Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
UMatter Requirements
The USF UMatter program defines satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as follows:
A person-centered planning (PCP) approach will be utilized. Given that all UMatter students are enrolled in courses on an audit basis, goals will be determined for each student in collaboration with, first, the student, relevant UMatter program personnel (e.g., Program Director and Assistant Director), and relevant course instructors. A UMatter Individualized SAP Tracking Rubric will spell out levels of progress toward student goals for each course. In addition, a learning agreement will be maintained for each course in which a student is enrolled.
SAP will be calculated each semester by program personnel. Students will not earn credit for the USF coursework they audit and thus do not have a Grade Point Average (GPA). The following SAP policy has been developed to mirror the USF SAP policy as closely as possible while adapting as needed to make it relevant for UMatter.
Performance indicators to establish a student’s SAP in UMatter will be evaluated by progress monitoring of goals and action plans developed through the Students Transitioning to Adult Roles (STAR) person-centered planning process. The STAR process identifies specific goals and objectives a student needs to advance through UMatter and reach satisfactory outcomes.
Students must earn 67% of all attempted credit hours to meet pace requirements. Pace is determined by dividing the total number of credit hours earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. All credits attempted and earned from all schools attended are included in determining pace. Since students in UMatter will work on units other than credits, this calculation will be used; however, the measure of units attempted each semester may include the coursework credits audited. Units will include all required UMatter components to address the five program tenets per semester (e.g., 6 credits of USF coursework, USFSP Career Center assignments, workshop attendance, internship attendance, mentor and tutor appointment attendance, volunteerism/service, etc).
Maximum Timeframe for Program Completion: The SAP policy for completing UMatter will be 150% of the typical three-year time frame of the UMatter program.
Students on Warning Status: Students are eligible to receive financial aid for one semester in warning status. Students will be placed on warning status for any of the following reasons:
- Students do not reach 67% of required units per semester. Student attendance in audited classes, at internships, workshops, and with mentors is monitored and included as part of the total required units.
- Students who do not reach 67% performance evaluation will be placed on academic warning. UMatter program performance is monitored weekly through meetings with the Instructional Coordinator in collaboration with mentors, faculty, internship supervisors, and others who interact with the student.
- Students who do not improve under warning status will then be ineligible for financial aid the following semester unless they petition for probationary status.