The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy of the
Financial Aid Office of Sacramento City College is as follows:
1. All prior course history on the Sacramento City College transcript is used to determine satisfactory progress, even if financial aid was not received. SAP is based on cumulative totals.
2. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA.
3. Students are required to complete a minimum of 67% of all units attempted.
4. The maximum number of units attempted for students pursuing an associate of arts/science degree or transfer is 90.
5. The maximum number of units attempted for students pursuing a certificate is 150% of the number of units required to complete.
6. Students may not have already completed a degree or 2-year certificate program.
7. SAP will be monitored annually, and may be reviewed during any term. For SAP purposes, Summer is always included with the Fall term.
8. Students that do not meet SAP standards #2 and/or #3 (see above) will be placed on Probation, and allowed one year to comply. During this time, they will be eligible to receive financial aid. Students that are not in compliance after one year will be suspended, and will loose their eligibility for financial aid.
9. Students that do not meet SAP standards #4, #5, and/or #6 (see above) will be Suspended, and will lose their eligibility for financial aid.
10. Students who have been academically dismissed from the college will be Suspended and will lose their eligiblity for financial aid.
General Financial Aid Eligibility
To receive financial aid a student must be accepted for admission and enrolled in a program leading to an associate of arts, associate of science, certificate, or transfer program at Sacramento City College which is defined by their declared educational goal.
Basic Skills Units
Students are allowed to receive financial aid for basic skills units, if the basic skills classes are a prerequisite for a course that is applicable toward their degree or certificate. The maximum number of attempted basic skills units is 30. Basic skills units are defined as pre-collegiate units.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Units
Financial aid can be received for ESL coursework. Up to 30 units of ESL coursework will not count towards the maximum unit limitation, but will be included in the 2.0 GPA and 67% unit completion requirement. ESL courses should be taken in the recommended sequence.
Transfer Units
Students must submit official transcripts from all previous colleges attended to the Sacramento City College Admissions and Records Office. Degree applicable units will be included in the academic program calculations. They are not used to determine the GPA and/or 67% SAP eligibility categories. Transfer units will also be included in the calculation for maximum units completed.
Concurrent Enrollment Units
Units taken concurrently with enrollment at SCC at another Los Rios District college through a Consortium Agreement will also be included in the calculation for all SAP standards.
Reinstatement
Students who have been suspended from financial aid for failure to meet SAP standards may be reinstated by meeting the standards during any subsequent term. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be updated, and eligibility for financial aid will be reinstated, in the term after the standards are met. Additionally, students returning after an absence are given a new SAP status based on their cumulative academic history and prior term SAP status.
Exceptions and Appeal Process
Exceptions to the satisfactory academic progress standards may be granted in certain circumstances and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students who have been suspended from financial aid may file an appeal if they have experienced any of the following: (A) serious illness of the student or their dependent; serious injury of the student or their dependent, (B) death of an immediate family member, or, (C) other extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student.
The appeal will be reviewed initially by the SAP Program Administrator. A student whose appeal is approved will regain financial aid eligibility for the semester for which they are appealing. All appeals must be submitted by the published deadline for each semester. A student whose appeal is denied may submit a 2nd appeal to be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. All decisions rendered by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee are final.
Students granted an exception will be placed on probation and must meet the satisfactory academic progress standards and abide by any additional conditions required by the SAP Program Administrator or Financial Aid Appeals committee. If a student fails to meet these conditions, they will be Suspended and will lose their eligibility for financial aid. No additional appeals will be considered.
Students who have appealed and been placed in probation due to Maximum Number of Units Completed will be required to submit another appeal at the end of one year.
Grade Interpretation
Students successfully complete a course by receiving a grade of A, B, C, D, or P (pass formerly CR). A grade of F, NP (no pass formerly NC), I (incomplete), IP (in progress), or W (withdrawal), RD (Report Delay) does not count as a successfully completed course. Additionally, if an instructor does not issue a grade, it will be considered a grade of F for SAP purposes. IP (in progress) units will be counted during the semester in which a letter grade is earned. Repeated courses will be paid based on Sacramento City College policy. Students are allowed two semesters of Medical/Emergency Withdrawals (two semesters is defined as partial or full semesters) before they are counted in the SAP calculation.
To download the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form click here.