Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Qualitative Assessments: Every matriculated student is required to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA), which varies based on the number of credits the student has already attempted. Compliance with this qualitative requirement is measured every term. Continued failure to meet this standard after a warning (automatic) or probationary (when permitted) period, or failing to fulfill the requirements of a prescribed academic plan, may lead to dismissal from the College. Probation may be granted and academic plans may be prescribed at the sole discretion of the College, only after a successful appeal by the student. Some programs have more restrictive requirements using different thresholds for passing grades. The details can be viewed, by program, in the Catalog. All course grades below the minimum passing standard for that course will be treated as failures in calculating the student’s GPA for qualitative assessment. Students will not be allowed to change programs without approval from the Academic Advisement Department.
Quantitative Assessments: Students are also required to pass a minimum percentage of the credits they attempt in order to remain eligible for enrollment. Quantitative progress assessments are subject to those same warning, probation, and academic plan procedures every term. Some programs have more restrictive requirements using different thresholds for passing grades. The details can be viewed, by program, in the Catalog. All course grades below the minimum passing standard for that course will be treated as credits attempted and not earned for purposes of quantitative assessment. Students will not be allowed to change programs without approval from the Academic Advisement Department.
QUALITATIVE STANDARDS
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must maintain the GPA specified below:
Table 1. Qualitative Standards Degree Programs
| Credits Attempted | Required GPA |
|---|---|
| 0-15 | 1.5 |
| 16-30 | 1.75 |
| 31 or more | 2 |
Table 2. Qualitative Standards continued
| Program | Required GPA |
|---|---|
| LPN to BSN Program | 2.75 |
| Practical Nurse Program | 2.5 |
| Certificate Programs | 2 |
For this purpose, credits attempted are all those completed that receive a letter grade (including an F, WP, and College Skills credits).
Students in the LPN to BSN program must maintain a 2.75 GPA while enrolled in the program. Students enrolled in the Practical Nurse program must maintain a 2.5 GPA while enrolled in the program. Students in all other Baccalaureate programs must have a GPA of at least 2.00 after completing 31 or more credits.
QUANTITATIVE STANDARDS
In addition to the qualitative standards set forth above, students must meet quantitative standards of progress in order to remain eligible for enrollment.
150 Percent Rule
In order to maintain the quantitative standards for satisfactory academic progress, students must be able to complete their programs by the time they have attempted 150 percent of the required credit hours necessary for graduation in their degree programs. The maximum timeframe for each program is listed below:
Table 3. Maximum Timeframe Standards
| Program | Credits Required for Graduation | Maximum Attempted Credits Allowed |
|---|---|---|
|
Associate's degree |
60 |
90 |
|
Bachelor's degree |
120 |
180 |
|
Patient Care Technician |
33 |
49 |
|
Practical Nurse Certificate |
50 |
75 |
|
Medical Assistant Certificate |
30 |
45 |
|
Medical Insurance, Billing, |
30 |
45 |
|
Surgical Processing Technician |
33 |
49 |
Application of the 150 Percent Rule
The College includes test credits as “credits attempted” in applying the 150 percent metric. For students who have changed programs, returning under a new catalog, and/or have returned to complete additional degrees, only the attempted credits applicable to their current programs will be counted in the 150 percent calculation, however, their qualitative measurements will continue to apply. Students will not be allowed to change programs without approval from the Academic Advisement Department.
Students for whom it is no longer mathematically possible to comply with the 150 percent rule before program completion and do not submit an appeal as outlined below will be declared ineligible to participate in Title IV or TAG programs. At the discretion of the Provost’s Office, these students may be dismissed from the College. Such decisions are not appealable.
Progress Assessments
To help students avoid reaching the 150 percent point, the College reviews student progress every term, based on attempted vs. earned benchmarks. The following standards are applied:
Table 4. Progress assessments for Degree Programs
| Credits Attempted | Necessary |
|---|---|
|
0-30 |
50% |
|
31-45 |
65% |
|
46 or more |
67% |
Table 5. Progress assessments for Certificate Programs
| Credits Attempted | Necessary |
|---|---|
|
0-15 |
50% |
|
16 or more |
67% |
For this purpose, attempted credits include test credits, and all credits accepted in transfer. In addition, all credits for which a letter grade was received, including F, WP, and WF (withdrawn after tuition assessment), are counted as attempted credits. Credits earned include all coursework that was successfully completed (student received a passing grade).
Please note that in some certificate programs the grade of C is treated as a failing grade. Consult the Berkeley College Undergraduate Catalog or Student Handbook Supplements applicable to certain health studies programs for program-specific details.
WARNINGS AND APPEALS
Warning of Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements
Students who, for the first time, fail to meet standards will automatically be placed on Warning status for the following term. Students on Warning status may continue to be enrolled and, if applicable, maintain their eligibility for financial aid. Students who meet the SAP standards during the Warning (subsequent) term will be restored to good standing.
Appeals for Probation
Students who fail to meet standards during the Warning term may appeal to be placed on Probation status for the subsequent term. Failure to submit an appeal if required will result in withdrawal from the College. Students on probation may continue to be enrolled and, if applicable, maintain their eligibility for financial aid. Students who have met the SAP standards by the end of the probationary term will be restored to good standing.
Appeals for Academic Plans
Students who fail to meet the SAP standards by the end of a probation term may be considered for an Academic Plan. Failure to submit an appeal, when required, will result in the loss of financial aid and potential withdrawal from the College.
Academic plans, to which students must agree, are designed to allow students to comply with SAP requirements within a period of time so that they can graduate without losing their financial aid eligibility. Students on academic plans may continue to be enrolled and maintain their eligibility for financial aid programs as long as they continue to satisfy the terms and conditions of their plans.
Academic Advisement
The College will promptly notify students placed on Warning, Probation, or Academic Plan status to offer additional academic support services.
Appeal Procedures
Students dismissed for failure to meet qualitative standards or prescribed quantitative benchmarks may appeal those dismissals by timely submission of online eForms. Dismissals for failure to satisfy the 150 percent rule are not appealable.
Students will be notified when their appeals have been submitted successfully. The appeals will be reviewed, as needed, by the SAP Review Committee, which is comprised of representatives appointed by the Provost’s Office. Decisions made by the SAP Review Committee will be based on several criteria, including any special circumstances that contributed to the failure to satisfy SAP requirements and material changes in such circumstances. Students who successfully appeal may be restored to good academic standing by meeting the SAP standards in the subsequent term or following their prescribed academic plans. Students whose appeals are granted will receive instructions from the Academic Advisement Department on how to proceed.
Provisional Appeals
Academic Advisors review students’ progress throughout the term. Students on Warning or Probation status who are not succeeding in their studies as of the final term Census are encouraged to submit provisional appeals before the end of the term.
Denial of an Appeal
If a failing student’s appeal is denied, the student will be notified and academically dismissed from the College.
Reinstatement after Dismissal or Loss of Eligibility for Financial Aid Due to Failure to Meet SAP Standards
The College will consider appeals for reinstatement of students who have not been enrolled for a minimum of one term. Students dismissed or declared ineligible for financial aid due to their failure to meet SAP standards may later experience positive changes in their personal circumstances that improve their chances for future academic success. Such students must file an appeal to return and approval or denial of such appeals is at the discretion of the College and are non-appealable.
SAP and Transfer Credits
In measuring compliance with SAP standards, transfer credits will be considered as credits attempted and earned. Therefore, since transfer credits are ungraded but are nevertheless counted in calculating SAP requirements, transfer students may be required to earn at least a 2.00 GPA in their first term (and all subsequent terms) at Berkeley in order to remain in good standing.
SAP and Repeated Courses
When a course is successfully repeated, the original failure(s) is not included in calculating the cumulative GPA or the qualitative requirements. For the quantitative SAP measure, however, each failed attempt will be included in the “courses attempted” portion of the evaluation.
SAP and Incomplete Grades
Initial calculations of SAP will treat incomplete grades as F grades until such incompletes are replaced with passing letter grades. After the first week of the following term, all unresolved incomplete grades will convert to F grades and will be treated as such in all SAP evaluations. To accommodate grade changes, final SAP calculations are made after all grades have been recorded.
SAP and Course Withdrawal
Students who drop courses will receive letter grades of either WP (withdrawn-passing) or WF (withdrawn-failing). These grades will not be considered in the application of qualitative requirements, but will be counted as credits attempted for quantitative purposes.
SAP and College Skills Coursework
Even though they are not applied toward the number of credits required to complete a program of study, College Skills credits will be included in both qualitative and quantitative SAP measurements.
SAP and Non-Matriculated Students
Students enrolled as non-matriculated students will not be held to the SAP standards. However, if non-matriculated students matriculate, then all coursework will be included in SAP calculations.