The Clemson University Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy evaluates both the quality (grade-point ratio) and quantity (credit hours completed) of the student’s academic work. Students are evaluated at the end of each term (fall, spring and summer).

The student must earn a minimum cumulative grade-point ratio (MCGPR) that meets the requirements for continuing enrollment and graduation as defined in the University Announcements.

Total Credit Hour Level

MCGPR

Up to 29

1.75

30-59

1.85

60-89

1.95

90 and above

2.00

Students must complete their degree in 150% of the timeframe published in the University Announcements and at a completion rate of 67%. The maximum timeframe at Clemson University for an undergraduate degree (or degrees) is measured by the average number of credit hours required to complete a degree (126) multiplied by 150%. This is the maximum number of credit hours a student can attempt to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Advance standing hours (e.g., transfer, AP, IB) count in the maximum timeframe.

Example:       Hours needed for degree =126

                       126 x 150% = 189

                    Maximum hours attempted for satisfactory progress = 189

In addition, students must complete 67% of the credit hours in which they are enrolled after the last day to drop without a “W.” Credit hours completed divided by credit hours attempted is the student’s pace of completion, which must equal or exceed 67%. Advance standing hours (e.g., transfer, AP, IB) that are accepted for credit are counted in both the hours attempted and hours completed. Incompletes and withdrawals are not completed credit hours and will decrease a student’s pace of completion. Redemption and duplicate credits are counted as completed credit hours only once and will also decrease a student’s pace of completion.

Example:       Hours attempted after last day to drop without a “W” = 18

                       18 x 67% = 12

                    Minimum hours completed for satisfactory progress = 12

Pace of completion is measured cumulatively.

Example:       Transfer hours accepted = 30

                    Hours attempted Fall 2010 = 18

                    Hours attempted Spring 2011 = 12

                           Hours attempted Summer 2011 = 6

                           Hours attempted Fall 2011 = 14

                           Total hours attempted = 80

                              80 x 67% = 53.6 (round up to next whole number)

                           Minimum hours completed for satisfactory progress = 54

Students are evaluated on satisfactory academic progress (minimum cumulative GPR, maximum timeframe and pace of completion) at the end of each term (fall, spring and summer). Students who are not maintaining satisfactory academic progress for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. Students under Financial Aid Warning can receive student financial aid without submitting an appeal for one term. At the end of the term, the student must meet the criteria for satisfactory academic progress. If not, the student is placed on Unsatisfactory Academic Progress. Students on Unsatisfactory Academic Progress are ineligible for student financial aid unless they submit an appeal, and the appeal is granted. To be considered, an appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in his/her situation that will allow him/her to make satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation. If a student’s appeal is granted, he/she is placed on Financial Aid Probation and can receive student financial aid for one term. At the end of the term, the student must meet the criteria for satisfactory academic progress. If not, the student is once again placed on Unsatisfactory Academic Progress and is ineligible for aid. The student can appeal again, but the latter appeal must be based on a reason different from the first appeal. If it is not mathematically possible for a student who is appealing to reach satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next term, the student can be placed on an Academic Plan for a specific number of terms. The Academic Plan, which must be signed by the student and his/her academic advisor, will be used to evaluate the student’s satisfactory academic progress until it expires.

Academic Renewal is not considered when evaluating a student’s maximum timeframe and pace of completion. The student’s enrollment history prior to Academic Renewal must still be counted in credit hours attempted.

The policy above addresses the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for undergraduate students. Graduate students are evaluated based on the academic standards and length of their degree programs as published in the graduate University Announcements.

Definitions

Academic Plan – A customized plan to measure a student’s academic progress when he/she cannot reach the standard criteria by the end of the next term. An Academic Plan is granted by appeal on a case-by-case basis and requires the joint approval of the financial aid office and the student’s academic advisor.

Credit Hours Attempted – The number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled after the last day to drop without a “W” including “W” (withdrawal), “P/F” (pass/fail), duplicate and redemption credits, plus advanced standing credits such as transfer, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate. 

Credit Hours Completed – The number of credit hours for which a student successfully earns credit by transfer, examination or completion. Duplicate and redeemed courses receive credit one time only.

Financial Aid Probation – The status of a student who is not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress after one term on Financial Aid Warning. The student has successfully appealed and is eligible to receive aid for one term.

Financial Aid Warning – The status of a student who is not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress for the first time. The student is eligible to continue to receive aid for one term.

Maximum Timeframe – The number of credit hours a student can attempt to complete his/her degree, not to exceed 150% of the published time measured in credit hours. Clemson University uses the average number of credit hours required to complete a degree: 126 x 150% = 189.

Minimum Cumulative Grade-Point Ratio (MCGPR) – The grade-point ratio required for continuing enrollment or graduation.

Pace of Completion – The percentage of credit hours a student completed of the credit hours in which he/she was enrolled after the last day to drop without a “W.”

Satisfactory Academic Progress – The status of a student whose GPR meets or exceeds the MCGPR required for continuing enrollment and graduation, and who has attempted less that 150% of the credit hours required to complete his/her degree, and who has completed 67% or more of his/her attempted hours.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress – The status of a student who is not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (MCGPR, maximum timeframe and/or pace of completion) , and who is not eligible for the status of Financial Aid Warning, and who has not successfully appealed to gain the status of Financial Aid Probation.

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Satisfactory Academic Progress

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I determine my Minimum Cumulative GPR?

Access “My Unofficial Transcript” on SISWeb and find your UNDERGRADUATE CUMULATIVE SUMMARY under the GRADE column. According to your credit hours, see the MCGPR chart in the undergraduate University Announcements at http://www.registrar.clemson.edu/html/catalog.htm.

2. How do I determine my Maximum Timeframe?

Clemson University uses the average published time to complete an undergraduate degree, which is 126 hours. 126 hours x 150% is 189 hours, which is the standard Maximum Timeframe.

3. How do I determine my Credit Hours Attempted?

Access “My Unofficial Transcript” on SISWeb and add the SEMESTER SUMMARY under the CREDITS column for each term. To this figure, add:

• Accepted transfer credits
• Accepted AP/IB credits
• “W” classes  
• “P/F” classes

If you do not know the credits for a course, you can look up the course in the undergraduate University Announcements at http://www.registrar.clemson.edu/html/catalog.htm.

4. How do I determine my Pace of Completion?

Access “My Unofficial Transcript” on SISWeb and find your UNDERGRADUATE CUMULATIVE SUMMARY under the EARNED column. Divide your Credit Hours Completed (earned) by your Credit Hours Attempted (see Question 3 above). Your answer must equal or exceed .67 for satisfactory academic progress. Alternately, you can multiply your Credit Hours Attempted by 67%. If your answer is a decimal, round up to the next whole number. This is the minimum number of hours you must have completed for satisfactory academic progress.

Example:

COURSE TITLE

COURSE

CREDITS

EARNED

GRADE

GPTS

FALL SEMESTER                  NURSING

COMMUNICATION I

COMM 101 P/F

1

P

COMPOSITION I

ENGL 101

3

3

B

9

GENERAL BIOLOGY I

BIOL 103

3

0

F

0

GENERAL CHEMISTRY

CH 101

W

INTRO TO NURS

NURS 130

1

1

A

4

INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY

PSYCH 201

3

3

C

6

SEMESTER SUMMARY

10

8

1.9

19

CREDITS (10) plus “W” hours (CH 101 is 4 credit hours) plus “P/F” hours (1) = 15

Hours Attempted = 15

Hours Completed (EARNED) = 8

8/15 = .53

.53 is less than .67, so the Pace of Completion is unsatisfactory.

Alternately, 15 x .67 = 10.05 (round up to 11)

8 is less than 11, so the Pace of Completion is unsatisfactory.

5. If my MCGPR is too low, how do I make a plan to improve it?

Access “My Unofficial Transcript” on SISWeb and find your UNDERGRADUATE CUMULATIVE SUMMARY under the CREDITS column and the GRADE column. You will need these figures to enter in the GPA Calculator. Use the GPA Calculator located at www.clemson.edu (under G in the A-Z Index) to project the number of credits hours you must take or the average you much maintain to reach your GPR goal. You can also improve your GPR by redeeming classes in which you earned a grade of “D” or “F.”  You may wish to discuss your strategy with your academic advisor.

6. If my Pace of Completion is too low, how do I make a plan to improve it?

Project your possible Pace of Completion by adding the number of credit hours in which you plan to enroll to your Credit Hours Completed and your Credit Hours Attempted and recalculating. Recalculate with various hours to see how many credit hours and/or terms it will take you to reach a Pace of Completion of at least 67%. You may wish to discuss your strategy with your academic advisor.

Example:

In the example in Question 4 above, if the student enrolls in and completes 12 hours in the next term, he/she will then have 27 Hours Attempted and 20 Hours Completed.

20/27 = .74

.74 exceeds .67, so the Pace of Completion is now satisfactory.

Alternately, 27 x .67 = 18.09 (round up to 19)

20 is more than 19, so the Pace of Completion is now satisfactory.

7. Can I make up credit hours in summer school?

Credit hours earned in summer school will be added to your Credit Hours Attempted and your Credit Hours Completed. Successfully completing hours in any term will improve your Pace of Completion, but summer school is not considered a “make-up” period and will not make up deficiencies on a one-to-one basis.

8. Can I make up credit hours by taking classes elsewhere?

Credit hours earned as transfer credits will be added to your Credit Hours Attempted and your Credit Hours Completed. Successfully completing hours elsewhere will improve your Pace of Completion, but classes taken elsewhere do not make up deficiencies on a one-to-one basis.

9. If I am not maintaining satisfactory academic progress, can I appeal?

Yes, you can appeal by explaining why you failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in your situation that will allow you to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. You should describe your plan to meet the MCGPR and a Pace of Completion of 67% or more. If you have exceeded your Maximum Timeframe, you should describe your graduation plan.   Click here for the Appeal form for a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal.

10. If I cannot make satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation, will I lose my financial aid?

You may be denied financial aid, or you may be asked to follow an Academic Plan if you have extenuating circumstances and it is possible for you to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress in a reasonable timeframe. The Academic Plan must be approved by the Office of Student Financial Aid and your academic advisor. You must sign the Academic Plan to signify your agreement.