Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

A student receiving Federal Title IV financial aid or other financial aid directly administered or certified by the college must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a certificate or degree program of study. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid recipients is measured by using a quantitative and qualitative standard and is an assessment of a student’s cumulative academic record at the college.

To maintain SAP, students must meet the criteria based on attempted credits (see chart below). All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in the quantitative calculation. Incomplete courses, course withdrawals, course repetitions, noncredit remedial courses (with appropriate credit equivalency evaluation), and ESL courses will also be included in this assessment. Transfer credits will be counted as both attempted and earned credits in the calculation for determining SAP.

A student must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (qualitative standard) as noted below to be making satisfactory academic progress and be eligible to receive financial aid.

Academic Requirements

A student’s cumulative academic history will be evaluated at the end of each enrollment period and prior to the subsequent term’s financial aid disbursement. This policy will be used to evaluate all students, regardless of their enrollment level.

Maximum Credit Hours

A student may receive financial aid for any attempted credits in his/her program of study that do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s educational program at the college. For example, a student enrolled in a 60-credit degree program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 90 attempted credit hours. Similarly, a student enrolled in a 30-credit certificate program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 45 attempted credit hours. Any attempted credits at the college must be included in the calculation. The 150% maximum credit hours rule is applicable to students who change majors or who pursue a double major.

Repeated/Audit Coursework

Financial aid recipients are limited to one repetition of a previously passed course in their program of study. A second repetition of a previously passed course will not be eligible for financial aid payment. Audit courses are not financial aid eligible.

Financial Aid Warning

Any student who fails to meet the minimum SAP standard will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. The Warning period will be the student’s next semester or period of enrollment at the college. The college will communicate the Warning status to the student and inform the student that s/he must meet the academic progress standard by the end of the subsequent enrollment period in order to maintain eligibility to participate in the financial aid programs at the college. Students can access information at Log In (commnet.edu).

Termination

Any student who fails to meet the minimum SAP standards at the end of the Warning period will become ineligible for the financial aid programs at the college. The college will communicate the Termination status to the student and inform the student of the available Reinstatement and Appeal Processes.

Reinstatement Policy

A student’s financial aid eligibility will be automatically reinstated at such time as the student meets the minimum SAP standards. Reinstatement to the financial aid programs allow students to reapply or reactivate already approved funding (see Appeal Process below).

Appeal Process

A student may request consideration for reinstatement to the financial aid programs through the following Appeal Process:

• If the student feels his/her failure to meet the minimum SAP standards was the result of an unusual or extraordinary situation that affected successful progression, the student may appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Some personal mitigating circumstances could include illness or injury of the student or dependent of the student; a death in the family; or other undue hardship as the result of special circumstances. The appeal form is available in the Financial Aid Office.
• The student must: 1) explain the extenuating circumstances causing the non-compliance; 2) substantiate it with third party documentation, (e.g., a letter from the doctor who treated the student); and 3) give a detailed explanation of specifically what has changed that will allow satisfactory progress to be demonstrated at the next evaluation.
• Should an appeal be approved, and the student is not mathematically able to return to satisfactory academic progress at the conclusion of subsequent enrollment period, a Financial Aid Administrator will devise and appropriate academic plan for the upcoming semester with the student. For example, the terms of an academic plan may be as follows:
  • Register and successfully complete all credits with a minimum term GPA of 2.0 or better.
  • At the end of the semester, grades will be evaluated. If the student has met the required terms of the academic plan, the student may continue to receive financial aid the following semester. If the student fails to meet the terms of the academic plan in any subsequent semester, the student will become ineligible to participate in the financial aid programs until the student is able to meet the minimum requirements for SAP. The student’s progress will continue to be monitored at the end of each semester with the same terms in place until the student is in compliance with Connecticut Community Colleges’ SAP standards.

Financial Aid Probation

Any student who fails to meet the minimum SAP standards at the end of the Warning period will become ineligible for the financial aid programs at the college. Ineligible students can file an appeal regarding their termination from the financial aid programs. Students that have failed the academic progress standards and have been approved with a successful appeal will be considered on Financial Aid Probation.

Withdrawal from Classes

It is recommended that any student in danger of not meeting the minimum SAP standards meet with the Financial Aid Office for counseling and/or adjustment to their award before withdrawing from any courses. Failure to meet with the Financial Aid Office could result in Financial Aid Warning or Termination status until it is confirmed that SAP has been met for the semester.