NASFAA has posted a revised version of Monograph Number 14, Satisfactory Academic Progress: A Balancing Act on its Web site. The monograph revision appears in the qualitative component section on page 4 in column 2 and is based on clarification received from Department of Education officials on the meaning of "end of the second year" as stated in the satisfactory progress regulations.
The academic progress standards found in 34 CFR Subpart C - Student Eligibility under section 668.34 apply to students enrolled in programs that are at least two academic years in length. The standards require that by the end of a student's second academic year, he or she must have at least a "C" grade point average (GPA) or its equivalent, or have academic standing consistent with the institution's requirements for graduation.
According to ED officials, the end of the second academic year is reached when the individual student has been in attendance for two years, regardless of enrollment status or academic classification. For example, in a four-year semester-based program, the end of the student's second academic year is reached once the student has attended four semesters. For a student who takes time off during his or her studies, unattended periods do not count. For a student who attends optional terms, such as summers, all attended periods count. For example, a student attends three semesters (Fall 2003, Spring 2004, and Fall 2004), but takes the next scheduled semester (Spring 2005) off. He returns to attend the Fall 2005 semester. The end of his second academic year is the end of the Fall 2005 semester. Another student follows the same pattern but she returns earlier, to attend the Summer 2005 semester. The end of her second academic year is the end of that summer term.
This qualitative provision may also be met if the institution identifies an academic standing that is consistent with its own academic standards required for graduation. One example is if an institution determines that a GPA of 1.5 at the end of a student's second academic year is consistent with a progression toward a "C" average (2.0 GPA) graduation requirement, the institution may adopt 1.5 as its GPA standard when the student's progress is evaluated at that point in time. In other words, an institution's satisfactory academic progress policy may reflect graduated or sliding-scale GPA requirements as the student moves through his or her program of study and toward the graduation requirement of a 2.0 GPA.
Another example would be if the institution requires a student to have a "C" average after he or she has attempted the equivalent of two full-time years worth of coursework in an academic program. If this standard is consistent with progression towards the program's graduation requirements, then the institution may adopt it and use it as a measure to determine if the student has met the "C" average requirement mandated by regulations.
Additional information on satisfactory academic progress is available in the 2004-05 FSA Handbook beginning on page 2-185 and in section 1.11.8 of NASFAA's Encyclopedia on the Web.
By Stacey A. Moore
NASFAA Assistant Director for Training and Technical Assistance
Posted May 6, 2004 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Copyright 2004. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited
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