Satisfactory Academic Progress
The purpose of the Simmons Administrative Board is twofold; to consider petitions from undergraduate students requesting exception to University policy and to review the records of undergraduate students in academic difficulty. The board also votes to choose the winners of three all-University awards; the Palmer Award, the Alumnae Honor Award, and the Alumnae Achievement Award.
Review of Students in Academic Difficulty
The records of students who are experiencing academic difficulty are reviewed at the end of each term by the Administrative Board. The records of any students in the following categories will be reviewed.
A student:
- with a semester or cumulative GPA of less than 2.00.
- who is granted a leave of absence or withdraws from the University after the eighth week of the semester.
- an overall record that is considered marginal.
The faculty has given the Administrative Board the authority to take whatever action it deems appropriate in each student's situation. Such actions may include no action, a letter of warning, probation, continued probation, removal from degree candidacy, or exclusion. As a result of this review, special conditions may be imposed on the student by the Administrative Board, in which case both the student and their parents or guardian (if the student is a dependent) may be notified.
No Action
The student remains in good standing
Letter of Warning
The student remains a degree candidate in good standing, and their record may be reviewed by the Administrative Board at the end of the semester if their grades do not improve.
Probation
The student may remain in degree candidacy, under warning, for one semester, with review and further action by the Administrative Board at the end of that semester.
Immediate Removal from Degree Candidacy and Exclusion from the University
Students who are removed from degree candidacy may enroll in classes as a non-degree student. At the end of a semester as a non-degree candidate, the student may apply for readmission to the University (contact the Office of the Registrar). When degree candidacy is restored, courses successfully completed while a student had non-degree status will be applied toward a degree.
An excluded student is required to withdraw from the University for an entire semester. After a semester-long absence and with proof of academic work completed at another institution, a student may apply for readmission to the University. Excluded students who plan to take coursework elsewhere must have pre-approval of their advisor and the registrar.
Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid
Students are advised that all institutional, federal, and state-administered financial aid, including federal and state loan programs, will be discontinued to a student who is excluded from the University, who is removed from degree candidacy, who is on probation for more than two semesters in a row, or who fail to accumulate the prescribed number of credits toward the completion of their degrees. Financial aid recipients who are experiencing academic difficulty are urged to consult with a financial aid office staff member and to read carefully the Office of Student Financial Services statement on policy and procedure relative to student academic progress.
Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The federal government requires institutions to monitor recipients of federal financial aid to ensure that they are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. In order to meet SAP, students must satisfy each of the following requirements.
- Meet the minimum, cumulative GPA, 2.0
- Complete the minimum required percentage of credits attempted, 67%
- Attempt no more than maximum allowed number of credits, 150% of the credits required to complete their program.
If a student fails to meet these requirements, they will be notified by Student Financial Services and informed of the next steps they can take in order to restore or secure their financial aid eligibility.
Please note that SAP applies to federal, state, and institutional funding. It is not the same as an academic warning or probation.
Please review our full SAP Policy at simmons.edu/sfs/ug for more detailed information on the requirements, frequency of review, resulting statuses, and potential for appeal.