Federal and state regulations require that the College establish and implement a policy to measure Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completing the baccalaureate degree in nursing.
All students are monitored for satisfactory academic progress regardless of their eligibility or intent to receive financial aid. The student's official academic record maintained by the Registrar is reviewed each semester to determine compliance with the SAP requirements. This policy applies to all enrollment periods whether or not students receive aid. Students not meeting the SAP requirements may lose federal, state, and institutional aid eligibility.
The standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) apply to the following financial aid program:
- Federal Title IV Programs: Pell Grant, Direct Loan Program, and the Direct Parent Loan
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission Programs: Monetary Award Program
- Veteran’s Educational Benefits: All Chapters and Post 9/11 Benefits
- Institutional Aid: Lakeview College of Nursing scholarships.
Note: All students are required to meet the same minimum Standards regardless of eligibility for Title IV funding.
Measurements of Standards are Qualitative and Quantitative
For a student to be in "GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING," the College will measure a student's progress based on two components reviewed at the end of each enrollment period.
- Qualitative Measure (the grades a student must obtain in their coursework, minimum cumulative GPA)
- Quantitative Measure (the Pace at which the student must be completing their Program of Study)
Qualitative Measure (GPA)
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. All nursing grades and all semester hours count toward the student's grade point average in determining academic eligibility to remain enrolled. Students must successfully complete each course.
- Successful course completion is 77% in all classes, except 85% in N311 Foundations of Professional Practice.
- A student may only repeat a course in which they received a grade of "W" or a failing grade once. Students who have withdrawn from a course will be placed on academic probation/financial aid warning. Repeating a course does not remove the failing grade from the transcript. The second grade earned is calculated into the GPA.
- A student may not withdraw from more than two courses while pursuing the nursing degree. The student may not withdraw from a course if there is a Student Code of Conduct issue or a Grievance is pending or being investigated.
The student is required to meet the standards of the SAP Policy, or otherwise, eligibility to receive student financial aid will be placed in one of the following:
- Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning status (the first time the minimum standards of SAP are not met)
- Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension status (failure to meet progression standards)
- Academic Probation/Financial Aid Probation status (if a student has a successful appeal and is readmitted)
Quantitative Measure (Pace)
Cumulatively, a student must successfully complete a minimum percentage of 67% for all credit hours attempted to stay on Pace for completing their program before reaching the maximum time frame allowed. Attempted credit hours include any credit hours in which the student was enrolled after the refund period.
Completing a minimum of 120 semester credit hours with at least 60 transfer credit hours in general education courses and 60 credit hours in nursing courses per the curriculum plan is required. All grades earned in courses a degree-seeking student takes will be used as the criteria for determining academic standards.
The degree requirements must be completed within three consecutive academic years for a full-time student and six consecutive academic years for a part-time student. This timeframe is the maximum time allowed to complete the nursing degree. Completion time may vary for students changing from full-time status to any other status or withdrawing from courses.
If a student accepts Federal Title IV aid for days attended during the refund period (tuition and fee charges are cancelled) but then withdraws from all credit hours, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. This action will not result in Academic Dismissal. However, a student must submit and have an approved appeal before aid eligibility can be reinstated.
Academic Probation/ Financial Aid Warning
Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning status occurs the first time a student fails to meet the minimum standard in the Qualitative or Quantitative components; the student must develop and follow an academic remediation plan.
If a student is placed on Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning, they will still be eligible to receive Student Financial Aid for one more term without appealing the circumstances.
Any student placed on Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning for unsuccessfully completing a course MUST take the failed course in the next semester it is offered (summers excluded). A student required to repeat a course must do so at LCN. Courses taken at another college or university may not be used to repeat LCN courses unless specific approval from the Dean of Nursing is obtained.
Procedure for Academic Probation
The Registrar will notify the student of the Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning by e-mail with the required remediation requirements and financial aid implications. The Academic Probation will be noted on the student's transcript.
Remediation for Academic Probation: The student will receive an academic probation remediation form. The student must develop and submit their remediation plan by the first day of the following semester. The remediation plan should have detailed action steps to help them be successful in future courses. NOTE: Failure to provide the remediation plan by the due date may cause the student to be academically dismissed.
Once the student submits the remediation form, the student's academic advisor, the college tutor, the remediation coordinator, and the campus lab coordinator will review the student's plan. The individualized remediation plan will be finalized, and the student must fulfill all plan requirements throughout the semester. NOTE: Failure to meet the requirements may cause the student to be academically dismissed.
Academic Dismissal/ Financial Aid Suspension
The following are the criteria for an Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension:
- A student on Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning (below a 2.5 cumulative GPA) who does not show progression by raising their semester or cumulative GPA the next semester.
- A student who is unsuccessful in a course and fails the course again.
- A student who fails two different nursing courses.
- A student who has withdrawn from three different courses.
If minimum standards are not met upon the end of the student's next enrollment period, the student will be placed in an Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension status. A student placed on Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension is NOT eligible for Federal or State student aid. Financial aid can be reinstated if a student is successfully readmitted through the appeal process (see the Readmission Policy).
A total withdrawal from all courses (a "grade" of "W" posted to the transcript) or total failure from all courses will result in Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension.
Procedure for Academic Dismissal
The Registrar will notify the student by certified letter of the Academic Dismissal. The Academic Dismissal will be noted on the student's transcript. A student who has been academically dismissed is prohibited from enrolling in any courses and, therefore, is not eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid. If the student has pre-registered for an upcoming semester, they will be automatically disenrolled from their classes. The student will receive a refund for tuition and fees paid for a future semester. The student may reapply for readmission after the dismissal period of one semester. (See the Readmission Policy)
Glossary of Terms:
Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension – a student who has failed to maintain minimum standards while on Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning.
Academic Probation/Financial Aid Probation (Readmitted Status) - the student has an approved Appeal for readmission to the College and reinstatement of Title IV or State student aid for one additional term unless a Remediation Plan is being met.
Academic Probation/Financial Aid Warning - the first time a student fails to meet the minimum standard.
Good Standing – a student is meeting the minimum standards each enrollment period.
Minimum Standards - The student has a Cumulative 2.5 Grade Point Average and is staying on Pace with a success rate of completing all attempted credit hours within the published time frames of their program of study.
Program of Study - the educational program of study is nursing.
Qualitative Measure – the cumulative GPA, which reflects the quality of each student's grades.
Quantitative Measure – the component measures the amount of academic work a student completes on a cumulative basis for enrollment in a program of study within a specified timeframe.
Remediation Plan – a plan to assist student success when placed on academic probation or readmitted to the nursing program.
Satisfactory of Academic Progress (SAP) - is a federal regulation (34 CFR 668.34) establishing and monitoring minimum academic progress standards. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their course of study to be eligible for financial aid. LCN has one policy that applies to all students.
Time of Completion - The maximum timeframe is 150% completion of the published program timeframe. This calculation considers all cumulative credit hours attempted, not earned.