- Your SAP status will be evaluated each year when the initial Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received and then at the end of an academic year (after spring semester grades are posted) in which you attended.
- You will be notified via email to your Converse email account if the SAP status changes.
- Through the My.Converse Portal, you must review email and announcements regularly to ensure that you have the latest information about financial aid and the SAP status.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students receiving financial assistance through a federal program or S.C. Tuition Grant must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. The financial aid office must monitor the progress of all students to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their program in a reasonable period of time. This policy is in addition to the academic standards required by Converse University. The cumulative review determines the student’s eligibility for financial assistance based on his or her academic history. Whether you have received financial assistance previously is not a factor in determining eligibility.
- For undergraduate students, the minimum completion rate requires you to earn at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.
- For graduate students, the minimum completion rate requires you to earn at least 80% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.
- Courses with grades of F, W and I are not considered completed courses.
- Undergraduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) as defined below: 1-24 hours attempted: 1.50 GPA 25-56 hours attempted: 1.75 GPA > 57 hours attempted: 2.00 GPA
- Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
- Students are placed on financial aid suspension if the completion rate and/or the cumulative GPA fall below the minimum requirements. To reestablish eligibility, you must have an approved appeal and be placed on financial aid probation. (See Appeals below.) The minimum completion rate requires you to earn at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted.
- You may receive financial aid for 150% of the published length of the program of study.
- Undergraduate students who have attempted 180 hours or more will be placed on financial aid suspension.
- Graduate students who have attempted 150% of the published required hours of their program of study will be placed on financial aid suspension.
- Transfer hours are added to the total hours attempted at Converse to assess the length of eligibility.
- You may repeat a course, but repetitions will count toward the length of eligibility.
- A student who completes the academic requirements for a program but does not yet have the degree is not eligible for additional financial aid funds for that program.
- Once the maximum number of hours is attempted, a student is placed on financial aid suspension.
- To reestablish eligibility, you must have an approved appeal and be placed on financial aid probation. (See Appeals below.)
- Appeals for suspension of financial aid are reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.
- The number of appeals will be limited to two (2) per student and forms may be obtained from the financial aid office.
- Appeals must include an academic plan signed by the Director of Student Success (for undergraduate students), the Dean of the School of Humanities, Sciences, and Business, or the Dean of Education and Graduate Studies, detailing the requirements you must meet to ensure SAP standards are met by a specific time or to ensure you graduate. Appeals for length of eligibility should include the remaining classes needed to graduate and an anticipated graduation date.
- Appeals also must include an explanation from you of why satisfactory progress was not made and what has changed that will make it possible to meet standards. Examples of acceptable extenuating circumstances include prolonged hospitalization during the academic year, death in the family during the academic year, change in work hours that conflicted with the class schedule during the academic year or other extenuating circumstances directly affecting academic performance.
- If the Committee determines that justifiable evidence of extenuating circumstances exists, you may receive an extension of financial aid eligibility and be placed on financial aid probation.
- During the probationary period, you must take at least 6 credit hours, complete 100% of the attempted hours, have at least a 2.0 semester GPA (undergraduate) or a 3.0 semester GPA (graduate) and follow the academic plan. If you do not meet these stipulations, you will be placed on financial aid suspension. (See Suspension for Failing to Meet Probationary Stipulations below.)
- If you meet the probationary stipulations but have a minimum cumulative GPA or a completion rate that does not meet minimum requirements, you will remain on financial aid probation and must continue to meet probationary stipulations and follow the academic plan.
- If you meet the probationary stipulations, have a minimum cumulative GPA and a completion rate that meets minimum requirements and have not attempted 150% of the hours required to graduate, you will be removed from financial aid probation and must continue to meet the SAP policy.
- To reestablish eligibility, you must submit and have an approved appeal after completing a semester at Converse University without financial assistance. During the semester attended without financial assistance, you must take at least 6 credit hours, complete 100% of the attempted hours and have at least a 2.0 semester GPA (undergraduate) or a 3.0 semester GPA (graduate)
- Exceptions to this policy will only be allowed if you encountered some type of extenuating circumstance during the probationary period that hindered you from meeting the stipulations.
- Examples of acceptable extenuating circumstances include: prolonged hospitalization during the probationary period, death in the family during the probationary period, change in work hours that conflicted with the class schedule during the probationary period or other extenuating circumstances directly affecting academic performance. Because you are aware prior to the probationary period that you must meet the stipulations, extenuating circumstances do not include being a single parent or working full-time while attending school.
- You are advised to solve difficulties prior to registering for a probationary period.
Student Financial Services
Contact Student Financial Services
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday - 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Office Location:
Wilson 204
Contact Student Financial Aid
864.596.9019
financialaid@converse.edu