CURRENT STUDENTS
Satisfactory Academic Progress Glossary
Glossary (for definitions of the following terms, scroll down)
Academic Probation
Academic Renewal
Academic Suspension
Appeals for Exceptions to the Policy
Appeals for Not Meeting the 2.0 Cumulative GPA and 67% Completion Requirement
Appeals for Excessive Aggregate Hours
Additional Degrees
Calculators
Cumulative GPA
Developmental/Remedial Courses
Disabilities
Double Majors and Multiple Minors
Early Start (Dual Enrollment) and Summer Enrichment
Financial Aid Probation
Financial Aid Warning
Percent Completion or PACE
Maximum Aggregate Hours Attempted
Repeated Courses
Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
Transfer Students
Academic Probation
Academic probation has no direct correlation to eligibility for federal financial aid.
Academic Renewal
Students granted academic renewal will have to appeal for federal financial aid eligibility. If the appeal is approved, students will still have all attempted hours considered when evaluating aggregate hours. GPA and Pace will be based on courses attempted regardless of renewal. Questions about Academic Renewal should be addressed to the Admissions Office.
If you have been granted academic renewal and wish to be eligible for federal financial aid, please submit an appeal form, a copy of your approved academic renewal letter that you received from admissions office, and a transcript(s) showing all courses attempted prior to academic renewal.
Academic Suspension
Students are ineligible for financial aid while suspended. An explanation of cumulative grade point averages and their effect on enrollment is found in the Louisiana Tech University Catalog.
Contact the Registrar’s Office for further information – 318.257.2176.
Appeals for Exceptions to the SAP Policy
Appeals for Not Meeting the 2.0 Cumulative GPA and 67% Completion
All appeals for exceptions to the policy must be submitted in writing using the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form with all appropriate documentation and an unofficial copy of your most recent academic transcript if from another school other than Tech that was not furnished on admission. An unofficial copy of the most recent Tech academic transcript is available on B.O.S.S. under Student Records > Unofficial Transcript. Suggesting that the Financial Aid Office contact doctors, professors, or other persons for additional information is not considered adequate documentation.
Appeals must be received no later than the deadline for the specific quarter that you are requesting eligibility. We recommend that you submit an appeal as soon as knowledge of the deficiency occurs so that the appeal can be evaluated within a reasonable timeframe. A student may appeal a total of three times during an entire academic career at Louisiana Tech University. Appeal Deadlines are as follows:
| Appeal Deadlines | |
| Fall 2022 | Sep 8, 2022 |
| Winter 2022-2032 | Nov 30, 2022 |
| Spring 2023 | Mar 8, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | June 1, 2023 (12-week and 1st 6-week) |
Appeals for Excessive Aggregate Hours
Maximum hours attempted are considered when determining financial aid eligibility. These hours are considered even if financial aid was not received while attempting them. Regardless of where the hours were attempted, Louisiana Tech University standards apply. The general rule for maximum hours is 150% of the hours required for the program of study in which the student is currently enrolled. Students lose eligibility for future quarters and future award years after the quarter in which they exceed the maximum hours during the award year. To determine the maximum allowable hours for a specific program of study (major), refer to the University Catalog, note the total hours required for the program, and multiply that figure by 1.5. Students in Developmental and “Pre” Programs are allowed to attempt a maximum of 60 hours (see Developmental and “Pre” appeal requirements).
| Appeal Deadlines | |
| Fall 2022 | Sep 8, 2022 |
| Winter 2022-2023 | Nov 30, 2022 |
| Spring 2023 | Mar 8, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | June 1, 2023 (12-week and 1st 6-week) |
Suggesting that the Financial Aid Office contact doctors, professors, or other persons for additional information is not considered adequate documentation. Appeals for exceptions to the policy must be submitted in writing using the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. Appeals must be received no later than the deadline for the specific quarter that you are requesting eligibility. We recommend that you submit an appeal as soon as possible after the deficiency occurs so that the appeal can be evaluated before classes begin. A student may only appeal for a total of three times during an academic career at Louisiana Tech University. Appeal Deadlines are as follows:
Please include the following in an appeal for excessive aggregate hours (an incomplete appeal will be returned without action):
- An appeal form.
- A detailed signed letter of explanation. Describe your goals at Tech, explain why you have not met graduation requirements yet, and provide any documentation available to support your reasons. What actions have you taken to make sure you graduate in the near future?
- Provide any documentation available to support you reasons.
- An Academic Degree Completion Plan.
- An unofficial copy of the most recent academic transcript (available on B.O.S.S. under Student Records > Unofficial Transcript).
Additional Degrees
Students seeking additional degrees are limited as follows.
| Associate…………. | 60 credit hours beyond prior degree |
| Bachelors…………. | 60 credit hours beyond prior degree |
| Masters…………. | 45 credit hours beyond prior degree |
Students seeking a third Associate, Bachelor or Masters degree are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Doctorates are considered terminal degrees thus no federal aid is available for a second doctoral program.
Calculators
Satisfactory Academic Progress is the term applied to the requirement imposed by the federal government regarding the measurement of grades and course completion to be eligible for federal financial aid. Federal requirements are found in 34 CFR Sections 668.16, 668.32 and 668.34. Louisiana Tech has defined the rules in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (available in PDF format).
Cumulative GPA Requirements:
Continuing and transfer undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00+. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative graduate course GPA of 3.00+.
| Cumulative GPA = | Total Quality Points (QPTS) |
| Total Quality Hours (QHRS) |
PACE Requirements:
All students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of the courses in which they enroll. Beginning and Continuing students will have all courses in which they enrolled counted as attempted; withdrawn, incomplete, repeated, non-credit, and failed courses are included. Courses initially enrolled in as audit are not eligible for financial aid nor are they counted in pursued hours.
| PACE Completion = | Hours Earned Total(EHRS) |
| Aggregate Hours Attempted(AHRS) |
Maximum Aggregate Hour Requirements:
All hours are considered even if financial aid was not received while attempting them. It does not matter where the hours were attempted, Louisiana Tech standards apply. The general rule is 150% of the hours required for the program of study in which currently enrolled. Students lose eligibility for future quarters and future award years as soon as it is clear that a student will not graduate within this period. To determine the maximum allowable hours for a specific program of study (major) refer to the University Bulletin, note the total hours required for the program and multiply that figure by 1.5.
| Maximum Aggregate Hours = | Total Hours Required for Degree Program X 1.5 |
Cumulative GPA
Cumulative GPA Requirements:
Continuing and transfer undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00+. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative graduate course GPA of 3.00+.
| Cumulative GPA = | Total Quality Points (QPTS) |
| Total Quality Hours (QHRS) |
Developmental/Remedial Courses
Developmental/Remedial courses are counted as hours attempted and, if successfully completed, hours earned unless the aggregate total exceeds 30. Developmental courses in excess of 30 hours are not counted when determining enrollment level for federal aid.
Disabilities
Students who arrive at Louisiana Tech University and are aware of learning or other disabilities should immediately contact the Office of Disability Services at 318.257.4221 so that appropriate accommodations can be made. A student with a documented disability and functional limitations is still held to the same academic expectations as other students. If the student is registered with the Office of Disability Services and receiving appropriate accommodations, the student should be able to maintain satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility purposes.
Double Majors and Multiple Minors
Students seeking double majors must complete their degree program for the primary major within the limits set for that major.
NOTE: Additional hours will not be allowed for double majors or multiple minors.
Early Start (Dual Enrollment) and Summer Enrichment
Early Start (Dual Enrollment) and Summer Enrichment high school students taking college courses will have these courses evaluated when matriculating at Louisiana Tech University. If a student’s college level courses fail to meet the 2.00 cumulative GPA and/or 67% completion requirements, s/he will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next quarter during which the student is expected to raise their grades and completion rate to the required level.
Financial Aid Probation
If the student has not met SAP qualifications at the end of the Financial Aid Warning quarter, they will have their financial aid funds for their next quarter stopped. A student who has their financial aid funds stopped or placed in Hold has two options; first, they may appeal. If their appeal is successful, they will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one addition quarter of attendance. Appeal requirements are listed in the appeal form and in this policy and are very specific. Secondly, they may attend at their own expense until they raise their cumulative GPA and / or cumulative Pace to the required levels. The student’s record will be reviewed to determine if they are eligible for Reinstatement.
Financial Aid Warning
If a student does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements at the end of the quarter and is not already on Financial Aid Warning or Ineligible, they will be placed on Financial Aid Warning.
Percent Completion or PACE
We will evaluate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the conclusion of each payment period (quarter). Upon receipt of the grades and course completion data we will determine the cumulative GPA. We will also calculate the “Pace” at which the student is progressing. This is done by dividing the cumulative course hours completed/transferred to Louisiana Tech University by the cumulative course hours attempted /transferred to Louisiana Tech University.
SAP will be met if the Undergraduate student is achieving a 2.00 cumulative GPA or better and their Pace is equal to 67% or higher and they have not reached 150% of the credit hours required for their degree program.
SAP will be met if the Graduate student is achieving a 3.00 cumulative GPA or better and their Pace is equal to 67% or higher and they have not reached 150% of the credit hours required for their degree program.
| PACE Completion = | Hours Earned Total |
| Aggregate Hours Attempted |
Maximum Aggregate Hours Attempted
Maximum hours attempted are considered when determining financial aid eligibility. These hours are considered even if financial aid was not received while attempting them. Regardless of where the hours were attempted, Louisiana Tech University standards apply. The general rule for maximum hours is 150% of the hours required for the program of study in which the student is currently enrolled. Students lose eligibility for future quarters and future award years as soon as it is clear that a student will not graduate within this period.
To determine the maximum allowable hours for a specific program of study (major), refer to the University Catalog, note the total hours required for the program, and multiply that figure by 1.5. Students in Non-degree, Developmental, and “Pre” Programs are allowed to attempt a maximum of 60 hours. Students requiring more hours to complete their program of study may appeal for additional quarter(s) of federal aid eligibility.
| Maximum Aggregate Hours = | Total Hours Required for Degree Program X 1.5 |
Repeated Courses
Repeated courses which were previously failed are counted in hours pursued and, if successfully completed, hours earned.
Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
Reinstatement is possible if the student raises the Pace and Cumulative GPA to the required levels after being placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Academic work at other universities while academically suspended from Louisiana Tech may not be used for financial aid reinstatement purposes. Reinstatement is not retroactive to earlier quarters.
Students will be notified when they have been reinstated after Cumulative GPA & PACE is received at the end of each quarter. Students who are ineligible for aggregate hour limits are ineligible for reinstatement.
Transfer Students
Students who apply for federal financial aid will be responsible to insure that final official copies of prior school transcripts are received by the Registrar’s office for evaluation and posting. No federal aid will be awarded until all transcripts are received and posted to determine the students eligibility.
After all transfer work is posted, the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be applied to the total record.