SAP CLOCK HOUR POLICY 

A student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in the program is reviewed to determine if a student is eligible to continue to the next evaluation point. SAP applies to all students regardless of whether they are receiving Title IV funds. SAP is measured at 338 clock hours and 676 clock hours. The school must determine that the student has successfully completed both the clock hours and weeks of instructional time required for the period SAP is evaluated.

At 338 scheduled clock hours if a student is not meeting the SAP requirement, they will be placed on financial aid warning status for the next evaluation period. A Title IV eligible student is still eligible for Federal Student Aid Title IV funding while on financial aid warning.

At 676 scheduled clock hours, if the student is not meeting the SAP requirements the student that wishes to remain in school must appeal the unsatisfactory progress status. The appeal must be given to the School Director of Education for evaluation.

If the Director of Education approves the appeal, the student would be placed on financial aid probation for the next evaluation period. Students who had been receiving Title IV funds would not receive any additional financial aid funding at this point.

There are two SAP requirements. One is qualitative and one is quantitative.

Qualitative – a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 70% or better in order to remain in school and be considered in good academic standing at each evaluation point of 338 and 676 scheduled hours. The Director of Education may permit a student to retake a failed examination or turn in makeup work. A passing grade on the retaken examination or make-up work would replace the original failed grade. The school maintains all student progress records.

If the student’s cumulative GPA is below 70% at the evaluation point of 338 scheduled clock hours, the student will be placed on financial aid warning for the next SAP evaluation period. The student must raise their cumulative GPA to a 2.0 or a “C” or better by the end of the warning period. If they fail to do so financial aid eligibility is terminated. They must file an appeal with the Director of Education if they want to remain in school. After a successful appeal the student will be placed on financial aid probation and will not be eligible for additional funding.

Quantitative – Attendance is checked at each evaluation point. A student must have at least 66.67% attendance at the 338-clock hour evaluation period, or the student will be placed on financial aid warning for the next evaluation period. If the student fails to meet the 66.67% attendance by the end of the warning period, financial aid eligibility is terminated. The student must file an appeal with the Director of Education if they wish to remain in school.

If the appeal is approved the student will be placed on financial aid probation and will not be eligible for any additional financial aid. If a student is not a Title IV recipient, and at the time of an SAP evaluation is not meeting the minimum standards of 66.67% attendance and a cumulative GPA 70% or better, they will be placed on academic warning. The student will be counseled on the risks and consequences of reaching the maximum time frame for program completion. Students not receiving Title IV funding who are in a Title IV program will be evaluated at the same time as a Title IV student.

WARNING STATUS NOTIFICATION

Students that have not met the minimum SAP requirements will be sent a SAP warning letter that will detail the minimum requirements that the student must do in order to achieve satisfactory academic status.

VA SAP NOTIFICATION

A student who is on probation and does not achieve satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next evaluation period, he/she may be subject to termination. The Department of Veterans Affairs will be notified of any VA eligible student’s termination.

APPEAL PROCESS

A student who fails to meet SAP at the end of the financial aid warning period must submit an appeal to the Director of Education based on mitigating circumstances such as illness, death in the family, quarantine etc. The appeal from the student must state why they did not meet satisfactory academic progress and what has changed that would now allow them to meet satisfactory academic progress.

The Director of Education will review the appeal and advise the student of the final decision. If the student’s appeal is approved, they will remain in school on financial aid probation but will not be eligible for financial aid.

Course incompletes do not apply to the SAP policy at the school and will have no effect on satisfactory academic progress.

COURSE INCOMPLETES, LEAVES OF ABSENCE RELATIVE TO SAP 

Course incompletes do not apply to the SAP policy at the school and will have no effect on satisfactory academic progress. Official Leaves of Absence, withdrawals and other official interruptions of training are not computed in the maximum time frame.

REESTABLISHING TITLE IX ELIGIBILITY 

Students returning to school after failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress must file an appeal explaining why they were not making satisfactory progress and what has changed to now allow them to succeed. After a successful appeal, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the next evaluation period. Title IV students will not be eligible for any additional funding. Failure to reestablish satisfactory academic progress by the end of the financial aid probation period will result in termination from the school. If the student meets satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probation period, the student will be allowed to complete the program and reestablish Title IV funding if remaining eligibility exists.

REESTABLISHING VA BENEFITS ELEGIBILITY

If a student receiving veterans benefits establishes satisfactory academic progress by the end of the probation period, they are again certified for veterans benefits. The Department of Veteran’s affairs will be notified for student’s receiving veterans benefits.

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME (MTF)

Students must complete the program requirements within 1.5 times the normal duration of the program in order to graduate. Students unable to complete the program within the maximum time frame will be withdrawn. Student may seek re-entry; however, they will not be eligible for student loans. Normal time frame for full time students is 11.5 months and maximum timeframe is 17.25 months with each payment period no longer than 5.75 months.

If a course that is to be retaken is not available within the Maximum Time Frame the student will be required to withdraw and re-enroll the following program start date.

TRANSFER CREDITS & MTF

Transfer credits that count toward the student’s current program are counted as both attempted and completed hours.

NONCREDIT REMEDIAL COURSES

Motion Picture Institute does not offer noncredit remedial courses and therefore do not apply to the school SAP policy.

ACADEMIC REMEDIATION 

Any student who receives an “F” in any course or has a GPA less than 2.0 for a given term will be placed on an Academic Remediation Plan (ARP). Students on the ARP will meet with the Director of Education to write and sign a remediation plan in order to bring the student back into compliance with satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next term or if in the final term within 1.5 times the maximum time frame to complete the program.

REINSTATEMENT POLICY 

Students who wishes to return to school after administrative or voluntary withdrawal, may apply for reinstatement provided that a period of less than one year has passed between the student’s last date of attendance and the student’s scheduled date of return.

A student applying for reinstatement must fill out a school re-entry application and submit a one to two-page letter outlining why the school should allow them to re-enter. The student may be required to meet with the Director of Education to assess if this is in the best interest of the student or to re-enroll.

If approved for reinstatement, the student must begin in the next schedule start dates and will return in the same status as prior to withdrawal or termination. See Reestablishing Title IV Eligibility; for further requirements.

RE-ENROLLMENT

If a period of more than an academic year has passed between the student’s last date of attendance and the student’s scheduled date of return, under the discretion of the Director of Education, the student will need to apply for re-enrollment and possibly repeat courses already attempted and passed. The student must meet with the Director of Education before re-enrollment is granted. A re-enrolling student must complete all admissions procedures outlined in the Motion Picture Institute catalog and sign a new enrollment agreement. Any coursework completed during the previous enrollment is ineligible for a grade in the new enrollment period.

Student transcripts reflect all academic work attempted. If a student retakes a course, the grade earned from the repeated course will count toward the student’s cumulative GPA and appear as a letter grade on the transcript, while the grade earned in the original attempt will no longer count toward the student’s cumulative GPA but will appear on the transcript. The repeated course will clearly be identified. No student will be allowed to re-enroll more than twice.

REPEAT OF A COURSE

If a student maintains good attendance records but fails an individual course for academic reasons, the student may be permitted to retake the course. The student must maintain the same good attendance throughout the second attempt and complete all course work given. If a course is repeated, the grade earned for the repeating course will replace the original grade.

An “R” will be noted on the transcript indicating the course was repeated. The grade(s) from the repeated course(s) will then be used to calculate the student’s GPA to determine if the student has achieved the qualitative component of satisfactory academic progress. All retakes are allowed in the proceeding start date.

The student must pay a repeat fee of $800.00. If the repeated course is offered beyond the Maximum Time Frame the student will not be eligible for Title IV funds.

GOOD STANDING

A student in Good Standing shall be defined as a student enrolled in a program who is

i) in compliance with the Minimum Attendance Policy and the Satisfactory Progress Policy,

ii) is paid in full or current on installments due on the student’s tuition account,

iii) does not have any outstanding balance due per equipment repair or replacement
invoicing

iv) is in compliance with the Motion Picture Institute conduct policy.

REINSTATEMENT POLICY 

Students who wishes to return to school after administrative or voluntary withdrawal, may apply for reinstatement provided that a period of less than one year has passed between the student’s last date of attendance and the student’s scheduled date of return.

A student applying for reinstatement must fill out a school re-entry application and submit a one to two-page letter outlining why the school should allow them to re-enter. The student may be required to meet with the Director of Education to assess if this is in the best interest of the student or to re-enroll.

If approved for reinstatement, the student must begin in the next schedule start dates and will return in the same status as prior to withdrawal or termination. See Reestablishing Title IV Eligibility; for further requirements.

DELINQUENT STUDENT ACCOUNTS

If a student’s account is determined to be financially delinquent, the student will be placed on a financial hold. If the student fails to clear their hold within 30 days, they may be subject to administrative withdrawal from the program. Students on a financial hold are not eligible to receive official transcripts or their certificate until the HOLD status is removed.

TERMINATION

Students may be terminated for failure to meet academic, attendance, conduct and/or tuition obligations. Those terminated for not achieving satisfactory progress (SAP) are not eligible for readmission until the next available start date and must re-enroll. A student who is terminated will lose access to all Motion Picture Institute privileges. Motion Picture Institute will notify student in writing (electronic and/or regular mail) within ten (10) business days of actual date of such termination.

ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL

An administrative withdrawal occurs when the school prematurely ends a student’s enrollment that may include but not limited to: providing false information on the school application, enrollment agreement, financial instruments, failing to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, failing to pay monies owed to the school, plagiarism, using authorized copyrighted material, destroying or damaging school property, making false claims against an instructor, employee or fellow student, disruptive behavior, weapon possession on school grounds, being under the influence, possession of narcotics or alcohol, engaging in unlawful or improper conduct, putting themselves or others in danger or harm, behavior that could be considered harassment, or conduct contrary to the best interests of the school or any other conduct that reflects negatively upon the school.

VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL OF ENROLLMENT

A voluntarily student Withdrawal means that the enrollment reserved for the student in a particular class is being prematurely ended by the student. The student must submit a written notification to the school by contacting Student Services by calling 248-528-1760 or emailing studentservices@motionpicture.edu with their intent to withdraw from their classes or the program.

Upon receipt of this written notice, the appropriate Motion Picture department will be notified so that proper action per school policy can begin.

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