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.
- with 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, or exclusion from the University. As a result of this review, special conditions may be imposed on the student by the Administrative Board, in which case the student would be notified in writing.
No Action
The student remains in good academic standing
Letter of Warning
The student remains a degree candidate in good academic standing, and their record will be reviewed by the Administrative Board at the end of the student's next semester if their grades do not improve.
Probation
The student will remain in degree candidacy, but not in good academic standing. A student on probation will have their record reviewed and further action will be taken by the Administrative Board at the end of the student's next semester.
Exclusion from the University
If a student does not show academic improvement while on probation, they may be excluded from the University and will be automatically withdrawn. Should an excluded student wish to be admitted as a degree-seeking candidate in the future, they will be required to submit substantial evidence of their ability to continue successfully at Simmons. An excluded student may apply for readmission to the University through the Registrar's Office after a minimum of one semester.
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 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 by the end of sophomore year
- 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.