Satisfactory Academic Progress
This section applies to all students regardless of whether they are receiving financial aid through the federal direct student loan programs. In this section, an individual receiving Title IV funds will be referred to as a student.
Federal regulations require institutions to establish a reasonable satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy for determining whether an otherwise eligible student is meeting SAP in an educational program and may receive financial aid under the Title IV HEA programs. The SAP policy applies to all students including those not receiving federal financial aid under the Title IV HEA programs.
All students must continually maintain the following standards of SAP.
The policies and procedures that make up the SAP requirements for the Juris Doctor – Attorney and Executive Track (JDAT and JDET) programs consist of:
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A Qualitative Component
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Quantitative Component
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Appeal Procedures
Qualitative and Quantitative Components
A student is subject to the requirements set forth in the ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS and the ACADEMIC STANDING AND RETENTION sections of the catalog. In addition, once a student has been enrolled in the program for two academic years, they must have earned a minimum GPA that would allow them to graduate with at least a 2.00 GPA and maintain this minimum cumulative GPA at the end of year three.
A student must complete their studies in not more than 150% of the published length of the program. (For purposes of this component, “published length of the program” refers to the required number of units.)
The JDAT program requires completion of 96 units for graduation. Therefore, any student who attempts more than 144 units will become ineligible for additional federally insured student loans.
Applicants seeking transfer credit for units earned at another institution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credit may only be accepted for courses offered at Taft Law School. Any transfer credit accepted will be calculated for determining the150% of the published length of the program. Transfer students must also earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher at the program midpoint to meet financial aid eligibility.
If a student fails or withdraws from a course, such course shall be calculated as units attempted in the calculation in determining the 150% of the published length of the program.
With respect to repeated courses, students may only repeat courses that they withdrew from, were dismissed from, or failed. However, if a student fails one course in the JDAT program, pursuant to the Committee of Bar Examiners rules, they must repeat the entire year. Only the most recent grade is computed into a student’s GPA. However, repeated courses are included in the 150% computation.
Incomplete grades are not calculated into the measures of quantitative or qualitative process. All students must complete all courses before moving forward. If a student does not complete final examinations during the academic period, that student may petition for an incomplete. Upon establishing extraordinary circumstances, an incomplete may be granted for a specific period to allow the student to complete their final examinations. When a student completes a course for which they have received an incomplete, the course is evaluated as set forth in the syllabus for that course. If a student does not complete a course during the period of an incomplete, that student will fail that course and the failure will be calculated into the measures of quantitative and qualitative process.
A student may only transfer from the JDAT program to William Howard Taft University and only at the end/completion of an academic year. Units earned or attempted in the JDAT program will be used in the calculation for determining the 150% of the published length of the JDET program.
A student must complete an academic year of 52 weeks (two payment periods) which includes 46 weeks of instruction. (The remaining weeks are reserved for review and taking final examinations.) All students in directed study courses must each week log on to their learning platform to confirm that they are still participating. Students are required to log into the platform and either participate in a discussion forum, assignment discussion forum, submit an assignment, take a quiz, or take a midterm exam. Students who do not log on and participate will be dismissed from the program and therefore deemed NOT to be making SAP.
Evaluation Points
A student’s academic progress is evaluated at the end of each academic year. The definition of an academic year consists of a period of time of not less than 48 nor more than 52 consecutive weeks and usually consists of 24 semester credits. For students on a satisfactory academic improvement plan (SAIP), SAP is evaluated at the end of each payment period.
The Qualitative Component in the Juris Doctor Programs
A. Academic Probation
A student whose cumulative GPA is less than a 2.0 after the most recent academic year is not making SAP and will be placed on academic probation and is subject to dismissal. However, a student may appeal the SAP determination. If the appeal is granted, the student will be allowed to continue as a student on academic probation but will be placed on a SAIP. SAP for a student on academic probation will be monitored at the midpoint and end of the next academic year. If at the midpoint or end of the next academic year, while on academic probation, a student fails to satisfy the SAIP requirements, the student is again subject to dismissal.
Once a student has been enrolled in the program for two academic years, they must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of year two to make SAP. Transfer students must also earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher at the program midpoint to meet financial aid eligibility.
All Juris Doctor program students are subject to all of the requirements set forth in the ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS and the ACADEMIC STANDING AND RETENTION sections of the catalog.
B. Failure to Cure Academic Probation
Failure to meet the minimum standards prior to the program length midpoint will subject a student to dismissal from the program. Once a student fails to make SAP, academic probation will be in effect until the completion of the next grading period. At the program length midpoint and beyond, students with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are subject to dismissal. The student may appeal. If there are mitigating circumstances, grades may be reassessed. (See academic appeal process on page 5 of this document.)
C. Financial Aid Probation
Students who do not achieve SAP at the end of an academic year, a 2.0 GPA, will lose further federal financial aid eligibility. Students may appeal this financial aid status determination to regain financial aid eligibility for one payment period. (See financial aid appeals process on page 5 of this document.) If the appeal is granted, a student will be put on financial aid probation, may retain financial aid eligibility for one additional payment period and is put on a SAIP. SAP will be monitored at the end of each payment period in the next academic year to determine the student’s financial aid eligibility status.
If at the end of the first payment period while on financial aid probation, a student fails to satisfy the SAIP requirements, the student will lose further financial aid eligibility.
If at the end of that academic year, while on financial aid probation, a student fails to satisfy the SAIP requirements, the student will lose further financial aid eligibility.
Should the minimum SAP requirement not be achieved at the midpoint of the program or thereafter, the student loses further financial aid eligibility, until SAP is achieved.
Qualifying for Financial Aid
During Year One
Financial aid is distributed in two equal installments. To qualify for the first installment, a student must:
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Submit official transcripts for degree determining program eligibility.
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Pass Introduction to Law (the first three-week course).
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Successfully complete 30 days of enrollment.
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Satisfy all financial aid requirements, including being fully packaged.
To qualify for the second installment after midpoint, a student must:
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Successfully complete at least 26 weeks of study.
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Complete all midterms for all courses in which the student is enrolled.
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Midterms must be completed in a timely manner.
*Second installments cannot be requested prior to the last scheduled midterm due date as stated on syllabi. Second disbursements will be distributed after completion of the midterm period approximately week 30.
After Year One (for Advanced Students and Students Re-Enrolling)
If a student did not make SAP in their prior year, they will be placed on a SAIP. Academic progress for students on SAIP will be evaluated at midpoint and at the end of the academic year. If the student has not satisfied the SAIP requirements, they may lose financial aid eligibility unless the student appeals and the appeal is approved.
To qualify for the first installment of financial aid after year one, a student must:
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If a transfer student, submit official transcripts for degree determining program eligibility and prior law for which transfer credit was granted.
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Successfully complete 30 days of enrollment.
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Satisfy all financial aid requirements, including being fully packaged.
To qualify for the second installment, a student must:
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Successfully complete at least 26 weeks of study.
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Complete all midterms for all courses that have midterms.
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Midterms must be completed in a timely manner.
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If a student is enrolled in a course that does not have a midterm, the student must have completed at least half of the assignments for that course.
*Second installments cannot be requested prior to the last scheduled midterm due date as stated on syllabi. Second disbursements will be distributed after completion of the midterm period approximately week 30.
Special Rules for First Year Students
California Business and Professional Code Section 6060 requires that Bar candidates must pass the First- Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX) to receive credit for their time studying law. To ensure the best possible outcome on the FYLSX, only students who achieved a 2.0 GPA or above on their first-year courses may automatically advance to year two, prior to taking the FYLSX.
For students in the JDAT Program
To advance from first to second year:
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A student must pass all first-year courses to advance.
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A student with a GPA of 2.0 or above may advance at their discretion.
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A student with a GPA of 1.33 to a 1.99 may petition to advance.
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A student with a GPA below 1.33 must pass the FYLSX before allowed to advance or an appeal is approved based on extenuating circumstances.
In all other years a student must pass all courses to advance and meet the law school’s standards for measuring SAP.
Continuation as a Non-Title IV Student on Academic Probation
If a student fails to make SAP, at the midpoint of the program or thereafter, the student will be on academic probation and is subject to dismissal. However, a student may be eligible to continue but will not be eligible for financial aid. The decision to allow a student to continue on academic probation will be made by the dean of the school of law or their designate. During this period, the student is not eligible for federal financial aid but may continue to take courses and will be responsible for tuition and fees.
Academic Appeal
A student may appeal a determination that the student is not making SAP by sending an appeal to the director of student services at the administrative offices of the law school. The appeal should set forth in detail why the student did not achieve SAP and what the student will do to achieve SAP going forward.
The appeal will then be given to the Academic Review Committee (ARC) that will review the student’s academic record and evaluate the student’s written comments. The ARC may question the student or request additional information.
If the ARC determines that the student’s grades were properly awarded, the student will be notified, and the grades will stand as awarded.
If the ARC determines that the student’s grades were not properly awarded, the ARC will design a remedy to correct the grades. This may include, but is not limited to, allowing a student to retake such examinations as may be appropriate, having current examinations re-graded, or order such other actions that may equitably resolve the student’s appeal.
Once the appeal is resolved and if any action is required, the director of financial aid will be notified to reevaluate whether the student has met the SAP standards.
Financial Aid Appeal
A student may appeal a determination of being ineligible for financial aid by sending an appeal to the dean of the law school. The appeal should set forth in detail a CONCISE STATEMENT DETAILING WHAT EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OCCURRED THAT CAUSED STUDENT THE INABILITY TO MEET SAP AND WHAT HAS CHANGED SO THAT STUDENT MAY NOW MEET SAP.
The appeal will then be given to the ARC who will review the student’s financial aid file and evaluate the student’s written comments. The financial aid director may also request information from the ARC and/or may question the student or request additional information.
If the financial aid director denies the appeal, the appeal is denied, and the student will be notified, and the probation status will stand.
If the ARC approves the appeal, the probation status may be cleared.
Once the appeal is resolved and if any action is required, the ARC will notify the student of its outcome and whether the appeal was approved or denied.
Reinstatement as a Title IV Student
A student may, subject to the approval, and be reinstated as a Title IV student after failing to make SAP if the student meets the following minimum criteria:
a. The student has successfully completed at least one academic year on academic probation.
b. A recalculated grade point average indicates that the student now has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; and
c. It is possible for the student to complete the program in not more than the maximum number of units allowed (144 for the JDAT).
