Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Please read all sections carefully as all details are important. 

Academic Requirements

All students who receive financial aid must demonstrate the ability to do satisfactory college work.  Hendrix is required to define and enforce standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to encourage the student to successfully complete courses for which financial aid is received. Progress is measured by both a quantitative standard and qualitative standard.   

Full-time students are expected to complete their degree requirements within four years.  Those unable to graduate within four years may receive federal financial aid (all Title IV programs) for up to 150% of their degree program’s published length.  Sources of aid funded by Hendrix and the State of Arkansas are available only for eight semesters.  The academic unit at Hendrix is the course credit, which matches or exceeds the standards required of a conventional quarter-hour or semester course.  The conversion rate for a standard semester course is 4 semester hours.  To meet the course load requirements, student aid recipients are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they meet the following thresholds as determined by the student’s entrance year:

After five years of academic study the student should have credits sufficient for graduation.  

This standard is consistent with the academic progress standards approved by the faculty for continued enrollment at Hendrix as described in Academic Policies.   The number of courses completed will be reviewed at the end of each payment period, which is at the conclusion of the semester after grades are posted.  It is assumed that at least half the required number of hours for the year shall be earned in the first semester with the remainder being earned in the final semester of the year.  Students who fail to meet the minimum standards of the College for the first time will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester.  By the end of the warning semester, students must have completed the minimum number of courses or they will be suspended from federal financial aid.

Summer courses may be counted toward meeting the course requirements for the previous academic year.  Summer courses and correspondence work will not count toward meeting the grade point requirements.

A course in which a grade of “incomplete” is assigned will not be used to meet course load requirements.  If the incomplete is changed to a passing grade, it will be recorded in the semester during which the course was taken and will then apply to the requirements as a part of that semester.  Grades of NR (no report) will not be counted until a grade is assigned.  Grades of W(withdrawn), WE(withdrawn by administrative action), NC(no credit), or AU(audit) will not count toward completing course load requirements.  No course may be counted more than once toward satisfying the course load requirements.  

Courses taken as an option under which no grade is assigned CR (credit only) will count toward the requirements for eligibility.  Courses taken and passed on a credit basis will not affect the grade point average but will count toward graduation requirements.

Grade Point Average Requirements

In addition to the above, financial aid recipients must also maintain minimum cumulative grade point averages to remain eligible for enrollment and financial aid.  These requirements are as follows:

Grade point averages will be reviewed at the end of each payment period, which is at the conclusion of the semester after grades are posted.  Students failing to meet the minimum grade point standards of the College for the first time will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester.  By the end of the warning semester, students must have the required minimum grade point average or they will be suspended.

Students who feel that mitigating circumstances (injury, illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances) prevented them from making satisfactory academic progress may appeal financial aid suspension decision in writing to the Director of Financial Aid.  This letter may be mailed to Office of Financial Aid 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, AR  72032 or emailed to student_aid@hendrix.edu.  The written appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in the situation that will allow improvement during a subsequent semester.  The student may also attach any documentation of their situation for consideration.  
A Financial Aid Review Committee will evaluate each appeal on a case-by-case basis after receipt.  Appeals are usually reviewed within two weeks of submission.  

A successful appeal will result in student aid eligibility being reinstated and the student being placed on financial aid probation for one payment period (semester).  Notification will be provided in writing to the student either by mail or by email of either approval or denial of appeal.  An appeal will not be approved beyond one semester.  

Hendrix will review student academic progress for those placed on financial aid probation at the end of one payment period (semester) and will fully reinstate aid eligibility if satisfactory progress requirements are met.  If policy minimums are not met, federal aid will be suspended.  

If students are denied aid because of lack of satisfactory progress, courses must be taken at student’s own expense until minimum number of hours and/or the required GPA has been attained.  The student must inform the Director of Financial Aid in writing when they are again in compliance with the policy.  

Graduate students who have attempted more than 150% of the number of courses required for completion of the Master of Accounting Program must appeal for reinstatement of federal aid eligibility.  Graduate students must also maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average each payment period measured at the conclusion of the semester after grades are posted.

The requirements listed above are applicable to all Title IV programs:  Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans for Parents, and to most Hendrix funded scholarships, grants and work programs.  Higher academic performance standards are required to retain most merit scholarships.

Teach Grant:  This federal program requires a student maintain a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale each payment period (semester).  The GPA is based on courses taken at Hendrix and continuing eligibility will be evaluated as soon as grades for the semester are posted.  

During their first year of enrollment, transfer students accepted for admission to the College will be eligible to receive financial aid.  Once enrolled, however, transfer credits accepted by the Office of Academic Affairs will be used to determine grade level and eligibility standard.  Work previously completed plus work completed at Hendrix College, will be evaluated to determine quantitative compliance.  The cumulative GPA obtained at Hendrix will be used to determine ongoing qualitative compliance. 

It is assumed students will be enrolled in a full-time course load of at least three courses per semester.  Some Arkansas scholarship programs require four per term.  Students should verify that they are enrolled in the necessary course load to maintain all aid.  Students wishing to reduce course loads after enrollment should contact the Office of Financial Aid to ensure that their aid will not be affected.