Header Two
Satisfactory Academic Progress
One of the eligibility requirements to receive federal financial aid is to maintain standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Your academic progress is reviewed at the end of each semester and your status is updated based on whether or not you met the SAP standards. Meeting these standards will keep you on track to successfully completing your degree or certificate program!
Quick Links
- SAP Policy
- Online SAP Appeal Form
- SAP Frequently Asked Questions
- SAP Calculator Form
- How to Check SAP Status
- Find My Advisor
- SAP Review Process
Requirements to Maintain SAP Standards |
|
---|---|
Grade Point Average |
|
Pace of Progression |
|
Maximum Time-Frame |
|
Emergency COVID – 19 (ECV) Grade : The ECV grade will not count in the SAP GPA calculation, but will be counted in the Pace of Progression and Maximum Time-frame standard outlined in the SAP Policy. |
The SAP Review Process
Satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each payment period by the college’s Financial Aid Department for all students, and students who received aid the previous semester (payment period) will be notified of their updated status, in writing, via email. Your financial aid SAP status can be found in your LoLA account
Next step, if I do not meet the SAP requirements:
If mitigating circumstances prevented a student from meeting the requirements, a SAP Appeal may be filed. The appeal must be submitted with supporting documentation. All supporting documents will be retained in the student's financial aid file.
Supporting Documentation:
As part of the appeal process, students must provide documentation that supports the circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the SAP requirements.
Examples of Acceptable Documentation |
|
Medical condition such as student injury, illness, or mental health diagnosis |
|
Death of a family member |
|
Birth of your child |
|
Personal Difficulties |
|
Academic Plan:
All students whose appeals are granted are placed on an Academic Plan. The Academic Plan will require the student to meet two standards: earning a 2.0 semester GPA and passing 75 percent of the credit hours attempted for the semester.
These standards progress a student towards completion of their degree or certificate program within a reasonable time frame. Students will need to meet the requirements of the Academic Plan each payment period until meeting the SAP standards. Not enrolling in college for a period of time then re-enrolling will not bring the student into compliance with the SAP policy.
Other Factors Which May Impact a SAP Determination
academic progress. An “I” grade will be considered “attempted,” but will not be considered to have been “completed.” It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Financial Aid Office if an “I” grade changes during a payment period. If the change of the grade will affect the student’s financial aid eligibility, the Financial Aid Office will perform a recalculation of aid eligibility during the payment period. Otherwise, the change of grade will not be factored into the cumulative pace rate until the next SAP evaluation.
academic progress. A “W” grade will be considered “attempted,” but will not be considered to have been “completed.”
For purposes of determining student eligibility assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, an institution must establish reasonable standards for measuring whether a student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. On October 29, 2010, the Secretary of Education published final rules aimed at improving the integrity of programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA, as amended.
View the full SAP policy: LCTCS Policy 1.026 - May 2018 Revision