Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to qualitative and quantitative measures.
Qualitative Measure
Cumulative Grade Point Average
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must maintain at least the following minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA):
- for Undergraduate Students (Diploma, Associate, and Bachelor degree programs)
- for Graduate Students (Master and Doctoral degree programs)
Transfer credits that have been applied to a student’s degree plan will not be included in the GPA calculation.
For students enrolled in a program of more than two academic years, at the end of the second academic year, the student must have a GPA of at least a “C” or its equivalent, or a GPA that is consistent with academic standing requirements for graduation.
Quantitative Measure
Completion Rate
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must successfully complete at least 67% of all courses attempted. Completion Rate is calculated by dividing cumulative credits earned by cumulative credits attempted.
Transfer credits that have been applied to a student’s degree plan count as both attempted and earned credits for Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation purposes.
Grade Impact on Satisfactory Academic Progress
Official Withdrawal
A student who officially 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 calculation. A student who withdraws from all attempted credit hours during the student’s first period of enrollment with HUHS will receive 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 withdraws during the first 9-weeks from the course start date
- Semester-Based – student who withdraws after the enrollment modification period (add/drop deadline)
Unofficial/Institutional Withdrawal
A student who is institutionally withdrawn from a course will be issued a grade of “WF”.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 the HUHS Course Repeat 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 GPA calculations.
Incomplete Courses
Semester-Based students may be granted an Incomplete (I) grade at the discretion of the University according to its Incomplete Grade Policy. An incomplete grade will count as credit hours attempted but not earned when measuring Completion Rate. Incomplete credit hours will not be counted as earned until a final grade is assigned. Students receiving financial aid who are issued an incomplete grade while on SAP 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
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed at the end of every evaluation period. If students are not maintaining SAP at the time of evaluation, they are subject to academic discipline as defined below. Students are notified by university personnel of their SAP standing.
The evaluation period and notification method for self-paced and semester students are defined as:
- Self-Paced – HUHS’ Student Information System (SIS) calculates SAP when all courses in a term have been completed. Students are able to view their SAP status at any time by logging in to a secure student portal. Students who fail to meet SAP criteria will be sent a SAP Report and are required to acknowledge SAP status by returning the signed report via the Adobe Sign program.
- Semester-Based – At the end of every registered semester (each payment period), regardless of status, all students will receive a SAP Report and be required to acknowledge SAP status by returning the signed report via the Adobe Sign program.
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. Academic Suspension lasts for a period of one year.* Suspended students may submit an application for reactivation to the University after the suspension period has elapsed. Upon reactivation, students will be given and advised on an academic plan prior to the start of their first term.
*Exception: Students have the option of contacting the University to request a meeting with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies/Dean of Graduate Studies (as applicable) to design an academic plan to reestablish satisfactory academic progress. Students not meeting the conditions of their academic plan at any point will be subject to suspension for the full one-year period.
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. Academic Suspension lasts for a period of one year.* Suspended students may submit an application for reactivation to the University after the suspension period has elapsed. Upon reactivation, students will be given and advised on an academic plan prior to the start of their first term.
*Exception: Students have the option of contacting the University to request a meeting with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies/Dean of Graduate Studies (as applicable) to design an academic plan to reestablish satisfactory academic progress. Students not meeting the conditions of their academic plan at any point will be subject to suspension for the full one year period.
Federal Student Aid Recipients
Financial aid recipients are expected to make reasonable progress as a condition of receiving, and continuing to receive, federal student aid. For the purposes of financial aid eligibility, a student’s entire academic history is considered, including courses taken during any semester or term that the student did not receive financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements at the time of evaluation are placed on Financial Aid Warning status. These students are allowed to receive Title IV funding 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 decide on the appeal.
The student must provide supporting documents and describe any unusual circumstance(s) that the student believes deserves 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 that hindered the student in satisfactorily completing their course(s). The student must provide a statement as to why they did not meet SAP standards and what has changed that will allow them to meet SAP standards 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 SAP Appeals are NOT the same as academic appeals.
Financial Aid Probation
If the Committee approves the appeal, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation status. When a student is placed on probation, 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 probation 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.