Financial Aid Eligibility

Programs governed by the LACCD SAP policy include: Federal Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Direct student and parent (PLUS) loans, Cal Grants (B & C), and Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG). The California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver) is exempt from these SAP requirements.

All students who apply for, receive, and/or wish to receive financial aid are affected by the SAP policy and requirements.

Students are monitored for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of each payment period (Summer, Fall/Winter, and Spring comprise our payment periods). Federal guidelines require that we count all classes even if a student was not receiving financial aid at the time they were enrolled. Units from all semesters and terms are counted and evaluated. Also, units from non-LACCD colleges noted on transcripts received by Admissions & Records Offices in the LACCD will be counted and evaluated.

Classes taken at any of the colleges in our District count toward your enrollment status when determining how much you will be disbursed. We therefore hold you accountable for all the classes that you take within the district.

1. GPA: Maintenance of a 2.00 or higher cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
2. Pace of Progression: Successful completion of a minimum of 66.5% of cumulative units attempted.
3. Maximum Time Frame: Attempted less than 150% of the number of units required for your academic program.

A 2.00 GPA is a "C" average. Your GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points you received by the number of units completed with a grade point equivalent (i.e., letter grades of A, B, C, D, or F). Grades are assigned the following point values:

A = 4 points B = 3 points C = 2 points D = 1 point F = 0 points

For example: If you enrolled in four three-unit classes in a semester and received two B and two C grades, you will have earned a 2.50 GPA.

• 2 classes x 3 units/class x 3.00 (grades of B) = 18 grade points
• 2 classes x 3 units/class x 2.00 (grades of C) = 12 grade points
• (18 + 12 grade points)/12 total units = 2.50 GPA

We can help you calculate your GPA if you want. Come by the Financial Aid office!

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 66.5% of the cumulative units they attempt. Classes in which you earn grades of A, B, C, D, CR, or P are considered successfully completed. Classes in which you earn grades of F, W, EW, INC, NCR, and NP are not considered to be successfully completed and will negatively affect your Pace of Progression.

To calculate your Pace of Progression, take the total of your successfully completed units and divide them by the cumulative units you have attempted. For example, if you have attempted 30 units (i.e., ten 3-unit classes) and have passed 24 units (eight 3-unit classes), your Pace of Progression is 80%.

Military Withdrawal (MW) grades are not used in calculating a student's Pace of Progression.

We can help you calculate this if you wish. Come by the Financial Aid office!

Federal guidelines allow colleges to account for circumstances that may extend the period a student requires to complete their academic program. As such, the LACCD will allow students to attempt up to 150% of the number of units normally required for their academic program.

For example, most associate degree and transfer programs require 60 units, so students may attempt up to 89 units (less than 150%) before being disqualified from financial aid.

The Maximum Time Frame for students enrolled in certificate programs is generally shorter, as most certificate programs require fewer units to complete when compared to associate degree and transfer programs. Community Colleges are two-year institutions. Most of our degree and certificate programs require approximately 60 units (or less) and are designed to be completed in two years or less. Additional units are allowed by the LACCD SAP policy and federal guidelines to provide for unforeseen circumstances. For example, a change of major or unexpected medical issue may result in a student attempting more than the minimum number of units required to complete his/her academic program.

Remedial ESL and Basic Skills/remedial classes are excluded from the Maximum Time Frame calculation. All other credit coursework is counted in the Maximum Time Frame calculation.

Warning Status: Students will be placed on Warning Status if a) they were initially in good standing or do not have a previously calculated standing, and b) at the end of their most current semester they do not meet the GPA and/or Pace of Progression standards. Students remain eligible for financial aid, assuming they are not disqualified due to the Maximum Time Frame or External Degree standards. Students will be sent a Warning Status notification.

Students placed on Warning Status should see an academic counselor as soon as possible. Students should work with their counselor to determine the steps they can take to improve their GPA and/or percentage of successfully completed classes (Pace of Progression).

Advisory letters are sent to students after the end of the first semester where their number of units attempted reaches or exceeds 75% or 100% of the number of units required for their academic program. Students should see an academic counselor to ensure they are taking the classes needed to reach their educational goal before reaching the 150% Maximum Time Frame limit.

Disqualification: Students are disqualified if they have one or more of the following academic deficiencies:

• Does not meet the GPA standard following a semester of attendance for which they were placed on Warning Status.
• Does not meet the Pace of Progression standard following a semester of attendance for which they were placed on Warning Status.
• Exceeds the Maximum Time Frame standard for their academic program.

Disqualification notifications are sent to students if they have one or more academic deficiencies noted above.

Students who exceed the Maximum Time Frame standard should complete a Petition for Extension of Financial Aid. As part of the petition process, students need an update-to-date Student Educational Plan (SEP) approved by an academic counselor. Petitions should address either a) why the student needs additional units/classes to complete their program, or b) why they are working on a new educational program.

Students who do not meet the GPA and/or Pace of Progression standard should complete a Petition for Reinstatement of Financial Aid. Petitions should address why the student's academic progress has not met standards and what the student has done to rectify this situation. Students should include documentation that supports their written statements regarding their past academic performance.

Students must submit their petition during the semester for which they want their financial aid eligibility reinstated or extended. Check with the Financial Aid Office for filing deadline dates as petitions cannot be accepted after the college’s deadline.

If a student's first petition is denied, they may submit a second petition during the semester, assuming there is still time before the filing deadline date. There is no guarantee that a student will have time to submit a second petition if their first petition was not submitted in a timely manner.

If a student believes the Financial Aid Office has not followed federal, state, district, and/or college policies and guidelines, they may submit a request for an SAP Administrative Review. The form, available in the Financial Aid Office, must be submitted during the semester for which the student is requesting reinstatement or extension of financial aid eligibility, and must be submitted before 80% of the given semester has elapsed for the student to retain any rights to federal and/or state aid for the given semester.

An Administrative Review is not a third petition. It can only be submitted when a student believes the college did not follow the policies and guidelines that govern the SAP criteria, calculation, and/or petition process.

The Petition for Extension of Financial Aid form is an online form, available through the Student Portal. Click on the Finances Menu button at the top and you will see SAP Petition Form under the Financial Aid group of options. On the next screen you will select the View/Apply SAP Appeal link to access the form. As part of the process, you will need to meet with your academic counselor in order to develop your Student Educational Plan, listing the remaining courses for your academic program. The Petition for Reinstatement of Financial Aid form is available at the Online Forms webpage.

If you have an approved Petition for Extension and need to adjust or correct your Student Educational Plan (SEP) as approved with your petition, you can submit an SEP Adjustment Request form which we can provide at the Financial Aid office. See your academic counselor to have the form completed.