Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Understanding Academic Progress and Financial Aid SAP
Summit Salon Academy maintains academic progress standards for all students and Satisfactory Academic Progress standards used to determine continued eligibility for Title IV federal student aid. Because these standards serve different purposes, it is important to understand the requirements that apply to your academic standing and your financial aid eligibility.
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Academic Progress Standards
Summit Salon Academy's academic progress standards apply to students as part of the Academy's requirements for successfully progressing toward completion of a program.
Academic Performance
85%
Students must maintain a cumulative academic average of at least 85% under the Academy's academic progress standards.
Completion Standard
70%
Students must successfully complete at least 70% of attempted clock hours under the Academy's academic progress standards.
Maximum Time Frame
150%
Students must remain able to successfully complete their program within 150% of the applicable published program length under the Academy's academic progress standards.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students receiving Title IV federal student aid must meet Summit Salon Academy's financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards to maintain eligibility for federal student aid. Summit's clock-hour SAP standards include an academic-performance requirement, the Academy's completion standard, and the applicable maximum time frame.
Financial Aid Academic Standard
70%
Title IV recipients must maintain a cumulative academic average of at least 70% under Summit Salon Academy's financial aid SAP standards.
Summit Financial Aid Progress Standard
67%
For financial aid SAP purposes, Summit Salon Academy requires students to successfully complete at least 67% of attempted clock hours.
Because Summit Salon Academy's Title IV-eligible programs are measured in clock hours, federal regulations do not separately require a quantitative pace measurement for these programs. Summit applies the 67% completion standard as part of its financial aid SAP policy.
Financial Aid Maximum Time Frame
150%
Title IV recipients must remain able to complete their clock-hour program within the applicable maximum time frame. For an undergraduate clock-hour program, federal regulations limit the maximum time frame to no more than 150% of the published program length.
Why Are the Standards Different?
The Academy's academic progress standards address a student's academic standing and progress toward program completion. The financial aid SAP standards are used to determine whether a Title IV recipient remains eligible for federal student aid.
A student's academic standing and financial aid eligibility can therefore involve different standards and different consequences. The sections below explain maximum time frame, evaluation points, warning and probation, appeals, and how eligibility may be re-established.
Maximum Time Frame
Maximum Time Frame, also called MTF, establishes the maximum length of time permitted for a student to successfully complete a program while remaining within the applicable progress requirements.
Maximum Time Frame
150%
Both Summit Salon Academy's academic progress standards and financial aid SAP standards use a maximum time frame of 150% of the applicable published program length.
How Maximum Time Frame Works
Summit Salon Academy's programs are measured in clock hours. The maximum time frame is determined using the published clock-hour length of the student's program.
For Title IV financial aid purposes, federal regulations limit the maximum time frame for an undergraduate clock-hour program to no more than 150% of the published program length.
A student must remain able to successfully complete the required program clock hours within the applicable maximum time frame.
Example: Cosmetology
Published program length: 1,200 clock hours
Maximum Time Frame: 150%
1,200 × 150% = 1,800 clock hours
A Cosmetology student must therefore successfully complete the 1,200-hour program within the applicable 1,800-hour maximum time frame.
Maximum Time Frame by Program
| Program | Required Clock Hours | 150% Maximum Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 1,200 Hours | 1,800 Hours |
| Barbering | 900 Hours | 1,350 Hours |
| Full Specialist | 600 Hours | 900 Hours |
| Skin Care Specialist | 600 Hours | 900 Hours |
| Massage Therapy | 600 Hours | 900 Hours |
| Spa Therapies | 900 Hours | 1,350 Hours |
Maximum Time Frame for Transfer Students
For students with accepted transfer hours, Summit Salon Academy adjusts the maximum time frame based on the program clock hours remaining after the accepted transfer hours are applied.
The remaining program hours are multiplied by 150% to determine the student's adjusted maximum time frame.
Why Maximum Time Frame Matters
Maximum Time Frame applies to both the Academy's academic progress standards and the financial aid SAP standards.
A student must successfully complete the program within the applicable maximum time frame.
Under Summit Salon Academy's academic progress policy, a student who does not successfully complete the program within the applicable maximum time frame cannot earn the diploma for that program.
Repeating coursework, interruptions in progress, or other circumstances that increase the time needed to complete a program may affect a student's progress toward the maximum time frame.
Progress Evaluation Points
Summit Salon Academy evaluates students at established points during their programs. These evaluations are used to determine whether students are meeting the applicable academic progress requirements and, for Title IV recipients, the Academy's financial aid SAP requirements.
What Is Reviewed?
Academic progress and financial aid SAP are separate determinations. The standards that apply depend on the purpose of the evaluation.
Academic Progress
Academic progress is evaluated using Summit Salon Academy's 85% academic performance standard, 70% completion standard, and applicable 150% maximum time frame.
Financial Aid SAP
For Title IV recipients, financial aid SAP is evaluated using Summit Salon Academy's 70% financial aid academic standard, 67% financial aid completion standard, and applicable 150% maximum time frame.
Find Your Evaluation Points
Select your program to view the established progress evaluation points.
Your Program
Cosmetology Has an Additional Evaluation Point
The 1,200-hour Cosmetology program has established evaluation points at 450, 900, and 1,050 clock hours.
The 1,050-hour evaluation occurs during the final 300 hours of the program and is used as an additional financial aid SAP evaluation point under Summit Salon Academy's policy.
Skin Care Specialist
Skin Care Specialist students are evaluated for academic progress at 300 clock hours. Because the Skin Care Specialist program is not eligible for Title IV federal student aid, the financial aid SAP standards do not apply to students enrolled in that program.
Students Requiring Over-Contract Hours
Students who must complete over-contract hours will be evaluated for academic progress after the completion of each course or salon practice/exercise.
Warning, Probation & Appeals
When a student does not meet an applicable progress standard at an evaluation point, the consequences depend on whether the issue involves the Academy's academic progress requirements, financial aid SAP requirements, or both.
Two Standards, Different Consequences
Academic standing and Title IV financial aid eligibility are separate determinations. A student may therefore be subject to an academic status, a financial aid status, or both depending on the standards not met.
For academic progress, Summit Salon Academy uses an 85% academic performance standard, a 70% completion standard, and a 150% maximum time frame. For financial aid SAP, Summit uses a 70% financial aid academic standard, a 67% financial aid completion standard, and a 150% maximum time frame.
Academic Progress Statuses
Academic Status
Academic Warning
A student who does not meet Summit Salon Academy's academic progress standards may be placed on academic warning in accordance with the Academy's academic progress policy.
Academic Status
Academic Probation
A student who continues to fall below the Academy's academic progress requirements after an academic warning period may be placed on academic probation in accordance with the Academy's policy.
Academic probation may include an academic improvement plan and additional requirements designed to help the student make satisfactory progress toward completion of the program.
Financial Aid SAP Statuses
Financial Aid Status
Financial Aid Warning
When a Title IV recipient does not meet Summit Salon Academy's financial aid SAP standards at an applicable evaluation point, the student may be placed on financial aid warning for the following payment period.
A student on financial aid warning may continue to receive Title IV federal student aid for one payment period. An appeal is not required for financial aid warning.
Financial Aid Status
Financial Aid Probation
If a student does not meet Summit Salon Academy's financial aid SAP standards after the financial aid warning period, the student may lose Title IV eligibility.
If the student submits an appeal and the appeal is approved, the student may be placed on financial aid probation and have Title IV eligibility reinstated for the applicable probationary payment period.
At the end of financial aid probation, continued Title IV eligibility depends on meeting the applicable financial aid SAP standards or satisfying the requirements of an approved academic plan.
Appealing a SAP Determination
When Can I Appeal?
A student who is eligible to appeal under Summit Salon Academy's policy may submit a written appeal when special or mitigating circumstances contributed to the student's failure to meet the applicable progress requirements.
Your Appeal Must Explain
- Why you were unable to meet the applicable progress requirements.
- The special or mitigating circumstances that affected your progress.
- What has changed in your circumstances that will allow you to make satisfactory progress going forward.
- How you will be able to continue progressing toward completion of your program within the applicable maximum time frame.
Examples of Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating or special circumstances may include the student's injury or illness, the death of a relative, or another significant circumstance beyond the student's control. Supporting documentation should be submitted with the appeal when applicable.
Appeal Deadline
Under Summit Salon Academy's current policy, an appeal must be submitted within 5 days of notification of the applicable probation determination.
Academic Plans
When appropriate under Summit Salon Academy's policy, an approved appeal may include an academic plan designed to help the student regain satisfactory progress or make progress toward meeting the applicable standards.
A Title IV recipient on financial aid probation must meet the applicable financial aid SAP standards or satisfy the requirements of the approved academic plan to qualify for continued Title IV eligibility beyond the probationary period.
Appeal Decisions
Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Summit Salon Academy's policy.
The Academy's current policy states that students will be notified of the appeal decision as soon as possible, but no later than 5 business days following the decision.
Regaining Academic Progress & Financial Aid Eligibility
Academic progress and Title IV financial aid eligibility are separate determinations. A student who does not meet an applicable standard must satisfy the requirements associated with that standard to regain satisfactory standing or financial aid eligibility.
Regaining Academic Progress
A student who does not meet Summit Salon Academy's academic progress standards can regain satisfactory academic progress by meeting the Academy's academic performance and completion requirements before reaching the applicable maximum time frame.
Academic Progress Requirements
Academic Performance: 85% cumulative academic average
Completion: 70% of attempted clock hours
Maximum Time Frame: 150% of the applicable published program length
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
A Title IV recipient who does not meet Summit Salon Academy's financial aid SAP standards may lose eligibility for federal student aid. Financial aid eligibility may be regained by again satisfying the applicable financial aid SAP requirements or through an approved appeal when permitted under the Academy's policy.
Financial Aid SAP Requirements
Financial Aid Academic Standard: 70% cumulative academic average
Financial Aid Completion Standard: 67% of attempted clock hours
Maximum Time Frame: 150% of the applicable published program length
Approved Financial Aid SAP Appeals
A Title IV student whose financial aid SAP appeal is approved may have financial aid eligibility reinstated and be placed on financial aid probation for the applicable payment period.
When an academic plan is required, the student must agree to and comply with the applicable terms and conditions of that plan.
Continuing Eligibility After Financial Aid Probation
At the end of the applicable probationary payment period, the student's progress will be evaluated again.
To qualify for continued Title IV federal student aid, the student must meet the applicable financial aid SAP standards or satisfy the requirements of the approved academic plan.
Other Factors That Affect Progress
Incompletes
An incomplete grade is treated as an F when determining academic progress and, when applicable, financial aid SAP until a numerical grade is entered to replace the incomplete.
Withdrawals
Withdrawals are counted as attempted clock hours when determining a student's progress.
Students in Summit Salon Academy's clock-hour programs do not repeat previously attempted clock hours solely because they withdraw and later return. When a student returns and continues the program, the student's academic progress and, when applicable, financial aid SAP are recalculated based on the student's updated progress.
Repeated Coursework & Additional Hours
Students do not repeat previously completed clock hours solely because they withdraw and later return to the program.
When a student is required to complete additional hours because of failed coursework, additional required instruction, or other academic requirements, those additional hours are counted as attempted clock hours.
Additional attempted hours are included when academic progress and, when applicable, financial aid SAP are evaluated and may affect the student's completion percentage and progress toward the applicable maximum time frame.
Transfer Clock Hours
Transfer clock hours accepted at the time of admission are counted as both attempted and completed hours when determining the student's progress. Transfer hours are counted only up to Summit Salon Academy's maximum allowable hours for the applicable subject.
Accepted transfer hours reduce the number of program hours the student must complete at the Academy. The student's maximum time frame is adjusted based on the remaining required program hours after accepted transfer hours are applied.
Completing One Summit Program & Enrolling in Another
If a student completes one Summit Salon Academy program and subsequently enrolls in another program, academic progress and, when applicable, financial aid SAP are evaluated based on the requirements of the new program.
If clock hours from the previously completed program are accepted toward the new program, the accepted hours are treated according to the Academy's transfer clock-hour policy. They are counted as attempted and completed hours, up to the Academy's maximum allowable hours for the applicable subject.
If no hours from the previously completed program are accepted toward the new program, the student begins the new program with a new academic progress and financial aid SAP calculation.
Academic Standing and Financial Aid Eligibility Are Separate
Meeting the requirements for academic progress does not automatically establish Title IV financial aid eligibility, and meeting the financial aid SAP requirements does not replace the Academy's academic progress requirements.