College catalog

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is defined as progression through the academic program within a prescribed time frame while maintaining a sufficient grade point average to demonstrate growth in knowledge and skills.  Lack of satisfactory progress may jeopardize the student’s ability to complete their program of study.  Platt College expects students to progress through the program based on satisfactory academic progression standards.  The School of Nursing at Platt College individually determines the criteria requirement for SAP.  All students will be considered to be in a state of satisfactory progress at the time of initial enrollment.

Federal regulations require that a student receiving financial assistance from a state or federal aid program must make SAP as determined by the institution from which such aid is received.  Platt College’s standards for determining SAP are the same for all students enrolled in the same educational program, regardless of financial aid recipiency.  Platt College students, regardless if they are receiving financial assistance, will have their satisfactory progress measured by their cumulative grade point average and credit hours offered. Consistent application of standards exists to all students regardless of category (i.e., full time, part time, receiving financial aid, not receiving financial aid) and educational program. 

Step-by-Step Discipline (Warning/Probation/Temporary Suspension/Termination)

  • Step One: The student is placed on academic warning the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet satisfactory academic progress; time period is one quarter.
  • Step Two: The student is placed on academic probation the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet satisfactory academic progress and is already on academic warning for one quarter; time period is one quarter.  Financial aid is not available for students during academic probation, unless a financial aid appeal has been granted and the student is eligible to receive financial aid.  For more information regarding financial aid appeals, see Policy 03:23:00 Appeal for SAP for Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility. 
  • Step Three: The student is placed on temporary suspension the subsequent quarter after a student fails to meet satisfactory academic progress and is already placed on academic warning for one quarter and academic probation for one quarter; time period is one quarter. After the student has been temporarily suspended for one quarter, they are eligible to return to Platt College. If a student continues to not meet satisfactory academic progress upon return, they will return to step two. Financial aid is not available for students during academic probation, unless a financial aid appeal has been granted and the student is eligible to receive financial aid.  For more information regarding financial aid appeals, see Policy 03:23:00 Appeal for SAP for Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility. 
  • Step Four: Termination is issued when a student is placed on temporary suspension and fails to return to the College after the temporary suspension time period elapses. After a student is terminated from the College, the student must reapply for entry.

If a student takes a leave of absence (LOA) during steps one through four of the step-by-step discipline process, s/he will return in the same status upon return from the LOA.

Students’ academic progress, both the qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (time-based and credit-based) SAP measures, are reviewed quarterly. A student on academic warning or probation may continue to receive financial assistance for one payment period despite a determination that the student is not making satisfactory academic progress. However, while a student is on academic warning or probation, Platt College may choose to require that the student repeat a failed course and/or take a reduced course load.  Course repeats are included in a student's cumulative GPA, and count towards the pace of completion.

Notification: Student Progress and Progress Reports

Student progress is evaluated through daily assignments, hands-on assessments, quizzes, written examinations, and other methods as determined by the course faculty. Student progress is measured by the use of a 4.0 grade scale.

Students are entitled to a regular accounting of their academic status. Students may monitor their SAP on My Platt College. Students placed on academic warning, probation, or temporary suspension are informed in writing at the time the action is taken. Students are strongly encouraged to receive advising from the appropriate faculty member or administrator in an effort to improve their academic performance. Further, students are informed by the Financial Aid Office in writing how their financial assistance may be affected by not meeting satisfactory academic progress.

Maximum Time Frame

Students must complete their programs within a prescribed time frame. The maximum time frame is limited to 1.5 times the normal length of the program in duration or credit hours required to complete the program. Students who fail to complete their programs within the maximum time frame will be dismissed.  

The pace at which a student must progress through their education program to ensure they will complete the program within the maximum time frame is as follows:

Program Months to Complete = 36

Quarter Credit Hours to Complete = 184.5

Maximum Time Frame Limit for Months to Complete = 54

Maximum Time Frame Limit for Quarter Credit Hours to Complete = 267.75

Temporary suspensions, breaks, and leaves of absence (LOAs) are not factored into maximum time frame calculations.

The Office of the Registrar at Platt College calculates the pace by credit hour at which a student is progressing by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted. The Office of the Registrar at Platt College calculates the pace by duration at which a student is progressing by counting the number of months less LOAs, less temporary suspension, less breaks.

Course incompletions, withdrawals, and repetition of courses can affect a student’s pace of completion. Credit hours from another institution (transfer credits) that are accepted toward a student’s educational program count as both attempted and earned hours.
Letter grades of “D” or “F” in any nursing or cognate courses will constitute a course failure. Failure can be used to show both failure of course or unsatisfactory grade.

Termination before Completion

A student who wishes to withdraw from Platt College during their program should meet with the Registrar.  It is expected that students will complete a Request to Permanently Withdraw from Degree Program and a Student Exit Checklist. Students are also required to notify the Financial Aid Office when a change of status occurs (ex: change in name, address, phone number, attendance, tuition aid eligibility or any other item that may have an impact upon completion of the student’s education.)

Reestablishment of Eligibility Process

A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (“C”).  Students’ academic progress will be reviewed quarterly. The student must achieve a cumulative 2.75 grade point average in order to attain Satisfactory Academic Progress and graduate with a Platt College degree.

A student whose cumulative grade point average drops below 2.75 at the end of the quarter will be placed on academic warning, probation, or temporary suspension.  Students who are placed on academic warning, probation, or temporary suspension will be notified in writing by the Registrar.  After notification, the student must make an appointment with the Associate Dean, School of Nursing for advisement. 

Nursing Program Progression

The maximum number of enrollments in any one course in the program is two regardless of the reason for enrollment/re-enrollment (failure, withdraw, and LOA).

If a student must take an LOA due to documented COVID-19, they will not have the LOA count towards the maximum number of enrollments in any one course. 

The maximum number of failures across the program curriculum is four regardless of the category of failure (D in Nursing or Cognate classes/F in any class). Failure on the first course attempt of any four different courses at any point in the program will result in permanent termination from the College. This policy applies to foundational liberal arts, foundational sciences, and nursing curriculum courses. All students must pass courses according to their applicable grading scales within Policy 02:06:00 Uniform Grading.

Example:

NSG 151-D

COM 125- F

NSG 385- D

STAT 250- F (student now terminated)

*The courses listed in the table are examples, there can be any single or combination of courses occurring at any point in the curriculum.  If terminated as a result of this policy, a student may apply for readmission or reinstatement if the individual meets the terms as described in Policy 02:23:00 A OR Policy 02:23:00, whichever policy is applicable.  

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