Standards of Academic Progress Policy

The Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy explains the procedures when administering the Federal Financial Aid Programs for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The Financial Aid Department is required by federal regulations to monitor the academic progress of financial aid applicants. Financial aid applicants must comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy as a condition of initial or continued eligibility. Please note, that even if a student has not previously received financial aid, the Satisfactory Academic Progress policies still apply.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility

What are the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) describes the academic standards a student must meet in order to remain eligible for federal aid and ensure they are progressing toward degree completion as required by federal regulations. If a student is not meeting these requirements, they may not be eligible for federal aid. 

When are these standards reviewed?

The standards are reviewed once each academic year at the end of the spring semester. Email notifications will be sent to your ERAU email account if you fail to meet the SAP standards. Please note: For Worldwide Programs the academic year ends with the last term of a track (see Financial Aid Tracks for terms associated with Tracks). The April and May Terms are optional terms and are not calculated until the following academic year. If you are failing the Standards of Academic Progress and have questions, please contact a Worldwide Financial Aid Counselor toll-free at 866-567-7202.

How is SAP measured?

The following measurements will be reviewed to determine good standing for continued financial aid eligibility:

• Qualitative: College level grade point average (Cumulative GPA)
• Quantitative (Pace): College credits completed, and time frame needed to complete the degree

What are the standard requirements?

Qualitative:

• Undergraduate students: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
• Graduate students: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Quantitative/Pace:

• College credit hours completed: required to complete 67% of total credit hours attempted.
  
  How to calculate PACE
  Cumulative number of credit hours student successfully completed
  Cumulative number of credit hours student attempted
  
  Application of Grades and Credit Hours
  Credit hours attempted are all course credit hours for which you are enrolled as of the end of add/drop period per semester/term. For calculating credit hours, grades of “F” (failure), “I” (incomplete), “IP” (in progress), “W” (withdrawn), “WP” (withdrawn passing), “WF” (withdrawn failing), “U” (unsatisfactory), AU (audited), FX (ceased attendance) and repeated courses, are counted as hours attempted but not as credit hours completed.
  
  For example, a sophomore who has attempted 60 credit hours and has satisfactorily completed 48 of those credit hours would have completed 80% of attempted credit hours.

• Timeframe needed to complete the degree: You are not allowed to attempt more than 1.5 times, or 150%, of the number of hours in your degree program of study. A typical 2-year degree program should be completed no longer than 3 years. A typical 4-year degree program should be completed no longer than 6 years.

A sample of the maximum allowable attempted hours is noted below:

These maximum credit hours may vary depending on your specific program.

Repeat Courses

Repeated coursework during your program of study, both the original and repeated credit hours may negatively impact your completion ratio (PACE and Maximum timeframe). All attempts will be considered towards your ratio calculation, but only one successful completion will be considered.

Dual Degree Programs/Change of Degree Program.

Students seeking two programs of study at the same time (i.e. major and minor, two undergraduate degrees, two master’s degrees) or those who change their degree program of study: Your chosen Primary program of study is evaluated based on the number of credit hours that count toward the primary program of study. All courses applicable to the chosen program of study are counted in Timeframe, Attempted Hours, and Completed Hours.

Transfer Credit Hours/Dual Enrollment Credit Hours

Transfer credit hours/Dual Enrollment credit hours that are accepted toward your chosen program of study are calculated in the time frame needed to complete your degree. You are not allowed to attempt more than 1.5 times, or 150%, of the number of hours in your degree program of study. These maximum credit hours may vary depending on your specific program.

ERAU Dual Enrollment Credit Hours

Dual Enrollment credit hours earned through participation in ERAU dual enrollment programs that are applicable to your chosen degree program but taken before being admitted into your degree program will count towards the Time Frame. If you are or were an ERAU Dual Enrollment student and have questions about the effect of non-successful dual enrollment credit hours for the Satisfactory of Academic Progress for Financial Aid, please contact the Financial Aid office at your campus.

Withdrawing from courses

Withdrawing from courses may impact your financial aid awards. Before withdrawing from class, you should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine the consequences.

Withdrawing from the university or dropping all courses in a term

Students who totally withdraw or drop all courses in a term and receive aid may owe the university money. Before withdrawing from the university, you should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine the consequences.

Auditing Courses

Audited courses are not eligible for Financial Aid. Students who enrolled in courses applicable to their degree and received Federal Aid and then changed all enrolled courses to audited courses will be considered to have withdrawn on the date the final course was changed to an audited course and may owe the university money.

Grade Changes

All grade changes will be reviewed during the regular SAP process. Individual grade change recalculations during the semester will be done on a case-by-case basis.  The student must notify our office of a grade change for this to occur.

Grade changes will not change the SAP status of a prior term. Grade changes will only be used to review for a change in the current term’s SAP status.

What happens if I’m not meeting the standards?

Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress are placed on Financial Aid Suspension. You will not receive federal or institutional aid during this suspension. An email notification will be sent to your ERAU email account if you fail to meet the SAP requirements. Prescott students will also have a “Federal SAP Not Met” To Do List item on ERNIE under Campus Solutions.

Can I appeal my suspension?

You have the option to appeal the suspension. An appeal must be based on extenuating circumstances that seriously affected academic performance such as student or parent injury or illness, death of a relative or other special circumstances.

The Appeal Process

The appeal form and instructions may be found on your campus website. You will be required to submit supporting documentation. You will also need to explain what type of circumstances contributed to the academic problem and what plans you have to eliminate those problems in the future. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval. While there is no regulatory limit on the number of times a student may appeal their SAP status, the extenuating circumstances for the SAP Appeal cannot be the same as the previous appeal. We realize that sharing personal information can be difficult. Be assured that your statement will remain confidential. An academic plan approved by an academic advisor may be required. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions or need assistance to begin processing an appeal. Results of the SAP Appeal will be sent to the student’s ERAU email account. Embry-Riddle’s SAP Appeal decisions are final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Appeal Forms can be found on your campus website:

• Daytona Beach Campus
• Prescott Campus
• Worldwide Campus

Financial Aid Probation

For students who are successful in their appeal, aid will be reinstated; however, you will be placed on probation for one payment period/term. At the conclusion of the probation term, you must meet the school’s SAP standard in order to qualify for further Federal Title IV Funding.

If you are academically suspended, dismissed, or not permitted to continue your enrollment, you will not be eligible to receive financial aid.

Reinstatement

You may reestablish your eligibility for financial assistance by achieving satisfactory academic progress standards. Keep in mind this will be at your own expense as you are ineligible for aid. Once you have earned the required grade point average or completed the required credit hours, you must contact your Financial Aid Counselor at your Campus to request the reinstatement of your financial aid eligibility.

Do these standards apply to every financial aid program?

These standards are related directly to the Federal Financial Aid programs. However, state, institutional, and private sources of aid have other standards that must be considered. Refer to your state websites to review the specific criteria for each program. Contact the Financial Aid staff to determine the specific requirements of each type of aid that you receive.

There are many resources to help you if any difficulties arise: Tutoring labs, Counseling Center, Academic Advisor, as well as the Financial Aid Counselors. We are here to help make your educational experience at ERAU successful. Contact us if you need help!