What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Office to monitor the progress of all financial aid students toward the completion of a degree or certificate.  This monitoring process is called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  Maintaining SAP is essential in order to be eligible to receive funds from any Federal Title IV, state or institutional programs.

Generally, financial aid recipients will have their SAP measured each semester.

• Minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements: All financial aid students must have a minimum 2.0 semester GPA to be eligible for financial aid for the following semester; and
• Minimum completion factor required: All financial aid students must complete a minimum of 67% of courses registered for at the time aid is finalized. When calculating completion factor the following designations will be considered as non-completion of the class: Incompletes (I), audits (AU), withdrawals (SP/WF), failures-to-attend (FA), unsatisfactory (U), not-qualified (NQ), in-progress (IP), zeros (0.0) and repeats; and
• Maximum time a student has to complete his/her Associate Degree (150% Rule): Six (6) semesters as a full-time student (12 credits or more); nine (9) semesters as a three-quarter-time student (9-11.5 credits); twelve (12) semesters as a half-time student (6-8.5 credits); or fifteen (15) semesters as a less-than-half-time student (1-5.5 credits). Aid eligibility concludes after this time frame, pending mitigating circumstances.  ALL   credits are counted toward the 150% rule, even those for which the student did not receive financial aid.
  • As part of the Financial Aid monitoring process a student may be required to obtain an Academic Credit Evaluation (ACE).  The ACE will determine what remaining courses a student must take in order to obtain their degree.  Students can ONLY register for the courses listed on the ACE and continue to receive financial aid.

NOTE: If you are appealing for an extension of financial aid lost due to the federally mandated 150% rule, please obtain a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form from the Financial Aid Office

If a student does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress they will be placed on financial aid probation for the next semester of attendance. If, after that semester, they are unable to maintain SAP requirements their aid will be cancelled. A student will be removed from financial aid probation upon maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA and at least 67% course work completion for the semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

Students whose aid has been cancelled due to extenuating or special circumstances may appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Office for reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility for their next semester of attendance.  The student must provide a letter detailing the following: circumstance for their request, dates of any incidents, supporting third party documentation as support, rational as to what changes they will implement to ensure that their next semester of attendance will be successful.  The Financial Aid Office will review the following: the student’s college academic history, onset of medical situation (if this is the case), situation itself as to being out of the students control, how the student was doing their course work prior to the incident, and information as provided by the student.  After all information has been provided and reviewed, the file will be documented to provide supporting rational of this decision.  If an appeal is denied, financial aid eligibility may be reestablished.  Please see “Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility” below.

Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility

Students whose aid eligibility has been cancelled due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress may become aid eligible the semester after they enroll for a minimum of six (6) credits in one semester (pay for them with resources other than financial aid) and complete a minimum of 67% of the credits enrolled for with a minimum 2.0 semester GPA.