Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
South Central College is responsible to both the public and its students to provide sound post-secondary education in an economic and efficient manner.
This responsibility includes the obligation to require satisfactory academic progress (SAP) from its students in return for the opportunity afforded them by a tax supported college.
All students enrolled in coursework at SCC must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and must complete at least 67% percent of all credits attempted to be in good academic standing.
Minimum Credit Completion Standard: The student must complete at least 67% of all registered/attempted credits each semester. Grades of F, FN, I, NC, W, Z and IP (or blank/missing) are treated as registered credits but NOT earned credits and thus negatively impact the percent of completion. (This is based on credits enrolled in on the 5th day of the term.) % earned = cumulative earned credits divided by cumulative attempted credits.
South Central College will evaluate satisfactory academic progress after each term which includes fall, spring and summer.
Probation - Students will be placed on probation if:
- their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 or
- their cumulative completion rate is below the accepted level or
- they were previously suspended at SCC or another institution and have been re-admitted to the college.
Probation allows the student one additional semester to bring academic performance to the required level. The student is eligible to enroll and receive financial aid on probation.
Suspension - Students will be suspended if:
- their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 for the two most recent terms or admitted on a probationary status or
- their cumulative completion rate falls below the accepted level following a probationary term or
- they were re-admitted on probation and their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 for the most recent term and/or completion rate below 67%.
If on academic suspension, the student is not allowed to register/attend classes at SCC. If on financial aid suspension, the student is not eligible to receive financial aid at SCC.
Maximum Time Frame Allowance - the student will be eligible to register for classes but will remain on financial aid suspension unless special approval has been given through the appeal process. Prior to a successful appeal outcome, the student must be prepared to pay all expenses (tuition, books,
supplies) using their own funds.
Length of Suspension
Students suspended will be suspended for one academic year. Students must apply for reinstatement. If reinstated, students will re-enter with a probationary status. Academic Progress from that one semester will be reevaluated before student is allowed to register and/or receive financial aid for future terms.
The student will be notified in writing (letter or email) of their suspension. The college may immediately suspend a student in the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as a student who was previously suspended and whose academic performance falls below acceptable levels during a subsequent term, or a student who demonstrates an attendance pattern that abuses the receipt of financial aid.
Appealing Suspension/ Reinstatement
Students who wish to appeal a suspension must provide a written appeal for academic reinstatement seven calendar days prior to the start of the term of planned enrollment. The committee will take the appeal under consideration if it occurred as a result of unusual circumstances such as injury, illness, or death in the family. The written appeal should be supported by additional documentation, including a statement from his/her academic advisor. This initial consideration of appeal will be reviewed by Student Affairs Administrators. At the request of the students, all appeals of an adverse decision are then reviewed by the Appeals Committee which may include the following: Counselors, Academic Deans, the Director and Assistant Directors for Admissions, Financial Aid and Registration. The committee will notify the student, in writing, of the decision. The committee¹s decision shall be final within the college and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
Returning Following Suspension
Students granted an appeal are required to participate in the Academics in Motion (AIM) program. (See next section.) Students may also need to meet required conditions such as specified coursework, limited number of credits, etc. as stated by the Appeals Committee.
A successful appeal grants reinstatement for one semester only. At the conclusion of that semester the student¹s academic performance is evaluated.
Students are eligible to register for subsequent terms. However, if the student does not meet SAP requirements at the completion of the appeal term, registration for future terms will be dropped.
- If Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements are met (2.0 cumulative GPA and 67% completion rate) the student is no longer on suspension and is allowed to register.
- If for the most recent completed term cumulative SAP requirements are not met, however the term GPA is 2.5 and completion rate is 100%, the student will remain on probation, not required to resubmit an appeal, and will be allowed to register for the next term.
- If SAP requirements are not met (cumulative or term) as stated above, the student remains on suspension and must follow the appeal process to request reinstatement.
Financial Aid
Federal and state law requires that a recipient of state or federal financial aid make satisfactory academic progress towards a degree or certificate to remain eligible for aid. In compliance with federal and state law the college has established academic progress standards to all financial aid recipients.
In addition, all financial aid recipients must meet the following standard to maintain eligibility for student financial aid:
Maximum Time Frame Allowance: Maximum time for a student to complete his/her program shall be 150% of the number of credits required in the program of record.
Additional Academic Information
- Academic Review - Credits for which a student has been granted academic review WILL be included in all financial aid satisfactory academic progress measurements.
- Audited Courses - Audited courses are not aid eligible courses and are not included in any financial aid satisfactory academic progress measurements.
- Consortium Credits - Consortium credits are those credits for which a student is registered at another college, which are accepted in transfer by SCC and are included for purposes of processing financial aid at SCC. These credits are included in all financial aid satisfactory academic progress measurements.
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) - The grading policy stated in this Student Handbook is used to determine the cumulative Grade Point Average.
This average is in turn used to determine if a student is maintaining satisfactory progress. - College Readiness Credits - Developmental credits are those awarded for remedial course work (below 1000 level). Students may receive financial aid for developmental credits up to a maximum of 30 credits hours (excluding ESL). These credits are included in all financial aid satisfactory academic progress measurements.
- Incomplete Grades - The grade of ³I² (incomplete) is a temporary grade which is assigned only in exceptional circumstances. It will be given only to students who cannot complete the work of a course on schedule because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control. An ³I² grade will automatically become an ³F² grade at the end of the next term (not including summer session) if requirements to complete course work have not been satisfactorily met. Instructors have the option of setting an earlier completion date for the student.
- Repeat Credits - Repeat credits are credits awarded when a student repeats a course in order to improve a grade. At student may repeat a class as allowed by the institution. The institution will determine which grade will become the grade calculated in the GPA. All repeated credits are included in the percent of completion and maximum time frame calculations.
- Test Out - Credits earned through test out do not count toward the total credits enrolled per term for aid purposes.
- Transfer Credits - Transfer credits are credits earned at another college which are accepted by SCC. Transfer credits are not included when calculating the qualitative or quantitative requirements, but are included when calculating maximum time frame.
- Withdraw - The grade of ³W² (withdraw) is assigned when a student withdraws from a class after the drop period. It is not included when calculating grade point average or earned credits. Thus, it does not impact GPA but will negatively impact earned credits and, therefore, negatively impact the student¹s percent of completion.
Should a student drop or be dropped from a course in which they received aid and received a full refund, the student will be liable for aid received, and must repay the funds.
If you need additional information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress, please contact the Student Affairs Center at (507) 332-5805 or (507) 389-7220.