Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (NEW for Fall 2012)

Satisfactory Academic Progress: The Office of Financial Aid must monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for all students receiving financial aid (federal and/or institutional aid) from Western Seminary. To remain eligible to receive financial aid, all financial aid recipients must meet two requirements: a quantitative measure or number of credits earned and a qualitative measure or cumulative grade point average (GPA) each measurement period. Please be advised, this process is separate from the Institutional Academic Probation review conducted through the Registrar’s area. Information on those standards may be found in the Academic Catalog.

Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed for all students at the conclusion of each semester. If a student is not meeting satisfactory academic progress at the end of a term, he/she will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. The student may still receive financial aid for the next term. If the student continues not to meet satisfactory academic progress during the Financial Aid Warning period, the student will not be eligible for further financial aid assistance. The student may then appeal, explaining why they failed to make satisfactory academic progress, and the appeal will be reviewed. The student may then be placed on SAP probation or on a SAP academic plan.

All students:

1. After the completion of each semester, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of:

   *Degree	Cumulative GPA
   M.Div., Dip. Div	2.5
   Graduate Studies Certificate Diploma	2.5
   M.A. in Ministry and Leadership, M.A. (Intercultural Studies)	3.0
   M.A. (Biblical and Theological Studies), M.A. in Counseling/Marital and Family Therapy, Th.M., D.Miss., D.Min.	3.0

2. Students must complete, with a passing grade, at least 75 percent of all courses attempted. When calculating the percentage of courses attempted, all credit-bearing courses taken at Western Seminary are considered, regardless of change of major. Students wishing to calculate their percentage of courses attempted may review their transcript through the student information system. The calculation is as follows: Earned Credits divided by Attempted Credits. Attempted Credits included classes which a student may receive an F, W (withdrawn), or I (incomplete). All transfer credits will be included in the calculation.
3. Maximum time frame for receiving financial aid is the duration of your program as defined by Western Seminary. Dual degrees maximums will be defined in the Academic Catalogue.

   Degree	Max Credits
   M.Div.	90
   MABTS	64
   MAML, MAIS	60
   MAC	73
   GSD	30
   GSC	16
   D.Miss.	36
   D.Min.	30

Satisfactory academic progress appeal process:

Students who fail to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will be denied financial aid by Western Seminary. Students have the right to appeal this decision in writing. Appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee for reconsideration based on extenuating circumstances presented by the student. Decisions by this committee will be considered final. To appeal your Satisfactory Academic Progress standing, please complete the Satisfactory Academic Appeal forms and return to the Financial Aid Office.

Satisfactory Academic Appeal Form

To regain eligibility for financial aid a student must successfully complete a minimum equivalence of a full-time semester (8 credits for graduate students, 6 credits for Th.M. students and 3 Credits for D.Miss and D.Min students) with a satisfactory GPA (see below for program GPA) without the benefit of financial aid. The credit requirements may be fulfilled over two concurrent semesters if needed.

Zero credits earned:

Students who earned zero credits ( all grades of F or a combination of F, W- withdrawn, and I- incomplete) during a semester are subject to the return of 50 percent of their federal aid. The college assumes the student has ceased participation in academic activities at the midpoint in the semester. The student will be responsible for any balance from the loss of funding.

Criteria for Continued Loan Eligibility:

Regular progress is based on the number of credits needed to earn in a two-term loan period the minimum number of credits necessary to earn the Master of Divinity degree within the statue of limitations for that degree, regardless of the program of the student. Our policy requires a loan recipient to complete 10 credits (6 credits for Doctoral and Th.M. students) and two terms before he/she may get a subsequent loan. (Note that, for MA students, this standard is stricter than the seminary’s policy for students who are not receiving Title IV assistance.)

Criteria for Continued Grant Eligibility(New for 2013-14):

Regular progress is based on the number of credits needed to earn in an academic year (fall-summer), the minimum number of credits necessary to earn the Master of Divinity degree within the statue of limitations for that degree, regardless of the program of the student. Our policy requires all institutional grant recipients much complete 16 credits (9 credits for Doctral and Th.M. students). For all Partnership and CB/Supporting Church Grants, students must complete 10 credits within the academic year (fall-summer). Note that, for MA students, this standard is stricter than the seminary's policy for students who are not receiving Title IV assistance.