Introduction to SAP
Federal regulations require that all student make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in a program of study to maintain eligibility for financial aid. SAP includes meeting the minimum GPA requirement for your career, college, and/or program; completing 67% of all attempted course work, and completing your non-degree or degree within 150% of the standard program length.
Angeles College’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy has been designed to strengthen and reinforce the relationship that should exist between financial aid and successful academic participation. Federal regulations require that schools establish SAP standards for students applying for and receiving federal aid.
A student’s progress will be evaluated at the end of the each payment period by the standards outlined below. Any academic transcripts for transfer students which are received by the Financial Aid Office from other colleges will be evaluated using the same SAP Policy (see chart below).
In order to receive Title IV financial aid, students must maintain SAP. Angeles College has adopted the following standards of SAP in order to comply with requirements of the U.S. Department of Education. These standards are for financial aid purposes only and do not replace nor override the academic policies of AC.
It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of AC’s SAP standards and policy.
SAP Requirements
Academic progress for federal financial aid programs is based on three measures: cumulative grade-point average or percentage (Qualitative standard), completion rate based on hours/units earned compared to hours/units attempted (Quantitative standard), and a maximum timeframe for program completion. The following describes AC’s standards for each of these measures.
For Students in a Credit Hour Program
| Minimum GPA (Qualitative) | Per Term Completion Rate(Quantitative) | Overall Maximum Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Cumulative Credit Hours Completed/Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted Standard set by school is 67% | 150% of Scheduled Program Length |
For Students in a Clock Hour (Certificate) Program
| Minimum GPA (Qualitative) | Per Term Completion Rate(Quantitative) | Overall Maximum Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Cumulative Credit Hours Completed/Cumulative Credit Hours Attempted Standard set by school is 67% | 150% of Scheduled Program Length |
Grades of Withdrawal (W), Incomplete (I), and Failing (F) are counted as attempted hours, yet will NOT count as earned hours.
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average/Percentage (Qualitative)
The minimum cumulative grade point average for a student in a credit hour program at the end of each term to maintain eligibility for financial aid is 2.0. The minimum cumulative grade point average for a student in a clock hour program at the end of each payment period to maintain eligibility for financial aid is 2.0.
Per Term Completion Rate/Pace of Progression (Quantitative)
A student in a credit hour program must complete at least 67% of the quarter’s scheduled credit hours to maintain eligibility for financial aid. A student in a clock hour program must complete all scheduled clock hours in the payment period to maintain eligibility for financial aid.
Maximum Time Frame
The maximum time frame in which a student must complete his or her program cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program. All credit and clock hours attempted are used towards the maximum time frame allowance regardless of whether the student received financial aid during the time frame. All repeated courses, failed courses, withdrawals and transferred hours will count as clock hours attempted toward the maximum time frame. All students must complete their program requirements within 150% of the time it normally takes to complete the certificate program (as measured in clock hours) or the degree program (as measured in credit hours).
Students in certificate programs (as measured in clock hours)
Example: If your program requires 900 clock hours, you must complete your program by the time you attempt 1,350 clock hours (900 x 150% = 1,350).
Students in degree programs (as measured in credit hours)
Example: If you program requires 180 credit units, you must complete your program by the time you attempt 270 credit units (180 X 150% = 270).
Evaluation and Notification of Eligibility
The minimum progress standards will be evaluated at the end of the each payment (term) period. At the end of each term of enrollment, students must earn the minimum cumulative GPA, minimum number of credit hours, and be within the maximum timeframe.
Hours Attempted
Hours attempted include all hours pursued in the student’s career and are counted in the maxi um timeframe whether or not financial aid was received. Attempted hours also include the following: withdrawals, incompletes, failing grades, repeated coursework, and transfer credits accepted by the college.
Repeated Coursework
Students are allowed to repeat previously passed course and have it count toward enrollment for financial aid eligibility only once.
Academic Progress Status
Once grades are confirmed at the end of each payment period, Financial Aid SAP Status will be updated for the next payment period. Students will be assigned a new status based on the results:
SAP Status
| Academic Progress | Status | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting Completion Rate & Minimum GPA/ Percentage | Eligible | Eligible |
| 1st Failure | Warning | Provisional Eligibility |
| 2nd Consecutive Failure | Denied | Not Eligible |
Warning
A status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP at an institution that evaluates SAP at the end of each payment period. The student may continue to receive Title IV aid for one payment period. To be removed from “Warning”, the student must attaint the required cumulative GPA and credit completion rate by the end of his/her “Warning” period.
If a student fails to meet one or more of the requirements by the end of the warning period, the student will no longer be making satisfactory academic progress and will be ineligible for further federal financial aid.
Students terminated from receiving financial aid can re-establish eligibility by successfully completing the required number of hours and by attaining the overall required cumulative grade average/percentage by the end of the next period. Withdrawal from AC has no effect on the student’s SAP upon re-entry.
Appeal Procedures
The Financial Aid Office at AC maintains appeal procedures for students who have been disqualified from Title IV (Federal Financial Assistance) due to not meeting our institution’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. If extenuating circumstances prevented a student from meeting the requirements, a SAP Appeal may be filed.
If a student is found to be ineligible for federal financial aid because SAP requirements were not met, the student may appeal this decision to the school’s Director of Financial Aid by stating, in writing, the reasons why the minimum requirements were not met and why financial aid should not be terminated.
Appeals are not automatic and may only be approved for extenuating circumstances and the appeal must be submitted with accompanying documentation and a completed academic plan by the deadline date given. The federal regulations specify cases in which the college might choose to set aside the standards, such as: if a student becomes ill, severely injured or if a relative dies. Students granted an exception must adhere to the conditions set for the probationary status.
The Director of Financial Aid will review the appeal and determine whether suspending Financial Aid is justified. The student will be advised in writing of the final decision, which cannot be appealed. If the school approves the student’s appeal, the school places the student on financial aid probation for one subsequent payment period and the student is eligible for additional Title IV funds for that period.
Suspension
A status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP after one payment period of aid while in ‘Warning’ status or a student who fails to make SAP while in ‘Probation status or fails to meet the conditions outlined in the Academic Plan while in ‘Reestablish’ status. Note: Students in ‘Suspension’ status are NOT eligible for financial aid. To be removed from ‘Suspension’ status, and appeal reinstatement must be approved or the student must meet the minimum SAP standards at the end of the next term.
Probation
A student assigned to a student who fails to make SAP and an appeal is approved with a one term academic plan. At the end of the one term on ‘Probation’, the student must meet the terms and conditions outlines in the SAP standards.
Ineligible
A status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP and an appeal is denied. Students who have an ‘Ineligible’ status are not eligible for aid during the next term in which the student is enrolled.
