For recipients of US Department of Education Loans
Overview:
In order to access Federal Funds under the US Department of Education’s Title IV programmes, students form the United States must be enrolled with an eligible educational institution and demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). In compliance with the regulations established by the US Department of Education, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) must, periodically, assess SAP.
Definition of Satisfactory Academic Progress:
The provisions of the SAP policy apply to all United States students in receipt of Title IV funding who are enrolled on any of LIPA’s Foundation Certificate or Undergraduate BA programmes.
Specific components of the SAP policy include:
Qualitative measurements:
Students are required to achieve pass marks as defined in the 2010 -11 Liverpool John Moores University “Unified Modular Framework” (UMF), as modified by LIPA’s Principles and Procedures for Higher Education (LP&P). These documents are available for inspection in the Downloads box situated at the left hand side of this page.
Students must pass all modules (equivalent to courses in American universities) with a mark of at least 40% (See page 14, Section A4.1.4 of the UMF). In the event that a student does not achieve a passing mark in a module, LIPA’s Module Assessment and Programme Assessment Boards, consistent with the prevailing regulations in the UMF and LP&P, will make the appropriate recommendations to the student and provide confirmation through their minutes regarding the SAP of the student. Students must achieve 120 credits at each level to progress to the subsequent level of the programme and earn a total of 360 credits in order to graduate with a BA Hons degree. Further, detailed information on progression is available in the UMF in its Section 6, pages 18 to 20.
The Programme Assessment Board minutes will inform LIPA’s US Federal Financial Aid officer regarding any United States student who has not achieved SAP. The Aid officer will then:
• Inform the student regarding the Programme Assessment Board outcome as it affects their progression
• In line with the provisions of LIPA’s R2T4 policy the officer will discuss the return of any Federal Financial Aid. For further information on the R2T4 policy please refer to pages 36 & 37 of the Green Book.
• Appeals: Students have a right to appeal the decisions of an Assessment Board in line with the provisions of the established Academic Appeals Policy. Where a student wishes to appeal against an assessment decision made by a Module or Programme Assessment Board, s/he must lodge the appeal with the Office of Student Policy & Regulation, using the University’s current “Notification of Academic Appeal Form”, within ten working days of the release of relevant results. Only in exceptional circumstances will appeals be accepted after this date and then only to an absolute deadline of four months after the release or posting of results. Complete details of this policy can be found in Appendix D of the UMF. No loan disbursements can be made while an appeal is being processed. In the event of a successful appeal, the student will be deemed to have met SAP requirements for the entire period in question.
Quantitative measurements:
Foundation Certificate – Achievement & Timeframes:
The LIPA Foundation Certificate is a target award consisting of 120 credits earned over one teaching year. Students on this programme are not guaranteed progression onto LIPA degree programmes.
In compliance with Title 4 regulations, the maximum timeframe for United States students to complete a Foundation Certificate is one and one-half years.
Undergraduate Programmes – Achievement & Timeframes:
Undergraduate BA Programmes are comprised of 3 Levels. Students must achieve 120 credits at each level (total of 360 credits) in order to earn a BA(Hons) Degree
In compliance with Title 4 regulations, the maximum timeframe for United States students to complete the three year undergraduate BA is four and one-half years.
Probation:
University regulations permit students to progress from one level of a programme to the next trailing a maximum of 24 credits. The Assessment Boards will establish a date by which any outstanding assessment tasks must be completed. Students trailing more than 24 credits will not be able to enrol until such time as they earn the outstanding credits. For further information on Trailing see Section 6.6, page 19 of the UMF. Where Academic Progress has been insufficient to allow progression to the next level of the programme, LIPA’s Federal Financial Aid officer will inform the US Department of Education and confer with the student regarding his or her loan eligibility and any outstanding fees due LIPA.
Transfer & Changes in degree programme:
All transfers of credit from other universities to LIPA for the purposes of Advanced Placement and all transfers between programmes at LIPA are considered by the School Accreditation Committee. Study at other universities prior to enrolling at LIPA counts toward the maximum allowable timeframe for the completion of studies and loan eligibility.
Pursuit of a second degree:
Pursuit of a second, concurrent degree for United States students is subject to UK Border Agency regulations.
Summer terms:
LIPA does not offer any Foundation Certificate or Degree programmes over the summer.
Incompletes:
In contrast with American university grading systems, there is no “incomplete” grade in LIPA’s marks system. The Assessment Boards will make appropriate recommendations where a student has not submitted all assignments or participated in all assessment activities resulting in a failing mark being recorded.
Repeated courses (modules):
Under certain circumstances, Assessment Boards may deem it necessary for a student to repeat a module. In these cases, any time employed in retaking a module will be taken into account in calculating the student’s maximum loan eligibility timeframe.
Withdrawals / Termination of Studies:
Students who wish to withdraw from LIPA must process a Withdrawal form, which is available from LIPA’s Registry. Any withdrawal will not be considered to be formalised until the form has been completed and approved. In the interest of maximising remaining loan eligibility, those students who do wish to withdraw are advised to do so in a timely manner.
Interruption of Studies:
Students wishing to intercalate (take a leave of absence) should, in the first instance, consult with their Programme Head to establish the reasons (i.e. medical, family, bereavement, financial, other). Students must also consult with the Federal Financial Aid officer to consider how the leave of absence will affect their loan eligibility, return of any funds due to the US Department of Education, and any fees which may be due to LIPA.