Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require financial aid recipients to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).  To obtain and retain financial aid funding, students must maintain SAP and proceed toward successful and timely completion of all applicable degree requirements. (See "Standards of Measurements of Achievement" and "Time Limit" under "Academic Policies" for more information.)

Qualitative Standard

The qualitative standard is based on the student's grade point average and is determined by the program's "Standards of Measurements of Achievement."

A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 throughout the program. All course grades assigned in the program are entered on the student's official transcript and counted toward the cumulative grade point average.

Quantitative Standard

Students must maintain an enrollment of at least 6 units per term to be eligible for financial aid as a full-time student. All degree requirements must be completed within the time limit as set forth by the program. The quantitative standard is determined based on number of terms attended, regardless of aid, and subject to verification by the school financial aid officer.

Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester.  Failure to meet any SAP requirements, results in a "Financial Aid Warning" for the future term.  Students who do not meet all SAP requirements at the end of the academic "Financial Aid Warning" period will lose their eligibility to receive financial aid.

Regaining Eligibility

To regain financial aid eligibility, after the "Financial Aid Warning" period, students must appeal in writing, to the Assistant Dean for Student Services.  The appeal must explain the reasons that led to SAP failure and the changes that will allow the student to meet SAP in the future including supporting documentation.  If the appeal is granted, the student will be placed on SAP "Financial Aid Probation" and will have one semester to meet the SAP requirements set for the probation period.

Repeated Coursework

A core course in which a grade lower than "C-" is earned must be repeated before the student is allowed to graduate. A grade lower than "C-" earned in an elective course must be made up by repeating an elective course. Upon approval by the Office of the Dean, a course in which a grade lower than "B" is earned may be repeated, although a course may be repeated only once. In a case where a course has been repeated, both course grades earned remain on the transcript and count toward the cumulative grade point average; however, the units are counted only once toward graduation.

Time Limit

All requirements for the degree must be completed within seven consecutive years from the date upon which the student begins work at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy.

Withdrawal from Classes

A student may withdraw from any class without academic penalty from the beginning of the third week of a semester through the end of the eighth week. The permanent record will indicate a grade of "W" for such withdrawals. After the eighth week of a semester, a student may not withdraw from any course without obtaining written permission from the Office of the Dean. No petition for special withdrawal will be considered during or after the final week of the semester. Based upon the instructor's indication of the student's academic status at the time of withdrawal, a grade of "WP" or "WF" will be assigned. Students who do not officially withdraw from their classes automatically will be assigned a grade of "F" by the instructor. No financial adjustment will be made for withdrawal after the seventh week of a semester. Withdrawals are official only upon timely notification in writing to the Office of the Registrar and the School of Public Policy. Information on registration changes of any student receiving Veterans Benefits Administration benefits or government financial aid will be forwarded to the Veterans Benefits Administration and the appropriate lending agencies whenever changes occur. The Veterans Benefits Administration also is notified whenever a student receiving Veterans Benefits Administration benefits allows a grade of "I" to lapse into the grade of "F." Students may add or drop courses up to the end of the second week of classes.

Auditing a Course

Current School of Public Policy students may audit certain courses with the consent of the instructor and the Office of the Dean, space permitting and with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. An audited course appears on the student's academic record as an "AUD," but no grade is assigned. Degree requirements cannot be met through auditing. Students are not permitted to challenge any course for credit or earn academic credit for any course that has been audited previously. Persons who audit courses only for a term are considered visitors during that particular term. If a person does not have an active student record for an established academic plan, he or she must first be admitted with a Nondegree Status.

Course audits are limited to one course per semester with a limit of two total audited courses during the program. Course audits are subject to a $250 fee per course audited. In some instances, core courses may not be audited due to class size or to prevent disruption of the cohesiveness within a group
of students.