Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

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Per the U.S. Department of Education and the State of Illinois’ regulations, Capital Area School of Practical Nursing is required to establish satisfactory progress standards for federal and state financial aid recipients. These minimum standards ensure that only those recipients demonstrating satisfactory progress toward the completion of their educational objective continue to receive financial assistance. The following policy represents the standards adopted by the Capital Area School of Practical Nursing and applies to all students receiving financial aid. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is the same for all students, regardless of Title IV eligibility.

Students who enroll in the school are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress during their initial evaluation period.

Pace of Completion: To stay compliant with the maximum time frame of 150%, a student must have completed 66.67% of the required credit hours at the time of each formal SAP evaluation period.

Students must successfully complete all components of each quarter before progressing to the next quarter. The maximum time frame, expressed in credit hours, in which students may receive federal student aid, cannot exceed 150 percent (81 credit hours) of the published length of the program, including all completed and uncompleted quarters. 

There is no provision for advanced placement due to the previous coursework of any student other than possibly a student who was previously enrolled and dropped from CASPN. 

Maximum Timeframe: The Practical Nursing program consists of (4) four (10) ten week quarters. To maintain financial aid eligibility, the student must be able to complete the required courses within 150% of this timeframe, or (6) six (10) ten week quarters. Standard rounding rules will be used (i.e. round up X.5 and higher, round down if below X.5). Courses attempted in the previous clock-hour program will not be included in the quantitative maximum time frame calculations. 

The grading scale for all courses (rounded up to the nearest full percentage point for SAP purposes):

A=Academic Excellence: 93%-100%

B=Above Average: 86%-92%

C=Average: 77%-85%

D=Below Average: 70%-76%

F=Failure: 0%-69%

All students achieving a final grade of at least a ‘C,’ defined as 77%, in each course at the end of a quarter are meeting the quantitative component of the SAP requirements.

CASPN does not offer grades of “Incomplete.” The school does not allow credits to be transferred from other schools and accordingly, these have no impact on the qualitative standard for SAP. CASPN does not have a specific summer term, and we do not offer any remedial coursework. 

When a student repeats a course, the transcript will state one of the following: 

W/P=Withdrawal/Passing: Student   withdrew and was passing all courses at the time

D/P=Dismissed/Passing: The   student was dismissed for disciplinary issues and was passing all courses

W/F=Withdrew/Failing: Student   withdrew but was failing at least one course

D/F=Dismissed/failing: The   student was dismissed for disciplinary or academic issues and was failing at   least one course

Grades and hours from previous attempted quarters will be shown on the transcript but will be listed as attempted hours vs. completed hours and will not be calculated into the students overall GPA.

Students should meet with the Financial Aid Specialist to discuss the conditions under which federal aid may be awarded for repeated courses. Students cannot withdraw from specific courses and remain in the program. All classes are taken in a specific order per quarter.

Once a student is dismissed or withdraws from the program, they are no longer eligible for any federal aid other than that which was earned while enrolled unless they re-enroll in the future. No further funding will be available while the student is not regularly attending classes.

Student progress will be reviewed by the Nurse Administrator, the Clnical/Skills Lab Coordinator, and the Financial Aid Specialist periodically throughout each term to identify students who may be at risk regarding satisfactory academic progress. Students who meet the pace of completion and academic standards described above will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. The official Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress review will occur once at the end of each term/quarter. 

Should a student fail to meet the SAP standards, the Financial Aid Office will provide the student with written notice through either email, mail, or in person. 

Financial Aid Suspension: Students not meeting both the qualitative and quantitative standards of this policy will be put on Financial Aid Suspension. 

Appeal: The student has the option to appeal the suspension by submitting a Financial Aid Suspension Appeal form to the Financial Aid Office. The response on the appeal form must include 1) why SAP was not met and 2) what has changed to enable the student to meet SAP at the next evaluation. 

The student will be notified of the appeal decision via their student email account within (5) five business days of submitting the request. Students may have to pay tuition, fees and books out of pocket while awaiting the outcome of the appeal. The decision of the SAP Appeals is final.

Approved Appeal: The student will be required to sign an Academic Plan Agreement.

Academic Plan: The academic plan will specify the academic requirements to be met by the student each term. The plan will be developed by the Nurse Administrator. 

Repeated Courses: All classes for the quarter from which the student was dismissed/withdrawn will be repeated. The previous grade will have no bearing on the grade given for the repeated courses. However the repeated courses will be factored into the maximum timeframe for completion of the program. 

The official review of Financial Aid SAP will be upon completion of 50% of your required hours per your CASC Adult Program enrollment agreement. The data provided at your most recent progress review with the CASC Coordinator will be used in your financial aid SAP eligibility determination.

SAP Criteria:

• Students must maintain at least an 80% attendance rate
• Task card to completed hours 80% or higher
• GPA 75% or above

Failed SAP Review = Financial Aid Suspension; Students on financial aid suspension are not eligible to receive financial aid at CACC.

• The student will be notified in writing either in person or via email.

Appeal Financial Aid Suspension:

• You must write a formal appeal to the Financial Aid Office requesting to have your financial aid eligibility reinstated within 2 weeks of your suspension notification. 
• You will be notified of the decision to approve your appeal in writing by the Financial Aid Office.
  • Approved Appeal:
    • You must adhere to all probation conditions as prescribed by the CASC Coordinator which may include but is not limited to:
      • No absences.
      • Increase task card check-offs to 90% of total hours
      • Maintain a 75% or higher cumulative grade 
    • Regardless of the CASC Coordinator’s decision and criteria, you must also be able to mathematically complete all required hours for your Adult CASC enrollment within 150% of the standard/published time frame for those hours. Otherwise, your financial aid appeal may be denied.