All students are expected to understand their responsibilities in regard to the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at this institution. Failure to maintain academic progress standards as defined by the Rio Salado College Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy listed below may result in withholding or canceling part or all of the student's financial aid award and limitation or loss of eligibility for financial aid.
Federal regulations (CFR 668.32(f) and 668.34) require a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate within an eligible program when receiving financial aid. Specific requirements for academic progress for financial aid recipients are applied differently than Scholastic Standards. Federal regulations state that Academic Progress Standards must include a review of all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not aid was received. The student must meet the following minimum standards in order to receive financial aid.
Maricopa Community Colleges Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Eligibility
Federal regulations (CFR 668.32(f) and 668.34) require a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate within an eligible program when receiving financial aid. Specific requirements for academic progress for financial aid recipients are applied differently than Scholastic Standards. Federal regulations state that Academic Progress Standards must include a review of all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students will be evaluated using the standards described below. Failure to meet any of these minimum standards will result in loss of title IV, HEA program (federal financial aid) eligibility.
Evaluation Period
Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be evaluated at the end of each semester; fall, spring and summer. Programs less than one year in length will be evaluated at the midpoint of the program. Non-standard sessions will be evaluated at the completion of the session .
Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) are evaluated on each of the three measurements outlined below. Failure to meet any of these standards will result in suspension of eligibility for financial aid.
Note: Grades of F,I,N,W,X,Y,Z, and courses not yet graded are considered attempted but not meeting progress standards for the purposes of financial aid.
- Grade Point Measurement
- Students must meet the following credit hour/cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
| Total Credits Attempted* |
Minimum CGPA |
| ≤ 15.75 |
1.60 |
| 16-30.75 |
1.75 |
| 31-45.75 |
1.90 |
| 46 + |
2.00 |
| *for which grade points are computed |
|
- Progress Measurement
Students must successfully complete 2/3 (66.67%) of all attempted course work.
- Maximum Time Frame Measurement
Students who have attempted more than 150% of the published credits required for their program of
study are considered not meeting SAP.
Coursework Treatment in SAP Calculation
Course work taken during the semester also included in the evaluation:
- Courses funded through a consortium agreement
- All attempted remedial credits
- Repeated course work
Course work included in the Maximum Time Frame evaluation:
- All of those included in the semester evaluation
- All evaluated transfer credits
- Any Associates degree or higher earned will be considered to have exhausted maximum timeframe eligibility.
Course work not included in SAP evaluation:
- Audited courses
- Non-credit courses
- Credit by examination
- Credit for prior learning option (as outlined in the college general catalog)
- Academic Renewal Process
Ineligibility Determination Appeal
Any student who has lost financial aid eligibility due to extenuating circumstances may appeal. Appeal must:
- Be in writing and submitted to the Financial Aid Office where the student is applying for aid.
- Include the extenuating circumstances that caused the student not to meet SAP standards.
- Include appropriate supporting documentation.
- Include how that condition or situation has been resolved thus allowing the student the ability to meet SAP standards.
Students will be notified of the results of their appeal and any restrictions or conditions pertaining to their appeal. The outcome of an appeal may include a probationary term or denial.
Failure to successfully complete all conditions during the probationary period (as defined in the academic plan) will result in loss of financial aid eligibility.
Regaining Eligibility
A student who has lost financial aid eligibility may only regain eligibility by meeting the minimum SAP standards. Course work taken at other colleges will not be considered for reinstatement purposes.
Terminology and Information Pertaining to this Policy
Summer Sessions
Enrollment in any or all Summer Sessions within the same calendar year will be considered one term.
Non-Standard Session
Sessions that do not follow the traditional start and end dates for the semester.
Attempted Credit
Any credit for which a grade of A, B, C, D, F, I, IP, N, P, W, X, Y, or Z is received and courses not yet graded.
Appeal
"A process by which a student who is not meeting the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards petitions the institution for reconsideration of the student's eligibility for title IV, HEA program assistance."
Extenuating Circumstance
Examples are: personal injury or illness, serious illness or death within the immediate family, or other circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the student.
Supporting Documentation
Examples could include: an obituary notice, divorce decree, an accident report, or a letter from a physician, attorney, social services agency, etc.
Financial Aid Warning
"A status assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress at an institution that evaluates academic progress at the end of each payment period" (semester).
Financial Aid Probation
"A status assigned by an institution to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress and who has appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated." A student in this status "may not receive title IV,HEA program funds for the subsequent payment period unless the student makes satisfactory academic progress or the institution determines that the student met the requirements specified by the institution in the academic plan for the student."
Academic Plan
A plan developed through the SAP Appeal Process which will lead a student to qualify for further title IV, HEA program funds.
Financial Aid Suspension
The status assigned upon failing to meet the minimum SAP standards or the terms of a probationary status. Students in this status are not eligible to receive title IV, HEA assistance.