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Admissions

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Graduate

About

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Congress, mandates that institutions of higher education monitor the academic progress of students who receive federal financial aid. East Texas Baptist University has established the following minimum standards to be eligible for and continue to receive federal financial aid. This policy reflects the changes to federal regulations that are effective as of July 1, 2011.

Please note that state and institutional programs may have higher academic requirements, and eligibility for those financial aid programs is subject to the requirements of each program.

A student must meet BOTH the minimum GPA requirement AND the minimum hour completion to be in “good academic standing.” Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be reviewed at the end of each payment period (fall, spring and summer semester) and will be based on the student achieving both a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and earning a minimum number of credit hours each academic year.

Minimum Grade Point Average (Qualitative)

Maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA on all Graduate work.

Minimum Hour Completion – Pace of Progression (Quantitative)

Must successfully complete a minimum of 50% of all cumulative hours attempted as a regular student, including transferable hours.

SAP Appeal Information

Suspension Period

In the first payment period (semester) after SAP has not been met (earning less than the minimum number of hours and/or earning less than the minimum GPA required), students will be sent notification to inform them that they have been placed on financial aid suspension. While on financial aid suspension, a student is not eligible to receive financial aid, unless an appeal is submitted and granted (see below).

Appeal

If the student does not meet SAP, an appeal process is available for those students who had a personal injury or illness, death of a relative, or believe they had other special circumstances that affected their ability to meet SAP.

Probation Period

This is the payment period that the student may receive financial aid after the SAP appeal has been approved. Continuation of financial aid on probation is contingent on the student successfully meeting academic plan of action provided with the approved appeal.

Appeal Process

Students who choose to follow the appeal process must submit their appeal in writing to the ETBU Financial Aid Office. The written appeal must state why he/she failed to meet SAP requirements, and what has changed so that he/she will meet SAP at the next review.

The Financial Aid Office will review the appeal and notify the student of the decision. Approved appeals will include the approval, the terms of reinstatement of financial aid eligibility, and the consequences for not meeting the terms of approval. Terms of reinstatement may include expectations for the next payment period or an academic plan over an extended period of time. An approved appeal will result in financial aid being awarded for one payment period.

Denied appeals will include the reasons for the denial, and what the student must do to meet SAP in order to regain financial aid eligibility. Denied appeals will not be awarded financial aid until SAP is met.

Students must continue to meet terms and conditions, as established, until SAP is met in order to continue receiving financial aid on a probationary basis. Once SAP is met, student is no longer considered to be on probation. Failure to maintain SAP thereafter will result in receiving an additional warning for the upcoming payment period (semester).

Incomplete Grades

Incomplete grades are counted as an “F” and will affect both the CGPA and the minimum hour completion components for that semester/year. 

Withdrawing From the University

  • Prior to the census date – no impact on SAP as no credit hours have been attempted – student will be responsible for all charges

  • After census date – credit hours attempted are included in the SAP review – student may also be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy

ETBU Scholarships

Earn at least 18 hours each academic year with a minimum 2.00 GPA or the minimum required by that scholarship