Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
This policy applies to all students at Dallas Baptist University. To be eligible to receive most types of financial aid, students must be making progress toward the completion of their degree. The DBU Financial Aid Office measures students’ progress at the end of each semester using Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. Federal regulations require DBU to establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor your progress toward completing your degree program. Making progress toward a degree is important for your academic success and a key factor in reducing student debt.
Students must meet three SAP standards to be eligible for most types of financial aid:
- GPA - The minimum cumulative GPA based on your attempted credits for courses taken at DBU (see chart below.
- Pace - The ratio of your Cumulative completed credits that apply to your current program at DBU with passing grade / to you Total Cumulative attempted credits that apply to your current program at DBU (see the chart below). Transfer credits can apply to your current program if your program requires them.
- Maximum Timeframe - The maximum number of credits a student can attempt to complete a program.
| SAP Standard | Undergraduate | Graduate | Doctoral |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPA | 2.0 CGPA | 3.0 CGPA | 3.0 CGPA |
| Pace | 66.67% of all applicable coursework attemtped | 67% of all applicable coursework attempted | 67% of all applicable coursework attempted |
| Maximum Timeframe | 150% of the applicable hours of the published degree program length | 150% of the applicable hours of the published degree program length | 150% of the applicable hours of the published degree program length |
| Pace Example | Cumulative Units Completed | Cumulative Units Attempted | Completion Percentage | Meets SAP? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student A | 67 | 100 | 67% | Yes |
| Student B | 66 | 100 | 66% | No |
According to federal regulations, students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress towards their degree or certificate will lose their ability to receive federal student aid. Students who fail to meet any of the three SAP standards after two consecutive semesters of attendance will lose their ability to receive most types of financial aid, including institutional, state, and federal financial aid.
SAP Status
- Financial Aid Warning Status
The first semester you do not meet either the GPA or PACE SAP standards, you will be placed in Financial Aid Warning Status. During the subsequent semester in which you are enrolled you are still eligible for financial aid; however you are one semester away from losing your financial aid eligibility. - Financial Aid Suspension Status
If at the end of your warning semester you are still not meeting the PACE or GPA SAP standards, you are then placed in Financial Aid Suspension Status. You cannot receive federal or institutional financial aid while in the Financial Aid Suspension Status. However, you may submit an SAP appeal to regain eligibility. - For the Maximum Timeframe SAP standard, you will be placed in Financial Aid Suspension Status the first time you do not meet the standard. However, you may submit an SAP appeal to regain eligibility.
- If your SAP appeal is approved, you will be placed on a probation status of Academic Plan for one semester. You will be eligible to receive financial aid for this semester and you must successfully follow your SAP Probationary Conditions (and for Maximum Timeframe students, your Maximum Timeframe Academic Plan) while in this status. You will be monitored by OSFA at the end of each semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals
If you’re placed on Financial Aid Suspension, you may file an SAP Appeal to request reconsideration of your eligibility for financial aid funds. To submit an appeal:
- You must visit your academic advisor to discuss your academic progress and develop an academic plan.
- You will be required to clearly explain why you were unable to meet SAP requirements and provide proper documentation to support these extenuating circumstances (including if you believe you’ve regained eligibility due to submission of late grades or grade changes).
- You must indicate how you will improve your academic performance moving forward. Outline the changes you might have made in your personal, social, or economic situation that will allow you to improve your future academic success.
Please visit our Financial Aid Forms page to find the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal
Important: Financial aid satisfactory academic progress eligibility is different from academic probation or suspension. Students who are on financial aid suspension may be allowed to register and attend classes in future semesters if they are not also on academic suspension. See the Registrar for more information.