Current Students

Martin University Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

In addition to all Martin University academic requirements, financial aid recipients must meet the following standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to establish and maintain eligibility for financial assistance.

Federal regulations require that all student financial aid recipients make satisfactory academic progress toward achieving a degree. Progress is measured by the student's cumulative grade point average, credits earned in relation to those attempted and the length of the academic program. The standard applies to ALL terms regardless of whether or not the student received financial aid. Progress will be measured at the end of each Winter semester for degree seeking students. Progress will also be checked at the end of any semester the student is on probation.

I. PROGRESS STANDARDS

PROGRESS PER SEMESTER: Students must, at a minimum, satisfactorily complete 75% of all courses attempted in each semester and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduates. Satisfactory grades consist of A, B, C, D, and P. Unsatisfactory grades are F, W, I, NP or any other grade that does not result in credits completed. Please note: Academic standards for graduation require that some classes be completed with a grade of C or higher.

CUMULATIVE PROGRESS: Cumulative progress standards go beyond the 75% completion rate and require that students complete their degrees within a certain time frame. Below are charts for both undergraduate and graduate students that define this time frame for Martin University students.

REMEDIAL COURSES: Financial aid can pay for only 30 credit hours of all remedial coursework. Remedial courses will not count toward cumulative hours ATTEMPTED FOR A DEGREE. NOTE: FINANCIAL AID WILL PAY FOR ONLY TWO REPETITIONS OF A CLASS.

INCOMPLETE (I GRADES): Courses that are assigned an incomplete are included in the cumulative credits attempted. These cannot be used as credits earned in the progress standard until a successful grade is assigned.

Repeated Courses: Repeated courses enable the student to achieve a higher cumulative GPA. However, repeating courses adversely affects the student's ability to meet the requirements of the credit progression schedule. Note: Financial aid will pay for only two repetitions of a class.

Transfer Students: Only credits officially accepted in transfer and specifically applied toward a student's degree will be counted toward the maximum credits allowed. If the student is required to take hours above the maximum number allowable as a result of transfer from another institution, the student may submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Office requesting an extension.

Second Degree Students: Only officially accepted credits that are specifically applied toward the student's current degree program will be included in the maximum number allowed.

Part-time Students: These standards will be adjusted according to the hours enrolled. For example, half-time students will be eligible for a maximum of 24 semesters while the three-quarter time students will be eligible for a maximum of 18 semesters of aid. Cumulative GPA requirements are the same as for full-time students.

II. Financial Aid Probation

Students will be placed on financial aid probation if they fail to meet either standard as outlined. Students will be placed on probation and have their academic progress reviewed each semester to see if the standards were met for that semester and whether progress is being made to meet overall standards. (See Financial Aid Disqualification for exceptions to this rule.) Students not meeting the standards at the end of any semester on probation will be disqualified from receiving financial aid.

III. Financial Aid Disqualification

Students on financial aid probation who fail to meet the standards as outlined above will be ineligible for financial aid beginning with the next semester of attendance.

Students will be automatically ineligible for financial aid, regardless of whether they have previously been placed on financial aid probation, beginning with the next semester of attendance when one of the following occurs:

  1. Student receives grade of "F" in all course attempted for two semesters in a row. In evaluating satisfactory progress, a grade of "I" will be considered an "F" until the student completes the incomplete.
  2. Student is academically dismissed.

Students who pre-register for a subsequent semester before grades are evaluated and who use financial aid to defer tuition and fees may owe a financial aid repayment if they do not maintain satisfactory academic progress or have been disqualified from financial aid once grades are posted and reviewed.

A student who is disqualified from financial aid more than one time for failure to meet these standards must meet with a financial aid counselor to discuss plans for re-establishing financial aid eligibility. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, a student in this category should expect to enroll for at least 12 semester credits without financial aid and successfully pass all courses with a minimum of a 2.00 GPA to be reconsidered for financial aid.

Disqualification from financial aid does not prevent a student from enrolling without financial aid if he or she is otherwise eligible to continue their enrollment.

IV. Appeals to Regain Eligibility

Students who fail to meet these standards and have lost eligibility for financial aid may appeal this rule. Appeals must be in writing and must. be accompanied by appropriate supporting documents. Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office. Appeals should be submitted to Financial Aid no later than the end of the first week of class for anyone wanting to enroll for that semester.

Reasons that may be acceptable for the appeal are: 1) serious illness or injury on the part of the student; 2) death, accident, or serious illness in the immediate family; 3) change in academic program; 4) other extenuating circumstances. The reasonableness of the student's ability for improvement to meet the appropriate standards for the degree program in which the student is enrolled will be taken into consideration.

Students who failed to meet these standards and who choose to enroll without the benefit of financial aid may request a review of their academic record after any term in which they are enrolled without the benefit of financial aid. If the standards are met, eligibility is regained for subsequent terms of enrollment.

Students should consult with a financial aid counselor to determine what must be done to regain eligibility.

The Financial Aid Director and/or staff will review all appeals and provide a written statement as to the disposition of the appeal. Students may appeal the initial decision to the Financial Aid Committee. All decisions of the Financial Aid Committee are final.

ACADEMIC STATUS ACCORDING
TO NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS
THAT COUNT TOWARD DEGREE

FRESHMAN = 0-33
SOPHOMORE = 34-67
JUNIOR = 68- 101
SENIOR= 102- 134