Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measures whether a student is successfully progressing toward completion of their academic program. Students must meet SAP standards to remain eligible for continued enrollment and, if applicable, Title IV Federal Financial Aid, Veteran’s Benefits, Military Tuition Assistance, state aid, institutional aid, and other financial aid programs administered through Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI). At SDI, SAP serves as both the Institute’s academic progression policy and the financial aid eligibility standard. SAP applies to all students, regardless of financial aid status.

SAP is evaluated based on the requirements of the student’s program of study. Students may only be enrolled in one program at a time and may only be registered for courses that apply to that program. SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester. For financial aid purposes, a semester is also the enrollment period, SAP evaluation period, and financial
aid payment period. All enrollment periods are considered in SAP evaluations, regardless of whether the student received financial aid.

SAP standards and related policies and procedures may change based on regulatory requirements or revisions to align with best practices; thus, students must abide by policies outlined in the most current Catalog.

SAP Standards
Students must meet all three SAP standards at the end of each semester:

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): 2.0 or higher (qualitative)
• Pace of Completion: 66.67% or higher (quantitative)
• Maximum Timeframe: completion within 150% of the published program length (quantitative)

Both qualitative and quantitative standards are evaluated at each SAP evaluation.

Qualitative Standard – Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative CGPA of 2.0, which is equivalent to a “C” average. CGPA is calculated by dividing total quality points earned by total attempted credits included in the CGPA calculation. A student does not meet the CGPA SAP standard when the student’s CGPA is below 2.0 at the time of evaluation.

For Qualitative Standards (CGPA) purposes:

• Only SDI coursework that applies to the student’s program of study is included in CGPA.
• Coursework not applicable to the student’s program is excluded from CGPA.
• Transfer credits are excluded from CGPA.
• Withdrawals with a grade of “W” are excluded from CGPA.
• Incomplete grades are excluded from CGPA calculations until a final grade is posted.
• If a course is repeated, only the most recent grade is included in CGPA.

Quantitative Standards: Pace of Completion and Maximum Timeframe
Pace of Completion Standard
Students must successfully complete at least 66.67% of all attempted credits that apply to their program of study. Pace is calculated by dividing total successfully completed credits by the total attempted credits included in the Pace calculation. A student does not meet the pace standard when the student’s pace is below 66.67% at the time of evaluation.

Maximum Timeframe Standard

Students must complete their program within 150% of the published length of the program. The maximum timeframe is calculated by multiplying the total credits required for program completion by 150%. A student exceeds the maximum timeframe when total attempted credits exceed this limit or when it becomes mathematically impossible for the student to complete all remaining program requirements without exceeding the limit

For Quantitative Standards (Pace of Completion and Maximum Timeframe) purposes:

• SDI coursework attempted that applies to the student’s program is included.
• Coursework not applicable to the program is excluded.
• Transfer credits accepted toward the student’s SDI program are included as both attempted and successfully completed credits.
• Withdrawals with a grade of “W” and repeated courses are included as attempted credits.
• Incomplete grades are included as attempted credit.
• A student does not meet the maximum timeframe standard when the student exceeds, or cannot mathematically complete the program within, the 150% maximum timeframe.

Course Repeats
A course must be repeated if the student took the course for credit and did not earn a passing grade required for program completion. A course may not be repeated if the student previously earned a passing grade, unless otherwise required or permitted by SDI. A single course cannot be attempted more than three times. Withdrawals with a grade of “W” and repeated courses are included as attempted credits.

Students who fail to successfully complete the same course after 3 attempts are not eligible for an academic plan. Repeat-course limitations and related procedures are maintained by the Institute and administered in accordance with applicable financial aid requirements.

• Incomplete grades are included as attempted credit.
• A student does not meet the maximum timeframe standard when the student exceeds, or cannot mathematically complete the program within, the 150% maximum timeframe.

SAP Statuses
SAP Met:
A student who meets all SAP standards remains eligible for continued enrollment and, if otherwise eligible, financial aid.

SAP Warning:
If a student met SAP standards at the conclusion of the most recently evaluated semester or is in the first semester of program-applicable coursework and then fails to meet SAP standards at the next evaluation, the student will be placed on SAP Warning for one semester. A student cannot be placed on SAP Warning for two consecutive semesters or payment periods. During SAP Warning, no appeal is required; the student may continue enrollment; and the student may continue to receive financial aid, if otherwise eligible. At the end of the SAP Warning semester, the student must meet SAP standards or be placed on SAP Probation through an approved appeal to remain enrolled and maintain financial aid eligibility.

SAP Probation:
A student who does not meet SAP standards may continue enrollment on SAP Probation only if a SAP Appeal is approved. During SAP Probation, an approved SAP Appeal is required; the student may continue enrollment; and the student may continue to receive financial aid, if otherwise eligible. At the end of the SAP Probation semester, the student must either meet SAP standards or meet the requirements of an approved Academic Plan to remain enrolled and maintain financial aid eligibility.

SAP Probation with an Academic Plan
An Academic Plan may be approved when SDI determines that the student cannot reasonably meet SAP standards within one semester of SAP Probation but may do so over a longer defined period. The Academic Plan will specify the academic requirements the student must meet each semester. The plan may extend through program completion. A student on an approved Academic Plan remains in SAP Probation status and must meet the requirements of the plan at each evaluation period to remain enrolled and maintain financial aid eligibility, if otherwise eligible.

A student who exceeds, or for whom it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within, the 150% Maximum Timeframe Standard may be permitted to continue only through an approved SAP Appeal and Academic Plan if SDI determines it is possible for the student to complete the program within a defined timeframe.

SAP Not Met and Academic Dismissal
A student in SAP Not Met status:

• is not eligible to continue enrollment except as permitted under approved institutional policies and procedures;
• is not eligible for financial aid; and
• may be academically dismissed from their SDI program.

A student is in SAP Not Met status and will be academically dismissed if they:

• fails to meet SAP standards after the SAP Warning semester and does not submit a SAP Appeal, or the appeal is not approved;
• fails to meet the conditions of SAP Probation or an approved Academic Plan; or
• cannot complete the program within the 150% Maximum Timeframe Standard and does not have an approved Academic Plan.

Regaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
A student may regain SAP by:

• meeting all SAP standards independently; or
• successfully meeting the requirements of an approved Academic Plan.

A student who completes the program while meeting the requirements of an approved Academic Plan is considered to have successfully progressed in accordance with SAP requirements.

SAP Appeals
Students may appeal a SAP determination based on extenuating circumstances.

Acceptable reasons for appeal include:

• injury or illness of the student;
• death of a relative; or
• other special circumstances beyond the student’s control.

A SAP Appeal must:

• explain why SAP standards were not met;
• explain what has changed to support future academic success;
• include sufficient information for SDI to evaluate the circumstances and make a determination; and
• provide supporting documentation when requested by SDI.

Submission of supporting documentation at the time of appeal is strongly recommended. Documentation may strengthen the appeal and expedite the review process. When documentation is requested by SDI, it must be provided for the appeal to be considered. SDI evaluates appeals on a case-by-case basis using the information and documentation provided.

SDI will determine whether the student has demonstrated:

• a valid basis for the appeal;
• a reasonable expectation of successful academic progress moving forward; and
• whether the student can reasonably meet SAP standards by the end of the next semester or requires an Academic Plan.

If the appeal is approved, the student may continue or re-enter in SAP Probation status and, if required, on an approved Academic Plan.

Appeal Timing and Effective Term

SAP Appeals must be submitted by the deadline established by SDI for the applicable semester or module. Appeals received after the applicable deadline may be considered for a future enrollment period. SDI will communicate appeal submission deadlines and outcomes through student notices.

Re-Entry or Re-Admission After Not Meeting SAP

A student who has been withdrawn or academically dismissed for not meeting SAP standards may be eligible for re-entry or re-admission to the same program under SDI’s re-entry, readmission, SAP appeal, and academic standards procedures.

A student who is eligible for SAP Warning at the time of re-entry may return under SAP Warning status. A student who is SAP Not Met may is be required to submit and receive approval of a SAP Appeal before re-entry or re-admission to their program. If approved, the student may return under SAP Probation and/or an approved Academic Plan and must meet all assigned conditions to remain enrolled and maintain financial aid eligibility, if otherwise eligible.

Students not currently meeting SAP standards or who did not meet SAP standards in a prior SDI program will have their prior SDI academic history evaluated as a condition of admission to a different program or re-admission to the same program and may be denied admission based on past academic performance.

Additional requirements for re-entry or re-admission to the same program, admission to a different program, subsequent appeals, and academic recovery options are maintained in institutional procedures and student notices.

Success Recovery Plan after Dismissal (Cash Pay)
Students who have been academically dismissed may request to continue in self-pay status. Students who wish to pursue this option will initiate the request through their assigned Student Success Coach. A review will be conducted by the SDI SAP Appeals Committee and the student will be notified of the decision along with related requirements.

Student Notification
Students are notified of SAP evaluation outcomes that affect enrollment status or financial aid eligibility. Notices may include the student’s SAP status, reason for the status, available appeal options, deadlines, required documentation, and any academic conditions required for continued enrollment.

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