Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress PolicyAll students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements to receive financial aid. This academic progression is measured by three components:
Qualitative Progress The qualitative component is based on a student’s GPA. Students must attain a minimum cumulative TCU GPA of 2.00 at the end of each spring term. With the exception of some study abroad courses, grades from classes taken at another school do not affect the TCU GPA. Quantitative Progress The quantitative component considers the number of credit hours a student successfully completed in comparison to the number of credit hours attempted. The student must successfully complete at least 75 percent of all hours attempted at TCU during each academic year. The academic year begins with the summer term.
Cumulative Progress The cumulative component consists of two pieces that relate to the maximum length of time a student may receive Federal financial aid; generally defined as 150% of the time and hours needed for completion of a 4-year degree. The first cumulative piece requires a demonstrated minimal progression toward degree completion (PACE) that will ensure graduation within the timeframe allowed. PACE is calculated by dividing the cumulative hours a student successfully completed by cumulative hours attempted. Please note that PACE measures a "minimal" progression related to aid eligibility and not graduation requirements. The following chart illustrates the minimum hours needed to meet this requirement for a full-time student in a program requiring 124 hours to graduate:
The second cumulative piece tracks a student’s completion of the total hours needed to complete the degree (maximum timeframe). Most TCU undergraduate degrees require completion of 124 credit hours in eight semesters. Therefore, 150 percent of the time required to complete most four-year degrees is 186 hours and 12 semesters.
Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Quantitative, qualitative and cumulative progress is evaluated at the end of each spring term by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. If a student is not meeting SAP requirements, he/she will be notified, in writing, with a letter sent to the student’s permanent address on file. Appeals Procedure If a student loses financial aid because of a failure to meet SAP, he/she may appeal this determination to the Academic Progress Appeals Committee (the committee). An appeal must be based on significant mitigating circumstances that seriously affected the student’s academic performance. Examples of possible mitigating circumstances are serious illness, severe injury, death of a parent or sibling and other similar situations. A student may only file one appeal for each mitigating circumstance.
The deadline to submit an appeal to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is July 1 and August 1 for summer and fall terms, and January 10 for spring term. The student will be notified of the committee’s decision within one week of the scheduled appeals meeting each July, August and January. Re-establishing Eligibility If a student fails to meet the qualitative SAP standard and chooses to enroll without benefit of student financial aid, he/she may request a review of his/her academic record after any term in which he/she achieved a cumulative 2.00 GPA. Once the qualitative standard is met, eligibility may be regained for subsequent terms. Access to Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy The policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress is revised and published each year by June 1. The current policy is available on the Financial Aid Home Page at my.tcu.edu and in the Undergraduate Student Catalog at www.catalog.tcu.edu/undergraduate.
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