Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Section 1: SAP Policy and Procedures for Undergraduates Pursuing First Bachelor's Degree

Academic records for students pursuing their first bachelor's degree will be evaluated at the end of the Spring Semester each year to determine whether they have met each of the following three requirements for the past academic year (Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring):

1. Completed 75% of Units Attempted
   To remain eligible for financial aid, the student must have completed with a passing grade (A, B, C, D, or CR) at least 75% of the units attempted during the past Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Any units for which a grade other than these is received will lower the student's completion percentage. Grades that lower the completion rate include F, NC, I, WU and W. Audited courses and courses dropped prior to the deadline to drop without a ‘W' are not counted as units attempted.
   
   If a student is receiving financial aid based on concurrent enrollment at another institution, the combined units from both institutions will be used to determine the total number of units attempted.

2. Maintained Good Academic Standing with the University
   The Financial Aid Office will adhere to the University's academic standards. Students will be ineligible to receive financial aid if disqualified by the University based on the quality of their performance and progress toward a degree.

3. Attempted No More than 150% of Program's Required Units
   If students meet the first two requirements for satisfactory academic progress and all other financial aid eligibility requirements, they may receive financial aid until they complete their academic program, or their total number of units attempted reaches or exceeds 150% of the number of units required for the program, whichever comes first. For example, if a student's degree objective is a Bachelor of Arts, for which a minimum of 120 units is required, then the student can receive financial aid until he or she has attempted 180 units (150% of 120), regardless of whether financial aid was actually received for all of these units. This limit includes transfer units and remedial courses.

Failure to Meet SAP Requirements - SAP Probation

The first time that a student does not complete 75% of units attempted during an academic year, he or she may be placed on one-year SAP Probation. To be placed on probation, a student must complete at least 50% of attempted units during an academic year. Students completing less than 50% of attempted units for any academic year are disqualified from receiving financial aid.

Students pursuing their first bachelor's degree may be granted only one probation period. During the one-year probation period, students will continue to receive financial aid.

Once students have been placed on probation, they must complete at least 75% of attempted units annually during their probation year and any remaining time in pursuit of their first bachelor's degree, or they will be disqualified from receiving financial aid.

Examples

The following tables provide examples of SAP evaluation results for undergraduate students pursuing a first bachelor's degree. They show the required ratio of units completed to units attempted to maintain satisfactory progress, and the conditions leading to probation or disqualification.

Examples of SAP Evaluations for Undergraduates Pursuing First Bachelor's Degree

If you have not previously been placed on probation or disqualified:

Units Attempted During the Academic Year	# of Units Completed For Satisfactory Progress	# of Units Completed To be Placed on Probation	# of Units Completed To be Disqualified for Aid
30	23 or more	15-22	0-14
24	18 or more	12-17	0-11
18	14 or more	9-13	0-8
12	9 or more	6-8	0-5

If you have previously been placed on probation or disqualified:

Units Attempted During the Academic Year	# of Units Completed For Satisfactory Progress	# of Units Completed To be Placed on Probation	# of Units Completed To be Disqualified for Aid
30	23 or more	Not eligible	0-22
24	18 or more	Not eligible	0-17
18	14 or more	Not eligible	0-13
12	9 or more	Not eligible	0-8

 

Requirements to Re-qualify for Financial Aid

Students who are disqualified because of a low completion rate can re-qualify for financial aid if they achieve the following three requirements:

1. Enroll in at least six units in one term, without financial aid from CSULB, or from another institution while on an approved Educational Leave from CSULB. The coursework attempted for re-qualification must satisfy remaining degree requirements.

2. Complete at least 75% of the attempted units.

3. Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the units completed.

Following re-qualification, the student may receive financial aid but must complete at least 75% of attempted units annually to continue receiving aid. No additional probation period will be offered.

Appeals

Students who feel that they have been disqualified due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control may appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office. Appeals will be granted only if extraordinary circumstances beyond the student's control are documented and there is strong evidence that the student will make satisfactory progress in the future. All forms and documentation must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the first day of a semester in order to be considered for that semester. A student whose appeal has been approved may receive financial aid but must complete at least 75% of attempted units annually to continue receiving aid. No additional probation period will be offered. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.

Section 2: SAP Policy and Procedures for Post-baccalaureate Students

The Financial Aid Office will evaluate satisfactory academic progress for post-baccalaureate students pursuing a master's degree, Ph.D., second bachelor's degree, or teaching credential at the end of the Fall AND Spring semesters. At the end of the Fall Semester, academic progress for that semester and the Summer Semester immediately preceding it will be evaluated. After the Spring Semester, academic progress for that semester and the Winter Term immediately preceding it will be evaluated. The evaluation will determine whether each of the following three requirements has been met for the period being reviewed:

1. Completed 75% of Units Attempted
   To remain eligible for financial aid, the student must have completed with a passing grade (A, B, C, D, RP, or CR) at least 75% of the units attempted during the period being reviewed (Summer and Fall, or Winter and Spring). Any units for which a grade other than these is received will lower the student's completion percentage. Grades that lower the completion rate include F, NC, I, WU and W. Audited courses and courses dropped prior to the deadline to drop without a ‘W' are not counted as units attempted.

2. Maintained Good Academic Standing with the University
   The Financial Aid Office will adhere to the University's academic standards. Students will be ineligible to receive financial aid if disqualified by the University based on the quality of their performance and progress toward a degree.

3. Attempted No More than 150% of Program's Required Units
   If students meet the first two requirements for satisfactory academic progress and all other financial aid eligibility requirements, they may receive financial aid until they complete their academic program, or their total number of units attempted (including a reasonable number of prerequisites) reaches or exceeds 150% of the number of units required for the program, whichever comes first. For example, if a student's degree objective is an M.A., for which a minimum of 33 units is required, then the student can only receive financial aid until he or she has attempted 50 units (150% of 33), regardless of whether financial aid was actually received for all of these units.

Failure to Meet SAP Requirements - SAP Probation

Students who do not complete 75% of units attempted during the period under review may be placed on SAP Probation for the next review period. For example, if a student fails to complete 75% of units attempted during the Summer and Fall semesters, he or she may be placed on SAP Probation for the Winter Term and Spring Semester. To be placed on probation, a student must complete at least 50% of attempted units during the period being reviewed. Students completing less than 50% of attempted units for any review period are disqualified from receiving further financial aid.

Students will be granted two probation periods during their post-baccalaureate academic career. During each probation period, they will continue to receive financial aid. To have their probation status lifted, they must complete at least 75% of attempted units during the probation period.

After their second probation period, students must continue to complete at least 75% of attempted units for each review period. Students who do not complete 75% of attempted units after being on probation twice, or who complete less than 50% of attempted units during any period being reviewed, will be disqualified from receiving financial aid.

Examples

The following table provides examples of SAP evaluations of post-baccalaureate students for a single review period. The table shows the required ratio of units completed to units attempted to maintain satisfactory progress, and the conditions leading to probation or disqualification.

Examples of SAP Evaluations for Post-baccalaureate Students

If you have not previously been placed on probation or disqualified:

Units Attempted During the Review Period	# of Units Completed For Satisfactory Progress	# of Units Completed To be Placed on Probation	# of Units Completed To be Disqualified for Aid
15	12 or more	8-11	0-7
12	9 or more	6-8	0-5
9	7 or more	5-6	0-4
6	5 or more	3-4	0-2

If you have previously been placed on probation or disqualified:

Units Attempted During the Review Period	# of Units Completed For Satisfactory Progress	# of Units Completed To be Placed on Probation	# of Units Completed To be Disqualified for Aid
15	12 or more	Not eligible	0-11
12	9 or more	Not eligible	0-8
9	7 or more	Not eligible	0-6
6	5 or more	Not eligible	0-4

 

Requirements to Re-qualify for Financial Aid

Students who are disqualified because of a low completion rate can re-qualify for financial aid if they achieve the following three requirements:

1. Enroll in at least six units in one term, without financial aid, from CSULB. The coursework attempted for re-qualification must satisfy remaining degree requirements.

2. Complete at least 75% of the attempted units.

3. Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the units completed.

Following re-qualification, the student may receive financial aid but must complete at least 75% of attempted units annually to continue receiving aid. No additional probation periods will be offered.

Appeals

Students who feel that they have been disqualified due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control may appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Appeal forms are available in the Financial Aid Office. Appeals will be granted only if extraordinary circumstances beyond the student's control are documented and there is strong evidence that the student will make satisfactory progress in the future. All forms and documentation must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the first day of a semester in order to be considered for that semester. A student whose appeal has been approved may receive financial aid but must complete at least 75% of attempted units annually to continue receiving aid. No additional probation period will be offered. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.