Federal Guidelines

Federal regulations require that financial aid recipients maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to remain eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid. Title IV financial aid includes Federal Pell Grant, Federal College Study, Federal Direct Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). SAP standards may also be required for some alternative/private loans.

Washburn Institute of Technology reviews the following items at the end of each semester for all students who received federal financial aid:

1. Qualitative Measure:  Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.0 (required for all students)
2. Program Pace:
   All financial aid recipients must maintain pace of completion of 67% or greater. A student’s pace is calculated as cumulative credit hours successfully completed divided by cumulative credit hours attempted/number of enrolled credit hours. (Successfully completed is defined as a “C” or better). For example, if a student enrolls in, and attempts, 24 credit hours and successfully completes/earns, 20 credit hours, pace is 83% (20/24) and the student would meet the pace requirement. On the other hand, if a student enrolls in, and attempts, 24 credit hours and successfully completes/earns, 15 credit hours, pace is 63% (15/24) and the student would not have met pace.
3. Maximum Time Frame for Program Completion:
   The maximum number of credit hours for which a student is eligible to receive financial aid cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if the published length of an academic program is 48 credit hours, the maximum number of credit hours must not exceed 72 credit hours, 48*1.5 = 72. Students are required to meet with an advisor to discuss an academic completion plan if and when they reach 100% and have not met graduation requirements.

Financial Aid Warning: If a student falls below any of the SAP standards at the end of the semester, they are automatically placed on warning for the next semester they attend. Students may remain eligible for financial aid during the warning semester.

Financial Aid Suspension/Cancellation: Students who falls below any of the SAP standards at the end of a warning semester, or at the end of any future semester, the student is placed on financial aid suspension and not eligible for financial aid unless a student completes the appeal process and is approved to be placed on an academic plan.

A student is not automatically eligible for financial aid upon re-enrolling in a program. A student must take-action to earn a satisfactory SAP status before eligibility for financial aid can be regained.

Adding and Withdrawing Classes

Courses in which students receive a grade of incomplete “I”, withdrawn “W”, or failing “F”, are not considered as completed hours for SAP purposes. However, an incomplete that becomes a satisfactory grade is counted in the cumulative GPA and as hours completed for SAP standards. Incompletes must be completed within the time frame approved by the instructor and the Assistant Dean & Director of Student Services.

Repeating Courses

See Adding, Withdrawing, and Changes to Classes

Credit/No Credit Options

Credit/No Credit classes are accepted as enrolled hours for SAP purposes. These classes always count as credit hours attempted when measuring SAP standards. See Adding, Withdrawing, and Changes to Classes.

Transferring Credits

Credits transferred to Washburn Tech from a previous institution are included when determining SAP.

Changing Programs

All grades earned at Washburn Tech are included in the SAP calculation. This is true even if a student changes programs.

Appeal Process

Appeals are accepted through the end of the 5th day of the subsequent semester.

Before students may appeal for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be on file for the semester funds are being requested.

Students who wish to appeal for reinstatement of enrollment must provide a written appeal to the Washburn Tech Financial Aid Office. Appeal forms are available online at: https://www.washburn.edu/admissions/paying-for-college/financial-aid/forms.html. Written appeals must be supported with appropriate documentation. The SAP Appeal Committee reviews all appeals. The student will be notified in writing of the decision within ten days of receiving the appeal. This decision is final. If the appeal is approved financial aid may be reinstated.

Students who appeal because the maximum number of credit hours attempted was reached are required to meet with an advisor to review and revise their academic completion plan. The plan describes how the student intends to complete the program on a course-by-course or semester-by-semester basis.

However, reviewing the academic completion plan does not automatically reinstate financial aid eligibility. Students are required to follow the academic completion plan for each remaining semester to reach the graduation requirements successfully.