Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require ASU-Beebe's prospective and current recipients of student financial aid to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward an eligible degree or certificate program.

Students applying for assistance through the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Work-Study, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Direct Parent PLUS Loan, and other programs as determined by the Office of Financial Aid must meet the requirements provided in this policy to determine initial or continued financial aid eligibility at ASU-Beebe regardless if a student received financial aid in the past.

Evaluation of Academic Progress

Current Student: Academic progress is evaluated at the end of the semester or term.

Transfer Student: Transfer students are required to send all official academic transcripts from previously attended colleges to the Admissions Office per the admissions policy. An official academic transcript from the last college attended is evaluated according to the ASU-Beebe's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy's general requirements.

Depending upon the calculation of SAP, a student may remain in good academic standing, be placed in good academic standing, or be placed on SAP Warning or SAP Suspension. Refer to the ASU-Beebe Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy General Requirements section for more information.

Students are notified via email from the Office of Financial Aid regardless if they were placed on SAP Warning or SAP Suspension or are now in good academic standing.

Students Monitor Academic Progress: It is the student's responsibility to review their academic progress and compare it to the standards of this policy to ensure they are aware of their academic standing. In addition, students are encouraged to seek assistance with their coursework proactively. It is imperative as the evaluation may immediately affect their financial aid eligibility for the next term.

ASU-Beebe Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

SAP Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process

While students are expected to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility, the Office of Financial Aid understands that extenuating circumstances can sometimes prevent students from making satisfactory progress toward their degree or certificate.

If a student is ineligible for financial aid because they are not meeting SAP requirements before the beginning of a semester or term due to extenuating circumstances, the student may submit a request for a SAP Appeal to have their eligibility reconsidered.

SAP Appeal Procedure

Complete and submit the following documentation package to the ASU-Beebe Office of Financial Aid:

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Request Form and an official degree audit signed by the student and advisor
Typed and signed (wet signature) letter of explanation detailing why you aren't meeting SAP requirements and how you plan to meet them going forward
Any additional documentation you can provide to support your reason(s) listed in your letter of explanation.

The completed appeal request package is forwarded to the ASU-Beebe Director of Financial Aid for review.

COVID-19 SAP Appeal Procedure

The COVID-19 national emergency presented ASU-Beebe and its students with unprecedented challenges during the 2020 spring and summer semesters. Understandably, the transition from in-person instruction to solely online delivery may impact a student's ability to succeed in certain courses. This disruption of course delivery and changes in campus operations are considered a circumstance that could hinder a student's satisfactory academic progress, causing them to be placed on SAP Suspension status.

Section 3506 of the CARES Act allows ASU-Beebe to exclude from the Pace of Completion (quantitative measurement) attempted credits from which a student withdrew on or after March 13, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 national emergency.

ASU-Beebe must reasonably determine whether or not a student's SAP suspension was based on uncompleted courses due to a COVID-19-related circumstance. To utilize the flexibility of the CARES Act, ASU-Beebe has modified its SAP policy and appeal process to assist its students in the possibility of retaining financial aid eligibility for their next semester of enrollment.

Allowable circumstances related to COVID-19 include but are not limited to illness of the student or family member, need to become a caregiver or first responder, economic hardship, added work hours, loss of childcare, inability to continue with classes via distance education, or inability to access Wi-Fi due to closed facilities.

For students with a COVID-19-related issue impacting SAP, complete and submit the same documentation required for SAP appeals as stated above.
The completed appeal request package is forwarded to the ASU-Beebe Director of Financial Aid for review.

Depending on the COVID-19-related circumstance, supporting documentation must be attached to the appeal form. Examples of supporting documentation may include but are not limited to a letter from the attending doctor, hospital discharge papers, a letter from a student's employer or paystubs, and military papers. If supporting documentation cannot be provided, a student is required to provide a written, signed letter of explanation.

SAP Appeal Submission Deadline

Students may submit a SAP Appeal up to the last five (5) business days before the end of the semester or term of enrollment for which the appeal is requested.

Appeal requests received after the deadline will not be reviewed until the next semester or term of enrollment.