Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) consists of both a GPA component (qualitative) and a course progress component (quantitative) checked at the end of every term. To maintain good standing, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 or a final course grade of B. Students who do not maintain SAP are subject to the Academic Probation Policy.
Credit hour completion is the quantitative measure of SAP whereby a degree-seeking student must complete their program within 150% of the published credits of the program. The following are considered when evaluating a student’s SAP:
- Repeated courses are counted as attempted credits and, if successfully completed, earned credits.
- Withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), and failures ( <3.0 or a grade lower than a B) are counted in the attempted hours but are not successfully completed or earned.
- Transfer courses that are applicable to the program of study will not be counted in the calculation of the GPA but will be counted as attempted credits and earned credits.
- Drops (DR) and cancellations (CA) do not count toward attempted credits.
Students who do not meet SAP standards will be notified before the end of the next term add/drop period and are subject to the SAP Warning and Academic Probation Policy.
The following SAP thresholds apply to degree-seeking students to ensure they meet SAP during the program:
SAP Violations
Notification of a change in academic standing will be emailed to the student’s email on file. Lack of notification receipt does not exempt students from the policy requirements.
- Academic Warning
Students who do not meet SAP standards will be placed on Academic Warning for one term (16 weeks). Any student, including a non-degree student, may be placed on Academic Warning for one term (16 weeks) if they do not meet the minimum GPA requirements. Degree-seeking students are also subject to the Course Completion Rate requirements at the end of a term.
After one term, students who are on SAP Warning and do not remedy their standing will be placed on academic probation. Students who meet the SAP requirements will return to good standing.
- Academic Probation
If students have not met the SAP requirements after the one-term remediation period, they will be placed on academic probation. To regain eligibility for enrollment, students must submit a successful academic appeal.
Students who are unable to maintain good standing and who do not submit a successful academic appeal are at risk for dismissal.
Course Workload
Coursework at The Art of Education University requires graduate-level reading, writing, and assignment submission. When registering for courses, students should consider these guidelines to ensure they can uphold the course requirements and institutional policies.
- Courses are weighted using semester credit hours.
- Course workload calculations are determined using the Carnegie unit. The expected student workload is 45 hours per semester credit.
- A student enrolled in six or more semester credit hours at The Art of Education University in a 16-week timeframe is considered full-time.
- During the school year (September-April), four semester hours is considered a regular course load.
- During the summer months (May-August), six semester hours is considered a regular course load.
Course Overload Appeal Policy
Graduate students must be able to meet the Carnegie unit standards and fulfill the required course objectives. Any graduate student looking to exceed the regular course load (four credits during September-April/six credits during May-August) must file a course overload appeal. A student may appeal for academic overload using the Special Request Form.
Under no circumstances will students be approved to take more than six credits concurrently between September-April or nine credits concurrently between May-August.
Note: Students do not need to appeal the course workload policy to enroll in Capstone: Art Education (ARE 631). Capstone: Art Education is exempt from the Course Workload policy.
Inactive Student Policy
Students are considered Active for eight months from the start date of the last attempted course. Drops and cancellations do not count toward course completion and are not considered an attempt. Once Inactive, a student can return to Active status by attempting a course as long as they are within the five-year maximum program completion period. A student’s course performance is not a factor. Students with no course attempts for one year (365 days) are subject to the Administrative Withdrawal Policy.
Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy
Circumstances might compel degree-seeking students to interrupt their enrollment. Such a break in enrollment is formally recognized as a Leave of Absence (LOA). Students who intend to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) should promptly consult with their academic advisor.
To notify the university of a Leave of Absence, students should fill out the LOA Request Form. LOA requests are reviewed by the student’s advisor. The advisor may request a program planning meeting with the student prior to the LOA or upon return to ensure the student has a plan to graduate on time. Students may take a Leave of Absence for up to 180 days (six months).
Students who take a Leave of Absence are still subject to the 5-year maximum time to complete.
If the LOA occurs at the conclusion of Inactive status per the Inactive Student Policy, the university may require a Leave of Absence Planning Meeting with the academic advisor. Students who do not complete a meeting within two weeks of their request will be denied and administratively withdrawn from the degree program.
Additional policy information may be found in the current edition of the Graduate Catalog.
If you have specific questions or concerns not addressed here, contact help@theartofeducation.edu for clarification.