Satisfactory Academic Progress
What does SAP stand for? (English)
¿Que significa SAP? (Spanish)
What is SAP?
Federal and State financial aid regulations require Cañada College to establish, publish
and apply qualitative, quantitative and incremental standards by which Cañada College
can determine whether a student requesting and/or receiving financial aid is maintaining
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in his/her course of study. Financial aid recipients
are required to have a declared educational goal and enrollment in a Title IV eligible
program.
The academic progress of financial aid students will be evaluated after each payment
period. Federal and state emergency funds do not count against a student's SAP calculation.
Progress will be evaluated after grades for the previous term are posted.
Qualitative Standards:
The quality of a student’s academic progress is measured by the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. Courses completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, or P will be considered acceptable for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Quantitative Standards:
The Financial Aid Office measures academic progress by the number of units a student has attempted and completed.
Maximum Time Frame:
All financial aid students will be expected to complete their program within 150% of the published length of the program. Students enrolled in 60-unit AA/AS, 4-year transfer, or vocational programs will be expected to complete their program by the time they attempt 90 units. Students enrolled in vocational programs of less than 60 units will be given a maximum time frame (attempted units) that is 150% of their chosen program's length. Associate Degree or Transfer Program maximum time frame is 90 units.
Pace Rate:
It is expected that all financial aid eligible students will make continuous and steady
progress towards their educational goals, referred to as Pace Rate. To measure whether
students are progressing in their course of study within the maximum time frame, SMCCCD
will evaluate the Pace Rate of financial aid students after each term (Fall, Spring and Summer). At the end of each term, students will be expected to have completed at least a cumulative 67% of all units
attempted.
Classes with grades of A, B, C, D, and P (Pass) are considered to have been completed.
Classes with grades of F, NP (No Pass), I (Incomplete), and RD (grade delayed) will
not be considered as completed. All classes taken at other institutions through a
consortium agreement will also be included in the Pace Rate assessment.
Can we show the answers to each question in accordion style?
Complete required Appeal Form on your WebSmart account
- You can find the appeal through WEBSMART on the Financial Aid Tab
- Provide a statement and explain what happened – be clear, direct, and to the point
- Explain what you will do to get back on track
Student Educational Plan (SEP)
- Provide a copy of your SEP (Must be comprehensive plan)
- SEP must be current, long-term and show an educational goal/major
- If you do not have an updated SEP, schedule an appointment with a counselor to create or update it
Complete an online Student Academic Progress (SAP) Counseling Session
- SAP Counseling Sessions are now offered online: SAP Counseling Center
- The Essentials to Understanding SAP and What it Means to You
- The Key Components to the SAP Financial Aid Process
- Make sure to print and upload your certificate of completion indicating that you PASSED
- Certificate must have your name and student ID Number.
Our office requires students to submit all documents together. Individual documents will not be accepted.
- The death of an immediate family member or close relative (i.e. mother, father, grandparent, sibling, or immediate family such as a related aunt or uncle)
- A serious injury or illness (physical or mental) that required medical intervention
- Significant, unanticipated family obligations due to medical issue or illness
- A catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, or natural disaster that affects the student’s academic attendance or performance
- An involuntary call to active military duty
- An unsafe or abusive environment
- Any undue hardship that prohibits the successful completion of coursework
Please contact us if you have more questions about SAP.