Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to qualitative and quantitative measures.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (Qualitative Measure)
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must maintain at least the following minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA):
- 2.0 for Undergraduate Students (Diploma, Associate of Science, and Bachelor of Science degree programs)
- 3.0 for Graduate Students (Master of Science and Doctor of Science degree programs)
Note: Transfer credits that have been applied to a student’s degree plan will not be included in the GPA calculation.
Completion Rate (Quantitative Measure)
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must successfully complete at least 67% of all courses attempted. A student’s Completion Rate is calculated by dividing cumulative credits earned by cumulative credits attempted.
Note: Transfer credits that have been applied to a student’s degree plan count as both attempted and completed courses for Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation purposes.
Grade Impact on Satisfactory Academic Progress
Official Withdrawal
A student who withdraws from one or more courses during the withdrawal period will be issued a grade of “W”. Course withdrawals will count as attempted credit hours when measuring Completion Rate, but will not be included in the GPA. A student who withdraws from all attempted credit hours during the student’s first period of enrollment with HUHS will also obtain an undefined GPA. An undefined GPA is equivalent to a 0.00 GPA. The withdrawal period for self-paced and semester students are defined as:
- Self-Paced – student who withdraw during the first 9-weeks from the enrollment date
- Semester-Based – student who withdraw after the enrollment modification period (add/drop deadline)
Unofficial/Institutional Withdrawal
A student who is institutionally withdrawn from one or more courses will be issued a grade of “WF”. Institutional withdrawals will count as credit hours attempted when measuring Completion Rate. A grade of “WF” counts as a grade of “F” (0.00 GPA) when measuring cumulative grade point average.
Repeated Courses
Students may repeat a course, as allowed under HUHS academic policy and within the guidelines of federal regulation. Repeated courses count as attempted credit hours when measuring Completion Rate. The original course attempt will be replaced with a grade of “R”, which is excluded from grade point average calculations.
Incomplete Grades
Semester-Based students may be granted an Incomplete (I) grade at the discretion of the University according to its Incomplete Grade Policy. A grade of incomplete will count as credit hours attempted but not earned when measuring Completion Rate. These cannot be counted as credit earned until a final grade is assigned. Students issued a grade of incomplete while on SAP Financial Aid Warning will not be eligible to use federal student aid for subsequent payment periods, pending the resolution of the incomplete grade.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Status
Student Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end of every evaluation period. If students are not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress at the time of evaluation, they are subject to Academic Discipline as defined below. Students are notified by University personnel of their Satisfactory Academic Progress standing.
The evaluation period and notification method for self-paced and semester students are defined as:
- Self-Paced – Students will receive a Final Grade Report that includes SAP status at the completion of each course.
- Semester-Based – Students will receive a SAP Report via the Adobe Sign program at the end of every registered semester (two 8-week modules).
Academic Discipline
Students who are not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress are subject to the following academic disciplinary measures, according to their program type.
The following measures are applicable to students in self-paced programs.
Academic Probation – Self-Paced Program
When students are not meeting satisfactory academic standing, they will be placed on academic probation. Self-paced students on Academic Probation have a maximum of eight months (two sixteen-week periods) to reestablish satisfactory academic progress, either by completing additional courses or repeating courses bearing inadequate grades.
Academic Suspension – Self-Paced Program
Self-paced students who are not able to reestablish satisfactory academic progress during the Academic Probation period are subject to Academic Suspension. Suspended students may apply for readmission to the University after a period of one year. The only exception is when a student contacts the University to meet with the appropriate dean to establish an academic plan to reestablish satisfactory academic progress. Students who do not meet the conditions of the plan at any point will be subject to suspension.
Academic Discipline
Students who are not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress are subject to the following academic disciplinary measures, according to their program type.
The following measures are applicable to students in semester-based programs.
Academic Probation – Semester-Based Program
When students are not meeting satisfactory academic standing, they will be placed on academic probation. Semester-based students on Academic Probation have one semester (two eight-week modules) to reestablish satisfactory academic progress, either by completing additional courses or repeating courses bearing inadequate grades.
Academic Suspension – Semester-Based Program
Semester-based students who are not able to reestablish satisfactory academic progress during the Academic Probation period are subject to Academic Suspension. Suspended students may apply for readmission to the University after a period of one year. The only exception is when a student contacts the University to meet with the appropriate dean to establish an academic plan to reestablish satisfactory academic progress. Students who do not meet the conditions of the plan at any point will be subject to suspension.
Federal Student Aid Recipients
Financial aid recipients are expected to make reasonable progress as a condition of receiving, and continuing to receive, student financial aid. For the purposes of financial aid eligibility, students’ entire academic history is considered, including courses taken during any semester that students did not receive student financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements after the evaluation period are placed on Financial Aid Warning status. These students are allowed to receive Title IV financial aid for another semester while they work to reestablish SAP. The student’s academic progress will be reevaluated at the end of the Warning period. A Warning status may not be assigned for consecutive terms. It is advisable for any student on Warning status to meet with both a financial aid counselor and an academic advisor for suggestions on regaining satisfactory progress and continuing aid eligibility.
Students who reestablish SAP by the end of the Warning period are considered in good standing and remain eligible to receive Title IV funds.
Students who have not reestablished SAP by the end of the Warning period will be ineligible for future Title IV aid disbursements until they return to Satisfactory status. Students may continue on a cash-pay basis with an approved payment plan.
Financial Aid SAP Appeals
The Financial Aid SAP Appeals process allows students who are not meeting SAP standards to petition the institution for reinstatement of Title IV aid eligibility.
Students may have the opportunity to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated by appealing the decision and being placed on Financial Aid Probation. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Form must be received within 5 business days after the student receives notification of ineligibility due to failure to maintain SAP standards. The completed appeals form with supporting documents must be returned to the Director of Financial Aid, who will meet with the Financial Aid Appeals Committee to make a decision on the appeal.
The student must provide supporting documents and describe any unusual circumstance(s) that the student believes deserve special consideration. The basis on which a student may file an appeal: death of a relative, an injury, or illness of the student or other special circumstance. The student must provide a statement as to why they did not make SAP and what has changed that will allow them to make SAP by the next evaluation point.
Once the Financial Aid Appeals Committee has made a decision, the Director of Financial Aid, will provide notification, in writing, to the student within ten (10) business days. The Committee’s decision is final.
Note: Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Process appeals are NOT the same as academic appeals.
Financial Aid Probation
If the Committee approves the appeal, the student will be placed on Probation status.
When a student is placed on Probation status, he or she will be required to do the following:
- Agree to a written academic plan that specifies how the student will regain SAP. The plan may include but is not limited to mandatory tutoring, scheduled advisement sessions, extra course assignments, repeating a course for which the student received a failing grade, and/or repeating a course from which the student withdrew.
- Sign the academic plan (a copy will be kept in the student’s file).
- All courses must be taken at Huntington University of Health Sciences to comply with the academic plan.
- If a student is on an academic plan and follows the plan, he or she will be eligible for another semester (two 8-week modules) of aid.
Students who regain SAP at the end of the academic plan period will have regained full eligibility for Title IV, HEA funding.
Reinstatement of Title IV, HEA Aid
Reinstatement of aid is limited to the period under evaluation. Students making SAP by the conclusion of the Warning or Probation period will be removed from the Warning/Probation status and will regain eligibility for Title IV, HEA funding.
Maximum Time Frame
In conjunction with the requirements listed in the HUHS Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy, students must comply with the Maximum Time Frame requirements.
Undergraduate and Graduate students must complete their degree program within 150% (or 1.5 times) of the estimated completion time for the degree as published in the catalog. The student’s official programs start date and termination date are listed on the enrollment agreement.
Estimated program completion time and maximum time frames are outlined below.
| Program | Estimated Completion Time | Maximum Time Frame |
| Diploma in Dietary Supplement Science | 1 year | 1.5 years |
| Diploma in Herbal Sciences | 1 year | 1.5 years |
| Diploma in Women’s Nutrition | 1 year | 1.5 years |
| Diploma in Comprehensive Nutrition | 1 year | 1.5 years |
| Diploma in Sports Nutrition | 1 year | 1.5 years |
| Associate of Science in Integrative Nutrition | 2 years | 3 years |
| Associate of Science in Applied Nutrition | 2 years | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Science in Integrative Nutrition | 4 years | 6 years |
| Bachelor of Science in Nutrition | 4 years | 6 years |
| Master of Science in Integrative Nutrition | 2 years | 3 years |
| Master of Science in Nutrition | 2 years | 3 years |
| Doctor of Science in Integrative Healthcare | 3 years | 10 years per DEAC |
Maximum Time Frame Appeal
Students who receive Federal Student Aid and who reach or exceed the maximum time frame allowed while completing their first degree are no longer eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. Non-Federal Student Aid recipients must also comply with the Maximum Time Frame. The Maximum Time Frame Appeal is an academic appeal only and is separate from the SAP Appeals process.
Students who would like to appeal for continued enrollment must present to the Director of Administration, in writing, the following:
- a detailed explanation and supporting documentation of any unusual circumstances such as injury, illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances that prevented the student from obtaining a degree within the 150% time requirement;
- a proposed academic plan, with a timeline for completing the degree requirements.
If the appeal is approved, the student will receive a finalized academic plan from the university’s administrative office that must be signed before the appeal is finalized. Any decision made during the appeal process will be applied to the student’s official record.