why we’re here

Campus-Wide Collaboration to Meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic

Progress Requirements

Angela Bell, Interim Director of State Financial Aid Programs, HEPC

Kathy Bialk, Director of Financial Assistance, Marshall University

Presentation at the 2011 Student Success SummitCharleston, WV

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

Why We’re Here

• New federal regulations went into effect July 1, 2011 designed to increase the integrity of financial aid programs.

• Provide some institutional flexibility but also tighten some aspects of what it means for students to be making “satisfactory academic progress”.

• Point to the interconnectedness of aid, academics, and success.


Relationship of Aid to Success

Success


Why the Regulations Were Changed

• Hadn’t been looked at since 1983• Schools were using inconsistent terminology• Overuse of probation


New Regulations Provide:

• Continued flexibility for institutions in establishing their SAP policies

• Additional flexibility for institutions that monitor SAP more often than annually

• Definitions for “warning” and “probation”• In general, a student who is not making SAP is

no longer eligible for Title IV aid


Institution SAP Policy Must Contain:• GPA that a student must achieve at each

evaluation• Pace of progression to ensure completion

within the maximum time frame• Description of and conditions surrounding

“warning” and “probation” statuses, if used• The specific elements and process required for

appeal• How a student can re-establish eligibility


SAP ProceduresSAP

Evaluation while receiving aid

Make SAP, Keep Receiving

Warning-for one period, paidMake SAP, Keep Receiving

Loss of EligibilityAppeal

Successful, ProbationMake SAP, Keep

Receiving

Successfully following academic plan

Loss of Eligibility

Unsuccessful, Loss of Eligibility

Loss of EligibilityTime


Points for Cross Campus Collaboration

• Creation and ongoing evaluation of the SAP policy• Promoting awareness of the policy• Integrating the policy into academic advising• Involvement in the appeals process• Involvement in creation and monitoring of academic

plans


“We are…Marshall University”

• ≈17,500 students• 74.3%

undergraduate students receive aid

• 2 associate, 44 baccalaureate, & 46 graduate programs


SAP - Integrity & Student Success

• October 29, 2010 Integrity Regulations - SAP– Major impetus for integrating SAP campus-wide– Opportunity to work from ground up

• Educating academic community & students• Gaining “buy-in” from academic community in the

development and implementation of policies• Developed partnerships in helping students to succeed in

making SAP toward their degree• Ensuring compliance


Why SAP?

• What are the goals of higher education? What are the goals of my institution?• How can our SAP policy support those

goals?


Who at my institution must be part of the SAP process?

• The SFA Office has primary responsibility for evaluating, communicating, and implementing the University SAP Policies; however, SAP is a university-wide responsibility!


How Was the SAP Policy Developed?• After Financial Aid staff attended numerous

training sessions and consulted with USDE on SAP Integrity Regulations…– SAP draft policy was presented to academic community, SAP

Appeals Committee, and Financial Staff members, and their feedback was fully considered

– Ultimately rules within the SAP Policy were developed to encourage integrity and student success while ensuring compliance

– Complex rules were broken down into the most simplified procedures to carry out the SAP policies (including programming)

– Support and Approval from Senior Administration and President


What are the SAP rules at MU?

• Students being considered for federal, state, and institutional aid are evaluated each payment period

• Major Evaluative Components– Qualitative: Minimum 2.0 MU & Overall GPA– Quantitative: 67% completion ratio– Maximum Time Frame: A.S. Degree – no more than

100 credits hours; Bachelor Degree no more than 180 credit hours

– Not be placed on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension



• Utilize Financial Aid One Payment Period Warning Status

• Students may appeal, but limited to appeal twice• Appeal Approval may include Conditions– UNI 102 – Strategies for Academic Success– UNI 103 – Career Planning for the Undecided Student– Half-time enrollment– Live on campus



• Academic Plan When Placed on Probation– Complete 80% of Coursework attempted for

semester/term (100%, if failed Maximum Time Frame evaluative measure)

– Earn a minimum 2.1 GPA for semester/term• Visit www.marshall.edu/go/fasapug for

Marshall University Undergraduate SAP Policy

http://www.marshall.edu/go/fasapug


What are MU’s SAP Appeal Procedures

1.Detailed explanation for failure to meet SAP standards for each payment period the student failed to perform satisfactorily;

2.Documentation to support the reason for failure;

3.A copy of 2 or 4-Year Graduation Plan;4.If cumulative GPA is less than a 2.0, a copy of

Academic Improvement Plan required;



5. Detailed explanation of what has changed that will now allow the student to comply with SAP standards, a statement of academic objectives, and corrective action plan;

6. Meet and discuss appeal with academic advisor/dean; and,

7. SAP Appeal Form must be typed, signed by advisor/dean after consultation, & submitted to the Office of SFA by published deadline



• SAP Committee: Representatives from Financial Aid, Academic Affairs & Student Affairs

• SAP Committee decision is FINAL• MU Appeal Forms are available at:–www.marshall.edu/go/faappealug–www.marshall.edu/go/fappealgr–www.marshall.edu/go/fappealmd

http://www.marshall.edu/go/faappealug

http://www.marshall.edu/go/fappealgr

http://www.marshall.edu/go/fappealmd


SAP Outreach & Communication Efforts

• SAP Policy Disclosure Notice emailed to all students

• SAP Policy & Appeal published in academic catalogs and at www.marshall.edu/go/fasap.

• Students are individually contacted by email to logon to their “myMU” account to review their financial aid records for notice about their financial aid eligibility as it pertains to SAP

http://www.marshall.edu/go/fasap



“Changes mean getting the grades to get financial aid”

By Leannda Carey, published June 23, 2011, The Parthenon, Marshall University’s Student Newspaper– http://www.marshallparthenon.com/changes-mea

n-getting-the-grades-to-get-financial-aid-1.2602203

http://www.marshallparthenon.com/changes-mean-getting-the-grades-to-get-financial-aid-1.2602203





• Orientation – FA Presentation to Parents• Week of Welcome: UNI 100 Freshman First

Class– Introduction to the academic structures and

expectations of the University– Financial Aid Modules, including SAP

• Annual MU Financial Aid Awareness Week


SAP Current & Future Initiatives for Strengthening Campus-wide Involvement

• SAP codes for conditions, statuses, specific evaluative failure measures are coded in user-defined fields, which will become accessible to academic advisors, deans, etc.

• Work closely with special groups, i.e. Athletic Department, University College

• Tightening academic policies pertaining to Undecided and Pre-majors

• MAP-WORKS


Concluding Thoughts

• It’s all about the students• If student expectations are set high, they will

meet them—if they are set low, they will meet them

• As partners, look for Academic – Financial Aid opportunities to make a difference

• Follow your institution’s values and strategic goals


Contact Info

Angie Bell: [email protected]

Kathy Bialk: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

why we’re here

Documents

sap policy develope

goals of higher education

sap process

university sap policies

sap campuswideopportunity

sap policypromoting

interconnectedness of

academic advisinginvolvement