Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress is calculated for all ABAC students (except transient students) regardless of financial aid status. Updates to the policy are effective Summer 2026.

Academic Progress Requirements

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Program Integrity regulations passed on October 29, 2010, mandates institutions of higher education to establish a standard of satisfactory academic progress for students who receive financial aid. This standard must apply to the student’s entire academic history, whether Title IV financial aid was received or not. To remain eligible to receive aid at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), students must meet the standards specified for acceptable academic performance and for satisfactory progress toward the completion of their program of study. The standards are established within the framework of applicable federal regulations specifically for the purpose of determining the eligibility of students to receive aid under the generally funded Title IV programs, including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Direct Loan Programs (Stafford and Parent PLUS) and Georgia state financial aid programs, like HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships. These standards should not be confused with Good Standing, College Support Status, and Academic Separation as defined by ABAC’s academic policies.

Components

Qualitative (GPA) Standards

ABAC uses the 4.00 grade point average and numerical code.

Most students are required to maintain an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for every term enrolled. However, certain degrees and programs require a GPA higher than a 2.00 to remain within Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines. Degrees and programs that require a GPA higher than 2.00 are as follows:

Since financial aid GPA calculations include all college-level hours attempted at ABAC, and all college-level transfer work, it may differ from your academic GPA.

Quantitative (Completion Rate) Standards

Students must successfully complete a minimum of two-thirds of the cumulative credit hours attempted. Satisfactory completion is defined as a letter grade of A, B, C, D, S, or IP. Unsatisfactory completion is defined as a letter grade of F, I, NR, U, W, or WF. Attempted hours include all courses that have been transferred, withdrawn, and those that are unsuccessfully completed. Learning Support corequisite courses, repeated courses and degree-level transfer courses are included in the calculation of successful completion.

The formula for this calculation is:

Cumulative Hours Successfully Completed (earned hours) divided by Cumulative Hours Attempted.

Example:

Completion Percentage = 62.5% (10 hours earned divided by 16 hours attempted). This student is not making SAP.

Maximum Time Frame Standards

Students will have a maximum of 150 percent of the program to complete their degree requirements while continuing to qualify for federal and state aid. The maximum time frame allowed will consist of all attempted hours inclusive of hours described in the Quantitative Standards section of this policy.

Maximum Time Frame is not met when it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to complete their program of study within the 150%-time frame. Once this happens, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

At the end of each academic term (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters), the financial aid office staff will determine whether students are meeting the minimum standards for each of the components (qualitative, quantitative, and time frame). Students not meeting the time frame standard will immediately, without a warning semester, become ineligible for all federal and state aid programs. The Financial Aid Office has the authority to cancel aid and request immediate repayment of federal and state aid programs at any time that a student is deemed ineligible. This may occur when access to the student’s academic history is not fully available due to the short amount of time between semesters, as well as receipt of final transcripts from transfer institutions.

All communications regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress are sent via email to ABAC email addresses after all grades have been posted and the evaluation is completed. SAP Status can also be viewed in the Financial Aid section of the student’s Banner Student Landing Page.

Students who are not meeting the qualitative and/or quantitative standards at the end of a term are automatically given one (1) warning semester. During the warning semester, students are allowed to receive federal and state aid. Students must be fully in compliance with all components by the end of the warning semester to regain eligibility and receive funds for future semesters. Students may have multiple warning semesters, but they cannot be consecutive semesters. Warning can only be applied if the student was making SAP during the previous term of enrollment. Furthermore, the warning semester allowance is not applicable to the Time Frame standard.

Students with mitigating circumstances may appeal such decisions in writing. All students must complete the Satisfactory Academic Appeals Form and submit all the documentation requested on the form. A complete appeal includes a description of the situation with third party documentation as well as a summary of what has changed and that will allow the student to be successful in the future. Additionally, Maximum Time Frame students must submit an academic plan from their advisor.

Failure to submit a complete appeal with documentation will result in delayed decisions. If an incomplete appeal is submitted or the appeal is submitted after the priority deadline, students should be prepared to pay for their courses prior to the advertised fee payment deadlines.

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES are defined as unanticipated and unavoidable events or situations beyond a student’s control that prevented him or her from successfully completing coursework.

If an appeal is granted, students are expected to adhere to all the stipulations set forth in the reinstatement letter as well as any academic plans that are required for the student to regain compliance with the standards as outlined above. Students who regain eligibility and subsequently fail to maintain progress or fail to abide by the stipulations for reinstatement will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

If the appeal is denied, the student will need to pay using their own resources until they are adhering to all Satisfactory Academic Progress components.

A student who has had their initial appeal denied may present additional information to the Director of Financial Aid for review. The Director will notify the student via email of the appeal decision.

Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee: Students who have been denied by both a counselor and the Director of Financial Aid are eligible to appeal to the Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee if they can reasonably show that one of the following has occurred:

o The student has not received due process.
o The student is the object of discrimination.
o The student has not been treated in an equitable manner.
o The decision of the Financial Aid Counselor or Director of Financial Aid was arbitrary and capricious.

All students who have financial aid reinstated through appeal are reinstated on a probationary basis. Any student who is expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards after one term of attendance will not require an academic plan. Students who are reinstated on probationary status and are not expected to meet the Standards of Academic Progress after one term of attendance will require an academic plan. A probationary student for purposes of financial aid will continue to be eligible for financial aid if they adhere to the reinstatement conditions and academic plan as outlined in their agreement.

The purpose of the academic plan is to ensure the student can complete their program of study or get back in compliance within a set period of time.

The Office of Financial Aid offers aid on a first-come first-serve basis. Students who have their financial aid offers canceled for failure to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress should be aware that, receipt of originally awarded funds following reinstatement depends upon whether those funds have been awarded to other students and are available.

A student can be making Satisfactory Academic Progress but still lose HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility due to the higher GPA requirements for these state aid programs.