Standards of Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of students attending Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS). It is important to note Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) are separate from, and in addition to, the Academic Standing policy and progression requirements established in the Academic Regulations section of the catalog. All students regardless of major, grade level and course load will be evaluated with the same standards for federal and institutional aid eligibility. 

Frequency of SAP Evaluations

The Office of Financial Aid will review SAP annually in June, after spring semester grades are posted. This standard is stricter than the College's Academic Standing policy for students who are not receiving Title IV Assistance. 

Qualitative Standard

All students must be in good academic standing with the College. Students enrolled in a Bachelor's of Science degree or the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at the end of each academic year. Beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year, all Doctor of Pharmacy students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to graduate. Students enrolled in a Master's degree program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of each academic year. In addition, the Higher Education Act requires that all students, at the end of their second year, have a cumulative GPA of at least a "C" or have an academic standing consistent with their program's graduation requirements.

Quantitative Standard (Pace of Progression)

All students must progress toward degree completion at a defined cumulative rate. Completed coursework and credit hours earned are defined as any course for which a student receives a passing grade. The examples below specify the minimum number of credits the student must earn to progress successfully.

Doctor of Pharmacy Example

 Master's Degree Example

 Bachelor's Degree Example

Process for Incompletes, Withdrawals, Repetitions and Transfer of credit from other schools

Course incompletes and withdrawals are counted as attempted coursework when reviewing SAP. Neither repeated grades nor original grades earned at other colleges will contribute to the student's GPA at ACPHS. Transfer credits will be counted in the quantitative status but not the qualitative status. Students who change their major will be placed on the chart for the semester in which they are entering. 

Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility

If students fail to maintain SAP, they will lose eligibility until they raise their cumulative GPA to the minimum standard and/or by making up the credit deficiency. 

Appeals

Students who fail to make SAP due to very serious circumstances, such as injury, illness, the death of a relative or other special circumstances, which caused a major disruption to their ability to successfully complete their coursework may appeal the loss of that aid to the Director of Financial Aid. Students should submit a letter to the Director of Financial Aid along with documentation to substantiate the unusual or extraordinary circumstance(s) that prohibited the student from making SAP. This must include a comprehensive description of the circumstance(s) and documentation from at least two qualified persons who can verify the information.

In addition, students must explain what has changed with their situation that will allow the student to meet SAP requirements at the next evaluation. In cases of student injury, student illness or death of an immediate family member, the Director of Financial Aid may decide to review the appeal before proceeding to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The student must submit a letter of appeal and associated documentation to his/her case by August 1. Within 2-4 weeks of receiving the letter, the Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal, make a recommendation and send a letter of response. 

Financial Aid Probation

The status of probation is assigned to a student who is failing to make SAP and who successfully appealed their loss of financial aid eligibility. Students in this status will have their financial aid reinstated for one payment period. At the end of that payment period students will be reevaluated for federal and institutional aid eligibility. 

Academic Plan

If the Financial Aid Appeals Committee determines, based on the student's appeal, that it will take more than one payment period for the student to meet progress standards, a status of probation will be assigned and an academic plan will be developed. Students in this status will have their progress reviewed at the end of one payment period to determine if the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan. If the academic plan is being followed, the student will regain eligibility for Federal Student Aid, as long as they continue to meet the requirements set forth in the academic plan. Students may appeal to change their academic plan by explaining what has happened the make the change necessary and how they will continue to meet SAP.

Reestablishing Aid Eligibility

If students fail to maintain SAP, they may regain eligibility by raising their cumulative GPA to the minimum standard and/or by making up the credit deficiency without the benefit of federal or institutional aid. 

Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

Students must complete their degree within the maximum timeframe of 150% of the published length of the academic program. Students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program must complete their education objective within a period of nine years (6 years x 150%). A student enrolled in any of the Bachelor's degree programs must complete his/her educational objective within a period of six years (4 years x 150%). A student enrolled in a Master's degree program must complete his/her education objective within a period of 150% of the length of their program. 

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