In order to maintain eligibility for Title IV Aid programs, students must meet the following Satisfactory Progress standards.
All matriculated students pursuing an approved program at Yeshiva Divrei Chaim are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation, which in this institution is defined as being in good academic standing as detailed below.
The SAP standards required for students receiving Title IV federal financial aid are one and the same for all matriculated students at Yeshiva Divrei Chaim. Satisfactory academic progress at Yeshiva Divrei Chaim has two principal components: a qualitative standard and a quantitative standard:
- Qualitative Standard
In pursuit of graduation, the student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (the equivalent of a “C” average) or better. Students are evaluated at the end of each semester and are expected to maintain a minimum cumulate GPA of 2.0.
Semester grade point averages shall be calculated according to the following numerical equivalents:
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| W | Withdrawal |
| I | Incomplete |
| F | 0.0 |
- Quantitative Standard
- Maximum Timeframe
A full time student must make sufficient progress through the academic program to complete the 156 credit, five-year undergraduate program, within a time period of not more than seven years (seventeen semesters), which is 150% of the published length.
A part time student must make sufficient progress through the academic program to complete the 156 credit, five-year undergraduate program, within a time period of not more than fifteen years (thirty semesters), which is 150% of the published length.
- Pace of Completion
Students must successfully complete 67% of their attempted per semester, with a maximum attempted credits ceiling of 204 credits. Below is a sample chart which illustrates how maximum time frame and pace of completion are applied for a full time student. The number of credits an individual student must earn may vary from what is depicted in the chart based on his enrollment schedule.
| Semester | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Credits | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 56 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 88 | 96 |
| Maximum Credits Attempted | 12 | 24 | 36 | 48 | 60 | 72 | 84 | 96 | 108 | 120 | 132 | 144 |
| Semester | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||||
| Credits | 104 | 112 | 120 | 128 | 136 | |||||||
| Maximum Credits Attempted | 156 | 168 | 180 | 192 | 204 |
At the end of each semester, students’ academic files are evaluated to determine if the students are making satisfactory academic progress. As part of the evaluation the student’s earned credits are divided by the student’s attempted credits to determine if the student is progressing through the five-year academic program at a pace sufficient to complete the program within the maximum time frame. If the number of credits earned divided by the number of credits attempted is 67% or greater and the student has earned at least the number of credits that appears in the chart above that corresponds to his semester of attendance, he is determined to be making satisfactory progress.
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID WARNING AND ACADEMIC PROBATION
For continued eligibility for federal financial aid programs, if a student who had been making satisfactory progress, falls below the satisfactory progress standards, he will be given a financial aid warning during which time he maintains federal financial aid eligibility. The warning period will last for one semester. During the federal financial aid warning period, the Dean will counsel the student and attempt to improve the student’s performance by providing various student services that might include special tutoring, a new study plan or a scheduling accommodation. If after this federal financial aid warning period satisfactory progress standards are still not met, the student will be notified that he will be terminated from financial aid. He will be notified that he has the option of appealing his lack of satisfactory academic progress. Procedures for filing an appeal are described in the section below. If the student successfully appeals the lack of satisfactory progress after the financial aid warning he will be placed on academic probation for one semester.
The Dean will monitor the student during the period of probation and will devise a study plan to enable the student to improve his academic standing. This may involve conferences with the student and his instructors. If during the probation period the student’s academic performance improves and the student’s progress is within satisfactory academic progress standards, the probationary status will terminate.
If after the period of probation, the student’s academic performance still fails to meet the academic progress standards of the institution, he will be subject to academic discipline which may include expulsion or suspension from the institution, and will be ineligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid.
REINSTATEMENT
When it is determined, by examining his progress for the semester, that a student who was not making satisfactory progress has improved his average and attained sufficient credits to bring his total to the appropriate number for the semesters completed, the student will be notified that he may once again receive aid from Title IV programs. The Dean will notify the financial aid office of each student’s status at the start of each semester.
To re-establish good academic standing, students must consult with the Dean who will design a study plan to assist the student in raising his grades. The Dean will inform the financial aid office when he determines that the student has successfully implemented the study plan. Such notifications will allow the student to again participate in the aid programs until the completion of the semester. Students who do not take advantage of the Dean’s program shall continue to have their financial aid eligibility suspended until the time they can establish satisfactory progress.
INCOMPLETES AND WITHDRAWALS
If a student has not completed all required course work, he may have up to six months, at the discretion of the instructor, to complete the work. If it can be determined that, without passing this course, the student will be in compliance with Satisfactory Progress standards, the incomplete will not be considered to affect his average or his satisfactory progress in that interim. If it is determined that, without passing this course the student will not be in compliance with satisfactory progress standards, the student’s faculty advisor will meet with the Dean to discuss the situation. If they are able to determine that the student is making efforts in good faith to complete the missing work, they may allow him to retain the status of satisfactory progress in the interim.
Students who withdraw or fail to complete a course, and obtain the Dean’s approval for the withdrawal may have the course recorded as Withdrawn Without Penalty. This grade will not be counted in the student’s GPA. However, the course(s) will be counted towards the student’s number of credits attempted. Students who withdraw or fail to complete a course without the
Dean’s approval will receive a failing grade for the course and the grade will be counted in the student’s GPA. The course credits will also be counted as credits attempted.
TRANSFER CREDITS AND SATISFACTORY PROGRESS
Transfer credits are not included in the GPA calculation, however the credits accepted are counted toward both the number of attempted credits and the number of credits earned by the student.
APPEALS PROCESS, MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
A student who wishes to appeal a determination of probationary status, lack of satisfactory progress, or similar issues must submit an appeal in writing to the Dean. The Dean will consider all relevant information, i.e., mitigating circumstances such as illness or death in the immediate family or other unusual situations. The student must also explain how his situation has changed to allow him to make satisfactory progress. The Dean will consult with faculty members as appropriate.
The Dean’s decision will be conveyed to the student in writing within ten days of receipt of the student’s written appeal.
REPETITIONS
All repeated courses are counted in the number of student’s attempted credits, but cannot be counted toward full time enrollment status for the semester in which the repeated course is taken, unless the student is retaking a course in which he received a failing grade.
Students will be allowed to repeat a course provided they will then remain within the time frame required for satisfactory progress.