Federal student aid is awarded with the understanding that students will make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Hood Theological Seminary, as directed by the U.S. Department of Education, has established guidelines in order to meet this goal. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) apply for the following types of federal financial aid: Federal Work-Study, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Graduate PLUS Loans, and institutional aid. Failure to meet these standards may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility.
Policy Standards
The Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress measure three components: qualitative, timeframe, and pace. Students must meet all three components to maintain their financial aid eligibility.
I. Qualitative
Minimum Cumulative and Semester GPA: 2.33
The following courses do not count towards the SAP GPA:
· Incomplete
· Withdrawn
The following courses do count towards the SAP GPA:
· Completed courses
· Failed courses
II. Pace of Progress
Students must meet pace and progress toward graduation by successfully completing 67% (2/3) of the cumulative and semester units attempted.
1) Pace = Cumulative credit hours completed (toward degree)
Cumulative credit hours attempted (toward degree)
2) Pace = Completed credit hours (toward degree) from last semester registered
Attempted credit hours (toward degree) from last semester registered
The following courses count as attempted not as completed in the SAP calculation:
· Incomplete
· Failed
· More than one repeat of any previously passed course
Example
Student A has attempted 100 units throughout their academic career and has successfully completed 67 units; 67/100 units is above 2/3 of the cumulative/semester units they have attempted. Therefore, Student A meets the pace standard.
Example
Student B has attempted 100 units throughout their academic career and has successfully completed 60 units; 60/100 units is below 2/3 of the cumulative units they have attempted. Therefore, Student B does NOT meet the pace standard.
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Example
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Completed hours completed
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Cumulative Units Attempted
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Completion percentage
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Meets SAP?
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|
Student A
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67
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100
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67%
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YES
|
|
Student B
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60
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100
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60%
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NO
|
III. Timeframe
Students must make toward a degree. Hood Theological Seminary sets a maximum timeframe to finish a degree program.
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Academic Program
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Min./Max. Years
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M. Div.
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3/10
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M.T.S.
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3/7
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D. Min.
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3/7
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WITHDRAWALS
· 1st Withdrawal
If currently meeting SAP standards: Student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Upon returning to school the student must contact the Office of Financial Aid to appeal/discuss financial aid eligibility.
· 2nd Withdrawal
If currently in Suspension Status: Student will remain in a suspended status. Upon returning to school the student must contact the Office of Financial Aid to appeal/discuss financial aid eligibility.
SAP DEFINITIONS
Satisfactory- no action necessary; Student is meeting all SAP standards.
Financial Aid Suspension - action is taken when SAP standards are not met; SStudent will not receive federal or institutional aid. You may appeal this status. Details are provided in this document.
Financial Aid Probation - action taken for an approved appeal; Students who have successfully appealed a Financial Aid Suspension by submitting a completed SAP Appeal Form and meeting with the Financial Aid Committee may be placed on financial aid probation. You may be eligible to receive aid for one semester until you are making SAP. An Academic Plan may be required.
Scholarship Eligibility- Students on special scholarship from Hood Theological Seminary may have additional requirement in order to retain that scholarship. Refer to the specific scholarship criteria.
REINSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY
Students who lose federal and institutional aid eligibility due to not meeting the SAP standards may regain eligibility in one of the following ways:
Option 1
Without the use of federal funds: Students will use their own resources to make up any deficient hours by raising their overall completion rate to at least 67% and or bring up the GPA to a 2.33. Students may set up a payment plan in the business office.
Option 2
Students may appeal the suspension.
HOW DO I APPEAL THE SUSPENSION?
1) Complete the Appeal Questions.
2) Submit the completed appeal questions with the notification letter to the Office of Financial Aid within
Five (5) days of the date of the letter. Late appeals will be denied.
3) The appeal will be denied without your advisor’s signature.
4) You are required to meet with the Financial Aid Committee to discuss the appeal.
5) The committee will provide an update regarding the appeal decision. All decisions are final.