Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

In order to maintain financial aid eligibility, the US Department of Education and Tennessee Board of Regents require that students progress toward graduation in accordance with SAP standards. Students will be suspended from financial aid if they fail to meet the following requirements for two consecutive semesters:

  1. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
     
  2. Students must complete at least 67% of their attempted course credits. This means passing 2 out of every 3 credit hours attempted.
     
  3. Students must complete a degree within 150% of their course's allotted credit hours. This means completing a 60 credit hour course within a maximum of 90 credit hours, and applies to all credentials, not just associate’s degrees.

These standards apply to some state grants and scholarships as well. Also, all previous credits taken at all colleges count toward your Satisfactory Academic Progress.

 

SAP Standards for Credit Students

GPA Standard

Click here to calculate your cumulative GPA.

All of your classes and grades that you have ever attempted will count toward your cumulative GPA, even if you enrolled at ChattState 10 years ago and return this semester. There is no possibility that your grades or attempted credits can be discounted from your SAP eligibility.

GPA Chart

Grade

Points

A

4.0

B

3.0

C

2.0

D

1.0

F

0

 

Completion Rate Standard

Click here to calculate your completion rate estimate.

  • Grades of  A, B, C, or D = completing an attempted course.
     
  • Grades of F, W, I, AU, or FA = not completing an attempted course.

At least 2 out of every 3 credit hours you attempt must receive a grade of A, B, C, or D in order to meet the minimum 67% completion rate requirement. Transfer and dual enrollment credits also count toward the completion rate evaluation.

How Grades Count Toward Your GPA

Grade

Type

Counts Against GPA

F

Failed Class

Yes

W

Withdrawal

No

FA

Unearned Failure

Yes

I

Incomplete

No

AU

Audit

No
Time Frame Standard

Students must complete a degree within 150% of their course's allotted credit hours. Students who exceed this percentage - or who cannot mathematically complete their degree without exceeding it - will be suspended. This means completing a 60 credit hour course within a maximum of 90 credit hours, and applies to all credentials, not just associate’s degrees.

 

Transfer, Returning, & Dual Enrollment Students

This applies to transfer, returning, and dual enrollment students. All prior college transcripts will be evaluated by the Admissions Office to determine a student's transfer credits and transfer GPA.

Students will be automatically suspended from receiving financial aid if they have already earned...

  • 90 or more credit hours
  • an associate’s degree or higher
Statuses

The Financial Aid Office updates SAP statuses for all continuously enrolled students at the end of each semester. SAP statuses are not updated at the end of each part-of-term or session within a semester.

Students who violate one or more of the SAP standards will receive a Warning status for one semester. Students can continue to receive aid while they are in SAP Warning. Students will be suspended if they do not achieve an eligible GPA or completion rate at the end of their second semester.

Students who approach the Maximum Timeframe SAP standard will receive a SAP status of Approaching to indicate that they are in danger of being suspended in a future semester. When the student reaches 90 attempted hours or when it becomes mathematically impossible to complete a degree within 90 hours, the student will be suspended.

SAP statuses will be updated regardless of whether students have received aid. Students who are non-degree seeking or have not submitted all college transcripts will have an ineligible SAP status.

Below is a chart that shows different SAP statuses and their meanings.

SAP Status

SAP Standard

Eligible For Aid

NEW

Student has no prior college credits

Yes

GOOD

Student is in good standing

Yes

WARNIG

Student is failing at least one SAP standard

Yes

SUSPENDED

Student has failed to meet SAP standards

No

APPROACHING

Student is approaching 90 attempted hours

Yes

MAX HOURS

Student has reached or exceed 90 attempted hours

No

ACADEMIC APPEAL

Student has been approved for an appeal

Yes

GRAD APPEAL

Student can only take specific classes to graduate

Yes

APPEAL DENIED

Appeal denied

No

NON-DEGREE

Transient or non-degree program

No

MISSING TRANSCRIPTS

Student is missing one or more college transcripts

No

SAP Standards for TCAT Students

Qualitative Standards

Unless otherwise specified by the program, TCAT Students must:

  • maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
     
  • receive passing grades. (Grades of Incomplete, Failure, or Withdrawal will result in ineligibility.)
Time Frame Standard

TCAT students can remain eligible for financial aid for the length of their program, but will not receive financial aid for clock hours beyond their program length.

Maximum Time Limit

Some programs may differ.

Program Length

Time Limit

900 Clock Hours

30 Weeks

1290 Clock Hours

43 Weeks

1357 Clock Hours

43 Weeks

1500 Clock Hours

57 Weeks

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Appeals

Students enrolled in credit programs can appeal their eligibility if they are suspended from receiving aid due to SAP violations. Students enrolled in vocational programs in TCAT cannot appeal their loss of eligibility.

Appeals will be added directly to students’ unsatisfied requirements in TigerWeb self-service.

  • Academic Appeal: this appeal can be submitted if a student has failed the GPA or Completion Rate standards but are still within the Maximum Timeframe standard. This appeal can be submitted without an advisor because students will only receive financial aid for classes that are required for their current program of study.
     
  • Graduation Appeal: this appeal can be submitted if a student has failed the Maximum Timeframe standard. Students must meet with an advisor to develop a graduation plan to submit with this appeal. If approved, students can only take the courses indicated by their advisor. Students will be given a deadline to graduate, after which point they will be suspended.

Appeals might require documentation to prove a justifiable reason for a lack of success. Documents including medical forms, obituaries, financial statements, court documents, or other evidence can be submitted with the SAP Appeal or emailed to [email protected]

Appeals Committee

The SAP Appeals Committee reviews all appeal requests in the order that they are received prior to the beginning of a semester. Late appeals are not guaranteed to be reviewed regardless of a student’s awareness of their current or pending suspension from financial aid. It is the responsibility of all students to understand that eligibility is contingent on the successful completion of courses. Students will not be granted an appeal based on their lack of awareness of SAP policies or their academic progress.

Appeal Timeline

Please refer to the schedule below for information about deadlines and appeal decisions. Only appeals submitted by the priority deadline of each semester are guaranteed to be considered by the Appeals Committee.

Appeals submitted after a priority deadline are not guaranteed to be considered prior to the following semester.

Semester

Priority Deadline

Fall

July 15

Spring

December 10

Summer

April 1

Students should anticipate a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks for the appeals committee to review the appeal and make a decision. Incomplete appeals (lack of supporting documentation, missing Academic Plan or Advisor signature) will delay the review process.

Notifications will be posted in TigerWeb once the review process is complete. Students pending an appeal decision at the beginning of a semester are responsible for securing their classes via payment to the Bursar’s Office. Class schedules will not be held due to a pending appeal decision.

Appeal Decisions

Students must monitor their Academic Progress on TigerWeb and Chattanooga State email account for updates about appeal decisions or documentation needed for incomplete appeals. SAP statuses are updated at the end of each semester once grades are finalized. Appeals will not be reviewed and decided during a semester.

Appeals are not guaranteed to be approved. Students must demonstrate an ability to succeed in their courses. Repeated withdrawals and failures for any reason can be denied. There is no secondary appeal process. Students who are denied can continue enrollment at their own expense and attempt to appeal in a future semester.

  • Appeal Conditions: Approved appeals will be subject to minimum GPA and completion rate standards, such as a minimum 2.5 GPA each semester or a minimum 75% completion rate each semester. Students who fail their appeal terms will be suspended again with no guarantee of approval or reconsideration.
     
  • Appeal Limits: Students who receive up to 3 appeal approvals and fail to graduate have no guarantee that any further appeals will be considered.
     
  • Cancellation: Chattanooga State reserves the right to deny or cancel a student's financial aid in the event of extraordinary circumstances that may not be covered in the current policy.
     
  • Right to Appeal Decision: Students who are denied appeals are entitled to a notification of ineligibility and an explanation of the appeal determination.
     
  • Maximum Timeframe Denials: Appeals for maximum timeframe are likely to be denied if students have attempted excessive hours or repeatedly demonstrated an inability to succeed, for any reason. Students with existing associate’s or bachelor’s degrees are less likely to receive an appeal approval.