![Page 1: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The New & Improved SAP Rules
Rick ShipmanDirector of Financial Aid
Michigan State University
October, 2011Grand Rapids, Michigan
![Page 2: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
• Regulations/Guidance– Higher Education Act (HEA)
• 484(a) and (c) Student Eligibility
– Code of Federal Regulations • §668.14 Program participation agreement• §668.16(e) Standards of administrative capability• §668.32(f) Student eligibility• §668.34 Satisfactory academic progress• §668.42(c) Financial assistance information
– 2009-2010 Federal Student Aid Handbook• Volume 1, pages 1-10 through 1-13• Volume 2, page 2-125• Volume 4, page 4-20
Satisfactory Academic Progress
2
![Page 3: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
• What’s New?– Clarifies that SAP is an administrative capability
requirement– Consolidates most rules under §668.34– Lays out school policy components– Differentiates between every semester versus less
frequent monitoring– Standardizes terminology– Sets broad appeal standards
Satisfactory Academic Progress
3
![Page 4: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
• Required Components– Written Policy• Repeats• Incompletes• Withdrawals• Transfers
– Minimum GPA– Maximum Timeframe– Pace to Completion
Satisfactory Academic Progress
4
![Page 5: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
• One note about Graduate/Prof Students
– Federal SAP rules are specific to undergrads– Schools must establish and follow reasonable
graduate/professional SAP rules
Satisfactory Academic Progress
5
![Page 6: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
• Written Policy
– A school must establish own policy, but it must contain the federally mandated elements
– Must describe standards, monitoring processes, and steps to reestablish eligibility after failing the standards.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
6
![Page 7: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Written Policy
– Allowing appeals is optional– Must address impact of transfer credits– Must address impact of repeats, incompletes and
withdrawals– Must describe required documentation– Can have multiple policies based on specific
populations
Satisfactory Academic Progress
7
![Page 8: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
• Minimum GPA– GPA standard must be consistent with the
school’s graduation requirement• A single bright line standard
– 2.0 for an undergraduate, for example
• A graduated standard– 1.5 for a freshman, 1.8 for a sophomore, 2.0 thereafter, for
example
• Other
– If GPA is not used, another method is required
Satisfactory Academic Progress
8
![Page 9: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
• Maximum Timeframe– Regulations allow aid eligibility for 150% of the normal
time required for a degree• Example: An associate’s degree that requires 60 credits
is allowed 90 credits• This is equivalent to 8 semesters of minimal full time
enrollment– For graduate students, you should follow the published
institutional standards
Satisfactory Academic Progress
9
![Page 10: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• Pace to completion– Specifies the rate at which a student must
complete courses to stay within the maximum time frame for the degree• Total hours completed / total hours attempted• A 67% pace for a 4 year degree permits 180 attempted
& 120 completed credits• The rate calculation should use cumulative hours
Satisfactory Academic Progress
10
![Page 11: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
• Monitoring SAP Standards– No less than annually– As often as every payment period– If you monitor every payment period, you are
allowed to grant a semester of aid ‘grace’ without student action
– If you monitor less than every payment period, students who fail standards become immediately ineligible for aid (no ‘grace’ period)
Satisfactory Academic Progress
11
![Page 12: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Consistent Language– Must use specific words in SAP policies• Financial Aid Warning• Financial Aid Denial• Financial Aid Appeal• Financial Aid Probation
Satisfactory Academic Progress
12
![Page 13: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
• Consistent Language– Financial Aid Warning • Student failed SAP standards in a semester he started
in good standing• He may continue to receive aid without taking action• Only for schools that monitor every term• Allowing this “Warning” semester is optional for an
eligible school
Satisfactory Academic Progress
13
![Page 14: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Consistent Language– Financial Aid Denial• School monitors every semester:
– Student failed SAP standards in a semester she started in Warning, Denial or Probation
• School monitors less than every semester:– Student failed SAP standards for the monitoring period
• No federal aid payments are permitted– That means no Parent PLUS
• Policy should state if other aid is stopped too• School may allow an Appeal
Satisfactory Academic Progress
14
![Page 15: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
• Consistent Language– Financial Aid Appeal
• A petition for waiver of Financial Aid Denial• Can be for 1 or more semesters• If granted for more than 1 semester, student adherence
must be monitored each semester
– Financial Aid Probation• Student in Financial Aid Denial who successfully appeals for
aid reinstatement• May be granted for one or more semesters
Satisfactory Academic Progress
15
![Page 16: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
• Appeal Components– Strong evidence that student can return to good
standing at end of semester of Probationor
– Academic plan that moves student to good standing in a defined time frame
Satisfactory Academic Progress
16
![Page 17: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
• Appeal Components– Student statement• What went wrong that caused the failure• What has changed to prevent a recurrence• Regulations specify death of a relative, a student injury
or illness as reasonable• Regulations also state “other special circumstances”
Satisfactory Academic Progress
17
![Page 18: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
• Academic Plan– Plan rules are not spelled out by regulation– Who prepares Plan is not spelled out either– Can require specific courses, grades, tutoring or other
interventions– School must monitor each payment period if Plan covers
more than 1 semester– Student must be given Appeal decision
Satisfactory Academic Progress
18
![Page 19: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
SAP Rules at MSU
19
![Page 20: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
• MSU SAP Approach– Needed a high tech approach for quantity– Needed a high touch approach for quality
Michigan State University
20
![Page 21: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
MSU Unduplicated SAP Warnings & Denials by SemesterWARNINGS Withdrawals Time to Degree GPA 67% Completion TOTALS
Spring 2010 5 16 1207 198 1426
Summer 2010 4 12 96 218 330
Fall 2010 22 498 960 136 1616
Spring 2011 30 434 510 115 1089
Summer 2011 16 190 103 207 516
TOTALS 77 1150 2876 874 4977
DENIALS Withdrawals Time to Degree GPA 67% Completion TOTALS
Spring 2010 - 71 - - 71
Summer 2010 2 71 185 10 268
Fall 2010 4 22 249 12 287
Spring 2011 9 279 518 9 815
Summer 2011 1 93 100 13 207
TOTALS 16 536 1052 44 1648
21
![Page 22: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
• MSU SAP Approach– Written Policy – web
• Minimum GPA – follow University standards• Maximum Timeframe – 150%• Pace – 67%• Maximum withdrawals – 3• Repeats count against 67% & 150% but we will only go back
1 semester for aid reinstatement• Incompletes are assumed as passed but rechecked at next
semester midterm– Monitor Every Semester– Allow Appeals
Michigan State University
22
![Page 23: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
• MSU SAP Approach– Include default aversion for Warnings• Requires academic and financial web counseling for aid
– Combine high tech with high touch– Process performed online• Student statement• Academic plan• Review comments and decision
Michigan State University
23
![Page 24: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
• Academic Plan– Created by academic advisor• Initiated by student• Authorized by dean’s office• Recorded in online student academic folder• Plans are identical for those with and without aid
Michigan State University
24
![Page 25: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
![Page 26: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
26
![Page 27: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
27
![Page 28: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
28
![Page 29: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
29
![Page 30: The New & Improved SAP Rules Rick Shipman Director of Financial Aid Michigan State University October, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020307/56649f355503460f94c529fa/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
30