘notification of ineligibility’ will be issued. Please note in addition, all students will be subject to UK Visas and Immigration legislation and requirements.
Qualitative
In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid with the qualitative standard, a student must maintain the academic standing necessary to remain at Abertay University. The Student Progress Panel will conduct a review at each progression point, to determine the student’s successful progress toward obtaining a degree by comparing the modules passed and credits accumulated for the level of study.
Undergraduate
Standard progression at the end of a stage of full-time study is completion of 120 credits with passing grades. Such students will be eligible to proceed to the next stage of the degree programme. Students progressing from stage 3 of an integrated Master’s degree programme require passing grades in 120 credits in stage 3, with a stage GPA of at least 2.5. Students in stage 4 of the MSci programme must maintain a stage GPA of at least 2.5 to progress to stage 5.
Quantitative
Maximum Completion Timeframes and Pace of progression Eligible undergraduate students are entitled to receive financial aid for up to 150% of the published course length as measured in credits. Students are required to complete their course of study within the following time frames.
|
Award |
Full-Time (maximum years) |
Part-Time (maximum years) |
|
Bachelor’s Degree |
5 |
7 |
|
Honours Degree |
6 |
9 |
|
Integrated Master’s Degree |
7 |
10 |
Undergraduate students will be assessed at Evaluation Points to determine if they are on pace to complete their degree within the specified timeframe. In order to maintain eligibility for Federal Aid, Students must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of credits attempted, 67%, for progression to the following year of study in order to meet the SAP maximum completion timeframes.
For example:
Where full-time students pursuing a 3 year Bachelor’s degree would typically attempt 120 credits over one academic year, students must complete a minimum of 80 out of 120 credits per year to meet SAP standards, and carry forward no more than the maximum number of credits as stipulated in the assessment regulations governing the program of study into the next academic year.
Where a student transfers between full-time and part-time modes of study the maximum period of enrolment will be calculated on a pro-rata basis. This does not apply in cases where a student is required to register part-time in order to repeat failed modules.
Postgraduate students are required to complete their course of study within 150% of the standard timeframe for that programme. Postgraduate students enrolled in programs of more than two years in length must at the end of two years have achieved academic standing that will allow for completion within the maximum timeframe.
Students attending full time courses are not eligible for student aid if their enrolment is below 50% (less than half time).
Students who have passed 100 credits of a stage will be permitted to proceed to the next stage, but will be required to take the failed module, or an agreed substitute module, in the next academic year as a carried module, unless the failed module is a prerequisite that must be passed in order to progress to the next stage. Students may not progress to stage 5 of an integrated Master’s programme carrying failed modules.
Students who have passed at least 60 credits, but fewer than 100 credits of a stage, or who have failed a prerequisite module, will be required, if eligible, to undertake repeat study in the following year in order to retake the modules in which they have not achieved a passing grade, or to take agreed substitute modules. Students who undertake repeat study in stage 4 may not progress to stage 5 of an integrated Master’s programme.
Students who have passed fewer than 60 credits of a stage will normally be required to withdraw from study. Those following a degree programme on a part-time basis will progress from one stage to the next on the same basis as above, will be expected to pass at least half the credit for which they have registered in each academic year, and must be able to complete within the maximum period of study.
Students must complete all required courses by the end of the degree. Students who achieve a passing grade may not repeat a course. Students who fail a required course must repeat the course and obtain a passing grade before completion of their degree. When a student repeats a course and achieves a passing grade, the original grade will not be counted in the grade average. Withdrawal or non-completion of a course does not count towards SAP quantitative or qualitative measurements in another course.
Evaluation points fall at the end of each academic year. For students on courses of study lasting one year or less, that is typically in January and April of the year of study. For students who are required to re-sit a failed unit, there will be a further evaluation point at the end of the resubmission period and prior to the first disbursement for the new academic year.
Coursework Extensions
Where a student is unable to meet a deadline, a range of assessment extensions are available. Extensions are applicable to coursework where there is a designated hand-in date, but not examinations. Some group assessments are not eligible for extension.
5 Working Day Extension – Every student is entitled to two 5 working day extensions for one assessment per academic year. This can be applied for through OASIS and no evidence is required. Students experiencing medical or compassionate circumstances may request further extensions of up to 5 working days with supporting evidence as required.
10 Working Day Extension – An extension of up to 10 working days may be granted in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of a student’s Faculty Academic Advisor with supporting evidence. Students must contact their Faculty Academic Advisor directly.
Where a student is unable to attempt one or more units of assessment within a module at the first opportunity due to medical or compassionate circumstances, they may request to defer the assessment to the next available opportunity with supporting evidence.
The next available opportunity is usually the re-sit diet within the next academic term. Grades are not capped at the next opportunity where deferral is granted. Re-sit examination and assessment submission dates can be found in the Academic Calendar.
Each unit of assessment within a module has two assessment opportunities. Where a deferral is granted this counts as the first opportunity. If unsuccessful at the second opportunity, this may have progression implications.
Where deferral of an assessment has been approved, a grade of ‘DF’ (deferred) will be recorded, and assessment should be completed by the end of the reassessment period. If assessment cannot be completed in the reassessment period, a final grade of ‘IN’ will be recorded, and the module may be repeated in the following academic year, provided the student is eligible to do so.
An appeal must explain what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow the student to achieve SAP at the next evaluation.
If the appeal is successful, the student will then enter Student Loan Probation status.
Students who successfully appeal a failure to make SAP are placed on Student Loan Probation for the subsequent payment period at the end of which SAP will be evaluated. If the student has not made SAP, the student will lose eligibility unless they have entered into an acceptable academic plan with the University.
For students who are repeating a unit, student loans can be received during the period of probation for one payment period. Further student loan disbursements will be held until the marks or grades and module completions have been reviewed for the period of the Student Loan Probation. If the student passes the required credits, they will resume normal financial aid status and will no longer be on Student Loan Probation.
The student and the University may develop an academic plan that will allow the student to meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time. If the student needs more than a single payment period to return to a good SAP standing, the student can continue to receive federal student aid as long as he/she follows the academic plan.
A student on an academic plan will have modified SAP requirements for the duration of the plan. If the student fails to meet the terms of the academic plan, the student is not eligible for federal financial aid.
SAP will continue to be checked at the end of each payment period while the student is on an academic plan until the student is again making SAP.
Transfer students’ transcripts will be evaluated by the Course Leader. Any credits which can be used in advance standing on a new course will be accepted and will be used to measure the quantitative SAP requirement (150% timeframe).
1 Subsidised, Unsubsidised and Parent PLUS.