Satisfactory Academic Progress
The University is required to define and enforce standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to encourage the student to successfully complete courses for which financial aid is received.
Quantitative Progress
Full-time students are expected to complete degree requirements at Ouachita Baptist University within 4 years (8 semesters). Completion of a minimum of 15-16 credit hours each term is necessary to graduate within that time period. University aid is limited to 8 semesters of study.
Students will be eligible to receive federal financial aid (all Title IV programs) for up 150% of their degree program’s published length. These limits are prorated for longer periods of time for students enrolled less than full-time.
| By the end of the: |
|
Credit Hours Completed if three quarter-time or less |
| 1st Academic Year | 21 | 12 |
| 2nd Academic Year | 42 | 24 |
| 3rd Academic Year | 63 | 36 |
| 4th Academic Year | 84 | 48 |
| 5th Academic Year | 105 | 60 |
| 6th Academic Year | 128 | 72 |
The number of credit hours completed will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester each academic year. Students who fail to meet the minimum standards will be suspended from receiving financial aid until the deficient credit hours are satisfactorily completed. Summer credits may be counted toward meeting requirements for the previous academic year.
A course in which a grade of "incomplete" is assigned will not be used to meet course load requirements. If the incomplete is changed to a passing grade, it will be recorded in the term during which the course was taken and will then apply to the requirements.
Transfer credits will be counted as part of the cumulative GPA and quantitative progress towards a degree.
Withdrawals, repetitions, and noncredit remedial courses will not be used to meet course load requirements.
Students receiving financial aid who reduce their course loads after enrollment must contact Student Financial Services.
Qualitative Progress
Student aid recipients must also maintain minimum cumulative grade point averages (GPA) consistent with requirements for graduation to remain eligible for aid. These requirements are based upon an escalating scale of cumulative GPA as follows:
- Freshman ( 0-28 hrs) - 1.700 GPA
- Sophomore (29-58 hrs) - 1.800 GPA
- Junior (59-88 hrs) - 1.900 GPA
- Senior (89-up hrs) - 2.000 GPA
Students are required to achieve a C average by graduation. C average is defined as a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Grade point averages will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester each academic year. Students must have the required grade point at the end of the term or they will be suspended from receiving financial aid until such time as they have achieved the required GPA.
Probation
There is not a probation period for students failing to meet satisfactory progress.
Suspension
If students are denied aid because of lack of satisfactory progress, courses must be taken at student's own expense until minimum number of hours and/or the required GPA have been reached. Once the required number of hours and/or GPA has been attained the student must inform the Director of Student Financial Service in writing for their eligibility to be reinstated.
Appeal Process
Students who feel that mitigating circumstances prevented them from making satisfactory academic progress may appeal the decision to suspend their financial aid eligibility. A written appeal may be submitted to the Director of Student Financial Services.
Teach Grant
If the student is in the first year of a program of undergraduate education as determined by the institution, he or she must have a final cumulative secondary school grade point average (GPA) upon graduation of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
The student must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA each semester in order to continue to receive the grant.
Requirements for OBU Scholarship Maintenance
Scholarships/grants offered by Ouachita Baptist University are awarded for 8 regular semesters of study (summer school not included). University scholarships awarded to transfer students will be reduced by the number of semesters previously attended at another institution. Scholarships are automatically renewed each semester provided students maintain a 2.0 GPA, and earn 21 hours each academic year enrolled in school.
Grade points are checked at the end of each semester. Warnings are sent at the end of the fall semester to students who do not have the required GPA or earned hours. Official progress evaluations are done at the end of the spring semester. If the required grade point and/or earned hours are not reached by the end of the academic year, the scholarship will be lost. The student would then be expected to take classes at their own expense until they have met their GPA/hours requirement.
