Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
What is the SAP Policy?
In accordance with federal financial aid regulations, Shasta College has developed the following policy to remain in compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) criteria when determining student eligibility for financial aid. Students must meet all three SAP standards to remain eligible for financial aid at Shasta College.
The Three SAP Standards are the following:
This includes all prior coursework (including repeated, remedial, academically renewed, etc.).
Your academic transcript GPA may differ from your FA GPA due to repeats and withdrawals.
Grades of NC (No Credit), NP (Not Pass), IP (In Progress), I (Incomplete), W (Withdrawal), EW (Excused Withdrawal), FW (Failing Withdrawal), or F (Failure) are considered units NOT successfully completed.
This includes all prior coursework (including repeated, remedial, academically renewed, etc.).
Withdrawals (W), Excused Withdrawal (EW), Incomplete (I), No Pass (NP), In Progress (IP), Failing Withdrawal (FW), and Failing (F) grades are all considered units attempted with no credit received.
The Pace percentage is calculated as follows:
Total Units Completed / Total Units Attempted = PACE
For example: A student enrolls in their first semester and registers for 12 units. They receive 6 units of W’s and 6 units of B’s. This student’s Pace calculation is 6/12 = 50%. Therefore, the student would not meet the 67% minimum Pace requirement.
This includes all prior coursework attempted or earned, regardless of whether a degree or certificate has been completed. This includes W’s, I’s, NP’s, IP’s, FW’s, EW’s, and F’s. Up to 30 units of remedial and/or ESL coursework will be excluded from the quantitative assessment.
SAP will be calculated based on the largest academic program on file. For example, if a student is pursuing both an associate degree and a certificate, the associate degree will be used to determine the maximum timeframe.
Switching majors may not increase your maximum timeframe.
Your maximum timeframe may vary depending on your academic program.
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Example of Maximum Time Frame: Most associate degrees require 60 units to graduate. 150% of 60 units is 90. This means a student pursuing a standard 60-unit associate degree may be eligible for federal financial aid for up to 90 units. |
If you are unsure of your maximum timeframe, please contact the Financial Aid office.
SAP Status & Notifications
Students’ SAP will be evaluated at the end of each term (Summer, Fall, and Spring). They will receive a notification of their SAP status via their student email and can also view it in MyShasta under the Financial Aid tab. Every term counts toward a student’s financial aid eligibility, regardless of whether they received financial aid during that term. Though we make every effort to notify students of their SAP status in a timely manner, it is the student’s responsibility to understand their progress in relation to the SAP standards.
| SAP Status & Notifications | |
|---|---|
| New Student | You have no previously attempted units and are in good standing. |
| Satisfactory | You are currently meeting the GPA, Pace, and Quantitative components of SAP standards and are in Satisfactory SAP standing. |
| Warning (GPA/PACE) | You are not currently meeting the minimum cumulative GPA or Pace requirement. You are placed on Warning for the next term you attend and will remain eligible to receive financial aid during that term. If your cumulative GPA or pace does not meet the minimum requirement after grades for your Warning semester are posted, you will become Ineligible for financial aid until your GPA and pace are brought up to the required standard. |
| Ineligible (GPA/PACE) | You did not raise your cumulative GPA and/or Pace to the minimum standard during your Warning semester. As a result, you are now in an Ineligible status and will not receive financial aid for any future semesters until your cumulative GPA and Pace meet the required minimum standard. |
| Maximum Timeframe Warning | You are approaching the maximum number of attempted units allowed for your major. You are eligible to receive funding until you have attempted units that total 150% of the units required for your major. Example: For a 60 unit major, you can be funded up to 90 attempted units: 60 units x 150% = 90 units |
| Maximum Timeframe Ineligible | You have reached the maximum number of attempted units allowed for your major. Therefore, you are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. |
| AP1/AP2/AP3/AP4 | Your extenuating circumstances appeal has been approved, and you have been placed on an Academic Plan. The number following “AP” in your SAP status indicates the number of terms you have been on the Academic Plan. You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each term you attend while on this plan. You have up to four terms to raise your cumulative GPA and/or Pace to meet the minimum requirements. Once you reach AP4, your Academic Plan will be considered exhausted. |
| AMX Academic Plan | Your Extension of Units appeal has been approved. This means you are allowed to complete the semesters listed on your education plan. The extension will remain in effect until the end of the last term specified on your education plan. |
| TRM | You have failed to meet the terms of your Academic Plan. Either you did not meet the semester SAP requirements, or you have completed AP4 but have not raised your cumulative GPA and/or pace to the minimum standard. |
| CEX | You have completed your Extension of Units granted on appeal. You are not eligible for federal or state financial aid that is subject to the SAP policy. |
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding your SAP status or Shasta College’s SAP Policy and Procedures, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 530-242-7650 or financialaid@shastacollege.edu.