Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements (SAP) 2012-2013

Federal and State financial aid regulations require Santa Rosa Junior College to establish, publish and apply qualitative, quantitative and incremental standards by which SRJC can determine whether a student requesting and/or receiving financial aid is maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress in his/her course of study. Financial Aid requires a declared educational goal and enrollment in a Title IV eligible program (16 or more units in length).

Qualitatively: The quality of a student’s academic progress is measured by the overall Grade Point Average (GPA). Students must achieve and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. Courses completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, P, or CR will be considered acceptable for Satisfactory Academic Progress. All units taken at or transfered in to SRJC are considered.

Quantitatively: The SRJC Financial Aid Office measures academic progress by the number of units a student has attempted and completed. Full-time students are expected to complete their course of study within six semesters. All students must complete 67% of the units that they attempt (for example, 60 units completed/90 units attempted = 67%). In addition, students must complete their course of study within 150% of the program (Degree/Certificate) length as published in the SRJC catalog. For example, 60 units are required to receive an AA/AS degree; 150% of 60 units is 90 units. Therefore, a student has a timeframe of 90 units to obtain an Associate’s Degree. Students who have attempted 90 or more units will be reviewed on a case by case basis through the financial aid Request for Extension process. Students who have Bachelor’s or higher-level degrees will be considered over the 150% limit. All units taken at or transferred in to SRJC are counted.

Associate Degree or Transfer Program maximum time frame is 90 units.

Incrementally: Students must complete a certain number of units attempted each academic term. The number of units to be completed each year is based on the student’s choice of academic load. If a student does not complete the necessary number of units needed for that academic load, he/she will be placed on Warning or Probation status or may lose financial aid eligibility completely. Warning or Probation status will require certain academic standards to be met. If the student is then unable to meet the Warning or Probation requirements, he/ she will then be ineligible to receive further financial aid. Students may appeal to the Manager or Director of Financial Aid when financial aid eligibility is denied. This is done by attending a financial aid SAP workshop and completing an Appeal for Financial Aid Eligibility 2012-2013 form. The Manager’s or Director’s decision is then final.

Extenuating Circumstances: Circumstances that may be considered for a lack of academic progress are personal illness, serious illness or loss of an immediate family member, or other serious or compelling situations beyond the reasonable control of the student. Documentation will be required in most cases. Multiple terms with substandard academic progress will result in a student’s need to successfully complete coursework toward their stated goal showing improvement in completion rate and overall GPA prior to receiving financial aid.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Student Status: Only regularly enrolled students can be eligible for financial aid. Students on Academic Dismissal, Progress Dismissal, or High School Concurrent Enrollment students are not eligible for financial aid.

Students enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses: English as a Second Language courses are eligible for funding only if recommended on a long term student educational plan by an academic counselor, that shows when the student will begin an eligible certificate, Associate’s Degree, or transfer preparation program. English as a Second Language coursework is then considered preparation for students to work at the post secondary school level. All students receiving aid must have an eligible, declared educational goal.

Students enrolled in Remedial courses: Remedial courses (numbered 300-399) are eligible for funding only if recommended on a student long term educational plan by an academic counselor. A maximum of 30 remedial course units will be eligible for financial aid funding. All students receiving aid must have an eligible, declared educational goal.

Student Borrowers: Students who are receiving student loans must enroll in and complete at least six required units toward their goal with a 2.0 GPA each semester and must achieve a 2.0 or above semester GPA.

Academic Transcripts: All college work on record at SRJC must be reviewed for maximum time frame (quantitative) and GPA (qualitative) evaluation. Units taken at other colleges that have been transferred in to SRJC do count toward the 150% limit. Students who have completed Bachelors or higher-level degrees will be considered over the 150% limit.

Withdrawal - Refunds: A student who withdraws from school completely or receives all F, W, NP or NC grades in a term will be required to repay a prorated portion of the student aid funds received for that semester, and will be ineligible for further aid.

Any questions about these requirements should be referred to the SRJC Financial Aid office.