GOOD DIRECTIONS IN SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS MASFAA November 16, 2006

1. GOOD DIRECTIONS IN SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESSMASFAANovember 16, 2006 Allene Begley Curto Associate Director FA School of Human Services

2. Satisfactory Academic Progress • What is Satisfactory? • To US ED? • To the School? • To the Student? • What is Academic? • To FAO? • To the Registrar/Academic Affairs? • To the Student? • What is Progress? • To US ED? • To the School? • To the Student?

3. The Standards • Qualitative must be minimum 2.0 GPA after two years of academic study • Quantitative must be maximum of 150% of program • FA standards must be at least as stringent as school’s academic policies • FA standards must be sufficient to meet graduation requirements

4. MISDIRECTIONS • Contradictions between academic transcript and FA eligibility • Student notification comes too late to correct and regain eligibility (or complete program?) • Ineligibility (or FA probation) does not include any corrective action or support services

5. Getting Back on Course • Registrar/Academic Affairs/FAO standards do not have to be the same – but they should not contradict or confuse • Policies and procedures need to establish a path to success (not just identify failure!)

6. Institutional Policy Who Needs to be Involved? • Academic Affairs • Registrar • Student Services • Admissions • Enrollment Management • Financial Aid

7. Springfield College • FA Qualitative Standard (GPA) mirrors Academic Policy • FA Quantitative Standard stands alone • Traditional - minimum # credits earned • Nontraditional - minimum ratio of credits earned • Published Policies indicate Academic Standards and FA standards • Academic Standards are progressive: Warning, Probation, Dismissal • FA standard for GPA: Warning = Eligible, Probation = Ineligible, Dismissal = Ineligible

8. Springfield College (cont.) • FA standard for Quantitative is more complex • Academic Good = Eligible if Quantitative meets standard or if first term not meeting either standard. If not, Good = Ineligible! • Academic Warning = Eligible if Quantitative meets standard or if first term not meeting either standard. If not, Warning = Ineligible!

9. Quantitative OK Quantitative Not OK

10. Financial Aid ProbationSchool of Human Services • Student completes form at campus indicating the exceptional circumstances and requesting FA Probation • Campus academic counselor develops academic plan with student, both sign and approve the plan • SHS Academic Officer reviews, approves and submits to FAO

11. Communications/Notifications • Published Policies online and hard copy in catalogs, student handbooks and FA brochures • Warning letters sent by FAO and Academic Department (if applicable) • Ineligible letters sent by FAO and Academic Department (if applicable) • Letters on removal from Academic Probation sent by Academic Department • Letters on FA Probation sent by FAO

12. Academic Counseling • Each term, every campus reviews report of students who failed to meet the standards cumulatively or just for the term • Campus academic counselor contacts student to review and recommend support services, change to enrollment, recommendation for FA probation

13. Benefits of Collaboration • Early Warning System for academic support • Integrity of FA probation process • Greater consistency in communication to student • Increased opportunity to achieve academic success • Identification of students who may not be able to succeed at the current school/program

14. Questions?