SAP Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Student Financial Services is required by federal regulations to periodically review financial aid recipients to ensure that they are making academic progress toward the completion of their program of study. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients is measured by both qualitative and quantitative standards and is an assessment of a student’s cumulative academic record while in attendance at the institution.

Qualitative –Cumulative GPA (CGPA) Component: Must have earned the required CGPA at the published intervals. 

Quantitative -Pace (Completion Rate) Component: Must complete at least 2/3 (66.666%) of the credits attempted.

Quantitative –Maximum Time frame Component: May receive financial aid for up to 150%of the number of credits required for successful program completion.

In general, coursework that is taken while in attendance at the CCSNH institution is considered when reviewing a student’s academic record for satisfactory academic progress. However, there are some exceptions. Please see the section on Treatment of Repeated Courses, Audited Courses, Incompletes, Developmental/Remedial Courses, English as a Second Language Courses (ESOL), Credits by Examination, Non-punitive grades, Pass/Fail Grades, Withdrawals.

Qualitative Standard-Cumulative GPA (CGPA) Component

A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average as noted below in order to   be making satisfactory academic progress. A GPA  calculator is available

 Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average Required for the Program

Total Credits Earned                Certificate/Diploma               Associate Degree
               0-13                                                 1.50                                          1.50
              14-27                                                 2.00                                         1.70
              28-40                                                                                                 1.80
                41+                                                                                                    2.00                    Quantitative Standard-Pace (Completion Rate Component)and Maximum Timeframe Component
The quantitative standard of the satisfactory academic policy is comprised of two elements. The first element, maximum time frame, is the time frame by which a student must complete an academic program. The second element, pace, includes determining whether a student is on track to complete the program within the set maximum time frame. Once it has become apparent a student will be unable to complete their academic program within the maximum time  frame,  either  by  falling  below  the  pace  standard  or  by  having  attempted  150%  of  the credits required to complete their academic program, the student becomes ineligible for Title IV aid.

Pace (Completion Rate Component)

A student must successfully complete at least two-thirds (66.666%) of the total credits he/she attempted throughout his/her academic career at the college. All attempted credits, including transfer credits, will be included in the quantitative calculation.
For example, a student who has enrolled in 36 credits throughout his or her academic career at the college must earn credit for at least 24 credits in order to be meeting the requirements of satisfactory academic progress.

Maximum Time frame Component

A student may receive student federal aid for any attempted credits towards his or her program of study as long as those credits do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s program of study. All attempted credits are included in the evaluation including transfer credits.When it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to complete his/her degree with the maximum time  frame the student will be suspended. For example, a student enrolled in a financial aid eligible 24 credit certificate program can receive federal student aid for up to 36 attempted credits.  A student enrolled in a program of study requiring 64 credits to earn the degree may receive federal student aid for a maximum of 96 attempted credits. If a student changes curriculum programs,is working toward multiple degrees/certificates, or graduates and en rolls in a second degree and then reaches 150% of the credits required for the new degree (or Primary degree/certificate in the case of multiple degrees/certificates), a degree audit or academic plan will be completed and evaluated to determine what portion of the requirements for that curriculum has been satisfied. The degree audit or academic plan must be submitted with the appeal and will be evaluated on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Academic Periods Included in the Review

The qualitative and quantitative standards of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy will be used to review the academic progress for all periods of the student’s enrollment.  Even periods in which the student did not receive federal student aid will be included in the review.  Additionally, periods for which the student was granted academic amnesty will be included in the review.

Timing of the Review

The Financial Aid Office of the CCSNH institution will evaluate a financial aid recipient’s satisfactory academic progress upon completion of each semester within the standard academic year of the program the student is enrolled in.

Results of the Review

Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards
Students who meet SAP standards will be coded as making Satisfactory Academic Progress and will retain eligibility for federal student aid for their next semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Warning

Students who do not meet SAP standards will be placed on SAP warning for one semester. Students placed on SAP warning will retain their eligibility for federal student aid for their warning semester. At the end of the warning period, SAP standards will be reviewed.  If the student meets SAP standards, he/she will once again be coded as making satisfactory academic progress and will retain eligibility for federal student aid for their next semester.If the student is still unable to meet SAP standards, he/she will no longer be eligible to receive federal student aid at  the  institution  until  such  time  that  he/she  is able  to  meet  SAP standards or has been granted Probation.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Suspension

If the student is still unable to meet SAP standards after his/her Warning Period, he/she will no longer be eligible to receive federal student aid at the institution until such time that he/she is able to meet SAP standards or has been granted Probation.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Probation

A student who becomes ineligible for federal student aid as a result of not meeting satisfactory academic progress standards may appeal for a review of that determination. If the appeal is granted, a student will be assigned a SAP status of Probation, typically for a period of one semester. However, this period can be extended by placing the student on an academic plan if he/she  will  require  more  than  one  semester  to  reestablish  financial  aid eligibility  with  SAP  standards.  During Probation, the student will be eligible to receive federal student aid funding.

Appeal Process

A student who become sin eligible for federal student aid as a result of not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards may appeal for a review of that determination. A student must appeal in writing. The student appeal request and any supporting documentation or degree audit must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. A successful appeal results in Probation and allows the student to be eligible for federal student aid for his/her probationary period.A student choosing to submit an appeal of his/her SAP review results may be requested to submit the following information to the Financial Aid Office:
1)A written explanation of the circumstances that prevented him/her from achieving SAP standards, documentation of any extenuating circumstances, and what has change din his/her situation that will allow him/her to achieve satisfactory academic progress unless the situation was evident. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee reserves the right to request further information from the student to support information provided in his/her explanation.
2) An academic plan which the student will follow to regain satisfactory academic progress.

The decision of the appeals committee is final. A student is notified of his/her appeal’s outcome in writing within 15 days.

Regaining Eligibility

Unless an appeal is granted, a student can regain financial eligibility only by taking action that brings him/her into compliance with both the qualitative and quantitative components of the CCSNH institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy. Neither paying for one’s own classes nor sitting out a semester affects a student’s SAP standing, so neither is sufficient to re-establish financial aid eligibility. If  a  financial  aid  recipient  believes  he/she  is  meeting  Satisfactory  Academic Progress standards then he/she can request to have his/her SAP standing reviewed upon completion of the semester. If the student is found to be meeting both the qualitative  and  quantitative  components  of  the  SAP  policy  and  to  not  have exceeded  maximum  time  frame,  then  his/her  status  will  be  updated  to  reflect he/she is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, and the student will be eligible to receive Title IV financial aid the next semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Review FAQs