Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (“SAP”) is composed of Qualitative Standard and Quantitative Standard.

Qualitative Standard

Students have to maintain a good academic standing. PTSA requires undergraduate students and ELSP student to maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Graduate students are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Repeated courses which the student previously passed are not counted toward satisfactory academic progress requirements.

Quantitative Standard  

There are two components in quantitative standard; (a) Acceptable Passing Rate and (b) Unit and Time Limit to complete an education program.

(a) Acceptable Passing Rate: Excluding transfer units, an overall ratio of units earned at PTSA to units attempted is calculated. Withdrawn and incomplete units are attempted with zero units earned. Students must complete 67% of units attempted.

(b) Unit and Time Limit: To complete the program, no more than 150% of the number of units required can be attempted. For determination of satisfactory academic progress, all attempted units at PTSA are counted. For transfer students, only transferred units that apply to the degree program are counte

SAP for Undergraduate Students (Bachelor of Theology)

A full-time status of undergraduate students is obtained by completing minimum 12 credits per semester or 24 credits per academic year. A full-time undergraduate student is also required to complete the requirements of 128 credits while maintaining a 2.0 GPA in all courses attempted at PTSA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA. The maximum period granted for the completion is 6 years, 12 semesters (150% of the published length of four years)

Academic Standing

At the end of each semester, a student’s progress will be monitored. When there is evidence of lack of satisfactory academic progress toward meeting graduation requirements, the Academic Committee may place students on academic warning or probation or disqualify them from attendance at the university.

Academic Warning  

PTSA will notify students in writing for failing to make satisfactory academic progress and place the students on academic warning at the end of each semester. Warning status lasts only one semester. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress after the academic warning period may be dismissed from PTSA unless they successfully appeal and are placed on probation.

Academic Probation / Dismissal

When a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress after the academic warning period, he may appeal that result on the basis of: his injury or illness, the death of a relative or other special circumstance. His appeal must explain why he failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in his situation that will allow him to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. If based on the appeal PTSA determines that the student should be able to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards by the end of subsequent semester, PTSA may place him on probation without an academic plan. This probation status lasts only one semester. If based on the appeal PTSA determines that the student will require more than one semester to meet progress standards, PTSA may place him on probation and develop an academic plan for him. According to the requirements specified in the plan, PTSA will review the student’s progress at the end of each semester as is required of a student on probation status, to determine if the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan.

A student failing to meet the minimum standards by the end of probation period might lose the eligibility of Financial Aid.

Academic Integrity Commitment

The maintenance of academic integrity and quality education is the responsibility of each student at PTSA. Cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program is an offense for which a student may be expelled, suspended, or given a less-severe disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense which diminishes the quality of scholarship and defrauds those who depend upon the integrity of the educational system. Academic dishonesty includes:

  1. Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
  2. Students completing any examination should assume that external assistance (e.g., Books, notes, calculators, conversations with others) is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the instructor.
  3. Students may not allow others to conduct research or prepare any work for them without advance authorization from the instructor.
  4. Substantial portions of the same academic work may not be submitted for credit in more than one course without authorization.
  5. Fabrication: Intentional falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
  6. Facilitation of academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
  7. Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the works, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.

Federal Student Financial Aid Students

One of the requirements of eligibilities for Federal Student Financial Aid is a student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and be in good academic standing. At the end of each semester, PTSA will measure the student’s performance according to Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Those who fail to make satisfactory progress will be given one semester of Financial aid warning for Federal Student Financial Aid.

  1. Financial aid warning – PTSA will notify students in writing for failing to make satisfactory academic progress and place the students on financial aid warning at the end of each semester. Warning status lasts only one semester, during which the student may continue to receive Federal Student Financial Aid. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress after the warning period lose their aid eligibility unless they successfully appeal and are placed on probation.
  2. Financial aid probation – When a student loses Federal Student Financial Aid eligibility because he failed to make satisfactory progress, he may appeal that result on the basis of; his injury or illness, the death of a relative or other special circumstance. His appeal must explain why he failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in his situation that will allow him to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation.

If based on the appeal PTSA determines that the student should be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of subsequent semester, PTSA may place him on financial aid probation without an academic plan. This probation status lasts only one semester.

If based on the appeal PTSA determines that the student will require more than one semester to meet progress standards, PTSA may place him on probation and develop an academic plan for him. PTSA will review the student’s progress at the end of each semester as is required of a student on probation status, to determine if the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan. If the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan, the student is eligible to receive Title IV aid as long as the student continues to meet those requirements and is reviewed according to the requirements specified in the plan.

Consequences of Failing

Failing to maintain SAP can adversely affect a student’s eligibility for current and future financial aid. The student will not be eligible to receive PTSA scholarships, Pell or Campus Based funds until he regains eligibility or a petition is approved on his/her behalf. Even if a student’s petition receives approval, he may not be eligible to receive funds from past semesters.

Financial Aid SAP Petition Policy

PTSA acknowledges that there are certain circumstances that may limit a student completing his/her courses or maintaining SAP. Students can request a petition for a SAP waiver if they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Death in the family;
  • Illness or medical emergency; and
  • Other performance factors beyond a student’s control.

To petition, a student must submit the following documentation:

  • A letter explaining the exceptional circumstances that affected the student’s ability to meet the Financial Aid SAP requirements.
  • A resolution or plan of action explaining how the student will assure future academic success.
  • A statement from the student’s academic advisor confirming his/her ability to meet the SAP requirements.

Documentation of illness or medical condition: The student must provide a letter from his/her attending physician confirming that his/her condition will no longer hinder the student’s ability to succeed academically. The letter must include the dates the condition occurred. The dates must coincide with the period in which the student failed to meet Financial Aid SAP requirements. The Academic Committee will make a decision and notify the student in writing of a decision within 30 days of submission. Decisions of The Academic Committee are final.